Travellers wanting to fly economy from Australia to London return had been able to escape paying $610 in fuel surcharges by redeeming their frequent-flyer points on an Emirates flight rather than Qantas. They could also pay $290 less for a return economy with Emirates to an Asian destination.
Qantas cannot raise the total cost of a ticket considerably higher than its rivals because it would make it uncompetitive. But it can try to recoup the cost of fuel by imposing fuel surcharges on passengers who are using frequent-flyer points to pay for their fare.
A step in the right direction, what took them so long? For me, not a well thought out plan at the time of forming the alliance, must have hit the bottom line for Q since April..
