- Joined
- Aug 21, 2011
- Posts
- 16,215
- Qantas
- Platinum
- Virgin
- Platinum
- SkyTeam
- Elite Plus
- Star Alliance
- Gold
This is the attitude which keeps surcharges alive and wellSure it's not much extra and you'll find almost everyone here agrees - including myself.
However, by not disengaging with the taxed-channel you are effectively supporting the stats which prove it's an accepted practise.
QF are likely in a precarious position where they can't build in the cost into select booking classes, only charge non-QF earning credit cards the fee, or non-status members etc because of the highly restrictive laws in Australia. Which makes it a case of charge or not charge additional fees related to payment. What Qantas could do however - is help members offset the fee through genuinely value-added services. "Not a member of QFF? Join now (check this box) and we'll give you a $10 flight credit instantly" or "Want $25 instantly off your flight? Check this box and we'll apply for a xx_ on your behalf".
There are no shortage of highly personalised offers which could be displayed given the circumstances where the user is making the flight booking.
This article I published a while back highlights additional opportunities QF could cash in on: http://bit.ly/1rg4F28
Their competitors are doing it and making a fortune, yet Qantas is obsessed with card additional fees which degrade the product experience.
I agree with you. It's unfortunate that Qantas seems to have taken quite a different approach to getting people to join QFF. Instead of offering a $10 discount, they want to charge $89.50! Then, when they run promotions offering free membership, they make it sound like they're doing the customer a favour.

Compare this to Virgin Australia. I recall an offer of 500 bonus points when joining Velocity while booking a flight, after I didn't enter a FF number.