Qantas Neglects their Roots Again.
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I was working in Singapore until January this year and REALY enjoyed some of the great fares offered between Singapore and Australia. Qantas led the way and the others followed with special prices. I was in Hong Kong before that for a few years so was out of touch with the Australian market fares.
On my return I was dumbfounded to see what Qantas were doing to Australian consumers. Today (19 Aug 05) I received the latest fares via a QF e-newsletter. The latest SIN-SYD fare is SGD468 (=AUD373 !!) return! No Mininimum stay; maximum 1 year. OMG. On qf.com today, the cheapest "Global Deal" from Sydney TO Singapore is AUD978, 260% more.
You can't even get to Perth from Sydney for the price they are charging ex SIN to SYD.
These were available all throughout last year, with the exception of school holiday periods at both ends.
In this day and age of the internet exomony, I would encourage all of us to get a bit smarter than the "white rat" and buy tickets in Asia where it fits your needs. The airlines call this "Cross Border Selling" and was their biggest fear with the gradual proliferation of ticket purchases on the internet. This info may be especially helpful if you don't have enough points for ultra-long-haul - get to SIN on points and then just AUD796 to LHR from SIN...
Full e-mail and fare set:
Quote:
==============================================
"Latest Global Deals ==============================================
Seats on sale until 5pm, Friday 16 September 2005.
Fares from Singapore to:
Perth from $288
Brisbane from $468
Cairns from $468
Darwin from $520
Adelaide from $468
Melbourne from $468
Sydney from $468
Canberra from $660
Gold Coast from $660
Hobart from $660
Launceston from $660
Auckland from $788
Christchurch from $788
Wellington from $788
Noumea from $788
Queenstown from $788
Frankfurt from $998
London from $998
Europe via London from $1098^
US East Coast from $1498^
These fares are valid for travel from 21 August 2005 until 15 November 2005.
- Book and pay within 3 days of booking but no later than 5pm,
Friday 16 September 2005.
- One flight and date change permitted after departure at S$75 for southbound flights.
- Price excludes airport taxes, service fees, insurance and fuel surcharges.
- Travel from 21 August 2005 to 15 November 2005.
- Flights are return economy flights departing Singapore and apply to selected Qantas, British Airways and Australian Airlines flights.
- Minimum Stay Nil.
- Maximum Stay 1 year.
- Other terms and conditions apply.
- All prices subject to changes without any prior notice.
==========================================
You have received this e-mail because you subscribed to Qantas Singapore.
You can unsubscribe at any time by typing in your e-mail address and
clicking 'unsubscribe' at http://www.qantas.com.sg
If this e-mail has been forwarded to you by someone other than Qantas and you want to be added to the free latest specials Qantas Singapore distribution list, you can subscribe at http://www.qantas.com.sg
This is a post only e-mail. Do not respond to this message.
Qantas Airways Limited
ABN 16 009 661 901"
PS - Sorry for the winge; just hope some readers can take advantage.
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My eyes lit up when I saw those prices, as I would love to do a status run to achieve silver again and possibly even gold and who knows maybe even platinum. Stop dreaming, platinum!!!!.
I have logged on to the Qantas website with singapore as my home city and the best price I could get for travel Singapore to Perth return (fly out sep 20 return sep 23 just as an example) was $551SGD (taxes are $263SGD!!!!). Still not bad compared to what it could cost travelling from PER to SIN return.
I could just see myself doing SYD-SIN-PER-SIN-SYD. Travel SYD-SIN-SYD with british airways wt+ $1339.92AUD earning 120 status credits, then SIN-PER-SIN with qantas discount economy $430AUD earning 50 status credits. Total cost $1740 for 170 status credits at around $10.23 per status credit. I know that is not a great ratio but it is not bad. And the possibilities from Singapore are endless. SIN-LHR-SIN is around $1200SGD for wt+ (approximately $960AUD) which returns 160 status credits at $6 per status credit. Hey that is a fantastic return!!!!. Are my calculations correct? Interesting how SYD-SIN-SYD is more expensive than SIN-LHR-SIN (much longer flight) on wt+.
Ahh... The joys of trying to create a status run. Costs nothing to dream.
Here was some of the fine print for the SIN-PER-SIN deal.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Seats are limited.
Class of Travel is Economy.
Prices are in Singapore Dollars.
Only E-Tickets are issued.
Changes - One date/flight change permitted after departure at administration surcharge of S$75.
Fares valid for Economy Class.
E-Tickets issued are non refundable, non reroutable and non endorsable.
Prices exclude taxes, insurance, fuel and other surcharges.
Fuel surcharge of US$48 per International sector is applicable for all tickets.
The online booking engine is only able to display flights until 30th June 2006.
