Stunned by > $1400 in taxes and fees that I just needed to book a Euro round trip
May 13, 2012, 11:50 am
#61
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Northern UK
Programs: None since COVID - yet!
Posts: 330
No-one has mentioned UK APD.
With a stopovers in London each way, the UK government is getting an additional £13 for LHR-SZB and £162 for LHR-DFW per PAX - there's ~$570 alone of the $1400 for two.
This is payable irrespective of whether ticketed/flown on BA/AA.
If they were transits, none of that would be payable.
With a stopovers in London each way, the UK government is getting an additional £13 for LHR-SZB and £162 for LHR-DFW per PAX - there's ~$570 alone of the $1400 for two.
This is payable irrespective of whether ticketed/flown on BA/AA.
If they were transits, none of that would be payable.
Last edited by androobe; May 13, 2012 at 12:10 pm Reason: Added quote
May 13, 2012, 1:23 pm
#62
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
Sadly, a year from now, DM will probably not exist anymore. My 250k DM will become 250k AAdvantage miles, we'll all be in Oneworld, and it'll be a pain in the *** to get into many parts of Europe and the Middle East without involving LHR. 
Hopefully I'll be able to get a couple J awards to HKG before the Star Alliance gig is up.
Hopefully I'll be able to get a couple J awards to HKG before the Star Alliance gig is up.That's what I am doing - AUH-JFK in EY F with limo service
But I do agree with you, somewhat.
I have not had any problems redeeming over 2 MM in awards with AA/OW - all in premium long haul flights until this year. It has ALL changed suddenly. I could give you many examples, but one stands out - NO F/J sAAver awards AT ALL from GIG to any N.A. AA hub the entire (so far bookable) 2013 - and I've been checking from T-331 and with EF alerts. I had no trouble getting 2 Js on GIG-SFO with UA on the exact day I needed.
Times, they are-a-changing...
May 13, 2012, 1:30 pm
#63
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
I flew HKG-SFO in Cathay F on an award ticket last month and paid $33. If you're doing award travel in that direction you're not paying fuel surcharges on One World. Look at the photos from my trip and tell me if you'd rather fly UA or Cathay in F. LINK
Did the same all the way to CMB (though the last segment from SIN was in J) for about the same (similar) in taxes.
May 13, 2012, 3:34 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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Posts: 22,023
However, the OP mentions 10 hours free each day after the 'overnights' but does not mention the actual times.
From that one can easily conclude the LHR breaks are indeed stopovers (rather than transits) and as such APD would apply each way.
OP, can you please advise your arrival and next day departure times at LHR each way.
May 13, 2012, 3:46 pm
#65
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM
Posts: 2,080
Tell me something I don't know.
However, the OP mentions 10 hours free each day after the 'overnights' but does not mention the actual times.
From that one can easily conclude the LHR breaks are indeed stopovers (rather than transits) and as such APD would apply each way.
OP, can you please advise your arrival and next day departure times at LHR each way.
However, the OP mentions 10 hours free each day after the 'overnights' but does not mention the actual times.
From that one can easily conclude the LHR breaks are indeed stopovers (rather than transits) and as such APD would apply each way.
OP, can you please advise your arrival and next day departure times at LHR each way.
May 13, 2012, 3:49 pm
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
deleted. life's short
Last edited by hillrider; May 14, 2012 at 1:39 am
May 13, 2012, 4:29 pm
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
deleted. life's short
Last edited by hillrider; May 14, 2012 at 1:39 am
May 13, 2012, 6:29 pm
#68
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053
I read all the stuff AA sends me, yet it weren't for FT, I'd have no idea of the newest (post-JBA) rip-off it's being perpetrated on unsuspecting--literally--millions of members. And all you have to do is search for availablilty to see that in many (most?) day the only options is to take BA metal with the extortionate co-pay, and since under the JBA AA & BA pool the transatlantic revenues, AA does pockets part of the fee.
The hyperbole in this thread is amazing.
May 13, 2012, 6:30 pm
#69
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053
Forcing. :laugh:
May 13, 2012, 6:34 pm
#70
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
Don't believe everything you read on an Internet forum. I just found availability on June 2 (AA 138 in F) and then stopped looking because that was sufficient to disprove the thesis.
Last edited by Austinrunner; May 13, 2012 at 6:41 pm
May 13, 2012, 6:37 pm
#71
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,849
I checked the first seven days of February SFO-LHR on AA metal and there were discounted business awards available six of those days and discounted first class awards available five of those days. You'd be able to get to London from here in one of those fares classes every day of the week.
May 13, 2012, 6:58 pm
#72
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053
Incidentally, I read that someone searched for regular (not 2x miles) awards in F or J cabins on JFK-LHR on AA metal for the entire upcoming 330 days, and found NONE. Not a single flight available, just BA ones.
AA is forcing people to book BA to pay the high co-pays of which it gets a cut through the JBA.
AA is forcing people to book BA to pay the high co-pays of which it gets a cut through the JBA.
May 13, 2012, 8:55 pm
#73
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
It has ALL changed suddenly. I could give you many examples, but one stands out - NO F/J sAAver awards AT ALL from GIG to any N.A. AA hub the entire (so far bookable) 2013 - and I've been checking from T-331 and with EF alerts. I had no trouble getting 2 Js on GIG-SFO with UA on the exact day I needed.
