Feb 22, 2019, 9:45 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Help with British Airways / BA and IB / Iberia Surcharge / YQ (AA award on BA or IB)
Please see here for the current thread.
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
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
*Note: BA now calls the YQ a "carrier imposed surcharge" after complaints about the so-called original "fuel surcharge" language. As of October 2017 BA seems to be calling the YQ an "Insurance and Security Surcharge".
ARCHIVE: Avoiding YQ Surcharge: AA award on BA / British (& Iberia - 2012-2016)
May 21, 2012, 5:42 pm
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Plus, strike two, this is a thread about BA fuel surcharges, not USA Departure tax.
May 21, 2012, 11:18 pm
#32
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
This tariff does not establish the rules, regulations, conditions and limitations of the AAdvantage program, or any right to acquire benefits under the program. Further, a complete recitation of the rules of the AAdvantage program in not contained herein. American Airlines provides direct notice to AAdvantage members of the rules, regulations, conditions and limitations of the AAdvantage program in materials sent to members, including the AAdvantage Program brochure, the AAdvantage Newsletter, the AAdvantage Claim Form and the AAdvantage Award Certificate. These rules, regulations, conditions and limitations, include, without limitation, those relating to the accumulation of AAdvantage mileage, the use and claiming of AAdvantage awards, the time and duration of blackout periods, the expiration of AAdvantage miles and the sale and transfer of AAdvantage awards or mileage. Information about the AAdvantage program, including copies of AAdvantage program materials may also be obtained by writing to the AAdvantage Department at American Airlines, Inc., P.O. Box 619616, M.D. 1396, DFW Airport, TX 75261-9616.
American Airlines has reserved the right to change the AAdvantage Program rules, regulations, travel awards and special offers at any time. American Airlines has reserved the right to end the AAdvantage program with six (6) months notice.
American Airlines has reserved the right to change the AAdvantage Program rules, regulations, travel awards and special offers at any time. American Airlines has reserved the right to end the AAdvantage program with six (6) months notice.
May 22, 2012, 3:39 am
#33
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,527
Putting YQ on the taxes and fees line (fees are 3rd party fees like landing fees) is indeed dishonestly disguising it as a tax. An honest airline would not put anything that goes back to the airline itself on that line.
May 22, 2012, 4:19 am
#34
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
You've made this claim before, only for it to be disproved. YQ is not on the "tax" line. It is on the line for fees, charges, taxes, surcharges, duties, etc.
May 22, 2012, 8:14 am
#35
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Many such websites offer free shipping for purchases of a certain dollar amount or higher. So people are used to expect such charges.
When buying from these websites you are paying for the main product, unlike with award tickets where you are supposed to get main item free. The general/ reasonable expectation is that you award tickets are free. BA itself used to advertise the 100k deal aa two free tickets to Europe. When you price them out there are times it is cheaper to buy a ticket.
The percentage of these extra fees to the cost of the main product. Even for flights beyond Europe the savings on a BA award is about 50%. How many costly products do you know of have extras at such a high percentage? The only one I have come across are weekend car rentals, where a $30 car rental will have $15 of fees. But overall car rentals are a small amount so it does apply here.
May 22, 2012, 9:59 am
#36
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Technically, I"m sure the lawyers have crossed the t's and dotted all the i's but I get the funny feeling that these airline imposed fees or surcharges are being buried intentionally amongst gov't imposed fees, surcharges, duties and taxes.
the transparency is quite murky at best
now going back to the restaurant analogy of imposing a surcharge for groups of "X" or more. First, I can get an award ticket for one, two or ten so that analogy is no longer relevant where as you must have X to be put on the surcharge notice.
Second, I can still opt out of that surcharge if the service is lousy. That has happened before. There was an 18% surcharge for our group that qualified for a surcharge at a Cheesecake Factory, the service was horrendous. Since I was responsible for the bill, I put down 6% with a note that the service was unacceptable. The waiter came by to pick up the tab, had a horrified look on his face, moments later the manager came by to ask what was wrong and I said read the note by gratuity. He then asked me to explain and I just said, I had asked for you twice during the meal and this is the first time that you have shown up, that in itself is enough of a reason.
That was the end of that, 6% and we left.
May 22, 2012, 7:46 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
Certainly not BA. It's very easy to see the taxes and fees on a ticket when you price it up on BA.com. You just click the 'i' button next to the amount and a window opens with a breakdown.
E.g. a one way LHR-JFK generates:
E.g. a one way LHR-JFK generates:
Charges applied to your flight
There are certain taxes, fees and charges that are applied to your booking by British Airways, airport operators, governments or other authorities. Here you will find a full breakdown and explanation of the taxes, fees and surcharges applied to your booking.
