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
May 28, 2017, 10:24 am
#46
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: TPA
Programs: BA Silver; Hilton Gold; IHG Diamond Ambassador; Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,811
It is not due to the extra segment but due to the carrier surcharge
Where a ticket has a fare of zero , only the $5.60 tax is charged
Where a ticket has a non zero fare. the other taxes are charged too
The carrier surcharge is a fare component rather than a tax
By including a BA sector for which there are carrier surcharges, then the ticket no longer has a fare of zero and so the other taxes become due
Where a ticket has a fare of zero , only the $5.60 tax is charged
Where a ticket has a non zero fare. the other taxes are charged too
The carrier surcharge is a fare component rather than a tax
By including a BA sector for which there are carrier surcharges, then the ticket no longer has a fare of zero and so the other taxes become due
May 28, 2017, 1:16 pm
#47
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: United Silver, AA, Delta, Marriott, Hyatt.
Posts: 432
The BA site shows me the business class ticket I want on Iberia as "2 available" for 10 May 2018, but the nice man on the phone from American says he cannot book a ticket that far in advance. Thoughts? Should I be concerned that the fact there are only 2 available today means I could be out of like in 16 days when I can book this via AA?
May 28, 2017, 2:20 pm
#49
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,543
The BA site shows me the business class ticket I want on Iberia as "2 available" for 10 May 2018, but the nice man on the phone from American says he cannot book a ticket that far in advance. Thoughts? Should I be concerned that the fact there are only 2 available today means I could be out of like in 16 days when I can book this via AA?
Is there availability on days around that or is this just a single day with availability? also , if you look at dates 2 weeks earlier, how is availability - those may give you an idea of how likely the seats are to go
May 28, 2017, 2:45 pm
#50
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: United Silver, AA, Delta, Marriott, Hyatt.
Posts: 432
AA has a restriction in that it only permits booking 330 days in advance ; airlines such as BA and QF allow bookings up to 355 days in advance. If there are 2 available now , then they may be gone depending on what bookings IB receive in next 2 weeks.
Is there availability on days around that or is this just a single day with availability? also , if you look at dates 2 weeks earlier, how is availability - those may give you an idea of how likely the seats are to go
Is there availability on days around that or is this just a single day with availability? also , if you look at dates 2 weeks earlier, how is availability - those may give you an idea of how likely the seats are to go
Thank you! On one hand, it looks like there is availability a lot of days in April...on the other hand mid May is probably a bit more desirable.
May 30, 2017, 6:45 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: KSTP KSPG
Programs: AOPA
Posts: 974
Connecting at LHR triggers YQ
I guess this is well know but it still sucks.
waw-lhr $13.7 taxes/fees. No YQ.
but if you book
waw-lhr-ord, AA metal on the 2nd leg, it then triggers a $40 ba YQ. the connection at LHR triggers the YQ.
waw-lhr $13.7 taxes/fees. No YQ.
but if you book
waw-lhr-ord, AA metal on the 2nd leg, it then triggers a $40 ba YQ. the connection at LHR triggers the YQ.
May 30, 2017, 6:52 pm
#52
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,543
You will avoid the APD of GBP75/GBP150 though , so will come out better than booking separately
May 31, 2017, 6:08 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
From aa.com:
Adult fare, taxes and carrier-imposed fees
Base fare $0.00 USD
Per person
CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $32.00 USD
AIRPORT TAX (POLAND) $16.00 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (POLAND) $0.10 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (UNITED KINGDOM) $40.10 USD
TRANSPORTATION TAX (UNITED STATES) $18.00 USD
US APHIS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $3.96 USD
US FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE (UNITED STATES) $7.00 USD
US CUSTOMS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $5.50 USD
Total Adult taxes and carrier-imposed fees $122.66 USD
Per person
May 31, 2017, 6:21 am
#55
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,543
Unless recently changed, AA definitely did impose YQ for european sectors on BA for a transatlantic journey even though BA would not charge YQ for a standalone booking; is that a breakdown for an award journey?
