Airlines ripping off Aussie passengers
A new survey conducted by online travel directory TotalTravel.com over three weeks asking whether airlines’ fuel surcharges were fair, considering the recent fall in fuel prices, says that airlines are ripping off passengers by continuing to charge fuel surcharges on domestic flights despite the drop in oil prices.
With a total of 1036 survey respondents, an overwhelming, 80% thought that airlines were ripping customers off by not reducing the surcharge, with only 20% believing fluctuating oil prices and fuel surcharges were a reality of modern travel.
TotalTravel.com’s Global Marketing Manager Paul Fisher says that the survey results were extremely relevant, considering the recent decision by Qantas to reduce the fuel surcharge on its international flights, adding “I was impressed by Qantas’ decision to reduce the surcharge for international flights, reducing some of the financial burden on travellers”, adding “They obviously listened to the public’s concerns and acted.”
Mr Fisher said it now was time for Qantas owned Jetstar and competitor Virgin Blue to reduce the fuel surcharge on domestic airlines, adding, “The price of fuel has dropped dramatically in recent months and there should be no reason why fuel surcharges on domestic flights are not reduced”.
“As our survey found, the public is clearly not satisfied with the current situation and some serious changes need to be made.”
Qantas’ fuel surcharges are $31 on a domestic flight, $24 on a Jetstar flight and $65 across the Tasman, with Virgin Blue charging $19 a sector (one-way) on domestic flights.
In contrast, the price of crude oil has dropped substantially and is projected to trade internationally in 2007 between US$55 and US$60 per barrel, after peaking at US $82 per barrel in August, when surcharges were introduced.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
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