Award Tix and Switch from BA to AA - fees refund?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Carlsbad,CA USA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanuim/Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 1,532
Award Tix and Switch from BA to AA - fees refund?
Last month I booked award Ticket using my AA miles from San-Nice in Business Class flying San-DFW on AA then DFW-LHR and LHR-NCE on BA and was charged $1,292.80 in taxes. AA changed my first flight so I only had a 20-minute layover so changed me to an AA flight from DFW-LHR. Should I be able to get some of the taxes/surcharges refunded? Does anyone have any idea what that should be?
The agent that changed the ticket connected me to the refund department. After on hold for 30 minutes the agent in the refund department said all Business Class flights to London have the surcharge when I questioned her she went to ask a supervisor and hung up on me after another 30 minutes on hold. Looking at the award taxes and fee it looks like the Carrier-Imposed Fees are $600 per ticket.
Before I call back tomorrow and spend hours on hold again want to make sure I am correct that I am entitled to a refund?
The agent that changed the ticket connected me to the refund department. After on hold for 30 minutes the agent in the refund department said all Business Class flights to London have the surcharge when I questioned her she went to ask a supervisor and hung up on me after another 30 minutes on hold. Looking at the award taxes and fee it looks like the Carrier-Imposed Fees are $600 per ticket.
Before I call back tomorrow and spend hours on hold again want to make sure I am correct that I am entitled to a refund?
Last edited by JDiver; Aug 23, 2019 at 1:59 am Reason: Merge posts on same issue
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Barcelona, London, on a plane
Programs: BA Silver, TK E+, AA PP, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,979
Presumably you weren't rebooked into award space, but the agent forced open revenue space. Tricky to argue that you could have cancelled and rebooked to avoid surcharges.
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Matre-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Regardless of how AA switched you from BA to AA, I believe AA owes you a refund on the YQ / carrier imposed surcharge.
There are no additional taxes or surcharges for flights to London. There is a tax, the Air Passenger Duty, chargeable on most flights from the United Kingdom if youre originating there or your connection exceeds 23:59.
Dont let the !*#%! off the hook. Call again until you reach an agent worthy of their title.
There are no additional taxes or surcharges for flights to London. There is a tax, the Air Passenger Duty, chargeable on most flights from the United Kingdom if youre originating there or your connection exceeds 23:59.
Dont let the !*#%! off the hook. Call again until you reach an agent worthy of their title.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Carlsbad,CA USA
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanuim/Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Gold, United Silver
Posts: 1,532
The agent did open revenue space on an AA flight for an award ticket I actually did ask to be switched to the BA SAN-LHR nonstop but the agent said could not do that.
I paid taxes/surcharges of $646.40 for the original ticket.
When I go online to book an AA Business Saver Ticket from SAN-LHR I see taxes of $5.60 per ticket (By the way the only date till the end of the year with an AA Business Saver ticket SAN-LHR is Nov 19)
When I go online to book a Business Ticket from LHR-NCE I see taxes and surcharges of $56.40 per ticket.
I have about a 6-hour layover in LHR.
If I am correct in my math I should be owed a refund of $584.40 per ticket? ($646.40-$5.60-$56.40) OR should I be getting the whole $600 Carrier Imposed Fees back I see on the original ticket?
Does anyone know a direct phone number for the refund department?
I paid taxes/surcharges of $646.40 for the original ticket.
When I go online to book an AA Business Saver Ticket from SAN-LHR I see taxes of $5.60 per ticket (By the way the only date till the end of the year with an AA Business Saver ticket SAN-LHR is Nov 19)
When I go online to book a Business Ticket from LHR-NCE I see taxes and surcharges of $56.40 per ticket.
I have about a 6-hour layover in LHR.
If I am correct in my math I should be owed a refund of $584.40 per ticket? ($646.40-$5.60-$56.40) OR should I be getting the whole $600 Carrier Imposed Fees back I see on the original ticket?
Does anyone know a direct phone number for the refund department?
#6
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,376
I have always received a refund on "YQ" fees when moving from BA stock to AA stock in the event of re-ticketing. I believe it is done semi-automatically, in that the system flags the ticket for manual intervention, and then the refund is issued.
I would recommend waiting a few weeks before reaching out to AA refunds.
I would recommend waiting a few weeks before reaching out to AA refunds.
#7
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
I have always received a refund on "YQ" fees when moving from BA stock to AA stock in the event of re-ticketing. I believe it is done semi-automatically, in that the system flags the ticket for manual intervention, and then the refund is issued.
I would recommend waiting a few weeks before reaching out to AA refunds.
I would recommend waiting a few weeks before reaching out to AA refunds.
#8
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: The FT AA forum, until it no longer wants me.
Programs: CK or bust
Posts: 1,913
The agent did open revenue space on an AA flight for an award ticket I actually did ask to be switched to the BA SAN-LHR nonstop but the agent said could not do that.
I paid taxes/surcharges of $646.40 for the original ticket.
When I go online to book an AA Business Saver Ticket from SAN-LHR I see taxes of $5.60 per ticket (By the way the only date till the end of the year with an AA Business Saver ticket SAN-LHR is Nov 19)
When I go online to book a Business Ticket from LHR-NCE I see taxes and surcharges of $56.40 per ticket.
I have about a 6-hour layover in LHR.
If I am correct in my math I should be owed a refund of $584.40 per ticket? ($646.40-$5.60-$56.40) OR should I be getting the whole $600 Carrier Imposed Fees back I see on the original ticket?
Does anyone know a direct phone number for the refund department?
I paid taxes/surcharges of $646.40 for the original ticket.
When I go online to book an AA Business Saver Ticket from SAN-LHR I see taxes of $5.60 per ticket (By the way the only date till the end of the year with an AA Business Saver ticket SAN-LHR is Nov 19)
When I go online to book a Business Ticket from LHR-NCE I see taxes and surcharges of $56.40 per ticket.
I have about a 6-hour layover in LHR.
If I am correct in my math I should be owed a refund of $584.40 per ticket? ($646.40-$5.60-$56.40) OR should I be getting the whole $600 Carrier Imposed Fees back I see on the original ticket?
Does anyone know a direct phone number for the refund department?