Hi all,

I just tried to redeem a free flight with points - TLV (Tel Aviv)-LHR-ORD (Chicago O'Hare) and return.

I was surprised and irritated to find that the "taxes" that I would need to pay myself are HK$2900 = US$371.
The explanation was that the fuel surcharge is high - HK$1400 - and the rest is airport taxes - LHR is extremely high. Also - even though I am booked on Premier Economy, my airport taxes are charged as Business class (even though PE is really Economy++).

Am I naive in expecting not to be charged so much?
Any ideas how I can get this astronomical fee back into the stratosphere?
Thanks,
Jonathan