Why is Qantas Business class 50% more expensive than the same itinerary on United?
May 29, 2006, 8:03 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AA, UA
Posts: 1
Why is Qantas Business class 50% more expensive than the same itinerary on United?
I'm currently looking at a business class flight from NY to Sydney. I'm quoted $12,450 USD on Qantas and $8,005 USD on United. Why such a disparity?
May 29, 2006, 9:06 pm
#4
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
QF does have some lower fares, for example the Circle Pacific fare would be less than that, as would any of the RTW fares. AA also codeshares on LAX-SYD, which might reduce the fare if you have a corporate discount with AA.
As to why QF costs 50% more than UA, the answer is supply and demand; lots more people are willing to buy the QF ticket instead of the UA ticket. Whether it is worth it, or good value, is a different question. Personally I've chosen to fly QF 99% of the time on this route, instead of UA.
As to why QF costs 50% more than UA, the answer is supply and demand; lots more people are willing to buy the QF ticket instead of the UA ticket. Whether it is worth it, or good value, is a different question. Personally I've chosen to fly QF 99% of the time on this route, instead of UA.
May 29, 2006, 9:40 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 188
Is it just me that thinks the reasons are obvious?!
you need to compare apples with apples or maybe German cars?? vis a vis a nearly new BMW (QF) with a banged-up rusty 30 year old VW bug/beetle that desperately needs some money invested in it (UA). Plus, in that particular market segment, QF can get away with charging so much more of course.
May 29, 2006, 11:28 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: RSE
Programs: AA Exp|VA Platinum
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I just hope when/if DJ start flying that route they go for a VA style service...Upper class, PE and regular WHY
Edit: I did of course mean VS. Although I'm sure Volare Airlines was good while it was around
Edit: I did of course mean VS. Although I'm sure Volare Airlines was good while it was around
Last edited by bensyd; May 30, 2006 at 12:04 am
May 29, 2006, 11:56 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Melbourne,Victoria,Australia
Programs: QF Plat (Life Gold), SQ PPS
Posts: 1,072
I have heard it said, apparently seriously, that Qantas make no attempt to compete on price on this route for fear that, if they do, it would drive UA out completely and increase pressure on the government to allow other carriers (notably SQ of course) to operate Australia-US.
May 30, 2006, 12:56 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: BNE, Australia...not too far from the nearest Qantas Pub err Club
Posts: 3,636
About 9 months ago, we had a corporate edict to fly United across the pond - apparently a "great deal with United has been negotiated". I replied to management warning them that this wouldn't work. "Friends don't let their friends fly United".
It didn't - a senior team flew to the US on UA and complained bitterly about how poor the seats were, how bad the service was, and that they wanted to spend 14 hours on a plane with part of that asleep, not in a seat that isn't really designed for sleeping.
We now pay QF's extortionate rates to the US - and we get what we pay for.
And the cheap price you get on UA - you get what you pay for.
If you want a cheap airfare across the pond, consider earlier advice about a DCIR22, or look at going on FJ via NAN - I was pretty impressed with FJ on a recent flight.
It didn't - a senior team flew to the US on UA and complained bitterly about how poor the seats were, how bad the service was, and that they wanted to spend 14 hours on a plane with part of that asleep, not in a seat that isn't really designed for sleeping.
We now pay QF's extortionate rates to the US - and we get what we pay for.
And the cheap price you get on UA - you get what you pay for.
If you want a cheap airfare across the pond, consider earlier advice about a DCIR22, or look at going on FJ via NAN - I was pretty impressed with FJ on a recent flight.
May 30, 2006, 1:10 am
#9
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Portland OR Double Emerald (QF and AA), DL PM/MM, Starwood Plat
Posts: 19,589
$8K J fare from SFO-SYD
Originally Posted by whughes3
I have heard it said, apparently seriously, that Qantas make no attempt to compete on price on this route for fear that, if they do, it would drive UA out completely and increase pressure on the government to allow other carriers (notably SQ of course) to operate Australia-US.
May 30, 2006, 7:54 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,324
The QF J Aussie Airpass starts from around $7199 too. I know I have mentioned it in several threads (and I'm not affiliated with QF!) but it might be an option worth considering if you are willing to shell out that kind of money.
http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn...ls/webDeals218
http://www.qantas.com.au/regions/dyn...ls/webDeals218
May 30, 2006, 9:18 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: 1K MMiler, Hertz 5*
Posts: 589
Originally Posted by ollieinmelbourne
you need to compare apples with apples or maybe German cars?? vis a vis a nearly new BMW (QF) with a banged-up rusty 30 year old VW bug/beetle that desperately needs some money invested in it (UA).
Here's some of UA's fleet age taken from this years report.
Fleet:
744 in fleet - 30 w/avg age of 10 years
763 in fleet - 35 w/avg age of 11 years
772 in fleet - 52 w/avg age of 7 years
May 30, 2006, 12:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: In Exile
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Posts: 2,496
Originally Posted by rosesplus
Complete rubbish,
Here's some of UA's fleet age taken from this years report.
Fleet:
744 in fleet - 30 w/avg age of 10 years
763 in fleet - 35 w/avg age of 11 years
772 in fleet - 52 w/avg age of 7 years
Here's some of UA's fleet age taken from this years report.
Fleet:
744 in fleet - 30 w/avg age of 10 years
763 in fleet - 35 w/avg age of 11 years
772 in fleet - 52 w/avg age of 7 years
I'm still puzzled over UA's decission to re-paint their aircraft rather than use the same money to improving cabin amenities. Maybe it has to do with maintenance, I know they need re-painting every so often but it must have cost a lot of money that UA didn't have to come up with a new scheme.