Did AA increase award redemption fees?
 

I put on HOLD this itinerary: SFO-DFW-KEF (layover in DFW) on an award booking for 2 pax.
The total fees were $22.40, plus the miles required.
I thought it should be $5.60 per pax, that makes $11.20 for 2 pax.
Did AA charge me correctly? TIA.

If there is a layover that is long (over 3.5 hrs I think) the security fee gets doubled by the TSA. Seems plausible based on some of the recent trips I have seen. How long is your DFW layover?

Yes, my layover will be much longer than 3.5 hours by design. Thanks for the info.

Yep, they did, as MathMusic said. Have you priced a one way fare? Extortionate!

See https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/nord...t-iceland.html

Also

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/nord...ggestions.html

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/nord...ns-please.html

and possibly the older but useful https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/nord...ng-thread.html

Is there any better redemption on a partner airline using 30k AA (saver fare economy) miles each way for SFO-VCE and then FCO-SFO? Would like to check in with the experts before I go ahead and book the ticket on AA. My only concern is having to avoid BA/LHR for the obvious reasons of taxes and fees

Nope, SFO-PHL-VCE/FCO is about the best you can do in AA economy. The only other potential option is Finnair through HEL, but that won't save you any points or money. And I wouldn't say Finnair in economy is any better than AA in economy as a general matter.

Sigh. :) Connecting through LHR or other UK airport doesn’t incur taxes and pasenger facility charges are higher, but not draconian. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...er-thread.html

Using BA for the transatlantic part of an award trip DOES incur very high fuel surcharges “carrier imposed surcharge”; using BA from LHR or LGW to VCE incurs lesser fees.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-avoiding.html

Only SAAver inventory can be used for any and all partners. So, SFO-OAK-SJC to <connection/s> LHR (even using BA LHR-VCE) or MAD (using Iberia via LAX, incurs significantly lower surcharge than BA), for example.

Yes, connecting through LHR, as long as the transatlantic sector is on AA and not BA, does not incur the carrier imposed surcharge, but it does incur LHR's passenger facility charge (around $20 I think). Finnair would also incur some extra charges for the connection through HEL (around $5 I think), in addition to the $5.60. So AA all the way is still the best option, since it's only $5.60 in taxes and fees.

Perhaps I am doing it wrong. When I select BA flights landing in LHR before continuing to Italy, I see $626 in taxes and fees/fuel surcharge (not to mention the 60k points).
https://i.imgur.com/yvo9wa4.png

This is the departing flight: https://i.imgur.com/6oQzSOq.png
The return flight is basically the same just in reverse.

And when using AA metal only to Italy, avoiding LHR, taxes end up around $75 round trip.
https://i.imgur.com/zgkMh4D.png

If you use BA for the transatlantic flight (e.g., SJC-LHR or SFO-LHR) then you will be hit with BA's outrageous carrier-imposed fees. BA's fees for intra-Europe flights are much more modest.

Yep, as mentioned above you need to avoid BA for the longhaul segment, not avoid BA/LHR all together.

For example, SFO-DFW-LHR-VCE, using AA for SFO-DFW-LHR & BA for LHR-VCE, is only 30k miles + $29 in taxes/fees.

DFW-KEF best seat in MCE and J on B757
 

According to EF, seat map shows no Economy Premium, but has MCE.

Is Row 9 (exit row) any good (pro & con). Aside from the obvious, is the overhead bin loaded with blankets/pillows or oxygen tanks. Or, is it available to luggage stowage?

If I was lucky to I get UG'd with SWU, what are the best window seats in J? I think some seats may not have full window.

Thank you in advance.

Row 9 is good for couples, since it's a pair of 2 seats, instead of the normal 3. It also has extra legroom (although no under-seat storage, and I don't believe there is an overhead bin directly over Row 9, since the exit door is right there).

The lav is right in front of Row 9 (on the left side), which might be annoying on an overnight flight. You will also likely encounter the person seated in 10A or 10F crossing over in front of you to get out of their seat. (10A and 10F, by the way, are the best seats in economy, especially if traveling alone; you have pretty much unrestricted legroom.)

Can't help you with your window seat question for J, although it's an overnight transatlantic flight, so not sure you'd have much of a view for most of the flight.

I’ve flown that, and there’s not much of a view at night. Though I always try for an A seat because when I feel the “Greenland Bump” I always look to see if there is any Aurora Borealis, lunar or other interesting activity as we fly by or over Greenland.

For further seat information, please see https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...solidated.html

and https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...aster-thd.html.

This thread is really better for “newbie” questions than in depth questions about specific aircraft seating.