Government, authority and airport charges Per adult
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom. GBP34.49
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom. GBP65.00
Immigration User Fee - USA. GBP4.40
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA. GBP3.20
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA. GBP10.60
Customs User Fee - USA. GBP3.50
Total government, authority and airport charges* GBP121.19
More information
.
British Airways fees and surcharges Per adult
Fuel Surcharge**. GBP106.50
Total British Airways fees and surcharges GBP106.50
More information
.
Total taxes, fees and surcharges per person GBP227.69
*Government and/or airport taxes are refundable, however some countries will apply a Value Added Tax, Sales Tax or equivalent, which will only be refunded on fully flexible tickets.
**In line with the fare rules, a refund of fuel surcharge can be made on fully flexible tickets only with unused flights in your itinerary.
There are certain taxes, fees and charges that are applied to your booking by British Airways, airport operators, governments or other authorities. Here you will find a full breakdown and explanation of the taxes, fees and surcharges applied to your booking.
Government, authority and airport charges Per adult
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom. GBP34.49
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom. GBP65.00
Immigration User Fee - USA. GBP4.40
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA. GBP3.20
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA. GBP10.60
Customs User Fee - USA. GBP3.50
Total government, authority and airport charges* GBP121.19
More information
.
British Airways fees and surcharges Per adult
Fuel Surcharge**. GBP106.50
Total British Airways fees and surcharges GBP106.50
More information
.
Total taxes, fees and surcharges per person GBP227.69
*Government and/or airport taxes are refundable, however some countries will apply a Value Added Tax, Sales Tax or equivalent, which will only be refunded on fully flexible tickets.
**In line with the fare rules, a refund of fuel surcharge can be made on fully flexible tickets only with unused flights in your itinerary.
May 22, 2012, 9:16 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
I have yet to have a phone rep--EXP, no less--tell me that the amount they're charging me for BA awards is anything else but taxes. And until a few weeks ago phone reps was the only way to book BA awards.
May 22, 2012, 9:27 pm
#41
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,714
I don't much care where the YQ is shown or how obvious or not it is. The simple fact that BA want $602 in cash when booking a 40k award (LHR-LAX-LHR) is ridiculous and nothing short of daylight robbery. That's the issue.
May 22, 2012, 9:27 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
It's not robbery if you agree to pay it.
May 22, 2012, 10:18 pm
#43
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
A few reasons.
Many such websites offer free shipping for purchases of a certain dollar amount or higher. So people are used to expect such charges.
When buying from these websites you are paying for the main product, unlike with award tickets where you are supposed to get main item free. The general/ reasonable expectation is that you award tickets are free. BA itself used to advertise the 100k deal aa two free tickets to Europe. When you price them out there are times it is cheaper to buy a ticket.
The percentage of these extra fees to the cost of the main product. Even for flights beyond Europe the savings on a BA award is about 50%. How many costly products do you know of have extras at such a high percentage? The only one I have come across are weekend car rentals, where a $30 car rental will have $15 of fees. But overall car rentals are a small amount so it does apply here.
Many such websites offer free shipping for purchases of a certain dollar amount or higher. So people are used to expect such charges.
When buying from these websites you are paying for the main product, unlike with award tickets where you are supposed to get main item free. The general/ reasonable expectation is that you award tickets are free. BA itself used to advertise the 100k deal aa two free tickets to Europe. When you price them out there are times it is cheaper to buy a ticket.
The percentage of these extra fees to the cost of the main product. Even for flights beyond Europe the savings on a BA award is about 50%. How many costly products do you know of have extras at such a high percentage? The only one I have come across are weekend car rentals, where a $30 car rental will have $15 of fees. But overall car rentals are a small amount so it does apply here.
May 22, 2012, 10:35 pm
#44
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 1,714
I was using a turn of phrase. But, if you want me to put it another way, ok. It's a disgraceful way to run an award program and BA should be forced to advertise, in a VERY BIG font, that redemptions on their airline are anything but free.
The fact is that there are thousands of leisure travellers out there who have no idea that, when it comes to redeeming their miles on BA, they're going to be asked to pay outrageous fees. People should be made aware of this before they even join the loyalty program so they know that what their saving up for isn't a free ticket at all (because that's what they think it is). That way they can make an informed decision when choosing which program to collect miles for without being expected to read the fine print.
The fact is that there are thousands of leisure travellers out there who have no idea that, when it comes to redeeming their miles on BA, they're going to be asked to pay outrageous fees. People should be made aware of this before they even join the loyalty program so they know that what their saving up for isn't a free ticket at all (because that's what they think it is). That way they can make an informed decision when choosing which program to collect miles for without being expected to read the fine print.
May 22, 2012, 11:04 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053
People should be made aware of this before they even join the loyalty program so they know that what their saving up for isn't a free ticket at all (because that's what they think it is). That way they can make an informed decision when choosing which program to collect miles for without being expected to read the fine print.