Looks like AA is now charging UK apd on awards (to retitle & merge)
Sep 2, 2020, 12:34 am
#1
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Looks like AA is now charging UK apd on awards (to retitle & merge)
Been trying to get an award flight today - was seeing the routine BA flights with hundreds in fees and a few AA flights with normal fees. Couldnt get the AA flight to book. Now when I search, the AA awards have $300 -$500 in taxes.
Sep 2, 2020, 12:38 am
#2
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This is a BA surcharge, not APD. APD is a UK tax paid for people originating travel in UK, nothing to do with specific airlines
Sep 2, 2020, 12:50 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
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$300 is about right for the taxes on such flights (in all classes except Economy where there is a discount) and it has been that much for a few years at least I think..
Sep 2, 2020, 6:50 am
#4
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That has been a big problem when trying to book for over the pond.. you get so excited to see so many award options .. only to find out that there all are on BA metal...along with the huge taxes and fees
Sep 2, 2020, 7:05 am
#6
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Sep 2, 2020, 7:18 am
#7
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OP is confusing taxes with carrier-imposed surcharges (fuel surcharges are a thing of the past).
APD is a UK tax imposed on departures from the UK. It is not carrier-specific. It is especially high on premium classes.
It would be helpful if OP would post the breakdown of these items and he could get a very quick answer as to whether there is an error (unlikely). Best bet is to fly on AA metal. Won't change the taxes but the fees will.
APD is a UK tax imposed on departures from the UK. It is not carrier-specific. It is especially high on premium classes.
It would be helpful if OP would post the breakdown of these items and he could get a very quick answer as to whether there is an error (unlikely). Best bet is to fly on AA metal. Won't change the taxes but the fees will.
Sep 2, 2020, 7:50 am
#8
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Also, since as noted the APD and passenger service charge are only added to the flight departing from the UK, if your schedule is flexible, you could spend the equivalent $300 instead on a mini-stopover in another European city and have your return flight to the US from there. Of course, that's once we're past COVID-19 and the world has returned to normal.
I've done that before to get a free day in Amsterdam, taking the Eurostar from London (which I found to be quite a relaxing trip).
I've done that before to get a free day in Amsterdam, taking the Eurostar from London (which I found to be quite a relaxing trip).
Sep 2, 2020, 9:07 am
#9
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Also, since as noted the APD and passenger service charge are only added to the flight departing from the UK, if your schedule is flexible, you could spend the equivalent $300 instead on a mini-stopover in another European city and have your return flight to the US from there. Of course, that's once we're past COVID-19 and the world has returned to normal.
Sep 2, 2020, 9:09 am
#10
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Also, since as noted the APD and passenger service charge are only added to the flight departing from the UK, if your schedule is flexible, you could spend the equivalent $300 instead on a mini-stopover in another European city and have your return flight to the US from there. Of course, that's once we're past COVID-19 and the world has returned to normal.
I've done that before to get a free day in Amsterdam, taking the Eurostar from London (which I found to be quite a relaxing trip).
I've done that before to get a free day in Amsterdam, taking the Eurostar from London (which I found to be quite a relaxing trip).
Sep 2, 2020, 10:29 am
#11
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Sep 2, 2020, 11:06 am
#12
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Sep 2, 2020, 11:16 am
#13
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Sep 2, 2020, 1:04 pm
#14
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If you want to avoid the UK departure tax, you can originate in some rural airports in Scotland (Aberdeen/Inverness etc) or Northern Ireland, or outside of the UK altogether. It doesn't apply if you change in the UK, only originate.
Sep 2, 2020, 1:24 pm
#15
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For Northern Ireland the exemption is only for direct flights to a Band 2 destination such as the USA