QF reward bookings - different charges based on travel class

QF reward bookings - different charges based on travel class

Hi All - sorry if this has been addressed before.  I'm looking at a reward booking SYD-LHR next year in Business.  The fees/taxes are a whopping $624.  I checked economy on the same flight - $264. (coincidentally the same numbers in a different order)  There is a CX option on that particular day in business with total charge of $123 - across 2 separate flights.  Very tempted to go Cathay.   Have J charges always been more than double the Y?  Or do the charges fluctuate?  I went to London in First with points on QF1 2 years ago and don't remember the charges being so high.  Thanks.

Fly Cathay, Nicer hard product + if your in J you can check out the new Pier Lounge in HKG.  IMHO CX J product is substantially better than QF. 

Totally agree with jet_setter, if you have the option of Cathay go for it.  I much prefer the stopover in Hong Kong than DXB.

I believe it was when QF and EK lined up their charges on reward bookings that the gap between J and Y started.  QF appear to be holding their charges on J rewards while dropping those for Y.  CX will be more points than QF, particularly if the current 20% discount applies to your booking.  I wouldn't choose one over the other for the product, but the massive difference in charges is why I have CX  J reward bookings for my next holiday! 

The UK has its Air Passenger Duty (aka departure tax), which increases for higher cabin classes as well as the distance to be flown.

Thanks for the input everyone.  I'm going to go for CX.  The charges on the return are even more shocking.  QF is £567 (that's a cool $981) CX is £200 ($346)

If you book a one way reward with QF from outside Australia into Australia the charges are much more than if you booked the same flight as part of a return itinerary.  Doesn't seem reasonable.  Makes it difficult to built an itinerary as flights come on market.