Saving fuel surcharge [little YQ on QFF classic awards on EK] ...

[medhead]

Just saw this in the SMH. Apparently awards on EK flights have no fuel surcharges for the next couple of weeks.

How to save $610 on fuel surcharges

 

[whatmeworry]

How to save $610 on fuel surcharges by redeeming QFF points with Emirates

I have not heard of this loophole on this forum, but I am sure some have been quietly redeeming their QFF points for EK flights.

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.

Read more: How to save $610 on fuel surcharges
​

 

[daturtle]

It amuses and enrages me that they are using the temporary lifting of a 'temporary' surcharge to have a sale.

 

[serfty]

Teething Problems for QF with award tie up - "tiny" YQ on QFF Classic awards on EK

How to save $610 on fuel surcharges

Can't see it lasting long:

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.
...

 

[medhead]

Re: Teething Problems for QF with award tie up - "tiny" YQ on QFF Classic awards on E

The story explicitly says the boards are meeting to address it.

 

[samh004]

Re: Teething Problems for QF with award tie up - "tiny" YQ on QFF Classic awards on E

The story explicitly says the boards are meeting to address it.

Not sure why they have to physically meet?

Isn't there a cryptic thread on here now about fuel fine avoidance?

 

[medhead]

Re: Teething Problems for QF with award tie up - "tiny" YQ on QFF Classic awards on E

Not sure why they have to physically meet?

Isn't there a cryptic thread on here now about fuel fine avoidance?

Not sure I mentioned a "physical" meeting. But the way it's put one or both airlines will have to change the fuel fines policy. Seems to be a pretty reasonable item to determine at board level.

 

[The Rok]

Hopefully QF abolish it completely. It's a farce. It would also act as a competitive advantage and allow a clever campaign to encourage people to use up some if their points.

 

[Aus ATC]

We "saved" (or arguably didn't spend) $600 by booking 2 x one way classic awards to Europe on EK metal/code rather than QF.

 

[NM]

Hopefully QF abolish it completely. It's a farce. It would also act as a competitive advantage and allow a clever campaign to encourage people to use up some if their points.

Whilst I 100% agree with you, unfortunately I can't see it playing out that way

 

[BD1959]

"A possible resolution could be for Qantas to lower its fuel surcharges to better match Emirates."

Yeah ... good luck with that one!!

Regards,

BD
​

 

[ellen10]

A $610 saving is a big bonus.
Hurts that I have already booked my flights.

 

[casanovawa]

Was playing around a bit on the QF site yesterday for Mar 2014, a J classic to DXB from PER had only like $132 in taxes and surcharges and all, so on top of 72,000 ffp (at 1c/pt) that looked like about $850 cost to me which didn't seem bad value... Having to fly QF via MEL the cash component went up to $432...

I assume that is what this article is referring to??? I was pleasantly surprised by those EK charges... Was thinking i might have to book one, but was waiting for the A380 to start its service to PER to book on it... Wonder whether it would be worth booking something soon??? The idea of doing an AA return through DXB was also going through my head, but another good 50% promo might not happen till late this year...

Do QR charge fuel fines, when they enter OW hopefully soon???

 

[shifty]

ok so, I have a flight in F class x2 on EK (flight codes and metal) in 10 days PER-PRG and returning from MLA. Taxes were $580 each.

I can change my flight for a 3500 point penalty each to lets say a day earlier and the taxes are only $288 each now.

So for Mrs S and I, we can burn 7000 points and get back $600 in cash if we change our flight. Confirmed the scenario with QFF on the phone - they said its due to fuel surcharges with EK.

Interesting concept... $600 is almost certainly worth more than 7000 points.

 

[shifty]

ok so, I have a flight in F class x2 on EK (flight codes and metal) in 10 days PER-PRG and returning from MLA. Taxes were $580 each.

I can change my flight for a 3500 point penalty each to lets say a day earlier and the taxes are only $288 each now.

So for Mrs S and I, we can burn 7000 points and get back $600 in cash if we change our flight. Confirmed the scenario with QFF on the phone - they said its due to fuel surcharges with EK.

Interesting concept... $600 is almost certainly worth more than 7000 points.

Ok, flights became available this morning (expert flyer alert notification). Now leaving the day before on the same F flights.

7000 points in change fees between the two of us, and we got back about $600 taxes (and an extra day in Prague). Little ripper.

 

[dajop]

Perhaps a little pointer as to what may be happening. This morning I logged into my Skywards account and noticed a massive jump in fuel surcharge using skywards miles (on Emirates metal) from SIN-MEL-SIN. It's gone from ~$100 SGD last time I checked to $374 SGD. It now matches QF fuel surcharge exactly. I don't know if this is a glitch or something loaded in to skywards early as I sign of what is to come, but it is a worry.

Interestingly MEL-SIN-MEL on EK metal, using EK points remains unchanged at $65AUD in fuel surcharges. Likewise redeeming on EK metal using QFF points in either direction is also unchanged (SIN-MEL-SIN using QF pts on EK metal has no fuel surcharges).

 

[Rono]

Can you tell me whether or not it is still possible to take advantage off the discrepancy?

regards

Rono

 

[Spizz]

Qantas closes frequent-flyer loophole

 

[Danger]

Qantas closes frequent-flyer loophole

Does this not make a mockery of "fuel surcharges"? How can Qantas slash them and still make a profit? Surely the $x we're paying in charges now must reflect (within a small margin of difference) exactly what the actual fuel cost is? Has Qantas suddenly had an approximate 30% reduction in its fuel cost?

This has got to be of interest to the ACCC, that pathetic government body that does very little to protect the consumer.

 

[Rono]

Thanks Spizz, appreciated

Rono