Qantas ff ripoff ???

[MEL_Traveller]

The seat (the base fare if you want) only costs AUD400 on a AUD1300 fare, all the rest are taxes and surcharges. Everybody has a choice as to how they use/don't use their points and the FF program you belong to, nobody forces you to join QFs program and you agree to the T&Cs when you do. Personally I use my points for JASAs where the value is very obvious. As always YMMV

no - but there comes a point where the marketing .. 'free seats' ... leads people to spend money on the program only to find out later that they're not exactly getting free seat - all they are getting is a few hundred dollars discount.

out of the 9 million or so members, I'd say a large proportion of those don't really knw the finer points... nor care.

If qantas pointed out that you may still have to pay nearly half the retail value of the fare a a co-payment for any seat people might act differently in their buying and flying patterns.

 

[tomo69]

I am going to Auckland for a weekend later this year. The return fare is $70. The balance is taxes/fees/carrier imposed charges.

 

[Nizar]

If qantas pointed out that you may still have to pay nearly half the retail value of the fare a a co-payment for any seat people might act differently in their buying and flying patterns.

My thoughts precisely

 

[oz_mark]

Does the difference matter ?
Who cares if its taxes or carrier surcharges or fuel surcharges ?

The difference, and the one I made the distiction on, related to post 3. Taxes have not moved a lot (or at all), while other levies have certainly gone up. One needs to be careful with these distinctions, as the airlines play these word games.

My own opinion is that the whole fuel surcharge thing is a rort. They are based on the belief that fuel is at a higher than normal price, and will fall back to that normal price. Problem is, I think normal is more like we have got now, and they should just deal with it like any other operational expense.

 

[eastwest101]

The difference, and the one I made the distiction on, related to post 3. Taxes have not moved a lot (or at all), while other levies have certainly gone up. One needs to be careful with these distinctions, as the airlines play these word games.

My own opinion is that the whole fuel surcharge thing is a rort. They are based on the belief that fuel is at a higher than normal price, and will fall back to that normal price. Problem is, I think normal is more like we have got now, and they should just deal with it like any other operational expense.

Yes word games. I don't see a great deal of difference in advertising acommodation at say the SYD Hilton for $1 per night but with a $299 "High Australian Dollar Surcharge", it is all perfectly legal of course provided the company states to the consumer what the surcharges are, but lets not pretend that fuel surcharges have anything to do with the price of jet fuel.....

Legally - there isn't much scope for anything improving that I can see. As I said before - vigorous competition and choosing where to spend you money wisely are maybe more effective.

 

[serfty]

Are you sure there? I redeemed MEL-LAX last year on VA (one way) and the surcharges were $404.98
...

Hmmm ... I just did a dummy booking and the total surcharges were $113. (~80k points e/w)

 

[casanovawa]

My own opinion is that the whole fuel surcharge thing is a rort. They are based on the belief that fuel is at a higher than normal price, and will fall back to that normal price. Problem is, I think normal is more like we have got now, and they should just deal with it like any other operational expense.

I might have agreed with you recently, but hasn't this fracking thing now promised heaps of oil out there??? Not sure what sort of recovery costs are involved, but if it does mean oil falls in price as it is more plentiful i hope (rather than expect) the fuel surcharges will similary drop...

 

[medhead]

Does the difference matter ?
Who cares if its taxes or carrier surcharges or fuel surcharges ?

JakDac's point is, as is mine and many others on here is this - Its excessive and a rort when a seat outright costs $1,303 and to redeem points would cost 96,000 points PLUS $822.

People would be willing to pay maybe $200-300 but $822 in surcharges/taxes/whatever is excessive.

In practical terms it doesn't matter. But the difference does matter when it comes to the (alleged) statement made by qantas that the taxes haven't changed. The taxes may not have changed even if the fuel surcharge has changed.

 

[ozmille]

no - but there comes a point where the marketing .. 'free seats' ... leads people to spend money on the program only to find out later that they're not exactly getting free seat - all they are getting is a few hundred dollars discount.

out of the 9 million or so members, I'd say a large proportion of those don't really knw the finer points... nor care.

had a quick browse on the QF site and can't see the free seat slogan (probably need a coffee to wake me up first ) what I can see when I look at the spending points bit is this

Use your points for a one way, return or multi-destination Classic Award flying Qantas and partner airlines. Find out how many points you need on Qantas and selected partner airlines. Conditions apply.*+

Points required for a Qantas & Partner Classic Award
The purpose of this calculator is to show you the number of points required for a Qantas & Partner Classic Award. On eligible Australian and New Zealand domestic Classic Award flights, point levels inclusive of taxes, fees and carrier charges are displayed. For all other flights, additional taxes, fees and carrier charges are payable in addition to the points required, which will be disclosed to you at the time of booking.

