Surcharges for flights

[glass]

Do Surcharges for flights change depending on how you bought the tix?

I did a quote for a flight via FF points, and came up with govt charges $312 + carrier charges $562
I did the same on the front page as if buying a tix, same flights and it comes up with $292 + $527


Kinda different isn't it? Or did I do sth wrong? This is with singaporeair syd-sin(stopover)-hkg-syd for 2.
110k pts vs $2600

Is it because the points are cheap they charge more elsewhere? Is this normal practice?

 

[JohnK]

I am not certain about Singapore Airlines but there have been a few reports on AFF of anomalies in taxes and surcharges for award flights as opposed to taxes and surcharges for paid flights on some airlines. I guess the airlines do this because they can get away with it.

I think your calculation of the miles required for 2 people is not correct. It should be 82,500 miles for 2 people or 41,250 miles per person. If you make the award booking online you normally get a 15% discount but until September 2009 SQ is offering 25% discount on all flights and some flights up to 50% discount.

KF Anniversary Redemption

Am I right in interpreting correctly that the paid airfare for 2 people SYD-xSIN-xHKG-SYD is $2600 and you will need 82,500 miles and ~$1748 in taxes and surcharges for award flights for 2 people? Does not appear to be great value at 1 cent/mile!