ARCHIVE: oneworld / Explorer Awards Using AA Miles info
Feb 3, 2011, 2:10 pm
#2461
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redwood City, CA (i.e. SFO/SJC/OAK)
Programs: AAdvantage 1MM+ GOLD, SkyMiles
Posts: 143
Cairo :(
All, booked this OW150C award itinerary for my wife, 4-year-old son and myself a couple of weeks ago:
SFO-ORD-LAX- MAD-CAI-AMM-DEL, CMB-SIN-BKK-HKG-SFO
==(in July)=== ===(in late-Nov)== ====(in late Dec)====
But, this was before Cairo started 'burning'
Although the hop (a 4-day stay) in Cairo is scheduled for late November, I'm very apprehensive about the timing now given what Mubarak's saying about leaving in September, the possibility of further unrest and so on and so forth.
Tried calling AA for a possible (forbidden) change in routing (through Athens: MAD-ATH-AMM) and talked to a supervisor as well but, no, they stuck to their guns that, given that these dates are so far out, they cannot bend the rules and allow a change in the routing. They are only accommodating folks traveling in the next few days in February on IB/BA into Cairo.
Looking for any suggestions / creative thinking here... Don't want to have to fork out $150 per head (as the miles came from each of our 3 accounts) to get the miles reinstated and also lose award inventory on some of these high-demand dates
Thanks in advance!
SFO-ORD-LAX- MAD-CAI-AMM-DEL, CMB-SIN-BKK-HKG-SFO
==(in July)=== ===(in late-Nov)== ====(in late Dec)====
But, this was before Cairo started 'burning'
Although the hop (a 4-day stay) in Cairo is scheduled for late November, I'm very apprehensive about the timing now given what Mubarak's saying about leaving in September, the possibility of further unrest and so on and so forth.
Tried calling AA for a possible (forbidden) change in routing (through Athens: MAD-ATH-AMM) and talked to a supervisor as well but, no, they stuck to their guns that, given that these dates are so far out, they cannot bend the rules and allow a change in the routing. They are only accommodating folks traveling in the next few days in February on IB/BA into Cairo.
Looking for any suggestions / creative thinking here... Don't want to have to fork out $150 per head (as the miles came from each of our 3 accounts) to get the miles reinstated and also lose award inventory on some of these high-demand dates
Thanks in advance!
Feb 3, 2011, 4:28 pm
#2462
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
If AA won't let you change the itinerary without redepositing the miles and paying $150 per person, then you can't do it. Did you buy travel insurance? If so, you could contact the insurance company to see if it would reimburse you for the redeposit fees.
Feb 3, 2011, 4:28 pm
#2463
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
I do tend to agree that late November is far enough and you can afford to wait and watch. The problem may take care of itself by then. Otherwise you'l have the same options at a later date.
Good luck.
Feb 3, 2011, 7:17 pm
#2464
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,800
All, booked this OW150C award itinerary for my wife, 4-year-old son and myself a couple of weeks ago:
SFO-ORD-LAX- MAD-CAI-AMM-DEL, CMB-SIN-BKK-HKG-SFO
==(in July)=== ===(in late-Nov)== ====(in late Dec)====
But, this was before Cairo started 'burning'
Although the hop (a 4-day stay) in Cairo is scheduled for late November, I'm very apprehensive about the timing now given what Mubarak's saying about leaving in September, the possibility of further unrest and so on and so forth.
Tried calling AA for a possible (forbidden) change in routing (through Athens: MAD-ATH-AMM) and talked to a supervisor as well but, no, they stuck to their guns that, given that these dates are so far out, they cannot bend the rules and allow a change in the routing. They are only accommodating folks traveling in the next few days in February on IB/BA into Cairo.
Looking for any suggestions / creative thinking here... Don't want to have to fork out $150 per head (as the miles came from each of our 3 accounts) to get the miles reinstated and also lose award inventory on some of these high-demand dates
Thanks in advance!
