YLW-TUO Business Class

100,000 miles
$134 ai

YWG-DME LED-YWG business class on LH $313 ai

100K miles

YOW - YYZ - SJO and back 35,000 Mile + $338.24 CAD in Taxes and surcharges ($240 CAD of this for fuel surcharge)

What's going on here is not normal.

YUL-ZRH LX F (stop)
ZRH-FCO LX J (stop)
FCO-MUC LH J (stop)
MUC-YUL LH F

$211.83 in "taxes, surcharges"
$ 33.86 booking fee
--------
$245.69 + 100,000 points

Huh?

US Transportation Tax on AP awards
 

Can someone please tell me why Aeroplan charges US Transportation Tax on flights to the US when no US carrier does on an award ticket from Canada to the US. Presumably this tax, unlike APs bogus fuel surcharge, is not discretionary. So why is it only charged by Aeroplan and not the US carriers?

Sorry, I meant the difference in various taxes from day to day on AC metal.

Thanks for the advice. Still a newbie and still learning... ;)

Why isn't this thread stickied and why isn't there a link to it in the FAQ?

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (BlackBerry; U; BlackBerry 9780; en-US) AppleWebKit/534.1+ (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/6.0.0.285 Mobile Safari/534.1+)

A link from the FAQ would likely be nice.. But in general this forum seems to try and keep the stickies to a minimum (which is excellent!) So that's likely the reasoning there..

Mini-RTW:

YYZ-YUL J AC
YUL-MUC F LH
MUC-ZRH J LX
ZRH-FRA J LH
FRA-KIX F LH
KIX-CTS Y NH
CTS-HND Y NH
NRT-LAX J SQ
LAX-YYZ J AC

Security charge: 25.91
HST: 3.25
Other taxes: 201.70
Total tax: 230.86

Happy camper here. Too bad there is no F directly from Ottawa (AC should add this to the plane that they are going to use for the direct HKG flight to which we are entitled) and the only J these days is on AC. Now I just have to hope that one of my LH flights switches to an A380 and not to one of the two class 747s that they might be rolling out...

YOW-YUL J AC
YUL-ZRH F LX
ZRH-FRA J LH
FRA-KIX F LH
KIX-ICN J OZ
ICN-PVG F OZ
PVG-BKK J TG
BKK-MUC F TG
MUC-YUL F LH
YUL-YOW J AC

Stopovers in KIX and PVG. Turnaround BKK

$ 25.91 - Security fee
$208.37 - other taxes
$ 33.90 - Booking fee
-------
$268.18 + 120,000 points
Total taxes - 234.28

Pretty happy at the moment. I had thought I needed to travel via Europe in both directions to find availability so this is good.

SYD-ICN - OZ J
ICN - LAX - OZ J
LAX - SFO - UA J
PDX - YVR - AC Y
YVR - YYZ - AC J
YYZ - ORD - AC J
ORD - LAX - UA J
LAX - AKL - NZ J
AKL - SYD - NZ J

Total cost: 100000 points + $390. It's not entirely outrageous. What gets me is the actual taxes (other than fuel surcharges) in there amount to nearly $270.

I haven't redeemed an AC award ticket in years using Aeroplan miles. As I now understand it, AC tacts a large fuel charge onto Aeroplan awards for flights on its own planes. So is the correct strategy to book an award flight that makes exclusive use of Star Alliance partners? If so, are flights co-branded with AC also subject to the fuel charge? And what about short haul AC flights to hubs where long haul flights with partners are picked up? Do they expose you to the full force of the charge? Thanx for the help.

YYZ-AC-LHR(Stop)-OZ-ICN-OZ-HKG(Stop)-NH-NRT(Stop)-AC-YYZ

All segments in J

CAD664.66 Surcharges/Taxes + CAD33.90 booking fee.

Ouch. Fortunately, this is not an itin for myself.

YYZ-DUS LH (F)
DUS-CDG LH (J)
CDG-DUS LH (J)
DUS-YYZ LH (F)

100,000 Points

Canada Security Charge (CA) 25.91
Canada HST (RC) 3.25
Combined Taxes, Fees, etc. (XT) 144.10

TOTAL 173.26

However, the complete trip is YYZ-TUN, so:

+ Approx $400 for Air France CDG-TUN-CDG (Y)

TOTAL YYZ-TUN (Transatlantic in F) = 100,000 points plus $575.

Couldn't see any other way but to pay 190,000 for an Aeroplan Middle East/North Africa Award.

Either way, I'm basically happy with what I ended up booking and how much I paid in points and cash.

