Oct 14, 2014, 10:32 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Help with British Airways and Iberia Carrier Imposed Surcharges
Using AAdvantage miles for awards using British Airways generally* incurs very high carrier imposed surcharges / fees (BA charges their own BAEC flyers these for Avios redemptions as well). AA awards on IB incur considerably lower fees (~$50 one way transatlantic is quoted by one member, the link to travelisfree.com below gives a BA flight with $458 YQ, IB $96). One FTer claims $700 BA YQ fees for SAN-PRG return, which is not unusual). You are likely to find lots of availability on BA using the aa.com award booking facility.
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 on AA awards here (rrgg supplied most of these below:
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
Archived posts May 2012 - 2016 may be read here.
Using AAdvantage miles for awards using British Airways generally* incurs very high carrier imposed surcharges / fees (BA charges their own BAEC flyers these for Avios redemptions as well). AA awards on IB incur considerably lower fees (~$50 one way transatlantic is quoted by one member, the link to travelisfree.com below gives a BA flight with $458 YQ, IB $96). One FTer claims $700 BA YQ fees for SAN-PRG return, which is not unusual). You are likely to find lots of availability on BA using the aa.com award booking facility.
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 on AA awards here (rrgg supplied most of these below:
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
Archived posts May 2012 - 2016 may be read here.
Carrier Imposed Surcharge / YQ: AA award on BA / British (& IB) & avoiding it
Mar 9, 2019, 3:20 pm
#166
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 22
Award USA to OTP, avoiding BA and their obscene fees
Am looking to get First Class from USA (PHL, EWR, JFK) to Bucharest OTP in early fall using miles. Then I saw the fees from BA.
Now trying to find a way to get close to Bucharest not using BA, then take train. AA map made it appear there are nonstop flights from PHL to Dubrovnik (DBV) as well as CLT to Munich (MUC) but when I try to book using SAAver miles they all go through LHR.
What cities in continental Europe can be reached from USA without BA and are likely to have SAAver first class seats six months from now?
Now trying to find a way to get close to Bucharest not using BA, then take train. AA map made it appear there are nonstop flights from PHL to Dubrovnik (DBV) as well as CLT to Munich (MUC) but when I try to book using SAAver miles they all go through LHR.
What cities in continental Europe can be reached from USA without BA and are likely to have SAAver first class seats six months from now?
Mar 9, 2019, 3:32 pm
#167
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
The fee on BA from LHR to Europe isn't that bad, so as long as you take AA across the Atlantic, the total cost won't be so bad. I doubt you will find much space on AA to non-LHR destinations, but you never know.
Mar 9, 2019, 3:46 pm
#168
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 22
Of course nothing is easy.
All of the one stop flights use BA to LHR, the BA to OTP.
AA flight goes to ORD first and then to LHR, or goes through Washington DC requiring transfers (DCA to IAD)
Even with avoiding the USA to LHR leg on BA, the fees still come out to over $800
I'd rather fly directly to the continent first class and then take the train. That $800 will get me a great seat as well as an incredible hotel room.
All of the one stop flights use BA to LHR, the BA to OTP.
AA flight goes to ORD first and then to LHR, or goes through Washington DC requiring transfers (DCA to IAD)
Even with avoiding the USA to LHR leg on BA, the fees still come out to over $800
I'd rather fly directly to the continent first class and then take the train. That $800 will get me a great seat as well as an incredible hotel room.
Mar 9, 2019, 4:09 pm
#170
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
Mar 9, 2019, 4:10 pm
#171
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: DCA/IAD/WAS
Programs: MAR AMB, WOH Explorist, AA EXP, UA 2P
Posts: 2,138
Of course nothing is easy.
All of the one stop flights use BA to LHR, the BA to OTP.
AA flight goes to ORD first and then to LHR, or goes through Washington DC requiring transfers (DCA to IAD)
Even with avoiding the USA to LHR leg on BA, the fees still come out to over $800
I'd rather fly directly to the continent first class and then take the train. That $800 will get me a great seat as well as an incredible hotel room.
All of the one stop flights use BA to LHR, the BA to OTP.
AA flight goes to ORD first and then to LHR, or goes through Washington DC requiring transfers (DCA to IAD)
Even with avoiding the USA to LHR leg on BA, the fees still come out to over $800
I'd rather fly directly to the continent first class and then take the train. That $800 will get me a great seat as well as an incredible hotel room.