SFO-ORD-LAX- MAD-CAI-AMM-DEL, CMB-SIN-BKK-HKG-SFO
==(in July)=== ===(in late-Nov)== ====(in late Dec)====
But, this was before Cairo started 'burning'
Although the hop (a 4-day stay) in Cairo is scheduled for late November, I'm very apprehensive about the timing now given what Mubarak's saying about leaving in September, the possibility of further unrest and so on and so forth.
Tried calling AA for a possible (forbidden) change in routing (through Athens: MAD-ATH-AMM) and talked to a supervisor as well but, no, they stuck to their guns that, given that these dates are so far out, they cannot bend the rules and allow a change in the routing. They are only accommodating folks traveling in the next few days in February on IB/BA into Cairo.
Looking for any suggestions / creative thinking here... Don't want to have to fork out $150 per head (as the miles came from each of our 3 accounts) to get the miles reinstated and also lose award inventory on some of these high-demand dates
Thanks in advance!
AA has accommodated folks during the BKK airport siege but not until in the middle of the event.
AA also has known to cancel partial award and re-deposit partial miles in similar situations.
So you need to wait and see.
Good luck.
Feb 4, 2011, 10:35 am
#2465
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Redwood City, CA (i.e. SFO/SJC/OAK)
Programs: AAdvantage 1MM+ GOLD, SkyMiles
Posts: 143
Options right now appear to be: Cancel the trip; pay the fees and change the ticket; just change the CAI-AMM date to take the next flight out (date changes are free). I do tend to agree that late November is far enough and you can afford to wait and watch. The problem may take care of itself by then. Otherwise you'l have the same options at a later date.
You can still travel for up till the Egypt portion and see what the situation is much closer to November then decide what to do. AA has accommodated folks during the BKK airport siege but not until in the middle of the event. AA also has known to cancel partial award and re-deposit partial miles in similar situations.
No, no travel insurance (as that seems to cost pretty much the same as most of the redeposit fees!)
Feb 4, 2011, 1:10 pm
#2466
Join Date: May 2007
Location: ORD, DEL
Programs: AA (Plt Pro; 1.5 MM)
Posts: 6,185
If you had to, you could cut down your stay in CAI to as little as 5 hours. Of course it would be nice if the situation settles down and you are able to see the city.
Feb 4, 2011, 8:18 pm
#2467
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 95
Total fees, surcharges, & taxes per person: $308.63 (not including booking fee)
SFO > ORD (AA first)
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
TOTAL: $2.50 per person
ORD > DCA (AA first)
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
TOTAL: $2.50 per person
DCA > JFK > LHR (AA first, business)
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $5.00
TOTAL: $5.00 per person
LHR > MAD > VCE (IB business)
United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) $38.40
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $34.90
Spanish Airport Services Charge (JD) $10.30
Spanish Security Tax (QV) $3.60
TOTAL: $87.20 per person
VCE > FCO (cruise)
FCO > BUD (MA business)
Italian Embarkation Tax (IT) $7.20
Italian Security Charge (VT) $2.50
Italian Security Bag Charge (EX) $2.80
Italian Council City Tax (HB) $7.50
Italian Passenger Service Charge (MJ) $1.00
TOTAL: $21.00 per person
BUD > FRA (MA business)
Hungarian Airport Tax (HU) $20.20
Hungarian Security Charge (FE) $10.70
TOTAL: $30.90 per person
FRA > HEL (AY business)
German Airport Security Tax (DE) $9.00
German Passenger Service Charge (RA) $30.80
German Air Transport Tax (OY) $11.00
TOTAL: $50.80 per person
HEL > CDG (AY business)
Finland International Passenger Fee (FI) $13.20
Finland Security Charge (DQ) $5.00
TOTAL: $18.20 per person
ORY > MAD (IB business)
French Aviation Civile Tax (€4.17) $5.77
French International Passenger Service Charge (€10.23) $14.16
French Airport Tax (€12.75) $17.65
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (€10.00) $13.84
TOTAL: $51.42 per person
MAD > JFK (IB business)
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
Spanish Airport Services Charge (€10.98) $15.20
Spanish Security Tax (€2.61) $3.61
TOTAL: $36.31 per person
JFK > SFO (AA business)
US September 11th Security Fee $2.50
TOTAL: $2.50 per person
If you booked CDG > LHR (connection) > JFK on BA business and AA business, the fees/taxes/surcharges would be $184.50, which is $96.77 more than ORY > MAD (stopover) > JFK on IB business.
