Travellers on many Qantas and Emirates international flights will be hit with price rises of up to $90 per return trip from next month.
The extra cost, which will be added to tickets as an increase in the fuel surcharge, will apply to Qantas and Emirates flights to Europe, the UK, North Africa and the Middle East for all tickets booked on or after July 8, 2014.
Qantas and Emirates flights to New Zealand and Asia will not be affected, while the cost of tickets on Qantas flights which are not part of the Qantas/Emirates alliance – such as flights to the USA, South Africa and South America – will not change.
Economy passengers will see an increase of $15 per passenger for a one-way booking, with that doubling to $30 for travellers booked in premium economy.
Business class and first class passengers are up for an extra $45 per flight.
Existing bookings are unaffected, provided no change is made to the booking which requires the ticket to be re-issued.
"We regularly review our fuel surcharges policy across our international network, as well as in alignment with Emirates as part of our partnership, and will consider further changes to the fuel surcharge policy as appropriate" Qantas said in a statement detailing the new charges.
This is the second increase in fuel surcharge for Qantas/Emirates flights this year, following a similar hike in January which saw up to $50 added to the cost of a one-way ticket.
Taken on top of today's increase, business travellers on Qantas/Emirates flights to the UK and Europe are now paying an additional $95 in fuel surcharges for a one-way trip compared to 2013, with the total surcharge representing an estimated $540 of the total ticket price.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
Cathay Pacific - The Marco Polo Club
19 Apr 2014
Total posts 47
I guess this is just Qantas' way of telling us to switch over to another airline...if we haven't already done so
19 May 2014
Total posts 40
Qantas you seriously just dont get it!
EK and SQ my preferred first class carrier, thanks for the memories.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
Whilst I am not a fan of fuel surcharges, your criticism losses all credibility when you then state EK is one of your preferred first class carrier's... EK is also increasingly their fuel surcharge.
12 Mar 2014
Total posts 128
I'm also no fan of fuel surcharges, but if you're travelling in F, would the increased cost be significant enough to force you to look elsewhere?
27 Jun 2014
Total posts 2
How is this a "fuel surcharge"? If I filled up my car at the local petrol station and when to pay and was asked by the attendant "Where are you travelling?" . I would ask " Why?" ... "Sir, if you are travelling 10kms further than this station I need to add 1c per litre and if not, I you don't" ... I would reply be saying "You are price gauging" or similar .... When you fill up with fuel there is no price difference depending on where you are travelling .... It's how much fuel you use.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Sep 2013
Total posts 466
I said a few weeks ago it was comming and now fuel surcharge is confirmed and comming soon is a fare increase and by the end of October it will be there for all of us.
04 Dec 2013
Total posts 154
Fuel is a cost of doing business for an airline, just like salaries, insurance and maintenance. To describe it as a "surcharge" implies there is something different or unusual about the airline having to put fuel into the aircraft. If they need to raise ticket prices, do it. I have no idea why they insist on pretending this is not just a standard part of what you pay for when you buy a ticket.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 Feb 2014
Total posts 4
It's all about minimising the amount of commission paid to travel agents. Qantas pays commission to travel agents based on the cost of the fare. Surcharges are not considered part of the fare therefore Qantas doesn't pay them anything for the surcharges.
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 316
Certainly reduces the value of the QF Frequent Flyer points. Oh well burn them on Woolworths gift cards until the end of the year and set up an AMEX and store points in their Membership Rewards program and use them on any airline.
03 Jun 2014
Total posts 27
Unfortunately Qantas introduced EK to the fuel surcharge bonaza. Before the tie up EK had very reasonable fees on award flights which have now skyrocketed (especially on their Australian routes). I wish the government in Aus would remove the ability for airlines to apply component pricing like this, it is an operating cost and thus should be included in the cost of every airfare they file. It is also a ruse to reduce commissions paid to agents as that is based on base fare alone.
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