Oct 14, 2014, 10:32 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Help with British Airways and Iberia Carrier Imposed Surcharges
Using AAdvantage miles for awards using British Airways generally* incurs very high carrier imposed surcharges / fees (BA charges their own BAEC flyers these for Avios redemptions as well). AA awards on IB incur considerably lower fees (~$50 one way transatlantic is quoted by one member, the link to travelisfree.com below gives a BA flight with $458 YQ, IB $96). One FTer claims $700 BA YQ fees for SAN-PRG return, which is not unusual). You are likely to find lots of availability on BA using the aa.com award booking facility.
Intra-European awards using BA have significantly lower carrier imposed charges; some members may find using AA or other partner transatlantic connecting to BA may be acceptable.
NOTE: Paying YQ may trigger a host of other taxes and fees otherwise not charged on awards that do not include carrier imposed surcharges such as YQ. Flights within the Americas are YQ exempt.
As this is still flying on an award, these carrier imposed surcharges do not qualify for EQM or EQD earning.
Be sure to read the oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on thread wiki for information on searching for and finding alternative flights or those not shown on aa.com, which airlines' websites can find those, etc.
Read more about BA Carrier Imposed Surcharges on AA awards here (rrgg supplied most of these below:
Fuel Surcharge for AA award redemptions on BA are up - again.
Partner airline awards now bookable on AA.com (AB, AS, AY, BA, HA, HG, QF, RJ, US)
Does AA push most of its European Awards to BA to collect fuel surcharges?
Charts from TravelIsFree for the three alliances and how you will pay (or avoid) YQ: http://travelisfree.com/2014/04/15/m...surcharges-yq/
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
AA oneworld and Other Airline ("All Partner") Award information, rules (2015 on)
Originating a flight in the UK incurs an Air Passenger Duty, reduced for seats with less than 40" seat pitch (except those originating from originating in BFS / Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands (INV) or Islands, and connections less than 24 hours do not incur UK Air Passenger Duty, though they do incur airport Passenger Service Charges). Separate topic, dealt with:
UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread); defines what the APD is in the wikipost.
Avoiding crazy UK "APD" taxes when transferring through LHR on separate tickets
Archived posts May 2012 - 2016 may be read here.
Using AAdvantage miles for awards using British Airways generally* incurs very high carrier imposed surcharges / fees (BA charges their own BAEC flyers these for Avios redemptions as well). AA awards on IB incur considerably lower fees (~$50 one way transatlantic is quoted by one member, the link to travelisfree.com below gives a BA flight with $458 YQ, IB $96). One FTer claims $700 BA YQ fees for SAN-PRG return, which is not unusual). You are likely to find lots of availability on BA using the aa.com award booking facility.
Intra-European awards using BA have significantly lower carrier imposed charges; some members may find using AA or other partner transatlantic connecting to BA may be acceptable.
NOTE: Paying YQ may trigger a host of other taxes and fees otherwise not charged on awards that do not include carrier imposed surcharges such as YQ. Flights within the Americas are YQ exempt.
As this is still flying on an award, these carrier imposed surcharges do not qualify for EQM or EQD earning.
Be sure to read the oneworld and Other Airline (Partner) Awards info, rules 2014 on thread wiki for information on searching for and finding alternative flights or those not shown on aa.com, which airlines' websites can find those, etc.
Read more about BA Carrier Imposed Surcharges on AA awards here (rrgg supplied most of these below:
Fuel Surcharge for AA award redemptions on BA are up - again.
Partner airline awards now bookable on AA.com (AB, AS, AY, BA, HA, HG, QF, RJ, US)
Does AA push most of its European Awards to BA to collect fuel surcharges?
Charts from TravelIsFree for the three alliances and how you will pay (or avoid) YQ: http://travelisfree.com/2014/04/15/m...surcharges-yq/
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
AA oneworld and Other Airline ("All Partner") Award information, rules (2015 on)
Originating a flight in the UK incurs an Air Passenger Duty, reduced for seats with less than 40" seat pitch (except those originating from originating in BFS / Northern Ireland, Scottish Highlands (INV) or Islands, and connections less than 24 hours do not incur UK Air Passenger Duty, though they do incur airport Passenger Service Charges). Separate topic, dealt with:
UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread); defines what the APD is in the wikipost.
Avoiding crazy UK "APD" taxes when transferring through LHR on separate tickets
Archived posts May 2012 - 2016 may be read here.
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Dec 22, 2017, 5:37 pm
#91
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, UA, NW, DL, Marriott
Posts: 354
First, how is this costing you 320K miles (i.e., 160K miles per person)? A roundtrip should be 150K miles per person.
