Originally Posted by
yamanote8
Thanks all for the input. In my experience, specifically named taxes/fees/surcharges on awards have always matched that of a cash ticket, with the only variance being whether a partner booking fee or similar is collected (and whether or not YQ is collected at all, i.e. BA does but AA does not).
As dvs7310 mentions, BA charges a higher Avios amount for the same redemption - 9200 Avios more but 86USD less in fees in this case. Ultimately given the choice the Avios are worth more to me than that, but it is still something that should be more clearly laid out rather than being hidden away disguised as YQ. It certainly reduces the perceived savings in QR's partner award chart.
In the end, I called Qatar's main line and asked again. The agent priced out the same ticket and confirmed YQ should be 431HKD. Then after checking with ticketing, she came back with the following chart specific to JAL and Cathay awards booked over the phone:
Distance in miles: Y/J
0-1000: 50/80USD
1001-2000: 60/140USD
2001-3000: 75/180USD
3001-4000: 90/200USD
4001+: 100/238USD
So, the amount of YQ the operating carrier collects is totally irrelevant and is instead wrapped up in this fee, which I guess comprises fuel surcharge, a telephone booking fee, and some sort of a partner booking fee.
After checking, a CX J award for the same segment on QR's website prices at the correct/expected amount. In the end, since it is not possible to book JL awards on QR's website there is no way to avoid this.
Sounds like they're doing exactly the same as BA then for just JL and CX, just in a different format. Instead of increasing the Avios, they're charging it as a disguised YQ instead. It's interesting though, because they say 'booked on the phone'. I always book via Chat. But I wonder if you just submitted a request online and waited for the reply if the fees will still be that or would be normal?
It's really surprising that you got someone to admit the real YQ should be what was expected and the rest was a hidden fee, good job.