"Carrier Surcharge" OMG
Aug 2, 2015, 9:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and everywhere else
Programs: VX Gold, UA MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 707
"Carrier Surcharge" OMG
Hi-
My parents are planning a trip from Nova Scotia to Europe, and they've saved up their Aeroplan miles for years. I was helping them search for flights, and was happy to find that availability was easy to come by.
Then I was stunned to find $600+ in taxes per person on a "free" economy ticket.
I'm used to United MileagePlus, and there's always some taxes and fees, but not for more than half of the price of the coach airfare. I opened the item-by-item explanation of what was in the fees, and was astounded to see that more than HALF of the "taxes and fees" is an unexplained "carrier surcharge."
Expletives redacted. What is the point of Aeroplan miles when Air Canada does this?
Perhaps we are doing something wrong, and there are more efficient ways to redeem miles with such surcharges. I have never seen an airline do this to its members.
Are we missing something?
My parents are planning a trip from Nova Scotia to Europe, and they've saved up their Aeroplan miles for years. I was helping them search for flights, and was happy to find that availability was easy to come by.
Then I was stunned to find $600+ in taxes per person on a "free" economy ticket.
I'm used to United MileagePlus, and there's always some taxes and fees, but not for more than half of the price of the coach airfare. I opened the item-by-item explanation of what was in the fees, and was astounded to see that more than HALF of the "taxes and fees" is an unexplained "carrier surcharge."
Expletives redacted. What is the point of Aeroplan miles when Air Canada does this?
Perhaps we are doing something wrong, and there are more efficient ways to redeem miles with such surcharges. I have never seen an airline do this to its members.
Are we missing something?
Aug 2, 2015, 9:14 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Hi-
My parents are planning a trip from Nova Scotia to Europe, and they've saved up their Aeroplan miles for years. I was helping them search for flights, and was happy to find that availability was easy to come by.
Then I was stunned to find $600+ in taxes per person on a "free" economy ticket.
I'm used to United MileagePlus, and there's always some taxes and fees, but not for more than half of the price of the coach airfare. I opened the item-by-item explanation of what was in the fees, and was astounded to see that more than HALF of the "taxes and fees" is an unexplained "carrier surcharge."
Expletives redacted. What is the point of Aeroplan miles when Air Canada does this?
Perhaps we are doing something wrong, and there are more efficient ways to redeem miles with such surcharges. I have never seen an airline do this to its members.
Are we missing something?
My parents are planning a trip from Nova Scotia to Europe, and they've saved up their Aeroplan miles for years. I was helping them search for flights, and was happy to find that availability was easy to come by.
Then I was stunned to find $600+ in taxes per person on a "free" economy ticket.
I'm used to United MileagePlus, and there's always some taxes and fees, but not for more than half of the price of the coach airfare. I opened the item-by-item explanation of what was in the fees, and was astounded to see that more than HALF of the "taxes and fees" is an unexplained "carrier surcharge."
Expletives redacted. What is the point of Aeroplan miles when Air Canada does this?
Perhaps we are doing something wrong, and there are more efficient ways to redeem miles with such surcharges. I have never seen an airline do this to its members.
Are we missing something?
Aug 2, 2015, 9:19 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Aug 2, 2015, 9:22 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Ok ok... some tidbits...
Where in Europe will this be?
LO, SK, and I believe TK do not charge YQ (the so-called and infamous "Carrier Surcharge)...
So give them a try on your AE redemptions...
Loosely put, if you had some AC status then you would be exempt from the YQ this benefit year...
Where in Europe will this be?
LO, SK, and I believe TK do not charge YQ (the so-called and infamous "Carrier Surcharge)...
So give them a try on your AE redemptions...
Loosely put, if you had some AC status then you would be exempt from the YQ this benefit year...
Aug 2, 2015, 9:27 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and everywhere else
Programs: VX Gold, UA MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 707
Mom and Dad are D-Black. I guess that's not enough to help, despite the reading I've just been doing on this site at your recommendation. (Honestly, thanks, searching did of course yield some info.)
Going to AMS, so flexible, but since the departure airport is YHZ, there's nothing non-stop to Europe other than the AC YHZ-LHR flight.
Going to AMS, so flexible, but since the departure airport is YHZ, there's nothing non-stop to Europe other than the AC YHZ-LHR flight.
Aug 2, 2015, 9:44 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: YLW
Programs: AC- SE100 1MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, National Executive, Nexus/GE
Posts: 4,312
Rule of thumb, collect Aeroplan points on Air Canada and partners, never fly with Aeroplan points on Air Canada.
If you redeem AP on AC, simply bend over, grab your ankles, and enjoy the ride and just to add a bit of fun, do this on Rouge...........the irony here is that the seat pitch is so poor you really cant bend over......
