Originally Posted by
nabeelj
Just did a quick test trying to redeem for AA ORD-LHR on 15/Dec. AAdvantage is 20K + US$2.50. BAEC is 25K + C$116.49. So, BAEC is charging ~C$110 extra, but I have no idea where that amount comes from. Even a revenue ticket for that same flight has only US$23.10 in taxes (per ITA).
Not if you look at the BA fare. If you look at BA fares for the route, you will see regardless of whether you look at ITA or BA.com, you will see the surcharges come to 134.10 USD.
BA YQ surcharge $111.00
Tax: US International Departure Tax $16.10
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $2.50
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Any idea what the extra "taxes" are in the first example?
They arn't taxes at all, but a fuel surcharge.
Which takes us on to:
Originally Posted by
hillrider
Apparently, as I've recently found out, BA does not allow you to redeem miles for free flights on their metal. They always charge you a copay, variously mislabeled as a "fuel surcharge" or other such euphemism. Their systems further mislabels things by labeling this copay, which BA gets to keep, as "tax".
Actually it is labeled as: "Taxes, fees, charges and surcharges per person"
Seems fair to me. This is the BA scheme, BA rules apply.