If qantas pointed out that you may still have to pay nearly half the retail value of the fare a a co-payment for any seat people might act differently in their buying and flying patterns.

Not completely correct, you actually do not have to pay anything of the fare, you have to pay the taxes fees and carrier charges.

It is a tricky one, people can either accept what they see and are happy with the ticket, be unhappy and never fly QF again or come on AFF to look at better ways to use their points and use the system for their benefit. With the number of colleagues I have that use their points for flights (now more with my help ), iPads and woolies vouchers and are happy with that, I reckon that people do like the program.

 

[drewbles]

Hmmm ... I just did a dummy booking and the total surcharges were $113. (~80k points e/w)

OK so as mentioned above, it may be a sabre thing, or they may have made a change (this was a long way before Sabre).

 

[ozmille]

Not completely correct, you actually do not have to pay anything of the fare, you have to pay the taxes fees and carrier charges.

and this is where you can see that Y redemptions are such a low value for your points and the reason I will not do a Y ticket on points

96000 points for a AUD400 fare or 192000 for a AUD9000 fare...

 

[smdoherty]

Just called said taxes never lower
22 May bne LAX 96,000 points + $844.74
11 June LAX

Online I see the same dates for 96,000 and $599.22 BNE to LAX return
or you could pay absolutely ZERO taxes/surcharges/fees and use 168,137 points.

 

[smit0847]

I read all sorts of moronic comments on mainstream news stories about this topic all the time such as "QUANTAS is a rip-of. What is ACCC doing about this?!?!' (it's amazing these FF members who are so passionate about the program to provide their opinion can't even spell the name of the airline).

Seriously - they're a private company offering products and services for sale. There is absolutely no obligation to use them, or any airline, or ever even go to an airport. No-one is forcing you to fly Qantas/spend money on your CC to collect FF points to eventually redeem for flights for a price they set.
I don't know why people expect the Government to constantly intervene when a private company operates a business to make a product. Just because the average moron is too stupid, lazy and ignorant to consider other options they think the Government should penalise the companies in question.

Don't like them? Don't use them.

You don't hear people screaming for the ACCC when McDonalds raises the price of it's Big Mac.

 

[Nizar]

Not completely correct, you actually do not have to pay anything of the fare, you have to pay the taxes fees and carrier charges.

You're right - but who would have thought that taxes fees and surcharges allegedly make up almost two thirds of the total price.

 

[Gogo65]

Hmmm ... I just did a dummy booking and the total surcharges were $113. (~80k points e/w)

Yep, that's right, I have been booking flights for friends recently and the tax/surcharges have reduced significantly from over $400 return for a flight we took in march to now less than $130 return. When I booked for my friends last week, virgin were actually promoting no fuel surcharges. With the reduced point promotion,(Amex transfers and 15%reduction) it is definetely wonderful value at the moment.

 

[k3nnis]

Are the taxes going to stay this way for VA?

Yep, that's right, I have been booking flights for friends recently and the taxes have reduced significantly from over $400 return for a flight we took in march to now less than $130 return. When I booked for my friends last week, virgin were actually promoting no fuel surcharges. With the reduced point promotion,(Amex transfers and 15%reduction) it is definetely wonderful value at the moment.

 

[11sjw]

Does the difference matter ?
Who cares if its taxes or carrier surcharges or fuel surcharges ?

JakDac's point is, as is mine and many others on here is this - Its excessive and a rort when a seat outright costs $1,303 and to redeem points would cost 96,000 points PLUS $822.

People would be willing to pay maybe $200-300 but $822 in surcharges/taxes/whatever is excessive.

Then don't pay it.

 

[Gogo65]

Are the taxes going to stay this way for VA?

Not sure??this just says no fuel surchges
Airline Special Offers | Velocity Frequent Flyer
hope the link works

 

[Mwenenzi]

Yep, that's right, I have been booking flights for friends recently and the taxes have reduced significantly from over $400 return for a flight we took in march to now less than $130 return....

Again I expect you are confusing real taxes (paid to governments) with taxes and carrier surcharge & fees. Some foreign taxes (in AuD) have reduced as the AuD has appreciated to many currencies. Government's of all persuasions hardly ever reduce tax, especially for travel. Travel is a luxury discretionary expense to tax office bean counters & pollies [look at the UK tax]

Those who (incorrectly) keep referring to taxes have been sucked in by the airlines jargon - small print and certain bogan TV - radio programs

 

[Gogo65]

Sorry I'm not confused just wrote taxes instead of surcharges.
Regardless of the wording qantas surcharges/taxes whatever you want to call them are $800 return and Virgins are $130.