Wirraway
6th Apr 2004, 04:52
Tues "The Australian"
Outrage over Qantas costs
By John Masanauskas
April 06, 2004
QANTAS domestic passengers will be hit with a $55 fee if they want to fly with traditional paper tickets.
From July 1, Qantas will introduce electronic ticketing for all national flights to cut costs and "simplify the travelling process".
The charge will also apply to domestic flights by its leisure carrier, Australian Airlines.
Pensioners' groups condemned the move yesterday, saying the surcharge was unfair to older Australians.
Combined Pensioner and Superannuants Association spokesman David Skidmore said that people shouldn't have to pay more for a traditional airline ticket.
"It's an awful whack when you consider the pension rises somewhat more slowly," Mr Skidmore said. "A lot of people still find it convenient to get their ticket in person."
From July 1, Qantas and Australian Airlines will charge travel agents $55 for each paper ticket issued for domestic flights.
A Qantas memo to agents said full e-ticketing would simplify travel and slash the significant costs of paper tickets.
"The change is also designed to offer greater convenience and flexibility to you and your customers and eliminate paper transactions," it said.
Australian Institute of Travel and Tourism federal council president James Pegum said agents would have to pass the fee on to travellers.
"I can't understand why they are doing it; a lot of people like paper tickets," he said.
"Who wants to pay $55 extra for a ticket when a cheap fare might only cost $60?"
Qantas spokesman Melissa Thomson said more than 95 per cent of domestic bookings involved e-tickets.
"We are phasing out paper tickets, as is the trend with airlines around the world," she said. Ms Thomson said the airline's no-frills subsidiary Jetstar and competitor Virgin Blue didn't use paper tickets.
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said e-tickets had been accepted.
"It works great - it was just a matter of educating people at the start," she said.
Ms Bolger said more than 80 per cent of the airline's customers booked on the internet.
But Mr Skidmore said that dumping paper tickets was like banks trying to force customer to use the internet.
"Many older people are computer literate, but it's all going a bit fast and this is inconvenient for a lot of people," he said.
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Outrage over Qantas costs
By John Masanauskas
April 06, 2004
QANTAS domestic passengers will be hit with a $55 fee if they want to fly with traditional paper tickets.
From July 1, Qantas will introduce electronic ticketing for all national flights to cut costs and "simplify the travelling process".
The charge will also apply to domestic flights by its leisure carrier, Australian Airlines.
Pensioners' groups condemned the move yesterday, saying the surcharge was unfair to older Australians.
Combined Pensioner and Superannuants Association spokesman David Skidmore said that people shouldn't have to pay more for a traditional airline ticket.
"It's an awful whack when you consider the pension rises somewhat more slowly," Mr Skidmore said. "A lot of people still find it convenient to get their ticket in person."
From July 1, Qantas and Australian Airlines will charge travel agents $55 for each paper ticket issued for domestic flights.
A Qantas memo to agents said full e-ticketing would simplify travel and slash the significant costs of paper tickets.
"The change is also designed to offer greater convenience and flexibility to you and your customers and eliminate paper transactions," it said.
Australian Institute of Travel and Tourism federal council president James Pegum said agents would have to pass the fee on to travellers.
"I can't understand why they are doing it; a lot of people like paper tickets," he said.
"Who wants to pay $55 extra for a ticket when a cheap fare might only cost $60?"
Qantas spokesman Melissa Thomson said more than 95 per cent of domestic bookings involved e-tickets.
"We are phasing out paper tickets, as is the trend with airlines around the world," she said. Ms Thomson said the airline's no-frills subsidiary Jetstar and competitor Virgin Blue didn't use paper tickets.
Virgin Blue spokeswoman Amanda Bolger said e-tickets had been accepted.
"It works great - it was just a matter of educating people at the start," she said.
Ms Bolger said more than 80 per cent of the airline's customers booked on the internet.
But Mr Skidmore said that dumping paper tickets was like banks trying to force customer to use the internet.
"Many older people are computer literate, but it's all going a bit fast and this is inconvenient for a lot of people," he said.
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