jc94

YUL YYZ has $42.00 YQ with total taxes $90.97. ZRH YYZ with the YUL stop, with Intl on LX is just the $47 Swiss Passenger Security and Noise Charge.

bennyblanco

Hi all

Is there anyway to fly to Europe using Aeroplan and avoiding the crazy taxes? Want to fly business class.. 110,000 points but nearly $1200 in taxes.

Thanks

24left

There's thread for that

How to Save Money/YQ on Aeroplan Europe redemptions

Read @jerryhung's OP

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24561633-post1.html

Often1

Are you certain that the $1,200 is all taxes?

bennyblanco

​​​​​​
not all "taxes" per se no.. but taxes and fees.

24left

I've seen some people who didn't click the "details" for the taxes and fees to see the breakdown.

Quick example for an economy return ticket






@bennyblanco

Is this approximately what you are seeing?

bennyblanco

Oh I clicked. Just used to booking aa or Aeroplan to Asia on jal or Ana and paying $75 in fees. $1200 is crazy.

24left

Well, comparing Aeroplan to AA or ANA or UA isn't the same playing field.

rankourabu

Fly LOT/TAP/UA - small/none scamfees
Otherwise, its a double connect with LX

The Lev

Would a mod like to change the title of this thread from "taxes" to "fees"?

Taxes have something ot do with what you are seeing, but most of it is airline imposed fees, which can be avoided as @rankourabu points out.

jasdou

bennyblanco

Sorry guys.. I'm a newb when it comes to booking these kind of flights with Aeroplan. To confirm, can I find reward seats with those other carriers and then call.into Aeroplan to book?

Thank you.

Mwenenzi

Cannot be avoided. (or good planning for taxes)

But carrier imposed award surcharges (=100% airline profit) can be avoided with careful selection of a frequent flyer program and/or award airline/routes.
Carrier imposed award surcharges are not taxes. But is still money out of your pocket.

rankourabu

Correct. Read the thread referenced above.
Calling in sometimes is well worth the $34 fee
The website is designed to give you AC options first (or only) - since thats what makes most money in ACs pocket.

24left

@bennyblanco
A couple of things.....

It isn't about being new to booking trips on miles or even booking paid trips. I've been here for a bit and I learn something new every day. Some of it is beneficial to my travel, some of it...not so much.

It's about learning how to be more efficient (if that's the word) when booking either, so that we get where we want to go for what we feel is the best spend (money and miles).

It's about not making assumptions that just because carrier surcharges and other fees are lower when flying to Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong etc, that this will also be the case when flying to some destinations in Europe, or flying certain airlines. Similarly, just because booking in other FFPs such as with AA or UA etc for low costs, certainly does not mean this is the case with AC or Aeroplan.

In the second post in this thread, I provided a link to another excellent thread where you can do some reading and learn about ways to minimize and reduce many of these carrier surcharges.

You also need to understand that some destinations do have additional passenger landing charges or duties. And in some cases, the carrier surcharges combined with these other charges will leave you with a $1,200 cost on your mileage reward ticket.

You can certainly call Aeroplan, but don't expect an agent to hand you a platter of destinations and routings with low surcharges or passenger landing taxes.

If you don't have the time or interest to look for routings or airline that have lower costs, then you can hire anyone of a number of people who provide services where you pay them a fee to do this work for you.

Good luck and happy travels.