Why is it so?

[Ansett]

Why is it that we here in Australia get so ripped off on so many things but in particular air fares.

Its not just Qantas its all airlines it seems but all I have is examples from QF below on prices on MEL - LHR Vs LHR - MEL



That is almost 20% Dearer and only that cheap as part of a companion sale other wise as a single the fare for same dates is between $9169.00 return and $10,057.00 return. This is more than 50% Dearer than buying it the other way around.

Here are examples from other airlines




Surely its time for an investigation into Airlines ripping off Australians...

 

[knasty]

Google 'Australia tax'. Flights are only one of many goods and services which are comparatively more expensive.

 

[wandering_fred]

The falling AUD is making the match-ups a bit more even, but bargains remain. Buy economy or award tickets to SE ASia. Even QF has/had good sale fares recently. Sometimes SIN and HKG will work but the smaller airports normally are cheaper for J fares to Europe. You might find that AY still offering mixed fares as above including the leg from Oz. Talk to a good TA about that. UL will have good fares from all its points. Try CX from SGN NRT or PEN. MH would be better from SIN/HKG than KUL.

Be creative and you will be wandering more.

Fred

 

[andye]

Airfares seem to be entirely governed by what the market will bear. Au-Europe fares from non-Au based airlines haven't gone up much despite the fall in value of the AUD (the price of oil may help that).

 

[TomVexille]

Airfares seem to be entirely governed by what the market will bear. Au-Europe fares from non-Au based airlines haven't gone up much despite the fall in value of the AUD (the price of oil may help that).

This. +1,000

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The price from Australia is higher because it includes things like credit card surcharges, and covers consumer protection legislation so that if your flight is delayed by more than 6 hours, you get food, accommodation and almost AUD900 in compensation. The high price from Australia also covers things such as involuntary downgrades and re-routing in the event of disruption.

All things not covered by flights leaving Europe.

oh wait...

 

[JohnPhelan]

And people in the UK complain constantly about why BA fares ex LHR are dearer than BA fares ex SYD, HKG, SIN, FRA, CDG and anywhere else.

Fares booked from the airline's home country are almost always dearer than those booked from another country.

 

[juddles]

Why is a bread more expensive in Australia than Bolivia?? I just simply cannot understand :/

 

[Virgin Bart]

The price from Australia is higher because it includes things like credit card surcharges, and covers consumer protection legislation so that if your flight is delayed by more than 6 hours, you get food, accommodation and almost AUD900 in compensation. The high price from Australia also covers things such as involuntary downgrades and re-routing in the event of disruption.

All things not covered by flights leaving Europe.

oh wait...

I was reading this and thought, "is this person high?".. luckily I read to the end.

 

[MelUser]

Because we pay the prices charged. Retail works on the basis of what is the maximum you can charge for people to continue to buy.

 

[juddles]

Because we pay the prices charged. Retail works on the basis of what is the maximum you can charge for people to continue to buy.

Not really true - there is a price point that makes the product sale a loss. If we ¨refused to pay¨ the fares then airlines die. They do some jiggling between markets based on what people can afford, but if they reduce it in one market it must go up in another. Anyone who feels we are being ¨gouged¨or similar should take a good hard look at airline profit/loss statistics.

 

[opusman]

There's lots more competition in Europe, not just in terms of airlines but also destinations. Why would you pay £5K to go Australia when you could pay £2K to go to the USA.

Whereas us suckers down here at the cough-end of the world have no choice if we want to go anywhere vaguely interesting...

 

[alieninperth]

to save us all repeating the arguements I'll just link to this thread. http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ying-premium-flights-out-australia-34778.html. Some of the same names crop up in both.

I seem to recall doing a comparision following FX variations but I cant find it and nor do I have the time to dig it up.

 

[spudseamus]

Because they can .

 

[slc767338]

The fact that A$1 now fetches a measly £0.50 doesn't help, but fares have sadly been this way since.. Well it seems like forever.

Since 2012 most of my European bookings have been returns booked ex LHR because of the ridiculous price difference.

 

[marki]

Currencies: $A climbs as March cash rate cut talk cools

 

[opusman]

Currencies: $A climbs as March cash rate cut talk cools

1 cent here or there, it's still a long way from parity Bloody Glenn Stevens!

 

[JohnK]

I have found a route where it is cheaper to purchase from Australia.

SYD/BNE-CNX return is cheaper than CNX-SYD/BNE return.

If I am mistaken can someone please advise how I can book it cheaper.

 

[wandering_fred]

If the Aussie dollar falls far enough, there will be many more examples.

In the recent exAustralia sale, HKG prices (on both CX and QF) were more than exAustralia.

The only suggestions I have now are to watch the MH promo fares (that earn no miles).

Wandering may be in transition.

Fred