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $31.50
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $4.10
French Aviation Civile Tax (FR) $5.70
French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) $16.60
French Airport Tax (FR) $17.50
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) $54.80
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $36.80
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
SFO > ORD (AA first)
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
TOTAL: $2.50 per person
ORD > DCA (AA first)
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
TOTAL: $2.50 per person
DCA > JFK > LHR (AA first, business)
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $5.00
TOTAL: $5.00 per person
LHR > MAD > VCE (IB business)
United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) $38.40
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $34.90
Spanish Airport Services Charge (JD) $10.30
Spanish Security Tax (QV) $3.60
TOTAL: $87.20 per person
VCE > FCO (cruise)
FCO > BUD (MA business)
Italian Embarkation Tax (IT) $7.20
Italian Security Charge (VT) $2.50
Italian Security Bag Charge (EX) $2.80
Italian Council City Tax (HB) $7.50
Italian Passenger Service Charge (MJ) $1.00
TOTAL: $21.00 per person
BUD > FRA (MA business)
Hungarian Airport Tax (HU) $20.20
Hungarian Security Charge (FE) $10.70
TOTAL: $30.90 per person
FRA > HEL (AY business)
German Airport Security Tax (DE) $9.00
German Passenger Service Charge (RA) $30.80
German Air Transport Tax (OY) $11.00
TOTAL: $50.80 per person
HEL > CDG (AY business)
Finland International Passenger Fee (FI) $13.20
Finland Security Charge (DQ) $5.00
TOTAL: $18.20 per person
ORY > MAD (IB business)
French Aviation Civile Tax (€4.17) $5.77
French International Passenger Service Charge (€10.23) $14.16
French Airport Tax (€12.75) $17.65
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (€10.00) $13.84
TOTAL: $51.42 per person
MAD > JFK (IB business)
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
Spanish Airport Services Charge (€10.98) $15.20
Spanish Security Tax (€2.61) $3.61
TOTAL: $36.31 per person
JFK > SFO (AA business)
US September 11th Security Fee $2.50
TOTAL: $2.50 per person
If you booked CDG > LHR (connection) > JFK on BA business and AA business, the fees/taxes/surcharges would be $184.50, which is $96.77 more than ORY > MAD (stopover) > JFK on IB business.
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $31.50
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $4.10
French Aviation Civile Tax (FR) $5.70
French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) $16.60
French Airport Tax (FR) $17.50
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) $54.80
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $36.80
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
Feb 4, 2011, 8:37 pm
#2468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,754
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
mariobey, I'm wondering if AA neglected to remove some of the extra U.S. taxes/fees that were appropriately assessed when you had a BA segment on the held itinerary.
mariobey, I'm wondering if AA neglected to remove some of the extra U.S. taxes/fees that were appropriately assessed when you had a BA segment on the held itinerary.
Feb 4, 2011, 10:51 pm
#2469
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
Austin, AA is insisting that it is $350 per person + booking fee. I'm awaiting explanation. Your math seems so precise/exact that I'm trying to make sure I'm not getting nickel and dimed somewhere. Is there a common error that AA tends to make in overcharging? I'm trying to find the difference!
Feb 5, 2011, 5:47 am
#2470
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 526
Thanks all! Yes, I might as well wing it. If things do look bad (and if I can't get a reroute for whatever reason), I'll probably stay longer in Madrid and do a quick hop through CAI into AMM. It'd be a shame to miss out on Egypt though.
