I find it is pretty hard to complain when you end up with a Qantas Frequent Flyer reward after building up points for many years, but I thought I'd share this experience so others can make better decisions.
Years ago you'd earn the points and you'd pay nothing extra. Then Qantas introduced that you can use points and pay for taxes and additional charges, or use extra points to pay for the charges, in effect reducing the value of the points. I also noticed the number of points required for a trip had increased again reducing the value of points.
What did surprise me was the level of charges and I think it may surprise others, so I felt it was appropriate to alert others.
A return flight to Bali for two is 100,000 points. If you opt to pay the fees you'll end up paying a whooping $701.18.
If you check the specials for flights and accommodation to Bali, which come out each week in the newspaper, you'll find those charges are nearly as much as a return flight plus accommodation for six nights. Had I known this at the time I probably would have opted to pay for the package over using points as the accommodation was included. It's a hard call because often the travel agents advertise prices which are "from", which often isn't available when you want it. But of course frequent flyer flights may not be available when you want them either.
If you're building up points using the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, you may wish to review how many points you require and how much it is going to cost you in extra charges if you opt to pay for the charges, or you don't have enough points so have to pay the charges.
Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
Years ago you'd earn the points and you'd pay nothing extra. Then Qantas introduced that you can use points and pay for taxes and additional charges, or use extra points to pay for the charges, in effect reducing the value of the points. I also noticed the number of points required for a trip had increased again reducing the value of points.
What did surprise me was the level of charges and I think it may surprise others, so I felt it was appropriate to alert others.
A return flight to Bali for two is 100,000 points. If you opt to pay the fees you'll end up paying a whooping $701.18.
If you check the specials for flights and accommodation to Bali, which come out each week in the newspaper, you'll find those charges are nearly as much as a return flight plus accommodation for six nights. Had I known this at the time I probably would have opted to pay for the package over using points as the accommodation was included. It's a hard call because often the travel agents advertise prices which are "from", which often isn't available when you want it. But of course frequent flyer flights may not be available when you want them either.
If you're building up points using the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, you may wish to review how many points you require and how much it is going to cost you in extra charges if you opt to pay for the charges, or you don't have enough points so have to pay the charges.
Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
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