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 18, 2012, 8:25 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: ORD
Posts: 986
ARCHIVE: Avoiding YQ Surcharge: AA award on BA / British (& Iberia - 2012-2016)
I'm rather confused on BA fuel surcharges. If I book a flight JFK-LHR-FRA, where the JFK-LHR segment is on AA, but the LHR-FRA segment is on BA, am I going to have to pay any BA fuel surcharges, or do I get away without them?
I think I should be safe on the JFK-LHR segment since it's on AA, and I think the LHR-FRA segment should only be 18.50Ł, but I'm not positive.
I think I should be safe on the JFK-LHR segment since it's on AA, and I think the LHR-FRA segment should only be 18.50Ł, but I'm not positive.
Please see the active thread here.
Last edited by JDiver; Feb 22, 2019 at 9:35 am Reason: Add moderator note
May 18, 2012, 8:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: HH Diamond, SPG Gold, Marriott Elite Gold
Posts: 1,032
Sounds like you answered your own question.
May 19, 2012, 12:41 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
Yes, you avoid the BA Bahksheesh for the long haul flight by flying AA, but get stiffed for the BA Bahsheesh for the shorter flight. Fortunately it is a lower amount.
If your flight at LHR is a connection (as opposed to a stopover), you should also be able to avoid the APD scam.
If your flight at LHR is a connection (as opposed to a stopover), you should also be able to avoid the APD scam.
May 19, 2012, 12:47 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LON SIN HKG
Programs: AA, SPG, Hh, Amex MR, Marriott, ICH, VA, CC, LH
Posts: 433
Regulation
Do you think there's any chance an industry regulator will review these practices as profiteering?
Does any other operator come close with similar practices?
Does any other operator come close with similar practices?
May 19, 2012, 12:50 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Posts: 1,473
I've read on another thread in this forum that Brazil does not allow for fuel surcharges. So there's common sense in Brazil.
May 19, 2012, 12:58 am
#6
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Here and there
Programs: BA: CCR / GGL / GFL Marriott: PtFL
Posts: 510
If your're redeming Avios with BAEC then flying AA metal doesn't avoid the fuel surcharge.
May 19, 2012, 10:07 am
#7
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
Many, many non-US carriers charge fuel surcharges on award redemptions for their own frequent flier programs, although the AA/BA relationship is the only one I know of where surcharges are passed on to a US frequent flier program.
May 19, 2012, 1:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,527
Understanding airline fuel surcharges is about like understanding Jesse James. They both involve banditry.
May 20, 2012, 3:09 pm
#9
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LON SIN HKG
Programs: AA, SPG, Hh, Amex MR, Marriott, ICH, VA, CC, LH
Posts: 433
May 20, 2012, 5:47 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,227
Many, many non-US carriers charge fuel surcharges on award redemptions for their own frequent flier programs, although the AA/BA relationship is the only one I know of where surcharges are passed on to a US frequent flier program.
May 20, 2012, 10:47 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
The BA fees are high but there for all to see. If you don't like them, take your travel and credit card business elsewhere. Many of us already have done so.
May 20, 2012, 11:13 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
Airlines are not subject to State laws outlawing, as Carolinian called it, banditry, so the DOT is the only entity that can step in.
Last edited by hillrider; May 20, 2012 at 11:21 pm Reason: Added DOT law
May 20, 2012, 11:16 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
I don't think that's the case. It takes years to accumulate miles, and BA does not tell you will be in the future, when you have accumulated the required amount for your trip. Hint: only a few years ago the fees "for all to see" used to be zero.
May 20, 2012, 11:41 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Texas
Programs: AA EXP, UA Premier Plat, Alaska MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond, SPG Platinum, Hyatt Platinum
Posts: 2,053