Asiana Club - Op-Up to C yields tax bill...

A strange thing happened to me on the way to the gate... an Op-Up on OZ to C.

Lovely - it made my trip to SYD via ICN SO much better, and I'm really very grateful for it.

One odd thing about it - I was asked to pay for the extra APD. Why? Is this normal?

To put this into context, I was first in line at LHR in the Biz checkin line for the 522 to ICN - a full four hours before the flight - and waved my BD *G at the woman as she switched over the desks in T1 from UA to Oz. The (BD staffer - OZ I guess subcontract) said those magic words "I'll see if we can find you a more confortable seat" and had a chat on the blower to someone - all I could overhear was "oversold by 3" and "Diamond Club: is that Diamond Plus?" No matter... out popped a lovely C BC.

But... with it dangling infront of my eyes, I was asked to pay the tax. 80 quid worth of APD. After a bit of polite joshing (I really really wasn't going to turn it down) I pointed out Darling has 40 squids worth of my APD... so haggled her down to 40GBP... but is it normal on OZ to pay for the extra APD? BD and BA never ask for it - do Asiana have some weird tax system? I got a receipt before I ponied up the readies to ensure I wasn't being given the once over.

Still... great flight to ICN. No Avod, but other than that can't fault the service. I've suddenly discovered Bimbambap. And free flowing Charles Heidseck, a lovely chardonnay, and two desert wines. I'm stuffed. The seat I'll be the first to admit ain't the best - at 6'6" I was really too long and the tiny footrest has given me grooves on the bottom of my soles, so I didn't really sleep. But with service like this, I may decamp to OZ in future...

But why the tax?

But why the tax?

IIRC if you are doing ex-UK or ex-France flight in C or F, you pay additional tax.

Even if OP is op-uped?
I think something's wrong here.

Even if OP is op-uped?
I think something's wrong here.

Well, the tax is payable by the airline for each passenger who departs in a premium cabin no matter how they got there. So it is not unreasonable for the airline to ask for that money.

Well, the tax is payable by the airline for each passenger who departs in a premium cabin no matter how they got there. So it is not unreasonable for the airline to ask for that money.
It is airline's fault that they oversold Y thus needs to opup someone.
In this case, I think airline should be responsible for the tax as well.
What would happen if no one is willing to pay tax to sit in C? (I know, unlikely but could happen).
Would OZ just IBD someone?

Very strange behaviour to ask for additional tax after op-uping a pax due to oversale of the Y cabin. OZ should have covered that too !

In fact, airoz.com (only Korean available) clearly says tax difference (40 GBP) is waived for "INVOLUNTARY" upgrade. This document is written Jan 28th, 09. You'll be able to claim.

It is airline's fault that they oversold Y thus needs to opup someone.
In this case, I think airline should be responsible for the tax as well.Well, it was the cheapest upgrade you could get, why complain?

Personally if I were the airline I'd offer the upgrade for more than the taxand I bet I'd get takers. ;)

Why should they be responsible for the tax when they can offer the product and recoup the cost?

(Of course I would prefer to be upgraded and not pay, but....)

What would happen if no one is willing to pay tax to sit in C? (I know, unlikely but could happen).
Would OZ just IBD someone?The IDB would cost them more than the tax.

Well, it was the cheapest upgrade you could get, why complain?

Personally if I were the airline I'd offer the upgrade for more than the taxand I bet I'd get takers. ;)

Why should they be responsible for the tax when they can offer the product and recoup the cost?

(Of course I would prefer to be upgraded and not pay, but....)
Of course they can offer cash upgrade before doing OPUP.
They should have done it that way if you ask me.

The IDB would cost them more than the tax.
Especially from EU airport.

Very strange behaviour to ask for additional tax after op-uping a pax due to oversale of the Y cabin. OZ should have covered that too !

I am divided about this. If they really sold and were looking for someone to move then I guess you are right. Otherwise, where would it stop? The meals are more expensive, the screens bigger so they use more fuel to generate the electricity...

But if they were just doing the OP a favour then I can understand why they did this.

First of all if I was in the OPs shoes I would also have paid the £40 to sit up front even though I think they shouldn't be charging this. I've never heard of such a thing before and I really don't think they should be doing it but no point in talking yourself out of a very cheap upgrade, best to argue about it later!

I think armed with your receipt it might be worth a letter to OZ to try to claim your £40 back. It might work, it might not but worth the time it takes to try.

Isn't this against the EU passenger regulation?

Article 10 (1) (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:046:0001:0007:EN:PDF) says:
If an operating air carrier places a passenger in a class
higher than that for which the ticket was purchased, it may not
request any supplementary payment.
Seeing as this was a flight that falls under this regulation, weren't they wrong to ask this surcharge of you? I'd definitely pay at the airport not to miss the opportunity but then make sure to get the money back.

Isn't this against the EU passenger regulation?

Article 10 (1) (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2004:046:0001:0007:EN:PDF) says:
If an operating air carrier places a passenger in a class
higher than that for which the ticket was purchased, it may not
request any supplementary payment.
Seeing as this was a flight that falls under this regulation, weren't they wrong to ask this surcharge of you? I'd definitely pay at the airport not to miss the opportunity but then make sure to get the money back.

Once you willingly part with your money for services rendered, how do you supposed to get it back? It's not like they forced you to take the upgrade.

LAX

Once you willingly part with your money for services rendered, how do you supposed to get it back? It's not like they forced you to take the upgrade.

LAX
But when you accept the to pay the extra taxes you might think the airline are allowed to charge this. Hence you should be able to claim the money back later.

But when you accept the to pay the extra taxes you might think the airline are allowed to charge this. Hence you should be able to claim the money back later.

The airline will say that they didn't "place" the OP in another class. They merely offered an upgrade to the OP as a valued Star Alliance Frequent Flyer and he accepted the offer.

The airline will say that they didn't "place" the OP in another class. They merely offered an upgrade to the OP as a valued Star Alliance Frequent Flyer and he accepted the offer.

I would say they will have issues supporting their standpoint.

OZ offers something that they dont charge for but take the taxes for it ?

It doesnt matter how OZ would put it, the people wh investigate such claims are not stupid. They would identify OZ's reply quickly as a lame excuse for breaking the EU regulation. Of course they get to know as well the load factor of that flight and put 1+1 together.

No airline upgrades for charity, if the situation would be there are enough seats in Y and for example a top tier elite gets told "Sir, we have some open seats in C and you can certainly sit there. However we would have to collect a small additional charge to cover the APD" that would be another situation as OZ could in this case at least somewhat proof that they were not in an oversell situation, plus the respective passenger would most likely not complain.

I guess this boils down to whether OZ treated OP's situation as OP'ed up or an incredibly cheap buy up for an elite member. If it was disguised as a buy up, then OZ violated no rules.

LAX

Ta for the replies guys!

I've been on the dog with OZ about it for the past couple of days, but I've just been given twatwaffling from the UK who tell me that I was "offered" a higher class of service so I should expect to pony up, and if I wasn't happy to pay... there were plenty of other passengers who would.

So... I'll take it futher with the Inland Rev & let you know were I get to...