pdb

I can appreciate that YQ charges can be different for MIA-LHR vs. LHR-MIA; however, would someone please explain the following $298.24 discrepancy on 2 recent OnBusiness FC redemptions (both itineraries are for nearly identical dates):

MIA-LHR-MIA $828.00
LHR-MIA-LHR $521.76

(1) All airport/security taxes are identical for both itineraries (as they should be; however,
(2) One-way bookings resulted in a total of $682.88 YQ fees/charges (precisely midway between the YQ fees/charges of the 2 R/T itineraries), as follows:

MIA-LHR $414.00
LHR-MIA $260.88

The only quasi-logical result is that the sum of YQ fees/charges on 2 pairs of O/W tickets exactly equals the sum the 2 R/T tickets. But that still does not explain the logic or justification behind these discrepancies. (Another posting in a tax-related thread suggested that this some sort of "screw the Yanks" effect; but there must be some other method to the madness.)

pdb

Okay, okay, okay. I suppose I could have phrased the title more optimistically (as above); but putting aside my disgust for all exorbitant YQ charges in general, my primary interest is in understanding the logic (other than "whatever the market will bear") behind the discrepancy.

Happy New Year!

paulwuk

I am delighted that Ba have discounted the carrier charge (nothing to do with fuel) fr people originating at a Ba hub ^

Falcs

You sure one isn't quoted in GBP and the other in USD?

OverThereTooMuch

The obvious answer here is that one way of travel is moving the same way that the globe is spinning and the other is not.

AA_EXP09

Both combinations have one LHR MIA segment and a MIA LHR segment...
No matter what, they both contain the exact same flights.

AA_EXP09

The answer to this is that YQ is different in different markets.

Prospero

The only explanation I can offer is the YQ levels were set at a time when the US travel agencies (travelocity, orbitz et al) ranked airfares before adding taxes/fees/surcharges. The effect being Ex-US net fares are kept artificially low and consequently high YQ levels were established to compensate. BA is not alone in assessing different YQ rates dependent on point of sale. AA, DL, UA, and VS do it too.

AA_EXP09

It is also in some cases an attempt to undercut TA commission based on base fare only.
(i.e. a $704 total fare was $505 fuel and $199 base fare, of which the latter is commissionable.)

christiang7

the difference between the two fares is the same between the pound and dollar exchange rate.

could be a gbp vs usd issue

pdb

Just to be clear, the point of sale for both of these tickets is USA. The only difference is that one is LHR-MIA-LHR, whereas the other is MIA-LHR-MIA (with a higher YQ charge). Everything else, including airport fees, etc., was identical.

Thanks everyone for trying to make sense out of the senseless.

Dave Noble

This isn't an uncommon situation.

Taking LHR-SYD-LHR vs SYD-LHR-SYD

For the former the fines are GBP344, GBP381, GBP494, GBP494 for economy, premium economy, business, first

For the latter, the fines are $763 ( GBP412 at current rates ) regardless of cabin

evacboy

Yes, this is simply because you use more fuel when flying MIA-LHR-MIA versus LHR-MIA-LHR. BA doesn't just make up these numbers!

Dave Noble

Indeed... Obviously going from Sydney , the fuel surcharge needs are obviously higher for economy from London whilst for 1st class they are less. Makes perfect sense and definitely not a scam , really

shorthauldad

...err, must there?

Minor point: you missed the quotes round "fuel" surcharge. YQ really has absolutely nothing to do with fuel...