Mar 9, 2019, 4:16 pm
#172
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CLT
Programs: AA EP, AA AC
Posts: 4,268
Note CLT-MUC once started will not be seasonal but is year round. CLT is seasonal to CDG and FCO. Year round also includes FRA. Note, you could also check business class on IB from the cities it flies to. DFW and ORD also have continental stops too. Checkout AA destination map at AA.com
Safe Travels
Safe Travels
Mar 9, 2019, 4:21 pm
#173
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,009
Am looking to get First Class from USA (PHL, EWR, JFK) to Bucharest OTP in early fall using miles. Then I saw the fees from BA.
Now trying to find a way to get close to Bucharest not using BA, then take train. AA map made it appear there are nonstop flights from PHL to Dubrovnik (DBV) as well as CLT to Munich (MUC) but when I try to book using SAAver miles they all go through LHR.
What cities in continental Europe can be reached from USA without BA and are likely to have SAAver first class seats six months from now?
Now trying to find a way to get close to Bucharest not using BA, then take train. AA map made it appear there are nonstop flights from PHL to Dubrovnik (DBV) as well as CLT to Munich (MUC) but when I try to book using SAAver miles they all go through LHR.
What cities in continental Europe can be reached from USA without BA and are likely to have SAAver first class seats six months from now?
Have you flown international first and/or business class? Not just USA domestic first
BA IB----> Help avoid YQ Surcharge: AA award on BA / British (& Iberia) (master thread)
AA to Europe---> Where exactly does AA fly to Europe? Which routes have good business seats?
Mar 9, 2019, 5:16 pm
#175
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 22
LHR to HKG
EWR to LHG
ORD to PNG
PHL to CDG
SYD to DFW
AKL to LAX
BCN to JFK
My first experience with first class flight was under circumstances which would never happen today. It was 1981 and I was a 20 year old student flying coach from PEK to JFK on board China Airlines. My younger brother was with me. Though not as old as I, he was far more savvy in the ways of the world. Waiting to board the plane in PEK, he chatted up an older couple who were flying first class. He learned their final destination was LAX. He also noted their seat assignments.
The flight was horrible. Cramped, full to brim, and long. We arrived in LAX, where we deplaned to clear customs. As we trudged through the terminal, younger brother informed me that 1.) No new passengers could board, since that would put China Air in direct competition with the domestic USA flights, and 2.) The entire airline crew would be changed in LAX for the final leg to JFK.
And, he knew exactly which two seats would be empty in first class for that LAX to JFK flight.
So he rehearsed it with me. Walk through the jet way, board the plane, and, without hesitation, turn left and go to this seat in first class. "Walk in there like you own the plane," he ordered me.
When the time came, we boarded the plane, but when I reached the aisle to either turn left to first class or right to coach, I, despite admonitions not to freeze up, did exactly that. A sharp punch in my back propelled me forward and I turned left. That 5-1/2 hour flight to JFK in first class was heaven.
In subsequent years, my brother turned his talents toward legitimate pursuits and retired very comfortably at by age 40. I'm still working 60 hours a week.
Mar 9, 2019, 5:31 pm
#177
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: WAS
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,757
Of course nothing is easy.
All of the one stop flights use BA to LHR, the BA to OTP.
AA flight goes to ORD first and then to LHR, or goes through Washington DC requiring transfers (DCA to IAD)
Even with avoiding the USA to LHR leg on BA, the fees still come out to over $800
All of the one stop flights use BA to LHR, the BA to OTP.
AA flight goes to ORD first and then to LHR, or goes through Washington DC requiring transfers (DCA to IAD)
Even with avoiding the USA to LHR leg on BA, the fees still come out to over $800
What posters are suggesting is flying American Airlines over the Atlantic. Taxes and fees are not over $800 if only your intra-European segment is on BA.
Mar 9, 2019, 6:01 pm
#179
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
Where are you originating? That may make a difference as to US gateway.
Are you wedded to F vs. J for the TATL segment?
Just a reminder that the intra-European J segment will be an all coach configuration with the middle seat blocked.
Are you wedded to F vs. J for the TATL segment?
Just a reminder that the intra-European J segment will be an all coach configuration with the middle seat blocked.
Mar 9, 2019, 6:10 pm
#180
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: MEL CHC
Posts: 21,009
Post 1 ---->Am looking to get First Class from USA (PHL, EWR, JFK)