Book your Qantas airfares before 15 February to avoid surcharge increase

Qantas has just announced increased surcharges for international fares booked in Australia, as part of its response to the European Union and Australian carbon pricing schemes, as well as the sustained high price of fuel.

The carrier said both carbon and fuel pricing would "impact future ticket prices for Qantas and Jetstar passengers travelling both domestically and internationally".

Effective 15 Feb QF international fuel surcharges will rise to $350 one way, up $60, for flights to London and Frankfurt. The new fuel surcharge for US flights will be $310 in each direction, also up $60, while for Buenos Aires/Santiago/Johannesburg flights the surcharge rises $40 to $240. And for Asia and Honolulu flights the current $145 surcharge will increase to $165 one way.

Qantas year-round domestic fares will also increase from 9 February, with increases of around $5 per sector.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Classic redemptions will incur a $12 fuel surcharge, up $2.

Also from 15 February Qantas will impose a surcharge of $3.50 each way to fares booked in Australia for QF flights to and from London and Frankfurt, in relation to the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.

The Australian carbon pricing system, which comes into effect on 1st July, will see a distance-based surcharge applied to Qantas and QantasLink fares, costing $1.82 for flights up to 700km, $2.79 for 701-1200km, $4 for 1201-1900km and $6.86 for 1900km+. These surcharges will take effect for tickets booked on or after 15 February, for travel on or after 01 July.

Jetstar will also increase all domestic lead-in fares by $10 "in response to higher cost inputs including fuel prices and the introduction of the carbon price," with these increases also effective 15 February for travel from 01 July 2012.

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