Qantas Frequent Flyer - JFK-LHR redemption on AA - now $221 vs $2.50 in taxes?

Hi - i've been closely checking the QF award bookings site and was planning to redeem JFK-LHR - it used to be around $2.50 in taxes on AA, but now it's suddenly $221 in taxes - what's going on here? There isn't any YQ charge here - so what are QFF doing??

(YR) $219.00
US International Departure Tax (US) $16.70
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50

Can't it be related to this?

AA fuel surcharges change from YQ to YR (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-aadvantage/1352547-aa-fuel-surcharges-change-yq-yr.html)

What a shame. It makes economy class long haul redemption no value at all on AA now.

XASA anyone?

I wonder if this is deliberate, or just a matter of Qantas not updating their system to "ignore" YR in the same way that they previously ignored YQ on award bookings?

I just did a dummy booking on both BA and QF for a reward flight LAX-PVG, and both included it in the "taxes", but BA reported it as "Distribution & Development Levy - United Arab Emirates" so clearly not everyone is setup right to use the YR code...

Move along, nothing to see here.

I imagine it has been aligned somewhere along the lines of TPR-PBO bus bookings, to reflect the SC's that might ensue

You mentioned the bus and thought you'd get away with it...