Qatar YQ rip off

[Strawb]

Last week I booked a shorthaul redemption using Privilege Club Avios on Cathay, Hong Kong-Hanoi, Vietnam. Initially redeemed 12,500 Avios for a one way flight in J. Was quoted £64 for YQ alone on top of usual taxes. I refused to pay and asked to be rebooked in Y. YQ came to £40 (HK$390) in Y.

FARE DETAILS
Fare Calculation: HKG CX HAN0.00NUC0.00END ROE1.00 Fare: USD 0.00
Form of payment: AVIOS
Endorsements: /C1 QR FFP TICKET

Fare equivalent: HKD 0
Taxes: HKD 90G3
HKD 120HK
HKD 55I5
Carrier Imposed Fees: HKD390YQ
Total Amount: HKD 655

Cathay are charging HKD161 on revenue fares in both Y and J, there is no difference depending on cabin. BA Exec Club and Finnair Plus are charging close to CX levels. I have paid more than double the YQ by redeeming via Privilege Club even though it cost fewer Avios than BA Exec Club. Be warned.

[marcolau]

For redemption on CX flights, if you can find it on QR website or app you should have booked it there rather than via phone. QR charge $0 on CX redemption flights if redeemed online.

But yes, QR does charge a ridiculous redemption fee on flights redeemed through phone hotline. BA and others on the other hand just charge whatever quoted by operating carrier (taxes with fuel surcharge)

[Strawb]

I made my initial booking online by transferring 12,500 Avios from Exec Club to Privilege Club and was quoted the ridiculous YQ in the first instance. When I called up to query the fees and charges I asked if it included a redemption fee. It didn’t but the YQ quoted was not the same as ITA matrix and Cathay’s website. I wasn’t prepared to pay £64 for such a short flight. I could have redeemed via Exec Club in Y for the lower YQ of £16 but that meant using more Avios but I am not Avios rich. Last year I made the same booking online in Y via Privilege Club and the fees and surcharges were the same as CX, there was no difference in YQ. This flight used to be 4,500 Avios one way in Y with Exec Club before multiple increases over the past few years thanks to BA devaluing CX redemptions. The cost using BA Avios has more than doubled now to 9,750 Avios one way in Y. Redemptions on short haul intra-Asia flights is now a rip off, especially in J.