Can anyone explain Carrier Surcharges on Aeroplan award ticket to me?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 95
Can anyone explain Carrier Surcharges on Aeroplan award ticket to me?
I am looking for Business Class from Calgary, Alberta(March 5th) going to Frankfurt, Germany on March 23rd flying out of LHR. is calling for 110,000 aeroplan miles and the following for taxes
Carrier Surcharge
$970.00
Canada Domestic/International Airport Improvement Fee
$34.00
Canada Goods and Services Tax
$1.50
Canada Domestic/International Air Travel Security Charge
$25.91
Canada Harmonized Sales Tax
$0.52
U.K. Domestic/International Passenger Service Charge
$80.40
U.K. Air Passenger Duty [NOTE: Passengers aged 2-15 (on day of departure from the U.K.) travelling in Economy Class from the U.K. are exempt from the Air Passenger Duty. If this fee has not been waived, please complete your booking then call the Aeroplan Contact Centre at 1-800-361-5373 to get refunded.]
$279.40
Total per passenger
$1,391.73
Total passengers
1
$1,391.73
Yet when I go as if I am going to pay for the exact same flights etc...the total cost for taxes, fees and charges is $421.70 WTH...why $1000.00 almost difference.....can anyone explain this to me..
Carrier Surcharge
$970.00
Canada Domestic/International Airport Improvement Fee
$34.00
Canada Goods and Services Tax
$1.50
Canada Domestic/International Air Travel Security Charge
$25.91
Canada Harmonized Sales Tax
$0.52
U.K. Domestic/International Passenger Service Charge
$80.40
U.K. Air Passenger Duty [NOTE: Passengers aged 2-15 (on day of departure from the U.K.) travelling in Economy Class from the U.K. are exempt from the Air Passenger Duty. If this fee has not been waived, please complete your booking then call the Aeroplan Contact Centre at 1-800-361-5373 to get refunded.]
$279.40
Total per passenger
$1,391.73
Total passengers
1
$1,391.73
Yet when I go as if I am going to pay for the exact same flights etc...the total cost for taxes, fees and charges is $421.70 WTH...why $1000.00 almost difference.....can anyone explain this to me..
#2
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YVR
Programs: AC*SE MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,604
Think of the carrier surcharge as a copay. It has nothing to do with the taxes the airline is charged, but a way for them to make additional revenue from reward flights.
Last edited by yvr76; Apr 21, 2018 at 1:04 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: YYC
Posts: 23,803
Also of note, SEs are exempt.
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM
Posts: 23,297
$421 is actual tax.
$970 is a scam, the money goes directly into Air Canada's pockets
This should be useful reading:
How to Save Money/YQ on Aeroplan Europe redemptions
$970 is a scam, the money goes directly into Air Canada's pockets
This should be useful reading:
How to Save Money/YQ on Aeroplan Europe redemptions
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 95
Yeah, that won't work..booo...We are taking a tour so the flight from Calgary to Frankfurt cannot be changed. I am not to sure where else we can fly out of that would save us $1000.00 on scam charges being that we will be in London for a week after our tour. I looked to fly out of Gatwick and the prices is about 900.00 worth of scam charges, so not sure how to save moola...LOL
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Posts: 95
Yeah, we are planning on grabbing the Calgary to Frankfurt direct flight. And we need to fly back from London to Calgary..so I guess we pay the scam charges...LOL..Unless of course someone has any other ideas
#9
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM; SPG Plat
Posts: 424
Think about paying cash for the seats. Seriously. I've seen YYZ-LHR return (not recently, but I think the concept still holds) where fees were $750 (on top of points, obviously) but you could get a seat for $850. Your differential will be higher, but save the points for a route where you can minimize fees.
[as pointed out below, this likely doesn't work for business class. Missed that.]
[as pointed out below, this likely doesn't work for business class. Missed that.]
Last edited by PB53x11; Apr 21, 2018 at 4:26 pm Reason: Oops.
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AC SE MM, BA Gold, SQ Silver, Bonvoy Tit LTG, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond
Posts: 44,316
Think about paying cash for the seats. Seriously. I've seen YYZ-LHR return (not recently, but I think the concept still holds) where fees were $750 (on top of points, obviously) but you could get a seat for $850. Your differential will be higher, but save the points for a route where you can minimize fees.
#11
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: YYZ
Programs: AC SE MM; SPG Plat
Posts: 424
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
All of the charges other than the carrier surcharge are either Canadian or UK taxes. The chief UK culprit is the APD because you are flying in a premium cabin. Nothing to be done about those. The surcharge is solely an AC charge. UA does not levy surcharges, but you are stuck on AC because of your tour group routing.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
When you price out a paid ticket, the carrier surcharge will be included in the "Air Transportation Charge" section, and not the "Taxes, Fees and Charges" section. If you expand the ATC section, you'll see a line for surcharges, and that's where you should see the $970.
#14
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: YYC
Posts: 4,035
#15
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: West
Posts: 3,357
If the flight is part of the tour then why are you asking about the award ticket to Europe and back? If the tour starts in Frankfurt and ends in London and the flight is on you then there are many ways to get to Frankfurt.