Passenger service charge would apply even for a standalone LHR-ORD
Checking for a business class award WAW-ORD via LHR using BA-AA, the breakdown shows
Taxes $90.66
Carrier-Imposed Fees $40.00
with the taxes broken down as
AIRPORT TAX (POLAND) $16.00 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (POLAND) $0.10 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (UNITED KINGDOM) $40.10 USD
TRANSPORTATION TAX (UNITED STATES) $18.00 USD
US APHIS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $3.96 USD
US FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE (UNITED STATES) $7.00 USD
US CUSTOMS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $5.50 USD
and
CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $40.00 USD
In your breakdown it even showed CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $32.00 USD - which is what AA applies in economy class
Passenger service charge would apply even for a standalone LHR-ORD
Checking for a business class award WAW-ORD via LHR using BA-AA, the breakdown shows
Taxes $90.66
Carrier-Imposed Fees $40.00
with the taxes broken down as
AIRPORT TAX (POLAND) $16.00 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (POLAND) $0.10 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (UNITED KINGDOM) $40.10 USD
TRANSPORTATION TAX (UNITED STATES) $18.00 USD
US APHIS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $3.96 USD
US FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE (UNITED STATES) $7.00 USD
US CUSTOMS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $5.50 USD
and
CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $40.00 USD
In your breakdown it even showed CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $32.00 USD - which is what AA applies in economy class
Last edited by Dave Noble; May 31, 2017 at 6:35 am
May 31, 2017, 7:58 am
#56
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: KSTP KSPG
Programs: AOPA
Posts: 974
YQ on a connection only. BA does it because they can.
Confirmed with the rate desk, the YQ is triggered by the connection.
Confirmed with the rate desk, the YQ is triggered by the connection.
Unless recently changed, AA definitely did impose YQ for european sectors on BA for a transatlantic journey even though BA would not charge YQ for a standalone booking; is that a breakdown for an award journey?
Passenger service charge would apply even for a standalone LHR-ORD
Checking for a business class award WAW-ORD via LHR using BA-AA, the breakdown shows
Taxes $90.66
Carrier-Imposed Fees $40.00
with the taxes broken down as
AIRPORT TAX (POLAND) $16.00 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (POLAND) $0.10 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (UNITED KINGDOM) $40.10 USD
TRANSPORTATION TAX (UNITED STATES) $18.00 USD
US APHIS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $3.96 USD
US FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE (UNITED STATES) $7.00 USD
US CUSTOMS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $5.50 USD
and
CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $40.00 USD
In your breakdown it even showed CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $32.00 USD - which is what AA applies in economy class
Passenger service charge would apply even for a standalone LHR-ORD
Checking for a business class award WAW-ORD via LHR using BA-AA, the breakdown shows
Taxes $90.66
Carrier-Imposed Fees $40.00
with the taxes broken down as
AIRPORT TAX (POLAND) $16.00 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (POLAND) $0.10 USD
PASSENGER SERVICE CHARGE (UNITED KINGDOM) $40.10 USD
TRANSPORTATION TAX (UNITED STATES) $18.00 USD
US APHIS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $3.96 USD
US FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE (UNITED STATES) $7.00 USD
US CUSTOMS USER FEE (UNITED STATES) $5.50 USD
and
CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $40.00 USD
In your breakdown it even showed CARRIER-IMPOSED FEES $32.00 USD - which is what AA applies in economy class
Jun 13, 2017, 3:04 pm
#57
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: United Silver, AA, Delta, Marriott, Hyatt.
Posts: 432
Got tagged for $131 on a one way business class from MAD to ORD on Iberia.
On the upside, I was shocked to be able to accomplish this transaction quickly on AA.com...and I had forgotten about getting 10% back instantly, so that was a nice little bonus.
On the upside, I was shocked to be able to accomplish this transaction quickly on AA.com...and I had forgotten about getting 10% back instantly, so that was a nice little bonus.
Jun 16, 2017, 1:15 pm
#58
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Programs: BMI Diamond Club Gold forever
Posts: 6,367
Had my first experience with Level (the new IAG LCC). Was able to put an economy award on hold, 30k miles for BCN-OAK with $60 taxes plus $67 in carrier imposed fees. I have an anytime award on AA metal (788 w eco+ seats) for 60k miles with only $46 in taxes. Also have DUS-JFK/EWR-SEA in biz on hold, at 57.5k miles it seems like the best deal on miles, but it has $90 in taxes and necessitates a JFK-EWR xfer and an overnight in EWR.
Can't be too choosy on last minute summer travel!
Can't be too choosy on last minute summer travel!
Jun 16, 2017, 4:32 pm
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
It looks like the carrier imposed fees on that are just $67. That compares to $184 on BA-metal LHR-ORD.
Jun 16, 2017, 10:42 pm
#60
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: United Silver, AA, Delta, Marriott, Hyatt.
Posts: 432
