Qantas ff ripoff ???

[medhead]

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

You know what. There is little point continuing this thread if you're not going to bother including important details.

Who just called? who did they call? Who said that? What does 11 June lax mean?

Try something like:

I (?) just called qantas(?). I mentioned (something about taxes). (Use the exact words here, eg did you say taxes or fuel surcharge?) They informed me that the taxes have not changed.

(It is also very important to make sure we distinguish between taxes and fuel surcharges. These are not the same thing)

They provided the following quote for the days I want to travel.

(There is an example of how you could provide information in your post)

 

[simongr]

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

Can I clarify? You called Qantas and the rep stated that the taxes had never been lower than they are now? I am not sure how much taxes have moved and whether they have moved as much as airline and airport surcharges but the overall "taxes and surcharges" definitely has been lower.

Technically though one could argue (if one was being an cough) that airlines surcharges might have been higher in the past. Stick with me people. Say the fuel charge for SYD-LAX-SYD is $800 of a $1500 ticket (base fare therefore $700). Qantas could say that in fact back in 1995 (made up date) before the surcharges were introduced that a total fare of $1500 included fuel costs (not separated out) of $1,000 with the base fare of $500 and it is in fact the base fare that has risen. They could say this as we have absolutely no visibility of how much it actually costs to fly an individual pax to LAX from SYD.

 

[oz_mark]

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

The biggest increase is the fuel surcharge. This is NOT a tax, it is a carrier surcharge.

Anyway, over the last few years, there have been some big increases in fuel surcharges to continental US:

March 2011: Increase from 115 -> 150
April 2011: Increase from 150 -> 250
Feb 2012: Increase from 250 -> 310
April 2012: Increase from 310->340

 

[JakDac]

VALUE

Easy, use Virgin points. No fuel surcharges to the US just $130 odd government taxes and Macquarie bank fees.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think JacDak is right on the money.

If only more people had the same passion about this matter.

It IS a rip-off that you need to pay close to $700 in fuel surcharges for a supposedly free seat to Europe.

And it is misleading when a Qantas agent tells you the number of points and then tells you the rest is 'tax' - which is clearly wrong (and I've had agents say it to me).

The FF program is advertised with a lot of hype. It should also come with a big fat warning about fees and charges - which are now removed from the Qantas site so how would anyone know? Do Qantas want 9 million members calling to find out how much fees and charges are before signing up?

It's a fairly rubbish program which is not necessarily fully explained.

 

[JakDac]

IN THE END COSTS 96,000 points + $844.74 (not good LOYALTY value w/ QANTAS as per other posts other airlines better value / I look a lot at price ( So does a majority of the world ie car manufacturing, electronics hello China)
22 May bne LAX 96,000 points + $844.74
11 June LAX

 

[oz_mark]

Certainly it is not good value.....

 

[jetlagger]

I think JacDak is right on the money.

If only more people had the same passion about this matter.

It IS a rip-off that you need to pay close to $700 in fuel surcharges for a supposedly free seat to Europe.

And it is misleading when a Qantas agent tells you the number of points and then tells you the rest is 'tax' - which is clearly wrong (and I've had agents say it to me).

The FF program is advertised with a lot of hype. It should also come with a big fat warning about fees and charges - which are now removed from the Qantas site so how would anyone know? Do Qantas want 9 million members calling to find out how much fees and charges are before signing up?

It's a fairly rubbish program which is not necessarily fully explained.

The QFF program would (I assume) be the most profitable asset in the QF Group, for obvious reasons inclusive of what you mentioned above.

 

[The Rok]

I'm with a few other posters, I find your statements very difficult to decipher. However it's clear you are not happy with the QFFP, others as mentioned are happy as they use points for JASA's, upgrades and J/F Classic Awards which are better value.

No need to scream blue murder and shlt can Qantas while suggesting everyone jump ship to Virgin. The solution to your problem is actually very simple, vote with your feet. Stop flying Qantas, stop collecting QFF Points, and enjoy your travels on Virgin.

 

[DaveB]

I can't help but look at all this on the basis of still getting something for nothing from an industry that none of us in their right minds would invest in.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can't help but look at all this on the basis of still getting something for nothing from an industry that none of us in their right minds would invest in.

yes - but it should perhaps now be better described as a 'discount' program. Not a free seat program.

From a 2008 QF press release you would be forgiven for thinking you could redeem a free seat (subject to government tax) when it says:

- Qantas and Partner Classic Awards - the traditional option of using a set number of points for a limited number of seats on Qantas, Jetstar and partner airlines...

We're not that far past 2008 and you could be paying $1000 to redeem a seat that would only cost you $1800 outright to buy (and get miles and SCs back)

 

[elbarto]

So you paid 96000 + $800 when you could have paid $1300 and kept your 96000 points? More fool you.

 

[Fantic125]

The biggest increase is the fuel surcharge. This is NOT a tax, it is a carrier surcharge.

Anyway, over the last few years, there have been some big increases in fuel surcharges to continental US:

March 2011: Increase from 115 -> 150
April 2011: Increase from 150 -> 250
Feb 2012: Increase from 250 -> 310
April 2012: Increase from 310->340

It would still cost you more than $340 in fuel to drive there from SYD......

 

[Mwenenzi]

...(It is also very important to make sure we distinguish between taxes and fuel surcharges. These are not the same thing)..

JakDac still does not seem to know the difference, despite being informed several times in this thread.

And JakDac's grammar - sentences are hard to comprehend

 

[drewbles]

VALUE

Easy, use Virgin points. No fuel surcharges to the US just $130 odd government taxes and Macquarie bank fees.

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

And as others have said...

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!

construct your sentences better so we can actually help you rather than trying to guess what you're typing :S

 

[Nizar]

JakDac still does not seem to know the difference, despite being informed several times in this thread.

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.

 

[MarkD]

Wow... ...my head hurts

 

[Fruitcake]

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

Yes, the $130 figure is correct. There's no fuel surcharge on VA reward flights at present (in addition to the 30% reduction in redemption for the next couple of months). Whether the lack of fuel surcharge is a new 'feature' or a Sabre-related bug is still a mystery.

 

[ozmille]

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

 

[tomo69]

1. Sell shares. 2. Enrol in English lessons. 3. Used leftover funds from shares to buy some Valium.