Qantas launches its "We're not dropping the fuel surcharge" sale
By David Flynn, January 22 2015
Qantas has cut the price of its economy tickets to Asia, London and Los Angeles in the wake of consumer unrest and ACCC investigation into fuel surcharges.
The cheapest average economy return fare from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Los Angeles is now $1290, a drop of almost $370 – which happens to be almost the same amount as the $340 fuel surcharge on a standard one-way economy ticket.
However, those fuel surcharges will remain on tickets booked using Qantas Frequent Flyer points.
For more fares and all the details, click through to Qantas.com.
A Qantas spokesman said that "fuel surcharges are already included in the advertised price of Qantas fares, and those fares remain extremely competitive"
"We continue to monitor surcharges but the bottom line for consumers is that Qantas fares already in the market are some of the cheapest in years. For instance, the price of a fare to London is about 30 percent lower than it was 10 years ago, adjusted for inflation."
Earlier today Virgin Australia announced it would reduce US airfares by up to $50 and roll its fuel surcharge into base fares, in response to falling jet fuel prices.
Read: Virgin Australia drops fuel surcharge, cuts airfares
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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.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
And the price war continues!
09 Jul 2014
Total posts 31
Headline of the week! *laughs*
02 Jan 2013
Total posts 142
Considering ANZ are doing flights to LA currently under $1200AUD ex MEL, SYD, BRI and usually remain under $1500 throughout the year, QF is still expensive considering.
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
It's not unusual for airlines to price their product to attract customers to an indirect option! If 2 airlines fly to the same destination at the same price, but one flies with 1 stop, many people won't fly that airline.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Oct 2013
Total posts 702
Well there were enough Aussies on the AKL - LAX flights with NZ
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
Not disputing that. But NZ can't charge a premium for that can they?
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 1425
$90 to avoid an Auckland stopover seems a bargain. I would pay a bit more to avoid that. But then I am happy to pay more to have an A380 rather than a 777 squeeze for long flights as well. To each their own.
12 Jun 2013
Total posts 735
An Auckland stopover is an annoyance if you're going to LAX and your alternative is a nonstop, but it's a joy if you're going to SFO (as I usually do) and your alternative is a stop in LAX.
The ten-abreast 777, however, is a killer, and has stopped me from flying NZ on this route for the most part. NZ premium economy is easily worth it if I can get a good deal (<$3000) but for my next planned trip they're asking over $4000, they're dreamin'.
Thai Airways International - Royal Orchid Plus
15 Jan 2013
Total posts 466
I would like to ask their ADL customers that one.If it was me I would take the Auckland stopover at any price on the way to the USA.Have done the Sydney transfer before ON MY SECOND trip to LA back in the debacle of the Ansett and Air NZ problems of 2001 and wasn't very pleasant.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
Things have changed in the fourteen years intervening, but as far as I can tell the strongest advantage of AKL is that it's an international-international connection.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
"...drop of almost $370 – which happens to be almost the same amount as the $340 fuel surcharge on a standard economy ticket. However, those fuel surcharges will remain on tickets booked using Qantas Frequent Flyer points."
Oh Qantas Frequent Flyers, Qantas has got you by the proverbial balls!
07 Oct 2012
Total posts 1251
Don't be using your QFF for economy tickets that's for sure!
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
But its not just Qantas. I've noticed that Krisflyer is charging equally rediculous co-payments.
I am thinking of moving away from my Westpac Krisflyer visa card but there isn't many decent alternatives out there.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
19 Mar 2014
Total posts 567
Yes I costed up airfares with Krisflyer after the Velocity merger. It's just plain ugly!
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
28 Oct 2014
Total posts 18
Citibank Signature VISA!!! $299 per year and equates to 1 Velocity Point per $ spent. Fuel charges are MUCH lower on Velocity than either Qantas or Singapore. Plus there is flexibility to transfer points from Citibank to Krisflyer if you want to.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 210
BA have the most outrageous fuel surcharges. SQ are experts at throwing up every hurdle possible for all forms of award travel (except Y).
03 Nov 2014
Total posts 90
Yes they have...I just paid $1300+ fuel & taxes on two one-way Business Class redemption flights....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Apr 2013
Total posts 146
I must have got the bargain of the year last year then. 2 first class seats on QF points from JFK-DXB-SYD for $58! $29 each!
I had to check it twice to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
Was it on QF or EK metal?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
07 Apr 2013
Total posts 146
EK
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
That explains it. It's QF that charges those fees, not EK. So when EK doesn't charge it, QF is in no position to impose such fees.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
11 Apr 2014
Total posts 25
Which is why I only ever fly Qantas on AA miles. No surcharge.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Aug 2013
Total posts 138
I know, right? So much easier and the AA points go sooooooo much further! Taxes are practically non-existent on AA, compared to QF.
03 Nov 2014
Total posts 90
Agreed...I got the return flights in Business from Europe on my AA points & paid US$120....
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 210
For SYD-JFK in J on QF using AA miles, the surcharge is $US86, still a far cry from QF surcharge!
22 Jan 2015
Total posts 14
Always amazing what lengths airlines will go to, to reduce the amounts they pay to travel agents.
23 Jan 2015
Total posts 1
how can aussies get AA points though?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
17 Aug 2012
Total posts 2204
Credit points earn to your AA account rather than QF; alternatively, buy them in bulk batches of 60k.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Oct 2014
Total posts 14
What card can you use in Oz that credits to AA?
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Aug 2013
Total posts 138
There are none, unless you are a U.S. citizen & can apply for a Citibank US card et al of that nature. This would be fruitless & therefore pointless for an Australian fin services organisation to offer as it would appeal to only a marginalised niche market.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
21 Aug 2013
Total posts 138
Credit your Qantas &/or all other OneWorld carrier flights to your AAdvantage account. Credit your car hires, your hotels et al to your AAdvantage account. When they have a good 'special' on, buy up to your yearly maximum of 100,000 points - American lets you do this once every calendar year, unlike Qantas, who only offer points plus pay. I recently bought 80,000 points & received a healthy bonus of 45,000 points free on top of that. If you're interested in elite status but don't do quite enough to qualify, do a 'challenge' - upfront fee of a few hundred and three months to do a certain amount of flying & you then gain status. This then translates to the equivalent OneWorld status with Qantas.
There are ways around everything; do your homework & you'll be rewarded!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
31 Aug 2012
Total posts 210
All smoke and mirrors at QF! In recent 'sales', the Y return fare to LAX, for example, has been $1299, just $9 more than the current offer. Is that a big yawn or not?
Also I would be certain that the hefty surcharges/co-payments for award travel, whether using QFF points or, say, AAdvantage miles, remain unchanged. Qantas will only reduce surcharges if the competition is noticably affecting their bottom line. In matters like this they have always been followers, not leaders.
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