Qantas-Jetstar already gouging essential travellers

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To be fare ....

Just looking at some examples for this week ..

MEL-ADL, Jetstar Tuesday (tomorrow) $124, Wed $65 Thu $77 Fri $65 Sat $77 Sun $99
MEL-SYD, Jetstar Tue - sold out, Wed - sold out, Thu - sold out, Fri - $172, Sat $135, Sun $96
MEL-SYD, Qantas Tue - n/a, Wed - n/a, Thu - n/a, Fri - $204, Sat n/a, Sun n/a
(all Jetstar fares are of course not including luggage
 
Given that these flights are attracting a government subsidy, why doesn't any agreement specify maximum allowable fares?

Some (if not many) of those using these flights may be travelling to attend funerals, yet high fares are still charged. It's subjective as to what is 'reasonable' but aqnything above $200 one way in whY for a single SYD-MEL journey is expensive.

No one can disagree that both major carriers - one close to bankrupt, and the other losing money hand over first - are not experiencing good trading, but the 'minimum domestic network' profits aren't meant to cover, and couldn't realistically, all overheads for transport providers that normally have more expansive networks with far more frequent flights.
I wouldn't have thought travelling to attend a funeral is essential travel - whilst people might want dearly to attend (assuming the number is OK) sometimes they just can't, even for a close relative. We have considered this for my mother and have decided that we wouldn't be going if it had happened during the height of the virus, YMMV though and I know some people would see attending as important.
 
<Redacted>

But regardless the above fares replicate our experience booking. VA similar, no obvious price gouging by Virgin or Qantas or Jetstar.

Nothing to see here...
 
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To be fare ....

Just looking at some examples for this week ..

MEL-ADL, Jetstar Tuesday (tomorrow) $124, Wed $65 Thu $77 Fri $65 Sat $77 Sun $99
MEL-SYD, Jetstar Tue - sold out, Wed - sold out, Thu - sold out, Fri - $172, Sat $135, Sun $96
MEL-SYD, Qantas Tue - n/a, Wed - n/a, Thu - n/a, Fri - $204, Sat n/a, Sun n/a
(all Jetstar fares are of course not including luggage

But I found:
SYD-MEL QF Tuesday (only an 0700 hours flight) A$1492 in J. Admittedly close to departure (less than 12 hours' time) but an outrageous fare even considering it's J. Y appears to be sold out.
 
But I found:
SYD-MEL QF Tuesday (only an 0700 hours flight) A$1492 in J. Admittedly close to departure (less than 12 hours' time) but an outrageous fare even considering it's J. Y appears to be sold out.

Is that substantially different to what QF were charging pre-COVID on a flight when they are only selling one seat on the plane (noting expert flyer availability shows J1 C0 D0 I0 Y0 B0 ....)?
 
Is that substantially different to what QF were charging pre-COVID on a flight when they are only selling one seat on the plane (noting expert flyer availability shows J1 C0 D0 I0 Y0 B0 ....)?

I don't know, as there's no way of finding out unless someone took screenshot(s) at the time.
 
Given that these flights are attracting a government subsidy, why doesn't any agreement specify maximum allowable fares?

Some (if not many) of those using these flights may be travelling to attend funerals, yet high fares are still charged. It's subjective as to what is 'reasonable' but aqnything above $200 one way in whY for a single SYD-MEL journey is expensive.

No one can disagree that both major carriers - one close to bankrupt, and the other losing money hand over first - are not experiencing good trading, but the 'minimum domestic network' profits aren't meant to cover, and couldn't realistically, all overheads for transport providers that normally have more expansive networks with far more frequent flights.

I think the government is underwriting the flights, so if they make a loss the government makes it up. Nothing stops the flights making a profit.

But these fares are always there, and we hear about them every time there is high demand - e.g. when there's a football final.
 
Yeah, I certainly don't see why fares have to be cheaper than normal during a pandemic.

But haven't seen anything to show generally indicating overpricing. I think it's true that the OP doesn't know what is price gouging at its most unconscionable.
 
I don’t think a company has to be profitable for an individual transaction to be considered gouging either.

