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)
Jul 7, 2012, 11:44 pm
#91
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 2,741
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.
Where are you flying from?
Jul 7, 2012, 11:46 pm
#92
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 2,741
Jul 8, 2012, 12:01 am
#93
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 4,861
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.)
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $69.50
British Airways surcharge (YQ) $496.00
US International Departure Tax (US) $16.70
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $4.50
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
US International Arrival Tax (US) $16.70
French Aviation Civile Tax (FR) $5.30
French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) $15.80
French Airport Tax (FR) $16.00
French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) $5.00
TOTAL PER PERSON: $665.50
Nope. $69.50.
IZ is only $5.00. The surcharge is no longer for fuel. It's just a plain-old surcharge.
Last edited by Austinrunner; Jul 8, 2012 at 12:07 am
Jul 8, 2012, 12:06 am
#94
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: American Airlines, starwood
Posts: 206
sk3, I think our posts must be posting around the same time and that's why it looked like I didn't read your explanation. Anyhow I'm on hold now for an AA rep to try to find a flight with a partner. We are flying out of San Francisco.
Austin runner--I just rounded up to $3,000.00 it really is your $2662.00 figure. Interesting to see the breakdown. Thanks.
Austin runner--I just rounded up to $3,000.00 it really is your $2662.00 figure. Interesting to see the breakdown. Thanks.
Jul 8, 2012, 12:26 am
#95
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold
Posts: 2,741
sk3, I think our posts must be posting around the same time and that's why it looked like I didn't read your explanation. Anyhow I'm on hold now for an AA rep to try to find a flight with a partner. We are flying out of San Francisco.
Austin runner--I just rounded up to $3,000.00 it really is your $2662.00 figure. Interesting to see the breakdown. Thanks.
Austin runner--I just rounded up to $3,000.00 it really is your $2662.00 figure. Interesting to see the breakdown. Thanks.
Good luck with the agent - some are better than others. You may have to make a few calls to get results, but it will be time well spent in order to save ~$3,000!
This is a long shot, but ask the agent for availability SFO-LAX on AA and then on Air Tahiti Nui (abbreviated TN) ask for availability for the LAX-CDG non-stop. It doesn't run 7 days a week, but I'm not sure of its actual schedule - if the agent doesn't see it on your date and you have any flexibility ask her to look a couple of days ahead and/or behind...
Jul 8, 2012, 4:24 am
#96
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: San Francisco
Programs: AAdvantage PLT
Posts: 516
December is a little harder, but it looks doable with some flexibility.
Bonne chance!
Last edited by pdquick; Jul 8, 2012 at 4:27 am Reason: Added comment re: December
Jul 8, 2012, 5:31 am
#97
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: AA EXP2M, DL 1MM DM ext, UA PP <=> HH G/Marr PE/Hyatt G/IHG P FT RA ( Recovering Addict)
Posts: 4,596
Mods,
Just as the US forum has a sticky for Star Alliance Partner awards using US miles, there needs to be a sticky here for Fees on BA awards with AA miles and how to avoid them.
Just as the US forum has a sticky for Star Alliance Partner awards using US miles, there needs to be a sticky here for Fees on BA awards with AA miles and how to avoid them.
Jul 8, 2012, 5:35 am
#98
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Berlin
Programs: AA EXP, Lifetime Platinum, 2.6M
Posts: 177
why not just fly into LHR and Eurostar it...you'll save CDG mess and taxi fares, or RER wait, and it will take you right into town. fun ride for the kids too. only one connection in London from LHR to train station.
Jul 8, 2012, 6:05 am
#99
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Booking Xmas travel five months prior could be part of the problem (not cost but availability which indirectly impacts cost based on what you could have found if it weren't Xmas travel) here
Jul 8, 2012, 7:35 am
#100
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
Among the options: TN LAX-CDG; AA to LHR and onward to CDG with BA, much lower fees; IB LAX-MAD, on to CDG; AA SFO and onward to BRU (is it JFK now?), take the local train to Brussels Midi station, and then the Thalys (TGV) to Paris (77 minutes).
None of these will incur the huge YQ fees.
None of these will incur the huge YQ fees.
Jul 8, 2012, 8:55 am
#101
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: STL
Programs: AA 2MM, AS MVP Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,966
It's in the FAQ and easily found with search. Some people don't believe they should have to look for information, and always start a thread before looking around. They won't see a sticky either.
Jul 8, 2012, 9:03 am
#102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Good idea. It won't stop the determined non-searchers but may avoid a few of these threads. It could also be a good place to cite best practices for TATL redemptions to minimize fuel surcharges and UK APD.
Jul 8, 2012, 9:04 am
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Cheers.
Jul 8, 2012, 9:11 am
#104
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Fort Worth, TX US
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 179
We gave up on LHR and BA after AA dropped LGW and always go to/through MAD. It's much cheaper, the airport is much nicer, and IB has connecting flights to the places we want to go, including secondary airports like BLQ. There's a NH hotel nearby with reasonable prices and a free shuttle if you need to overnight before catching a connecting flight.
Jul 8, 2012, 9:12 am
#105
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,114
Oh, c'mon, Brussels local train is incredibly simple and useful.