Ultra cheap fare means bonus surcharge YVR-NRT
Oct 5, 2011, 10:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: Non-status bottomfeeder
Posts: 827
Ultra cheap fare means bonus surcharge YVR-NRT
I know this has been a talking point over and over again here but I felt I had to make a topic about it because it affected me when I actually wanted to book a trip.
In the latest AC promotion email, it touts a 20% off coupon code to Asia (but not HKG, but that is a complaint for a different time).
Now I want to take a trip YVR-NRT-YVR
Base fare with 20% discount - $360
Taxes, fees, and surcharges - $672.08
Almost double the fare in "extra" charges; extra charges which do not receive a discount. Selecting fares of $180 on each of the screens for outbound and return and then being shown a price of over $1000 for the total just isn't honest.
In the latest AC promotion email, it touts a 20% off coupon code to Asia (but not HKG, but that is a complaint for a different time).
Now I want to take a trip YVR-NRT-YVR
Base fare with 20% discount - $360
Taxes, fees, and surcharges - $672.08
Almost double the fare in "extra" charges; extra charges which do not receive a discount. Selecting fares of $180 on each of the screens for outbound and return and then being shown a price of over $1000 for the total just isn't honest.
Oct 5, 2011, 10:59 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YKZ
Programs: AC MM SE, Marriott Titanium - Lifetime Plat 2nd Class, National Executive, Avis PP
Posts: 681
Noticed the same thing myself. It is the fuel surcharge of $594...
Interesting that the YQ to other Asian destinations is MUCH lower....
ICN $240, PVG $330, etc..
Interesting that the YQ to other Asian destinations is MUCH lower....
ICN $240, PVG $330, etc..
Oct 5, 2011, 11:00 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Calgary
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 771
Be very careful as those "ultra cheap fares" may be enhanced to yield you 0 status miles..... Which would be important if you are a collector.
Put down the base fare, give a "bonus" coupon, and then hide the reduction in YQ surcharge. They have been doing it for while now, and getting away with it.
Put down the base fare, give a "bonus" coupon, and then hide the reduction in YQ surcharge. They have been doing it for while now, and getting away with it.
Oct 5, 2011, 11:10 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: Non-status bottomfeeder
Posts: 827
Oct 5, 2011, 11:18 am
#5
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Body in Downtown YYZ, heart and mind elsewhere
Programs: UA 50K, refugee from AC E50K, Marriott Lifetime Plat
Posts: 5,132
Don't get mad, get even.
Seriously - it's time to have your voice heard by a group that's going to do something about it. Complaining here or even directly to AC only leads to further enhancements.
Seriously - it's time to have your voice heard by a group that's going to do something about it. Complaining here or even directly to AC only leads to further enhancements.
Oct 5, 2011, 11:31 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,186
Be very careful as those "ultra cheap fares" may be enhanced to yield you 0 status miles..... Which would be important if you are a collector.
Put down the base fare, give a "bonus" coupon, and then hide the reduction in YQ surcharge. They have been doing it for while now, and getting away with it.
Put down the base fare, give a "bonus" coupon, and then hide the reduction in YQ surcharge. They have been doing it for while now, and getting away with it.
Oct 5, 2011, 11:46 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
However, I remember the amount in the neighbourhood of around $600 but there was talk of a 'premium season' tax. The OP doesn't state the dates he's looking at so I wonder if the slightly higher amount is because of this.
Oct 5, 2011, 12:04 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: Non-status bottomfeeder
Posts: 827
YVR-ICN-YVR is 10% farther than YVR-NRT-YVR
YQ to NRT is $594
YQ to ICN is $240
Really?
Oct 5, 2011, 12:13 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2007
Location: YYZ, but my heart is in Asia
Programs: AC-SE, CX-DM, DL-G, Hyatt-DM, Hilton-DM, Fairmont-Plt, Marriott-S, Accor-Plt, SPG-G, IHG-Plt
Posts: 4,396
Calling this fuel surcharge is a fraud.
The more proper name would be strategic false-advertising-mislead-the-public surcharge.
The more proper name would be strategic false-advertising-mislead-the-public surcharge.
Oct 5, 2011, 2:12 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: YEG
Posts: 3,717
And if the YQ was in the fare, you would see 3% off promo codes instead of 15-20.... Everything is Relative....
On another note.... if AC was smart... they would fly YYZ-NRT-ICN and back. Load up as much fuel as possible to not be overweight and then do the reverse.... might save them some money from the fuel scoundrels in Japan
On another note.... if AC was smart... they would fly YYZ-NRT-ICN and back. Load up as much fuel as possible to not be overweight and then do the reverse.... might save them some money from the fuel scoundrels in Japan
Oct 5, 2011, 2:29 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YVR
Programs: AC E75, SPG Plat, HH peon-by-choice (ex Gold)
Posts: 8,090
No, price of fuel has nothing to do with it. NRT is highly regulated. That's why there was the (failed) push for flights to HND. From what I remember, the 'fuel and taxes' were about 1/2 of NRT.
Oct 5, 2011, 3:11 pm
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: YVR
Programs: Non-status bottomfeeder
Posts: 827
If they wanted to bill fuel outside of their base fare, make the fuel surcharge cover fuel only. After all, it is the fuel surcharge.
Bill landing fees/ground worker charges/whatever separately.
I have no problem paying for a product or service as long as I understand what I am paying for.
Oct 5, 2011, 3:57 pm
#15
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: トロント
Programs: IHG Gold
Posts: 4,820
The fuel surcharge to NRT is a scam.
I priced out a trip YYZ-NRT and saw the whopping fuel surcharge. Then I priced out YYZ-SIN (which routes via NRT). The fuel charge from YYZ-to Singapore is cheaper than the YYZ-NRT surcharge even though YYZ-NRT is within the YYZ-SIN itinerary.
I priced out a trip YYZ-NRT and saw the whopping fuel surcharge. Then I priced out YYZ-SIN (which routes via NRT). The fuel charge from YYZ-to Singapore is cheaper than the YYZ-NRT surcharge even though YYZ-NRT is within the YYZ-SIN itinerary.