YYZ-MUC AC (Y)
MUC-VCE LH (Y)
FCO-YYZ AC (Y)

60,000 points

All taxes, fees and surcharges: $404.56 :td:

When I try to book a reward flight YEG-SJO in Air Canada web site they charge:
IK $2.80 NW $15.10
Canada Domestic/International Airport Improvement Fee $28.00
Canada Harmonized Sales Tax $1.04
Fuel Surcharge $270.00
NAV Canada - Air Navigation Services $15.00
Canada Goods And Service Tax $1.00
Canada Domestic/International Air Travel Security Charge $25.91
FS $5.20
Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges per passenger $364.05

But if you book it in the Continental web using OnePass points, they only charge about $90US with the same flights using all AC metal. (looks like no Fuel Surcharge)

YYT-YYZ AC (J)
YYZ-YVR AC (J)
YVR-AKL NZ (J)
open jaw
SYD-YVR AC (J)
stop
YVR-YYC AC (J)
YYC-YYZ AC (J)
YYZ-YYT AC (J)

Australia Passenger Move Charge $47.50
Canada Domestic/International Air Travel Security Charge $25.91
New Zealand Passenger Service Charge $10.80
Canada Harmonized Sales Tax $4.79
Canada Domestic/International Airport Improvement Fee $38.00
Australia International Service Charge $25.50
Fuel Surcharge $125.00
NAV Canada - Air Navigation Services $30.00
Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges per passenger $307.50
Total passengers 1
Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges per passenger type $307.50

plus $33.90 booking fee = $341.40 + 100,000 points

We looked at a YVR-LAX flight. The taxes were about $500 for 3 tickets. Then we looked at SEA-LAX and the taxes were $60.

YAM-YYZ - AC7796 - AC Y
YYZ-LAX - AC791 - AC J
LAX-RAR - NZ19 - NZ J
RAR-SYD - NZ61 - NZ J
SYD-YVR - AC34 - AC J
YVR-SYD - AC34 - AC Y
YYZ-YAM - AC7797 - AC Y

My booking still says fee and taxes are being calculated but the following was in my fare calculation. (If anyone knows what the actual fee is let me know)

PD 125.00
YQ 30.00
YR 47.40
WY 25.91
CA 23.00
SQ 2.99
RC 2.60
AY 5.10
XA 7.20
XY 42.50
AUPDXF 4.60
LAX 4.50

So it looks like taxes and fees of $320.80 * 2.

100,000 * 2 = 200,000.

:eek: :td:

YVR-HND-YVR

$382.19 for March departure.

for 40,000 aeroplan miles....

DEPARTING
HALIFAX STANFIELD INTERNATIONAL APT (YHZ) To MONTREAL PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU INT APT (YUL)

Departs: 06:30
Arrives: 07:10
Stops: 0
Thu Dec 22, 2011
Same day
Duration: 1h 40min Aircraft: E90


Flight#: AC661 Business
Change plane in YULTime to connect: 1h 45min

MONTREAL PIERRE ELLIOTT TRUDEAU INT APT (YUL) To EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL APT (YEG)

Departs: 08:55
Arrives: 11:35
Stops: 0
Same day
Same day
Duration: 4h 40min Aircraft: E90


Flight#: AC179 Business
RETURNING
EDMONTON INTERNATIONAL APT (YEG) To HALIFAX STANFIELD INTERNATIONAL APT (YHZ)

Departs: 11:50
Arrives: 21:09
Stops: 0
Fri Dec 30, 2011
Same day
Duration: 6h 19min Aircraft: E90


Flight#: AC176 Business



Summary of Airport Taxes, Fees & Surcharges
The following airport taxes, fees & surcharges were applicable to your reward booking:


Adult(s)

Canada Domestic/International Air Travel Security Charge $14.25

Canada Harmonized Sales Tax $17.74

Canada Domestic/International Airport Improvement Fee $40.00

Canada Goods And Service Tax $1.00

Fuel Surcharge $54.00

NAV Canada - Air Navigation Services $30.00

Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges per passenger $156.99

Total passengers 1

Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges per passenger type $156.99

Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges (CAD) $156.99

for 40,000 aeroplan miles....
 

One-Way Flight
SAN JUAN LUIS MUNOZ MARIN INTL APT (SJU) To TORONTO LESTER B PEARSON INTL APT (YYZ)

Departs: 15:10
Arrives: 18:55
Stops: 0
Sun Nov 20, 2011
Same day
Duration: 4h 45min Aircraft: 320


Flight#: AC957 Economy
Change plane in YYZTime to connect: 1h 50min

TORONTO LESTER B PEARSON INTL APT (YYZ) To HALIFAX STANFIELD INTERNATIONAL APT (YHZ)

Departs: 20:45
Arrives: 23:45
Stops: 0
Same day
Same day
Duration: 2h 00min Aircraft: 319


Flight#: AC624 Business
YOUR ITINERARY INCLUDES ECONOMY CLASS SEATS
Your itinerary includes Air Canada flights in economy class. If business class seats are an option on the aircraft, you may inform the Air Canada Check-in Agent that you wish to standby for an upgrade to the Executive/Executive First cabin for the flights in economy class. Please note that standby is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.