If you redeem AP on AC, simply bend over, grab your ankles, and enjoy the ride and just to add a bit of fun, do this on Rouge...........the irony here is that the seat pitch is so poor you really cant bend over......
Last edited by HerpaYvr; Aug 2, 2015 at 9:50 am
Aug 2, 2015, 9:47 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: YVR
Programs: AC SE 2MM; UA MP Premier Silver; Marriott Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite; Radisson; Avis PC
Posts: 35,255
Mom and Dad are D-Black. I guess that's not enough to help, despite the reading I've just been doing on this site at your recommendation. (Honestly, thanks, searching did of course yield some info.)
Going to AMS, so flexible, but since the departure airport is YHZ, there's nothing non-stop to Europe other than the AC YHZ-LHR flight.
Going to AMS, so flexible, but since the departure airport is YHZ, there's nothing non-stop to Europe other than the AC YHZ-LHR flight.
Yes, roundabout, but you would avoid the TATL YQ hit.
Aug 2, 2015, 9:53 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC*S, Delta Skymiles
Posts: 245
Mom and Dad are D-Black. I guess that's not enough to help, despite the reading I've just been doing on this site at your recommendation. (Honestly, thanks, searching did of course yield some info.)
Going to AMS, so flexible, but since the departure airport is YHZ, there's nothing non-stop to Europe other than the AC YHZ-LHR flight.
Going to AMS, so flexible, but since the departure airport is YHZ, there's nothing non-stop to Europe other than the AC YHZ-LHR flight.
I suggest flying down to Boston - then getting any one of the non-YQ Carriers - including Swiss - to connect up to AMS.
Aug 2, 2015, 10:10 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,784
Check my signature thread on How to save YQ to Europe!!
added for mobile users
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...demptions.html
For AMS, I suggest looking into UA flights, like ORD/EWR/IAD-AMS if possible
anyway, my thread has more options
added for mobile users
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...demptions.html
For AMS, I suggest looking into UA flights, like ORD/EWR/IAD-AMS if possible
anyway, my thread has more options
Last edited by jerryhung; Aug 2, 2015 at 10:18 am
Aug 2, 2015, 10:14 am
#12
Formerly known as newbie elite
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: YUL
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Platinum, AC50K
Posts: 2,927
Welcome to Aeroplan! Count yourself lucky that the website was up and working long enough for you to get to that page!
This is the most helpful thread as Jerry mentioned (I think it is the one in his sig but they don't show up on mobile)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan/1666055-how-save-money-yq-aeroplan-europe-redemptions.html
This is the most helpful thread as Jerry mentioned (I think it is the one in his sig but they don't show up on mobile)
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-canada-aeroplan/1666055-how-save-money-yq-aeroplan-europe-redemptions.html
Aug 2, 2015, 11:20 am
#13
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,830
Hi-
My parents are planning a trip from Nova Scotia to Europe, and they've saved up their Aeroplan miles for years. I was helping them search for flights, and was happy to find that availability was easy to come by.
Then I was stunned to find $600+ in taxes per person on a "free" economy ticket.
I'm used to United MileagePlus, and there's always some taxes and fees, but not for more than half of the price of the coach airfare. I opened the item-by-item explanation of what was in the fees, and was astounded to see that more than HALF of the "taxes and fees" is an unexplained "carrier surcharge."
Expletives redacted. What is the point of Aeroplan miles when Air Canada does this?
Perhaps we are doing something wrong, and there are more efficient ways to redeem miles with such surcharges. I have never seen an airline do this to its members.
Are we missing something?
My parents are planning a trip from Nova Scotia to Europe, and they've saved up their Aeroplan miles for years. I was helping them search for flights, and was happy to find that availability was easy to come by.
Then I was stunned to find $600+ in taxes per person on a "free" economy ticket.
I'm used to United MileagePlus, and there's always some taxes and fees, but not for more than half of the price of the coach airfare. I opened the item-by-item explanation of what was in the fees, and was astounded to see that more than HALF of the "taxes and fees" is an unexplained "carrier surcharge."
Expletives redacted. What is the point of Aeroplan miles when Air Canada does this?
Perhaps we are doing something wrong, and there are more efficient ways to redeem miles with such surcharges. I have never seen an airline do this to its members.
Are we missing something?
Aug 2, 2015, 11:39 am
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Francisco, CA and everywhere else
Programs: VX Gold, UA MM, SPG Plat
Posts: 707
Thank you all for the pointers. Very helpful.
If only Porter Air flew to YYZ and I could avoid AC altogether.
Not sure how you put up with all of this. I guess monopolies are excellent for consumers?
If only Porter Air flew to YYZ and I could avoid AC altogether.
Not sure how you put up with all of this. I guess monopolies are excellent for consumers?