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
Feb 4, 2017, 8:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 901
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
I've flown SJC to LHR on their 787-9 First, thought a great experience, definitely different from LAX to LHR experience it seems(basically First being business hard product wise if not soft....). I don't recall paying surcharges both ways but I think I probably did, based on what I've seen. Here's why, LAX to LHR 11.20 fees, AUS to LHR $900 plus. Can't even find availabilty SJC to LHR, loved the flight! Award travel surcharges. Why difference? All BA metal. Wonder what the comparison is but think not worth a thousand bucks vs. $11.20. I had thought the difference was AA metal vs BA but apparently not...
Feb 4, 2017, 8:17 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,558
I've flown SJC to LHR on their 787-9 First, thought a great experience, definitely different from LAX to LHR experience it seems(basically First being business hard product wise if not soft....). I don't recall paying surcharges both ways but I think I probably did, based on what I've seen. Here's why, LAX to LHR 11.20 fees, AUS to LHR $900 plus. Can't even find availabilty SJC to LHR, loved the flight! Award travel surcharges. Why difference? All BA metal. Wonder what the comparison is but think not worth a thousand bucks vs. $11.20. I had thought the difference was AA metal vs BA but apparently not...
Feb 4, 2017, 9:17 pm
#8
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
It's easy to secure a SAAver award SJC-LHR and onward for 57,500 miles. The BA charges, including YQ listed as "Carrier imposed charges", total ~$375 for Business class. Not $11.20, not "a thousand bucks"
Feb 4, 2017, 9:54 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Santa Barbara, CA, Park City, UT
Programs: AA EXP, Delta Plat, Marriott Plat,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat
Posts: 901
No interest in BAs crappy business, first on this leg is so much better than their other first, but was almost $500 each leg, hence $1000. Lot better options to Europe in business
Feb 9, 2017, 10:04 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: AUS
Posts: 248
Using AA Miles to get from USA - Turkey
Any tips for getting from DFW - IST without tacking on egregious fees. Even if I find the TATL flight on American metal and then BA from LHR - IST, it's spitting out almost 200$ in taxes. 
Boooo.
Boooo.
Feb 9, 2017, 10:11 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,558
That's the best you can do: BA is the only AAdvantage partner that flies to IST from Europe.
Feb 9, 2017, 10:57 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: North Sentinel Island
Programs: UA Gold, BONVOY TIT
Posts: 777
Feb 9, 2017, 11:18 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA PLT the rest, Kettle Power
Posts: 667
It is 2 awards, I've done it through both DOH and AUH. Still, as far as I'm concerned it's worth the added miles as it means you get to fly quality airlines. You backtrack a little, approx 3 hrs, which didn't bother me at all. And you get a nice long sleep on the way over, no rush service and quick nap before hitting the ground in a daze. Plus you can fly into SAW should you so please.