FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Taxes in Upper class to USA
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Old Mar 15, 2024 | 9:38 am
  #8  
36902BRF
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Originally Posted by craigthemif
Yes, or you can just look at it as "I get to fly to London in Upper Class for the same cost as Economy". (the miles coming from some credit card sign-up bonus)

Or you can have the American system of "no surcharges, but it costs you a million miles cause we're not giving away flat seats..."
These days Upper Class YQ/taxes is $2300 round trip to London ex-US so not really an economy ticket price anymore. And given that VS cash prices on the route I checked are currently as low as $3100 means your points are saving you a whopping $800 or less than a penny a point (congrats VS you Delta'ed yourself). Given that most US folks doing CCs would be better off using their flexible currencies to buy a cash ticket and offset the cash ticket price at 1.5 cents per point with Chase UR or Amex MR or even C1 at 1 cent per point. Now if cash prices are significantly higher or you need the flexibility then points may make sense (flexible cash fare seems to start around $3700).

Also there is a happy middle ground. I have had great luck in the last few years getting flights to EU from US on AF/KLM for 100-120k FB points and $500-600ish in surcharges roundtrip. Not much more points than VS and far smaller surcharges too. Even used VS points to fly them a few times. While FB saver space doesn't have quite the same availability as VS it has been pretty good in my experience. Heck I find BA RFS a decent deal if I want a direct flight to London from the US.

Last edited by 36902BRF; Mar 15, 2024 at 10:06 am
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