I second the recommendation to look at QR, connecting through DOH. With QR, sometimes your routing is limited. In this case, it looks like you can have JNB-LVI on the same award, since QR publishes a LAX-LVI fare, but looking at the fare rules, you might be limited to the LAX-DOH, BOS-DOH, and PHL-DOH flights across the Atlantic (although I've been able to book routings that EF suggests is not possible). In my experience, QR transatlantic business class is tough to find if you are looking to depart on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
If QR doesn't work for you, a possible but more expensive option (in points) would be going via the Pacific (at least one way). It would be multiple awards, but CX, for example, generally has more flexible routing rules. It would be 125K one-way per person in J if you combine a NA-India with an India-Africa award, 140K miles if you want to skip India and go straight from Asia 2 to Africa (it's the same number of miles NA-India as it is NA-Asia 2 but more expensive going from Asia 2-Africa than India-Africa).
I second the recommendation to look at QR, connecting through DOH. With QR, sometimes your routing is limited. In this case, it looks like you can have JNB-LVI on the same award, since QR publishes a LAX-LVI fare, but looking at the fare rules, you might be limited to the LAX-DOH, BOS-DOH, and PHL-DOH flights across the Atlantic (although I've been able to book routings that EF suggests is not possible). In my experience, QR transatlantic business class is tough to find if you are looking to depart on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
If QR doesn't work for you, a possible but more expensive option (in points) would be going via the Pacific (at least one way). It would be multiple awards, but CX, for example, generally has more flexible routing rules. It would be 125K one-way per person in J if you combine a NA-India with an India-Africa award, 140K miles if you want to skip India and go straight from Asia 2 to Africa (it's the same number of miles NA-India as it is NA-Asia 2 but more expensive going from Asia 2-Africa than India-Africa).
I like your NA-India-Africa idea, but my mileage balance does not. Unless buying 180K AA Miles would BE significantly lower than the taxes. If that's even possible?
I'll look into that this evening (I am on PST) and a dinner event I have to attend but, like any true FT'er I would rather be researching this!
Thanks for your suggestion. I, too, will report back.
Dec 22, 2017, 5:58 pm
#92
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,574
If taking BA, I would consider whether it is worth just saving the miles for another trip and buying a ticket on BA from LVI-LAX
The one way fare from LVI-LAX is $3222 , so an extra $2487 over the award price
If holding no status, the mileage earned from the trip would be 11,669 base plus 2918 bonus for 14,587 ( if holding status would be bonuses to add )
75,000+15000 = 90,000 points
Cost to buy 90,000 points is $2027 in the current promotion, so you are saving $460. If comparing value against purchase price outside of sale, it would cost $2,884.13
On a paid ticket you will have a lot more flexibility on flights and could have stopovers if desired; plus if aiming to attain/renew status, this would earn 17,503 EQMs
If you have another transatlantic trip to do, you could get LVI-LAX-LHR for an extra $2000
The one way fare from LVI-LAX is $3222 , so an extra $2487 over the award price
If holding no status, the mileage earned from the trip would be 11,669 base plus 2918 bonus for 14,587 ( if holding status would be bonuses to add )
75,000+15000 = 90,000 points
Cost to buy 90,000 points is $2027 in the current promotion, so you are saving $460. If comparing value against purchase price outside of sale, it would cost $2,884.13
On a paid ticket you will have a lot more flexibility on flights and could have stopovers if desired; plus if aiming to attain/renew status, this would earn 17,503 EQMs
If you have another transatlantic trip to do, you could get LVI-LAX-LHR for an extra $2000
Last edited by Dave Noble; Dec 22, 2017 at 6:04 pm
Dec 22, 2017, 5:59 pm
#93
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
For discussion on and important information about AA Awards on Qatar Airways, please read https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...aster-thd.html.
/Moderator
/Moderator
Dec 22, 2017, 7:35 pm
#94
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: AY+ Plat, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,846
My mistake - I HAVE 320K miles. IIRC, you are correct about it being 75K. The Award Agent said she could not find any availability from May to August 2018 to JNB QR.
I like your NA-India-Africa idea, but my mileage balance does not. Unless buying 180K AA Miles would BE significantly lower than the taxes. If that's even possible?
I'll look into that this evening (I am on PST) and a dinner event I have to attend but, like any true FT'er I would rather be researching this!
Thanks for your suggestion. I, too, will report back.
I like your NA-India-Africa idea, but my mileage balance does not. Unless buying 180K AA Miles would BE significantly lower than the taxes. If that's even possible?
I'll look into that this evening (I am on PST) and a dinner event I have to attend but, like any true FT'er I would rather be researching this!
Thanks for your suggestion. I, too, will report back.
Dec 22, 2017, 8:09 pm
#95
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO, MIA
Programs: AA 2MillionMiler, BA ExecutiveClub, UA MileagePlus, AS MileagePlan
Posts: 449
Jan 30, 2018, 7:17 pm
#96
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lake Tahoe (RNO)
Programs: Depends on the card offers :)
Posts: 127
Award to EDI on AA/BA
Currently in MDE, which is a tricky to link with the rest of SA. So we’re going to get a little crazy and head to Europe instead.
Have an award on hold: MDE-BOS-EDI (40k miles pp + $400)
Both MDE-BOS (17.5k) and BOS-EDI (22.5k) are saver awards, so I feel good about the miles...but the carrier imposed fees are steep!
