What's the point having points if you have to pay $850 in "fees"?

[SundayRed]

Looking to head from Sydney to Los Angeles for a week in October and have spent years accumulating a bank of 200k points for occasions like this.

Go to book my flights and then Qantas asks for $850 in "fees and taxes".

What's the point of earning points if the surcharge is 50% of what the fare actually costs?

Are there any ways to minimise this to a more reasonable amount? I have tried varying the travel dates, but to no avail.

Any advice or information would be very much appreciated.

 

[yohy?!]

Looking to head from Sydney to Los Angeles for a week in October and have spent years accumulating a bank of 200k points for occasions like this.

Go to book my flights and then Qantas asks for $850 in "fees and taxes".

What's the point of earning points if the surcharge is 50% of what the fare actually costs?

Are there any ways to minimise this to a more reasonable amount? I have tried varying the travel dates, but to no avail.

Any advice or information would be very much appreciated.

Sadly it seems you have been affected by the hidden deflation of you hard-earned points (through ever increasing surcharges).

You may want to look into other award types like the Oneworld Award through QFF using other carriers to see if this helps avoid the high QF fuel fines etc

 

[zainman]

some of the best value for QF points is when you use them to fly airlines that are not QF. It's almost like they WANT us to go to EK or other OW airlines..

 

[SundayRed]

some of the best value for QF points is when you use them to fly airlines that are not QF. It's almost like they WANT us to go to EK or other OW airlines..

So in that case, where do you search them? The fees associated with American Airlines via the Qantas website were even more!

 

[aikman]

For your particular needs, look for availability on Fiji Airways as they don't have a fuel surcharge. Cathay Pacific is an option as they have a lower fuel surcharge but Qantas will charge you a heck of a lot more points for flying them.

 

[zainman]

So in that case, where do you search them? The fees associated with American Airlines via the Qantas website were even more!

use the QF website or awardnexus to find availability or expertflyer (paid)

 

[Duffa]

Looking to head from Sydney to Los Angeles for a week in October and have spent years accumulating a bank of 200k points for occasions like this.

Go to book my flights and then Qantas asks for $850 in "fees and taxes".

What's the point of earning points if the surcharge is 50% of what the fare actually costs?

Are there any ways to minimise this to a more reasonable amount? I have tried varying the travel dates, but to no avail.

Any advice or information would be very much appreciated.

Sadly this is the norm.
When planning my award trips to Europe I factor in a "tax" of $1000 pp. Anything less, I count as a bonus, sadly.
Qantas is in my view the worst of all reward programmes
High points and high surcharges
SQ and MH - low points but high surcharges
EK - high points but low surcharges (although this is changing for the worse since the Qantas tie-up)
I suggest you go and live in the US!

Good luck with your searches

 

[cove]

Book into business class to ease the pain is a good strategy.

 

[boomy]

I find the best use of points is when upgrading from Y to J on international flights.

 

[Thai-Kiwi]

So in that case, where do you search them? The fees associated with American Airlines via the Qantas website were even more!

The fees on awards starting in NZ are significantly lower, presumably because you only transit Australian cities rather than originate in them.

It may seem counter-intuitive, but consider booking your award starting in NZ; this means you'd have to position to NZ first, but this might only be $200-250, and may more than offset the horrendous fees charged when originating in Australia.

cheers, TK

 

[Duffa]

Points and penalty to Singapore with SQ

 

[Duffa]

Points and penalty to Singapore with QF

240,000 points
$1106.24

More surcharges. More points

 

[JohnK]

What's the point of earning points if the surcharge is 50% of what the fare actually costs?

Are there any ways to minimise this to a more reasonable amount? I have tried varying the travel dates, but to no avail.

Welcome to AFF SundayRed!

Unfortunately there is not much you can do to avoid the fuel surcharge on Qantas. Internal US flights on AA do not incur fuel surcharges.

 

[Supersonic Swinger]

You can't think of QFF enabling you to have "free" flights, rather

- view Qantas Frequent Flyer points as valued at their "Pay with Points" value (roughly 0.8 cents per point)
- bear that in mind when say taking out credit cards which earn QFF points but have an annual fee on top for the "privilege"
- if you can find Business or First redemptions, they are better value when combined with the huge taxes (although this becomes easier the higher status you have)
- use them for upgrades (although again, easier the higher status you have).

 

[JCD]

What I can't work out is how they sell the discount tickets? Sometimes the discounted fares aren't much more than the "fees" charged on points bookings.

 

[brzbnkr]

I've just come across this issue. Just booked an LAX-SYD leg with my VA points… VA points were less, with no charges, than QF's points plus $350 in fees/taxes!
Getting a little annoyed that my primary credit card (AMEX Qantas Ultimate) is automatically going to QF points. Would prefer the option, but AMEX's Platinum charge card is now $1,200… well that's another can of worms……

 

[paultiffen]

Trying flying JQ to Hawaii and then use SQ for an internal US flight. Uses fewer points and you don't pay fuel surcharge on the US sector + low value on award chart for SQ

 

[brickmark]

There seem to be a big jump in taxes between July 2011 and October 2012.

Travel 24 Jul 2011 - BNE to LAX. Classic Points. J Class. Taxes = $194.89
Travel 17 Oct 2012 - BNE to LAX. Classic Points. J Class. Taxes = $486.34

 

[stroudie]

How do you book partner airline flights with QF points ?

 

[mannej]

How do you book partner airline flights with QF points ?

Some can be booked online, otherwise you'll have to call QF to do it for you.