How to save $610 on fuel surcharges
Matt O'Sullivan
"Unexpected alliance benefits for savvy frequent flyers."
Savvy frequent flyers are avoiding as much as $610 in fuel surcharges on Qantas international flights by exploiting a loophole in the alliance with Emirates.
Almost two months after the airlines launched their tie up, executives from the two airlines will meet within the next week to talk about resolving a major difference between their fuel surcharges.
Travellers wanting to fly economy from Australia to London return have been able to escape paying $610 in fuel surcharges by redeeming their frequent-flyer points on an Emirates flight rather than Qantas.
They can also pay $290 less for a return economy ticket on Emirates to an Asian destination.
The discrepancy is high on the agenda of the upcoming meeting between Qantas and Emirates executives about their alliance. They have not tackled the problem earlier because the airlines had been focused on overcoming other matters such as regulatory hurdles.
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