Summary of Airport Taxes, Fees & Surcharges
The following airport taxes, fees & surcharges were applicable to your reward booking:


Adult(s)

U.S. Passenger Safety Fee $2.50

Canada Harmonized Sales Tax $1.04

Canada Domestic/International Airport Improvement Fee $8.00

U.S Passenger Facility Charge $4.50

Fuel Surcharge $27.00

NAV Canada - Air Navigation Services $7.50

Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges per passenger $50.54

Total passengers 1

Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges per passenger type $50.54

Total airport taxes, fees and surcharges (CAD) $50.54

Hilarious, that Halifax to Edmonton fee is more than what I paid to go around the world last year on a mini-RTW (no AC legs).

I avoided AC on the outbound but decided to stopover in YYC for the Stampede on the return. I had a slightly better outbound route on the web but the agent could not find the YOW - ORD flight for some reason. All in all I'm happy with this. 100k.

YOW-IAD UA “Y” ER4
IAD-IST TK “J” 330
IST-BKK TK “J” 330 (turnaround)
BKK-ICN TG “J” 772
ICN-NRT OZ “J”?
NRT-YYC AC “J” 763 (stopover)
YYC-YOW AC “J” E90

taxes/fees: $242.01

A few years back, when AP and AC separated, it is treated that AP is buying ticket with $ from AC so here the US transportation tax - since there is an actual fare and $ change hands.

For US carriers, the reward program and airline are under same entity and no $ change hands - so no US transportation tax.

YYZ-MUC (AC)
MUC-VCE (LH)
ATH-YYZ (AC)

75,000 points and all taxes/charges are $465.06

Think that's worth it? or pay about $1360 CDN?

That's bad and for Y reward. If not booked I'd suggest looking at carriers other than AC

Booked with 75K Aeroplan points for end of March 2011 departure..

YOW-ORD (UA)
ORD-HKG (UA) - stopover
HKG-ICN (OZ)
ICN-NRT (OZ) - stopover
NRT-ORD (NH)
ORD-YUL (UA)
YUL-YOW (AC)

Canada Security Charge (CA) - $25.91
September 11 Security Fee (AY) - $5.00
Combined taxes, fees, surcharges for ClassicFlight - $106.50
Additional Charge in US dollars - $4.25

Total in Canadian dollars - $141.41

Not booked.

Thanks for the advice...i'll look around for other carriers too..

YYJ-SFO UA Y
SFO-NRT UA F
HIJ-ICN OZ J
ICN-SFO OZ J
SFO-YYJ UA Y

$79.22, plus the call centre fee. Because this included an F segment it pushed it up into the 120,000 redemption range, but I'm OK with that.

YYZ - SRQ - YYZ (on AC) for 25,000 miles

Canada Security Charge (CA) = 12.10
Carrier Admin. Service Charge (YQ) = 54.00
Combined taxes, fees, charges and surcharges *for ClassicFlight, see fare calculation below (XT) = 98.41
Additional Charge in Canadian dollars : 0.00

Total in Canadian dollars = $164.51

YEG-YVR - AC Y
YVR-NRT - AC J
HND-HKG - NH J
HKG-HND - NH J
HND-YVR - AC J
YVR-YEG - AC Y

Taxes, surcharges and airline fees per passenger:

Canada Security Charge (CA) 25.91

Canada Goods and Services Tax 1.00

Combined taxes, fees, charges and surcharges 274.40

Additional Charge in Canadian dollars : 4.00

Total in Canadian dollars : 305.31

21JUN11YEA AC YVR R0.00AC TYO R0.00NH HKG NH X/TYO Q4.25AC
YVR M0.00AC YEA R0.00NUC4.25 END ROE1.007950 XT190.00YQ
20.00SQ49.00SW15.40HK

Used 100K miles. $305 is a bit pricey but I wanted to avoid UA and there didn't seem to be any other non-AC way to get across the Pacific.

YYZ-YUL AC (J)
YUL-BRU AC (J)
BRU-ZRH LX (J)
ZRH-YYZ AC (J)

CA 25.91
YQ 440.00
XT 116.95

Total $582.86

Points: 80,000

I'm happy to be able to get my wife where she needs to go, on the dates she needs to go, with a fairly simple routing, in the comfort of J, for $600.

YQ definitely sucks. Could have avoided it by booking YYZ-EWR-BRU on CO. There was some availability, however, I didn't want to subject my wife to the hassle of transiting the US or the lack of comfort on CO.

In comparison,

Also booked today:

YYZ-DUS LH (F)
DUS-CDG LH (J)
ZRH-YUL LX (F)
YUL-YYZ AC (J)

CA 25.91
RC 3.25
XT 100.10

Total 129.26

Points = 100,000

Now that I consider a deal!

mars1982, could you please post the carriers used on those flights?

No problem. Edited above post.