Originally Posted by
highupinthesky
There were no service fee when I booked my last *A award flight about a year ago and a half ago. Only taxes. I know that 100% sure because I had to cancel and got a 100% refund without discussion.
The trip were booked through mail, so I'm not sure whether there is a service fee if you book online without involving an agent, but no matter whether you call it a booking fee or service fee doesn't really matter. It's a fee for the work/systems required for doing the booking and IMHO it's fare that you don't get that refunded if you have to cancel.
Did you do a Star Alliance award or a SAS award? Makes a difference...
E.g. for a StarAlliance awards booking I made last summer:
Fare 0.00 USD
Equivalent Fare Paid 0.00 SEK
Taxes, Fees, Other Charges 834.00 SEK
Domestic/International Fees 0.00 SEK
Ticket Amount: 834.00 SEK
Service Fee 450.00 SEK
Total Amount: 1284.00 SEK
Domestic/International fees are non-refundable for non-refundable fares.
Form of Payment: American Express
Endorsement/Restrictions: SAS STAR AWARD RBKNG RESTRICTIONS -BG:LH
Did another one, where the agent missed to waive the booking fee:
Fare 0.00 USD
Equivalent Fare Paid 0.00 SEK
Taxes, Fees, Other Charges 885.00 SEK
Domestic/International Fees 0.00 SEK
Ticket Amount: 885.00 SEK
Service Fee 825.00 SEK
Total Amount: 1710.00 SEK
Domestic/International fees are non-refundable for non-refundable fares.
Form of Payment: American Express
Endorsement/Restrictions: SAS STAR AWARD RBKNG RESTRICTIONS
I pinged EBD support and they issued the refund of 375.00 SEK off the Service fee, which is the phone booking fee.
Amount Paid
Fare Paid 1.00
Taxes, Fees, Other Charges 885.00
Service Fee 825.00
TOTAL AMOUNT: 1711.00 SEK
Amount Refunded
Fare 0.00
Taxes, Fees, Other Charges 0.00
Service Fee 375.00
TOTAL REFUNDED: 375.00 SEK
TOTAL AMOUNT: 1711.00 SEK
For all Star Alliance bookings a 450 SEK service fee applies. Doesn't matter if booked online, or via the call center.
For SAS Award tickets, I think this doesn't apply. But funny enough, just looked up the fare rules for SAS award tickets:
CAN CELLATIONS PERMITTED. NOTE - CANCELLATIONS ARE PERMITTED SUBJECT TO A POINTS PENALTY.