Can I get rid of the BA metal and lower the fees? How? Yes I’m dumb for getting the close in booking fee
so $75 of that $400 is not going anywhere! Thanks all!
Have an award on hold: MDE-BOS-EDI (40k miles pp + $400)
Both MDE-BOS (17.5k) and BOS-EDI (22.5k) are saver awards, so I feel good about the miles...but the carrier imposed fees are steep!
Can I get rid of the BA metal and lower the fees? How? Yes I’m dumb for getting the close in booking fee
so $75 of that $400 is not going anywhere! Thanks all!
Jan 30, 2018, 7:24 pm
#97
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Currently in MDE, which is a tricky to link with the rest of SA. So we’re going to get a little crazy and head to Europe instead.
Have an award on hold: MDE-BOS-EDI (40k miles pp + $400)
Both MDE-BOS (17.5k) and BOS-EDI (22.5k) are saver awards, so I feel good about the miles...but the carrier imposed fees are steep!
Can I get rid of the BA metal and lower the fees? How? Yes I’m dumb for getting the close in booking fee so $75 of that $400 is not going anywhere! Thanks all!
Have an award on hold: MDE-BOS-EDI (40k miles pp + $400)
Both MDE-BOS (17.5k) and BOS-EDI (22.5k) are saver awards, so I feel good about the miles...but the carrier imposed fees are steep!
Can I get rid of the BA metal and lower the fees? How? Yes I’m dumb for getting the close in booking fee
so $75 of that $400 is not going anywhere! Thanks all!
Jan 30, 2018, 7:26 pm
#98
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,558
Currently in MDE, which is a tricky to link with the rest of SA. So we’re going to get a little crazy and head to Europe instead.
Have an award on hold: MDE-BOS-EDI (40k miles pp + $400)
Both MDE-BOS (17.5k) and BOS-EDI (22.5k) are saver awards, so I feel good about the miles...but the carrier imposed fees are steep!
Can I get rid of the BA metal and lower the fees? How? Yes I’m dumb for getting the close in booking fee so $75 of that $400 is not going anywhere! Thanks all!
Have an award on hold: MDE-BOS-EDI (40k miles pp + $400)
Both MDE-BOS (17.5k) and BOS-EDI (22.5k) are saver awards, so I feel good about the miles...but the carrier imposed fees are steep!
Can I get rid of the BA metal and lower the fees? How? Yes I’m dumb for getting the close in booking fee
so $75 of that $400 is not going anywhere! Thanks all!
Feb 23, 2018, 3:32 pm
#99
Join Date: Feb 2018
Posts: 4
AUS to HYD using AA miles (trying to avoid huge BA YQ fees)
I am new to this forum and from all the research I have done on reddit while trying to book flights from AUS-HYD using AA miles, going through BA flight seems to add lot of fees (~$500) in terms of london airport usage fees I assume. I tried to circumvent this by trying to find award flights on Qatar airways using AA website by choosing individual legs like AUS-DOH and DOH-HYD. Even this seems to add lot of fees (~$600).
I tried booking for a date which is 6 months later to just see if it reduces any fees but it did not.
Can you guys tell me how to go about this?
I tried booking for a date which is 6 months later to just see if it reduces any fees but it did not.
Can you guys tell me how to go about this?
Feb 23, 2018, 3:40 pm
#100
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,009
I am new to this forum and from all the research I have done on reddit while trying to book flights from AUS-HYD using AA miles, going through BA flight seems to add lot of fees (~$500) in terms of london airport usage fees I assume. I tried to circumvent this by trying to find award flights on Qatar airways using AA website by choosing individual legs like AUS-DOH and DOH-HYD. Even this seems to add lot of fees (~$600).
I tried booking for a date which is 6 months later to just see if it reduces any fees but it did not.
Can you guys tell me how to go about this?
I tried booking for a date which is 6 months later to just see if it reduces any fees but it did not.
Can you guys tell me how to go about this?
Via DOH will be 2 awards
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...advantage-733/
HELP DESK: MileSAAver / SAAver award questions, assistance
Oneworld and other airline Awards Rules, Information 2015 on
AA forum BA IB Help avoid YQ Surcharge: AA award on BA / British (& Iberia) (master thread)
Feb 23, 2018, 4:52 pm
#101
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
Feb 23, 2018, 7:40 pm
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,009
Feb 23, 2018, 8:35 pm
#104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,558
Note that all AAdvantage awards are now one-ways. You might conceivably go via AUH in one direction, and via HKG in the other.
Feb 24, 2018, 2:22 am
#105
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend, Moderator, Information Desk, Ambassador, Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: FAI
Programs: AS MVP Gold100K, AS 1MM, Maika`i Card, AGR, HH Gold, Hertz PC, Marriott Titanium LTG, CO, 7H, BA, 8E
Posts: 42,953
Welcome to Flyertalk @saiteja230.
Please follow the redirect to the AA forum for further discussion.
Please note, further consolidation may occur.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk
Please follow the redirect to the AA forum for further discussion.
Please note, further consolidation may occur.
~beckoa, co-moderator Information Desk