Taxes [/Levies/Surcharges on QF Awards]

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solo

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Hi,

I'm wondering why there is such a big discrepancy in taxes between the Qantas and Virgin programs?

I want to fly BNE to LAX in November, and according to Qantas it will cost 96,000 points + $851.14 in taxes (which is ridiculous).

Meanwhile on Virgin, it will cost 94000 points + $140.98.

Why is this so??

Qantas makes it unreasonable to use their points, while Virgin make a great option. Unfortunately, I hold a lot of points in Qantas.


Thanks in advance!
 
Hi,

I'm wondering why there is such a big discrepancy in taxes between the Qantas and Virgin programs?

I want to fly BNE to LAX in November, and according to Qantas it will cost 96,000 points + $851.14 in taxes (which is ridiculous).

Meanwhile on Virgin, it will cost 94000 points + $140.98.

Why is this so??

Qantas makes it unreasonable to use their points, while Virgin make a great option. Unfortunately, I hold a lot of points in Qantas.


Thanks in advance!

Have you checked if you can even get J award seats on QF in November given that it's only about 8 weeks away? Award seats generally get snapped up very quickly once released some 353 days in advance.

You may have better luck checking award availability for a Partner/Classic award NAN/LAX on FJ which is 72,000 points each way for J class (or 36,000 for economy) plus taxes which IIRC are about FJD190.00/AUD120.00 outbound & USD2.50 for the LAX/NAN.

No ff points or status credits are earned on Classic or Partner awards however you'll save a lot of $$$ on fees/taxes/charges.
 
There are quite a few threads on this. One I believe was quite recent but I can't locate it. The reality is Qantas and Virgin choose to set their own price. Earning rates and burning rates and taxes differ. Some routes are better on Qantas, some with Virgin. If travelling on Qantas you should look at cash prices, classic awards, and Any Seat Awards. Pick the best value.
If Virgin are cheaper fly with them if you have enough points.
 
It not "taxes" - it is "Taxes, Levies and Surcharges". The first two are generally imposed by government bodies, the latter by airlines and often "fuel" surcharges are a 'killer' with Qantas.

On a BNE-LAX r/t booking, the following apply (The QF "YQ" fuel surcharge make a big difference):

For Virgin Australia:For Qantas:
USDA APHIS Fee (XA)AU$5.60
US Immigration Fee (XY)AU$7.90
US Customs Fee (YC)AU$6.20
Australian Passenger Movement Charge (AU)AU$55.00
Australian Safety & Security Surcharge (WG)AU$3.58
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)AU$23.59
VA YR surcharge (YR)AU$30.00
US International Arrival Tax (US)AU$19.30
Australian Safety & Security Surcharge (WG)AU$3.58
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)AU$23.59
US International Departure Tax (US)AU$19.30
US September 11th Security Fee (AY)AU$2.80
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF)AU$5.10
USDA APHIS Fee (XA)AU$5.60
US Immigration Fee (XY)AU$7.90
US Customs Fee (YC)AU$6.20
Australian Passenger Movement Charge (AU)AU$55.00
Australian Safety & Security Surcharge (WG)AU$3.58
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)AU$23.73
(YQ)AU$780.00
(YR)AU$30.00
US International Arrival Tax (US)AU$19.30
Australian Safety & Security Surcharge (WG)AU$3.39
Australian Int'l Passenger Service Charge (WY)AU$23.73
US International Departure Tax (US)AU$19.30
US September 11th Security Fee (AY)AU$2.80
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF)AU$5.10
 
Last edited:
Hi Oz, what is the difference between J award seats and Classic Award seats?

Yes there are economy seats still available in November for BNE to LAX.

Thanks for the suggestion about FJ, I'll look into it :)
 
Serfty, thanks for the info, that YQ surcharge is unbelievable!!!

ric_melb, unfortunately I don't hold many points at all with Virgin, so can't book with them using points. I wish using the points with Qantas was a more viable option, but I think the surcharges are a killer. Right now, a BNE to LAX return flight in November is around $1600.
 
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Hi Oz, what is the difference between J award seats and Classic Award seats?

Yes there are economy seats still available in November for BNE to LAX.

Thanks for the suggestion about FJ, I'll look into it :)


FJ J can be had for $3500 return, earning points rather than burning them.
 
Ok, another quick question. Is it possible to transfer my Qantas points to Virgin Velocity and use on a flight in November?

Thanks!
 
Ok, another quick question. Is it possible to transfer my Qantas points to Virgin Velocity and use on a flight in November?

Thanks!

No, it's hard to move one program's points to another's, and often impractical, in the case of QFF its impossible.
 
It not "taxes" - it is "Taxes, Levies and Surcharges". The first two are generally imposed by government bodies, the latter by airlines and often "fuel" surcharges are a 'killer' with Qantas.

On a BNE-LAX r/t booking, the following apply (The QF "YQ" fuel surcharge make a big difference):

So VA don't charge a fuel fine, as there is no YQ line item?
 
Ok, so does anyone know which of Qantas' partner airlines have the lowest taxes? Maybe I could book the same route through that airline, and still use my QF points?
 
I just made a sample booking with Fiji Airways to LA. Mind you, there is a few hours stop over in Nadi both ways.
But the return trip, using QFF points was the same as Qantas 96,000 points. However the taxes were only $145.26
compared to my sample booking with Qantas, where the taxes were $848.16.
For the sake of a few hours each way stop over, i would be $670.90 better off.
Food for thought. Why are we getting screwed.
Can anyone get a definitive answer as to how may Virgin points is required for SYD/LA and how much are the taxes.
 
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