Stopovers: This option is not available for bookings made online.
Because customers can book from anywhere in the world using the Qantas website, Qantas will only accept the following credit cards:
- Visa Card
- Master Card
- UATP
- Diners Card
- American Express
- JCB Card
Note : Australian and New Zealand Bankcard and Qantas Charge cards, at present, are not available as a method of payment for bookings over the internet
Location: Home, Work, Airport, Here (not in that order!)
Posts: 4,528
I think Qantas finds extremely heavy competition in Singapore. This is thinly veiled in the reports with comments like "Mr Dixon said Qantas had to cut costs not only because of surging oil prices but also to remain competitive against government-owned airlines such as Emirates and Singapore Airlines."
(http://www.smh.com.au/news/business/...958181792.html)
Qantas must have a hard time getting people to fly from Singapore. Singapore air would have a strangle hold on the market... they are merely meeting the competitive pressures to try and stay competitive.
Still, I feel ripped off any time I see the Ex-Asia fares...
Member of: Qantas FF, American Airlines AAdv, NW WorldPerks
Posts: 3,860
Mal, I believe your assessment answers AlwaysUpThere's original post. There is much greater competition. Competition = pricing pressure = cheaper deals = consumers' market (not airlines market (or read QF) as it is here in Australia).
JohnK, BA's WT+ is perfect for a status run. Cheaper per unit cost ($/SC's) than almost any other medium or long haul fare. If you are travelling from MEL or SYD to SIN, BKK or LHR; it's a fait acompli to travel in premium economy for a proportionally reduced cost differential. QF lost me some years ago on the Kangaroo Route and aren't likely to get me back. The only time I travelled QF is when I could score a U seat, now with the post 25 May changes, they aren't likely to get me back (with me having to wait until <24 hours to see if i have scored a J seat).
I arranged the exact same ticketing for my M-i-L as you quoted. I purchased a Q class BNE/SIN/BNE and a BA WT+ SIN/LHR/SIN (I'm lucky to know a QF CSA who works in QF SIN Res). But I put my M-i-L on an AA's Lack of Challenge (rather than her not even climbing to QF Silver after all the flights). She'll instead get AA Plat mid-flight SIN/LHR and will be AA Plat for her return flights (including access to Lounges, Business Class check-in).
That, together with the cheaper redemptions (20K points anywhere in Australia or NZ) means her next holiday is paid for (except for the taxes).
__________________ FF Programs: QFF Gold (OW Sapphire) QC Life, LTSilver & 57.5% to LTG, AAdv (24.35% to LTG), NW. Hotel: PC Plat, Hyatt GP Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG, Marriott Rewards, PriorityGUEST. Car Rental: Avis Pref, Hertz No 1 Cards: Amex Plat, Visa Plat.
Flown 585 sectors totalling 821,765 miles since March 03, 1988 (ba97.com)
Yes flights in WT+ ex. BKK or SIN usually represent good value. It's also probably the easiest way for someone to get AA Platinum via the LOC, if you're based in Asia. For example, BA Thailand now has a promotion for WT+ ex. BKK to SYD, MEL or BNE for THB29,000 (around Aus$950) + taxes. This return flight would easily qualify for AA Platinum (through LOC), as WT+ classes earn 1.5Q Points from memory, and 110% mileage accrual .
Still, I feel ripped off any time I see the Ex-Asia fares...
Mal, it's not always smooth sailing over here. Naturally, prices ex. Japan for QF, BA etc are nothing special, while local prices are often extortionate. On Monday I had to fork out $450 for a one-way KIX-CTS on ANA - a 667mile fare :x .
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Member of: Qantas FF, American Airlines AAdv, NW WorldPerks
Posts: 3,860
BlacKnox, that's a good deal - I usually get my WT+ deal from a friendly QF CSA based in SIN. You are spot on with the AA QPoints & Mileage accrual for WT+.
markis10, that fare probably allows for a SYD or MEL/BNE QF flight (in K class) as does the Aus-based TPLX fares.
__________________ FF Programs: QFF Gold (OW Sapphire) QC Life, LTSilver & 57.5% to LTG, AAdv (24.35% to LTG), NW. Hotel: PC Plat, Hyatt GP Gold, HHonors Gold, SPG, Marriott Rewards, PriorityGUEST. Car Rental: Avis Pref, Hertz No 1 Cards: Amex Plat, Visa Plat.
Flown 585 sectors totalling 821,765 miles since March 03, 1988 (ba97.com)
The problem I have had in the past with trying to buy internet flight tickets from a foreign site is that the site will only accept credit cards where the billing address is in the country of the site. I think this is how the airlines try to prevent 'cross border selling'. Has anyone had success in booking Qantas tickets from a foreign site on an Australian credit card?
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