Times, they are-a-changing...
Times, they are-a-changing...
I should have made it clear that I am looking for 2 J awards (1 does me no good). There have been a few single Js but never 2. I will not book one J and one Y and hope I get a second J later, because it may never happen and I would NEVER fly GIG to SFO overnight in Y.
Thus if I can't get 2 awards, for me it's the same as not having any.
In the past this would not have been a problem when planning early. Neither was it a problem on UA getting 2 Js.
May 13, 2012, 9:48 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
deleted. life's short
Last edited by hillrider; May 14, 2012 at 1:39 am
May 13, 2012, 9:48 pm
#75
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 573
What is APD?
(I did first try the glossary, which was helpful with YQ = Fuel Surcharge)
Serfty, I'll tell you that the elapsed time between arrival and departure in London is just under 24 hours.
I'm budgeting:
- 1 hrs to clear Heathrow customs
- 3 hours transit time (from Heathrow into London, and London to Sofitel Gatwick @ $193 for the night which they explicitly say is "Tax-inclusive price")
- 10 hrs for actual touring, lunch and dinner
- 7 hrs to sleep
- 3 hours for breakfast and Gatwick morning checkin
from earlier:
"...foregoing flying other airlines, even if they were cheaper,"
I almost never do this.
Whenever possible domestically, I have switched to flying Southwest. The flight is usually cheaper to start out with, and I can check a bag at no cost. It becomes an economically irrational decision to consciously book a more expensive flight AND still have to pay to check bags. Makeup, hair care, lotion, etc puts me over the liquids carry-on limit anyway. And I don't have to deal with a heavy bag inside the airport. Not to mention Southwest flight attendants are fun. (Though my favorite flight attendant ever is Anthony from AA, whom I completely enjoyed on Chicago to Rome AA flights.)
AA called me earlier this year to let me know all my points were about to expire. Eventually I corrected this by sending AA 1) an Alaska Air charge receipt from the past 8 months 2) a photocopy of my boarding pass. Both were required; I thought I'd never find that boarding pass...(Who keeps boarding pass photocopies?) Luckily I had used one of mine as a bookmark and still had the book. That was why I initially found and registered on this forum - googling for ways to not let my AA points expire.
More recently, what prompted me to try to use my points was the email below from AA, and the feeling that my points will only decrease in value as time passes:
------------
date: Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 11:48 AM
subject: NEW! Book Flight Awards On More Airlines At AA.com
Redeem Your Miles on AA.com for Flights on British Airways and Hawaiian Airlines!
We're making it easier for you to redeem American Airlines AAdvantageRegistered trademark miles for flights on
British Airways and Hawaiian Airlines. Now, you can book one-way, round-trip and multi-city award travel on one or a combination of airlines on AA.com.
When planning your award travel online, you will now see flight options for American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways and Hawaiian Airlines on applicable routes when award seats are available.
Learn More and plan your trip today.
(I did first try the glossary, which was helpful with YQ = Fuel Surcharge)
I'm budgeting:
- 1 hrs to clear Heathrow customs
- 3 hours transit time (from Heathrow into London, and London to Sofitel Gatwick @ $193 for the night which they explicitly say is "Tax-inclusive price")
- 10 hrs for actual touring, lunch and dinner
- 7 hrs to sleep
- 3 hours for breakfast and Gatwick morning checkin
from earlier:
"...foregoing flying other airlines, even if they were cheaper,"
I almost never do this.
Whenever possible domestically, I have switched to flying Southwest. The flight is usually cheaper to start out with, and I can check a bag at no cost. It becomes an economically irrational decision to consciously book a more expensive flight AND still have to pay to check bags. Makeup, hair care, lotion, etc puts me over the liquids carry-on limit anyway. And I don't have to deal with a heavy bag inside the airport. Not to mention Southwest flight attendants are fun. (Though my favorite flight attendant ever is Anthony from AA, whom I completely enjoyed on Chicago to Rome AA flights.)
AA called me earlier this year to let me know all my points were about to expire. Eventually I corrected this by sending AA 1) an Alaska Air charge receipt from the past 8 months 2) a photocopy of my boarding pass. Both were required; I thought I'd never find that boarding pass...(Who keeps boarding pass photocopies?) Luckily I had used one of mine as a bookmark and still had the book. That was why I initially found and registered on this forum - googling for ways to not let my AA points expire.
More recently, what prompted me to try to use my points was the email below from AA, and the feeling that my points will only decrease in value as time passes:
------------
date: Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 11:48 AM
subject: NEW! Book Flight Awards On More Airlines At AA.com
Redeem Your Miles on AA.com for Flights on British Airways and Hawaiian Airlines!
We're making it easier for you to redeem American Airlines AAdvantageRegistered trademark miles for flights on
British Airways and Hawaiian Airlines. Now, you can book one-way, round-trip and multi-city award travel on one or a combination of airlines on AA.com.
When planning your award travel online, you will now see flight options for American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways and Hawaiian Airlines on applicable routes when award seats are available.
Learn More and plan your trip today.