Mishaw

Hi guys!

Just quick question.
I have some award miles on my Aegean Miles&Bonus account and I'd like to spent them on some flight. I don't care it it will be from Europe to USA or from Europe to Far East (probably Thailand, Singapore or Indonesia).
Can you, please, tell me, which airline to choose to have as low as possible taxes and additional fares?
I heard about All Nippon Airways, that it doesn't charge you much. Is it true?

Thank you!

Air Rarotonga

Master Charts to Avoiding Fuel Surcharges (YQ)
Feel free to use google

Mishaw

OK, thank you
But I don't understand that table. I don't see Aegean YQ there? So how could I know, how much money will I pay?

Jma12

It wasn't include in the table, AFAIK A3 charges YQ for all flights, but only around 3 Euros for intra-Europe flights. To completely avoid YQ, you have the following choices:

-Redeem on United/Copa for flights between North/Central/South America
-All flights for Avianca
-All flights for US Airways
-Intra-New Zealand flights on Air New Zealand
-All flights departing from Brazil

Enjoy your trip!

NWIFlyer

I think you maybe have misunderstood the general principle that FFP's (with the exception of UA) pass through all fuel surcharges levied by the operating airline.

That's why there's no A3 column in the table - it's a generalisation to give you a rough idea of what level of YQ you might pay if you book through a FFP that passes the charge on.

To know a more exact figure (which would still be subject to exchange rate - for example, AC would charge in CAD but A3 would convert this and charge you in Euros), you need to plug the route you want and the airline into ITA, price the trip and then look at the taxes breakdown.

Of course, if there's no YQ then there's nothing to pass through, so UA & US would be good choices.

Mikel046

I did the tax breakdown through the ITA Matrix and even with US Airways, which were mentioned above as a good choice for redemtion, has the fuel surcharge in the tax breakdown.

So is "the trick" that however the fuel surcharge is displayed in ITA, afterwards it is not charged?

Thank You for Your reply
Mikel

irishguy28

And, furthermore, Aegean doesn't fly to the US or to the Far East...so the hypothetical charge that they may charge on flights that they do not operate to these destinations is entirely irrelevant...

NWIFlyer

No, if YQ is shown in the ITA Matrix breakdown, then you can pretty much rely on it being charged.

If you price out a wholly North American itinerary with US or UA, you should see zero YQ. It might well be there's some charged for TATL, but this will still most likely be much less than you'd see from the European airlines.

Alawyer

The surcharges on partner awards can be crazy. Just to give you an idea.. for my PEK-SIN J redemption on SQ, I just paid EUR250 per pax. Its still a good deal in terms of miles tho.

Jma12

It's always a better to diversify your miles. In AC,AV and UA there is no YQ charge on SQ flights.

benberg2013

Using A3 miles, the taxes and fees always seem to be expensive, due to fuel surcharge, unless used on America based airlines. This many times makes it more economical to purchase a cash ticket.
I think it would be good if we could have a list of routes that attract low taxes and fees, especially within Europe where it is normally expensive, and maybe starting a wiki listing these routes in order of price.

Air Rarotonga

Have a look to this existing thread:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/aegea...ap-we-can.html

sokolov

Air New Zealand, I would presume. At least that is how to get the best deal for Miles&More miles - if you can find an award seat.

NWIFlyer

I think the answer to benberg2013's specific question is, unfortunately, "this doesn't exist".

All European airlines, with no exceptions - across multiple alliances - charge extremely high YQ relative to the cash price for intra-Europe itineraries. Some are worse than others, granted, but it's only a relatively better deal - not a good one.

There are a few examples for 'own metal' miles burning which offer decent value - SK scrapped YQ for redemptions from Eurobonus at one point, and BA charge a flat fee of 4,500 avios + Ł17.50 each way for a Y redemption in Europe zone 1 (basically short distance flights up to a couple of hours duration or so), but these are very much exceptions.

It could be the shortest wiki in FT history ... .

hiima

So basically, United and US.