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 25, 2012, 1:02 pm
#76
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
Faced with AA across the pond in a wedgie seat and a transfer from LHR to STN and an onward flight on Ryanair, I think paying YQ looks entirely rational, no? 
May 25, 2012, 1:14 pm
#77
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: DFW
Programs: AA 1M
Posts: 31,475
Then just buy a ticket on BA instead of paying for an award seat that does not earn miles. Then proceed to spend the miles on a domestic AA flight that costs $2.50 per flight in "extras".
May 25, 2012, 1:30 pm
#78
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
Carolinian, you are way behind the times in the US and the EU. Fare advertisements have to include fuel surcharges.
May 25, 2012, 7:36 pm
#79
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Austin TX USA
Programs: UA life 1K, 2MM; AA Life Pt 3mm; DL nada now!; AS nada now; BA, FD, CX, LH, DD, Amex Pt, Diners
Posts: 950
A fine idea
Yes, but it has to bubble to the top of their priorities. If you care about this issue, you should start with a short note to http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/CP_AirlineService.htm. Under 49 U.S.C. 41712 they have to ensure that airlines don't engage in "Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices".
This is indeed the case.I cannot think of any other industry where a practice like this is allowed to happen.
Airlines are not subject to State laws outlawing, as Carolinian called it, banditry, so the DOT is the only entity that can step in.
This is indeed the case.I cannot think of any other industry where a practice like this is allowed to happen.
Airlines are not subject to State laws outlawing, as Carolinian called it, banditry, so the DOT is the only entity that can step in.
May 25, 2012, 7:53 pm
#80
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
CONFUSED
We are flying from SAN to LCA in early Sept, currently holding less than optimal SAN-LAX-JFK-LHR-LCA milesaaver biz seats. I have been checking more desirable milesaaver routings with dismal results (that is another subject, thread). The only reasonable current options are on BA metal over the pond, which still impose > $600 in fees - despite the fact that we are transferring in LHR. Earlier posts suggest that doing so should avoid the APD. Is that only a small portion of the BA extortion?
May 25, 2012, 8:09 pm
#81
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: aa
Posts: 212
We are flying from SAN to LCA in early Sept, currently holding less than optimal SAN-LAX-JFK-LHR-LCA milesaaver biz seats. I have been checking more desirable milesaaver routings with dismal results (that is another subject, thread). The only reasonable current options are on BA metal over the pond, which still impose > $600 in fees - despite the fact that we are transferring in LHR. Earlier posts suggest that doing so should avoid the APD. Is that only a small portion of the BA extortion?
I think APD is Govt. mandated. YQ is BA's stick in your eye !
May 25, 2012, 8:25 pm
#82
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: San Diego, Ca
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT; AS MVP Gold75k; HHonors Diamond; IHG PLT
Posts: 3,502
Good idea. If you are paying $600 plus high avios! You might be better off buying a ticket and using / saving the Avios. And I would not pay the BA quoted price, would buy from a discounter.
Your estimate of 600 appears low. paid $1130 for RT a few months ago.
I think APD is Govt. mandated. YQ is BA's stick in your eye !
Your estimate of 600 appears low. paid $1130 for RT a few months ago.
I think APD is Govt. mandated. YQ is BA's stick in your eye !
May 25, 2012, 8:35 pm
#83
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,605
Originally Posted by ITA
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $29.20
Cyprus Passenger Service Charge (JX) $0.60
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $248.00
US International Departure Tax (US) $16.70
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50
Cyprus Passenger Service Charge (JX) $0.60
BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $248.00
US International Departure Tax (US) $16.70
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50
Since you are not stopping over in London you should avoid the APD ( which is a genuine tax ) which would be GBP13 ( approx $20 )
Going to LCA via LHR will likely necessitate travel on BA and the fuel surcharge for LHR-LCA of GBP18.5 ($30) is going to be incurred anyway
If my recollection is correct, due to there being an effective fare componant ( the fuel fine ) some US taxes which may be waived normally on award bookings will be required to be paid
May 25, 2012, 10:51 pm
#84
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, LH Sen, MUCCI, Junior Jet Club.
Posts: 8,101
The only time I have ever redeemed in Y is for inter-European flights or when there has been a 50% off miles sale (and that was in WTP).
Jul 7, 2012, 10:52 pm
#85
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: American Airlines, starwood
Posts: 206
Huge Taxes on an AA awards Flight to Paris on BA/ British Airways
I haven't been on FT for some time, possibly this has been discussed already, sorry if I'm repeating anything. We've finally saved up enough points to take our family of 4 to Europe, we have decided to go over Christmas break to France. I felt lucky to find the flights for 40,000 miles each. I was then shocked at the nearly $3,000.00 in taxes we have to pay because the flight is on BA !(it's all that was available.) All said, if we had to pay for the tickets it would cost far more, so I think we will go for it. Wondering if all of the award flights to Europe on AA are this way now. Thanks.
Jul 7, 2012, 11:02 pm
#86
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA 1.5 MM Exec Plat, WN A-List, DL Silver, UA nonrev
Posts: 2,593
British Airways imposes hefty fuel surcharges... that is likely the culprit, coupled with the French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) which is charged for all carriers departing France (higher for premium cabins). The BA fuel surcharges have been discussed here quite a bit, but I'm sorry that you are receiving the "sticker shock."
Have you considered an award into another city (using a different carrier - AA, IB, etc.) and then paying for a connecting flight once in Europe? That's not to say that award availability would be there, but certainly it might be an alternative.
Good luck and safe travels!
Have you considered an award into another city (using a different carrier - AA, IB, etc.) and then paying for a connecting flight once in Europe? That's not to say that award availability would be there, but certainly it might be an alternative.
Good luck and safe travels!
Last edited by miamigrad; Jul 7, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Jul 7, 2012, 11:27 pm
#87
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,856
To follow on to the suggestion above, getting flights into and out of Brussels might work. Brussels has very low taxes and has a high-speed rail line to Paris (after you take a ridiculously expensive taxi or pokey local train from the airport to the train station).
Jul 7, 2012, 11:30 pm
#88
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: American Airlines, starwood
Posts: 206
We only have AA miles. I might check into flying into another city, ,maybe Brussels, I will check it out.
Jul 7, 2012, 11:36 pm
#89
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 2,741
You can use your AA miles on partner airlines such as IB, AY, AB. You can avoid flying on BA metal and also avoid transferring through LHR. You have many options. AA.com will only show you a very little, where as a phone rep can offer you far more choices, all using your AA miles.
Jul 7, 2012, 11:42 pm
#90
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: American Airlines, starwood
Posts: 206
sk3 thanks for the info. I called AA and talked to 2 different people at the awards desk initially, none of them suggested this. Now I know what to ask for. I just checked various cities and online it always puts you on BA.