I need to think about this one. A company isn't profitable so it's burning cash to cover existing services. The only way to cover this would be to raise individual transactions but you consider that to be gauging.

If a company isn't profitable surely a major option is to adjust its pricing.
 
...If a company isn't profitable surely a major option is to adjust its pricing.

True, but $1500 in J for a single journey on the MEL-SYD route is way above normal fares and so some (myself included) consider that 'gouging', even if it's also true that there's an element of subjectivity involved.
 
True, but $1500 in J for a single journey on the MEL-SYD route is way above normal fares and so some (myself included) consider that 'gouging', even if it's also true that there's an element of subjectivity involved.

Obviously some people here have never looked at what is normal for regional flights. Some of what is considered gouging on MEL-SYD is par for the course on regional flights.....
 
I don't know, as there's no way of finding out unless someone took screenshot(s) at the time.

That is true, but maybe someone remembers. It doesn't sound wildly out of kilter with the pre-COVID "full business" fares. also bearing in mind that at some who are using such a fare, probably have a corporate discount or rebate program with QF. FWIW, current published business fares are I- $693, D-$900, C- $1122, J-$1470.

EDIT: I used expertflyer to look at historical fares in place on 02 DEC 2019, just as an example. Comparable fares were I- $679, D-$882, C- $1100, J-$1441. So, the rise is marginal, so couldn't be considered gouging due to COVID-19, as per OP's suggestion.

One could argue QF has always been gouging 🤣 Although, if people are willing to pay, sobeit.
 
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Obviously some people here have never looked at what is normal for regional flights. Some of what is considered gouging on MEL-SYD is par for the course on regional flights.....

I am aware of how ZL fares SYD to Broken Hill can be outrageous. Monopoly airline pricing, and the only alternative transport (c.10 per cent of the Rex cost) is NSWTrainLink train once a week or train to Dubbo and road coach beyond daily, both journeys I've made but it takes all day, albeit interesting scenically
 
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Given that these flights are attracting a government subsidy, why doesn't any agreement specify maximum allowable fares?

Some (if not many) of those using these flights may be travelling to attend funerals, yet high fares are still charged. It's subjective as to what is 'reasonable' but aqnything above $200 one way in whY for a single SYD-MEL journey is expensive.

No one can disagree that both major carriers - one close to bankrupt, and the other losing money hand over first - are not experiencing good trading, but the 'minimum domestic network' profits aren't meant to cover, and couldn't realistically, all overheads for transport providers that normally have more expansive networks with far more frequent flights.

There is govt subsidy for nearly everything we see and do every day in the best of times, that includes flying. An obvious area is regional air travel with grants from government for all sorts of things.
 
True, but $1500 in J for a single journey on the MEL-SYD route is way above normal fares and so some (myself included) consider that 'gouging', even if it's also true that there's an element of subjectivity involved.

Spot on, $1500 for some is neither here nor there and they will travel anyway. With other options available to travel between Sydney and Melbourne you could avoid an airfare altogether.
 
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True, but $1500 in J for a single journey on the MEL-SYD route is way above normal fares and so some (myself included) consider that 'gouging', even if it's also true that there's an element of subjectivity involved.

if you were regularly buying J class fares at peak times you'd know $1500 is at the upper end, but not over and above what QF was charging pre-covid. The trans-con fares to Perth are even more eye watering for peak flights - you could fly to Europe business class return for less.
 
if you were regularly buying J class fares at peak times you'd know $1500 is at the upper end, but not over and above what QF was charging pre-covid. The trans-con fares to Perth are even more eye watering for peak flights - you could fly to Europe business class return for less.

I flew a couple of years ago with PR from Melbourne to Taipei via Manila (stopover was arranged by the travel agent one way at no extra cost) for $1210 in J: 1-2-1 on A333 to/from MNL and a less attractive business class (2-2) on A320 MNL-TPE v.v. That was a one-off, unlikely to be repeated at such a low fare. Service on board was good.

So sorry, but $1500 for a one way trip MEL-SYD or v.v. is gouging in my humble view, even if during COVID-19 it's typicaly been on the QF A333 not a B738 as is more the case during 'normal' times.
 
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