No, no travel insurance (as that seems to cost pretty much the same as most of the redeposit fees!)
No, no travel insurance (as that seems to cost pretty much the same as most of the redeposit fees!)
If everything is calm in Cairo in Nov. I highly recommend spending 8 days in the country and travel down to Luxor, Aswan and the Abu Simble temples. Cairo is nice but nothing beats these locations including a three day cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor or the other way around.
My guess is that tourists in the places I just mentioned are safe even now.
Feb 5, 2011, 9:21 am
#2471
In Memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Always on vacation
Programs: aa exp - spg gold - Hyatt Diamond - HH Gold
Posts: 6,007
I'll have some time later today to break downl the taxes for my itinerary.
Feb 5, 2011, 9:57 am
#2472
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 95
After an hour on the phone, I suspect there is aprox. $43 luxury tax ORY > MAD that was not factored in above.
Business class out of paris (ORY) has this tax apparently.
At least that was the explanation I was given. I will know more once I have my ticket and can assess the breakdown. I hope I can help in providing information back to FT after all the help I received.
And if you spot an error once I get it (probably Monday) then just let me know and I'll take the gloves off and go back to work.
Business class out of paris (ORY) has this tax apparently.
At least that was the explanation I was given. I will know more once I have my ticket and can assess the breakdown. I hope I can help in providing information back to FT after all the help I received.
And if you spot an error once I get it (probably Monday) then just let me know and I'll take the gloves off and go back to work.
Feb 5, 2011, 4:40 pm
#2473
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Florida
Posts: 29,800
After an hour on the phone, I suspect there is aprox. $43 luxury tax ORY > MAD that was not factored in above.
Business class out of paris (ORY) has this tax apparently.
At least that was the explanation I was given. I will know more once I have my ticket and can assess the breakdown. I hope I can help in providing information back to FT after all the help I received.
And if you spot an error once I get it (probably Monday) then just let me know and I'll take the gloves off and go back to work.
Business class out of paris (ORY) has this tax apparently.
At least that was the explanation I was given. I will know more once I have my ticket and can assess the breakdown. I hope I can help in providing information back to FT after all the help I received.
And if you spot an error once I get it (probably Monday) then just let me know and I'll take the gloves off and go back to work.
Feb 5, 2011, 5:12 pm
#2474
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
After an hour on the phone, I suspect there is aprox. $43 luxury tax ORY > MAD that was not factored in above.
Business class out of paris (ORY) has this tax apparently.
At least that was the explanation I was given. I will know more once I have my ticket and can assess the breakdown. I hope I can help in providing information back to FT after all the help I received.
And if you spot an error once I get it (probably Monday) then just let me know and I'll take the gloves off and go back to work.
Business class out of paris (ORY) has this tax apparently.
At least that was the explanation I was given. I will know more once I have my ticket and can assess the breakdown. I hope I can help in providing information back to FT after all the help I received.
And if you spot an error once I get it (probably Monday) then just let me know and I'll take the gloves off and go back to work.
Feb 5, 2011, 5:16 pm
#2475
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 95
Mystery solved. They're talking about the French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ). They're charging you (€40.00) $54.80 instead of (€10.00) $13.84. They are correct because your first stopover after leaving France is the U.S., not Spain (where you are making only a connection). I imagine the remaining $2 difference is due to minor currency exchange rate fluctuations. I was not aware of this wrinkle when I listed all the taxes, etc. for you.
And...the AA rep then said that we weren't charged this fee after all but that we SHOULD have been charged it and it might go up during ticketing/review.
Additionally, this also doesn't solve where the original upcharge came from.
I'm resigned to waiting until it is ticketed to actually view the details myself and we'll try and learn together.
Either way, we are HAPPY campers. Thank you Austin and Happy and all who contributed to this thread.
I will post additional details as I learn them for the benefit of other members as I get it.