QF Circle Pacific Fare ex HKG - Extra Surcharges added for purchasing in HKG

[Scrimo]

Hi All,

Thought I would throw this one out to you all as I battle QF with my current situation.

Trying to book a ACIR26 ex HKG with my TA in HKG and have been advise that if I choose to take the QF codeshare flights within the USA I will incur additional taxes of approx $1250AUD

While I know the fare is a lot cheaper to purchase in HKG I am staggered that QF have decided to penalise its customers for wanting to fly on the QF Codeshare. Just to be clear it is not necessary to take the QF codeshare but since it was a planned trip and if I choose the QF Codeshare I will in fact earn enough status credits to remain a P1 (need a few more QF code to get my 2700)

The P1 team have kindly rechecked this on their system and even put a dummy booking for the same flights on the QF codeshare and it turns out its only applied if you purchase the ticket from outside Australia.

I am at a loss to get my head around this and have no idea why QF want to penalise loyal customers for choosing to fly QF code and metal where ever they can.

 

[NM]

I can only assume that they are adding some form of fuel surcharge if using the QF flight numbers. But I though even QF numbered flight in the USA did not incur the fuel fines. Perhaps they are only adding them if purchased outside Aus?? It would be helpful to find out the breakdown between the base fare cost and the additional taxes and surcharges, Ask specifically about YQ and YR surcharges and see if that is where the difference exists.

 

[Mwenenzi]

..
Trying to book a ACIR26 ex HKG with my TA in HKG and have been advise that if I choose to take the QF codeshare flights within the USA I will incur additional taxes of approx $1250AUD..

They extra will not be taxes. Will be taxes, carrier surcharges & carriers imposed fees.
Never ever confuse the real taxes (paid to governments) with carrier surcharges & carriers imposed fees

If are using a TA ask the issue on AA stock, not QF. You may need to have the first segment on AA code (even it a QF codeshare)

 

[Scrimo]

They extra will not be taxes. Will be taxes, carrier surcharges & carriers imposed fees.
Never ever confuse the real taxes (paid to governments) with carrier surcharges & carriers imposed fees

If are using a TA ask the issue on AA stock, not QF. You may need to have the first segment on AA code (even it a QF codeshare)

So if the first USA flight is on AA code and the remainder on QF code it might reduces these charges? Also when you say issue on AA stock what does this mean?

 

[docjames]

I believe the first flight of the itinerary needs to be an AA flight number. Irrespective of who actually operates the flight.

You should be able to use QF code after that. Albeit other than the "min 4 flights" you'll get the same SCs/FFPs when using AA as opposed to QF flight numbers.

 

[Scrimo]

I believe the first flight of the itinerary needs to be an AA flight number. Irrespective of who actually operates the flight.

You should be able to use QF code after that. Albeit other than the "min 4 flights" you'll get the same SCs/FFPs when using AA as opposed to QF flight numbers.

Problem is that the first flight is a CX flight from HKG to LAX, I then move into 8 AA flights on QF code. How do I optimise this booking to avoid these additional charges?

The itinerary is:
[TABLE="width: 229"]
[TR]
[TD]HKG-LAX[/TD]
[TD]CX882[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]LAX-DFW[/TD]
[TD]QF3027[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]DFW-IAH[/TD]
[TD]QF4538[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]IAH-DFW[/TD]
[TD]QF4500[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]DFW-ORD[/TD]
[TD]QF4437[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ORD-ATL[/TD]
[TD]QF4851[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ATL-ORD[/TD]
[TD]QF3002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]ORD-DFW[/TD]
[TD]QF4448[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]DFW-LAX[/TD]
[TD]QF3022[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]LAX-MEL[/TD]
[TD]QF94[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]MEL-SYD[/TD]
[TD]QF400[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]SYD-HKG[/TD]
[TD]QF127[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[serfty]

I believe the first flight of the itinerary needs to be an AA flight number. Irrespective of who actually operates the flight.
...

That is not the case - while AA do like to ensure at least one intercontinental segment us on an AA flight number, it is not compulsory.

You may be confusing this with the online xONEx booking tool which tries to ticket based on the marketing carrier of the first segment.

Due to the seeming addition of fuel surcharges for virtually every segment of these types of fares when ticketing on QF, I have never done so.

 

[docjames]

I would try the same booking using AA codes.

 

[Scrimo]

If I book with AA codes I will not get the status credits deemed as on "QF Code or metal" which is what I am after as I would like to keep my P1. Silly I know but still hoping there is a a way to book QF code with out the QF surcharge.

 

[docjames]

If I book with AA codes I will not get the status credits deemed as on "QF Code or metal" which is what I am after as I would like to keep my P1. Silly I know but still hoping there is a a way to book QF code with out the QF surcharge.

Fair enough.

 

[serfty]

...
Trying to book a ACIR26 ex HKG with my TA in HKG ...

I am at a loss to get my head around this and have no idea why QF want to penalise loyal customers for choosing to fly QF code and metal where ever they can.

what airline does you're TA normally ticket with?

As for the last part, it is simply a grab for money.

 

[Mwenenzi]

I would try the same booking using AA codes.

If only for the first flight
AA numbers tickets start with 001. QF with 081 from memory

 

[docjames]

What happens if you ticket with AA and still use the QF flight numbers? Would there would have to be an AA segment in there somewhere?

 

[Kangol]

Try and book the HKG-LAX on an AA code? A quick search on the AA website shows a few non-stop flights and more that route via SFO. All on CX metal and AA flight numbers for the international legs. SFO-LAX is on AA metal and you earn 30 extra SCs in total (270 non-stop vs 240+60 for the SFO connect). Plus if you can get the SFO-LAX on QF code, that would help your P1 requalification (60 SCs).

Btw the P1 requirement is for QF flight numbers only - nothing about QF metal, but you probably already knew that.

 

[NM]

If you put the first HKG-LAX onto the AA codeshare you also earn the Status Bonus (which would not earn using CX flight number). And if using AA codes on most of the USA domestic flights, a DCIR22 will book into F on AA but into D on QF code, earning F class SCs with AA code and J class SCs for QF code. But of course the AA coded F class SCs don't count towards QF component for P1 qualification.

 

[serfty]

What happens if you ticket with AA and still use the QF flight numbers? Would there would have to be an AA segment in there somewhere?

Not by the fare rules - as posted (there are anecdotes that) AA like to have at least one intercontinental segment us on an AA flight number when they ticket this type of fare. Apparently these get the higher proportions of the fare disbursement.

I have came across tales of where these fares have been initially booked with AA including an AA intercontinental segment that was later changed to another oneworld carrier.