flight awards ex India - excessive taxes, fees etc
Nov 10, 2015, 3:15 pm
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,809
flight awards ex India - excessive taxes, fees etc
I was shocked when I was quoted almost USD 400 in taxes, YQ etc for a simple BLR-BKK//SIN-BLR award in business class (I class) on TG and SQ today. Im using SK miles/points.
This is almost the same as we pay in taxes and fee for awards Europe-Asia, i.e. awards that are 2 times as expensive in miles/points and 2-3 times the distance India-Asia and much higer YQ.
What is going on?
Edit: I now realise that this must be the Indian service tax (JN) which applies for flights ex India. It seems that SK is calculating the service tax based on a full fare ticket whereas other FFP calculate it only on the YQ, fees, etc. I tried to make a dummy booking on ANA and the JN turned out to be considerably less.
This is almost the same as we pay in taxes and fee for awards Europe-Asia, i.e. awards that are 2 times as expensive in miles/points and 2-3 times the distance India-Asia and much higer YQ.
What is going on?
Edit: I now realise that this must be the Indian service tax (JN) which applies for flights ex India. It seems that SK is calculating the service tax based on a full fare ticket whereas other FFP calculate it only on the YQ, fees, etc. I tried to make a dummy booking on ANA and the JN turned out to be considerably less.
Last edited by SK AAR; Nov 10, 2015 at 10:37 pm
Nov 11, 2015, 12:07 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: India
Programs: Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Trident Plat, DL Diamond, AI Maharajah
Posts: 29,668
the tax & yq element is different for most airlines....for example, the amount for the 2 international airlines in india varies significantly....ai will charge $300+ for a one way del-lhr redemption while 9w will charge about $30 for the same sector....
Nov 11, 2015, 3:39 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 217
I was shocked when I was quoted almost USD 400 in taxes, YQ etc for a simple BLR-BKK//SIN-BLR award in business class (I class) on TG and SQ today. Im using SK miles/points.
This is almost the same as we pay in taxes and fee for awards Europe-Asia, i.e. awards that are 2 times as expensive in miles/points and 2-3 times the distance India-Asia and much higer YQ.
What is going on?
Edit: I now realise that this must be the Indian service tax (JN) which applies for flights ex India. It seems that SK is calculating the service tax based on a full fare ticket whereas other FFP calculate it only on the YQ, fees, etc. I tried to make a dummy booking on ANA and the JN turned out to be considerably less.
This is almost the same as we pay in taxes and fee for awards Europe-Asia, i.e. awards that are 2 times as expensive in miles/points and 2-3 times the distance India-Asia and much higer YQ.
What is going on?
Edit: I now realise that this must be the Indian service tax (JN) which applies for flights ex India. It seems that SK is calculating the service tax based on a full fare ticket whereas other FFP calculate it only on the YQ, fees, etc. I tried to make a dummy booking on ANA and the JN turned out to be considerably less.
It is best to purchase these flights outright or redeem via HKG on CX or Cx/TG or via KL.
Nov 12, 2015, 2:11 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,203
Depends heavily on which airline is being used and also on which program you are using.
Redeeming AA miles on CX via HKG will have minimal fuel surcharges and only actual airport departure taxes. You can use matrix software to determine the actual breakdown.
Redeeming AA miles on CX via HKG will have minimal fuel surcharges and only actual airport departure taxes. You can use matrix software to determine the actual breakdown.