Taxes question

[DanziM]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone with 96000 or more points could do a taxes check for me for the Cairns-Santiago route and the Sydney-Santiago route both return in whY. I only have enough points to do these one way at the moment. Not sure if booking the flights return is cheaper than booking two one way reward flights as the return from Chile has taxes of $414usd against only $313aud on the way out.

Also how is the best way to redeem award flights on LAN using qantas points?

Many thanks.

 

[madrooster]

The taxes will be different depending on which carrier you use, be it QF using QF27/28 or QF321/322 or LA using LA800/801. Which route do you intend to use?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone with 96000 or more points could do a taxes check for me for the Cairns-Santiago route and the Sydney-Santiago route both return in whY. I only have enough points to do these one way at the moment. Not sure if booking the flights return is cheaper than booking two one way reward flights as the return from Chile has taxes of $414usd against only $313aud on the way out.

Also how is the best way to redeem award flights on LAN using qantas points?

Many thanks.

Just to be clear, the taxes are no where near $414 or $313. The taxes will be the same whether you book one way or return. These are levied by governments, and are passed on by the airline directly to the government.

The massive charges you are seeing are fuel surcharges levied and charged by Qantas, with 100% of that going to their bottom line. Only some airlines charge these fuel surcharges and/or pass them on to the customer for award bookings.

I suspect you'll almost be better off just buying a revenue fare and saving the 96000 points.

 

[Limewood]

Mel_Traveller right on as usual. Its such a ripoff but nothing can be done abut these outrageous Qantas award booking fees. I recently booked 2xJ OZ to US return award fares got slugged about $1300.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hi everyone,

<snip>

Also how is the best way to redeem award flights on LAN using qantas points?

Many thanks.

Trying to understand what you mean by "the best way ...". so apologies if I misunderstand. On the QF the web site, as far as I can see using random dates in May/June next year, only QF codeshare on LAN metal is offered under classic rewards. LAN coded flights might be found with a more extensive search. You could call the QF call centre and ask if LAN coded flights are available at all using QFF points and if so you could probably book through the call centre. On that first call you can also ask about taxes and, importantly, the Qantas fees or "fuel fines"; no charge for asking . If LAN coded Award seats don't appear on the web site, but are bookable over the phone, you shouldn't pay the phone assistance fee if you go that way to book.

On my random search, SYD-SCL-SYD in May/June next year was only offered with QF codeshare on the LAN flight, 96,000 points in economy plus $583. A straight Y sale fare offered was $1,399. So your 96,000 points would save $816, which is certainly not trivial. However you might consider if you have other uses for the points, which might be better 'value'; that said, crystallising better value (ie with J award seats, or upgrades to J) is difficult unless you have Platinum status or better on QFF. Its all relative to your particular situation.

 

[DanziM]

Thanks everyone for your replies. Its also 96000points return from cairns or Sydney, so actually saves me even more and i dont believe the $1399 fare will extend to October/Nov next year when i intend to travel. The $590 or so return in taxes isnt bad to me considering i am happy to save on the bottom line rather then using the points for an upgrade or some other use. I am only qantas silver so its highly unlikely anyway.

Decided to use my United MP miles through star alliance get around South America rather than LAN and one world. The United site is so superior when making award bookings. Other airlines should take note.