Taxes on LM redemption ex UK
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Georgia, USA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Silver, AV
Posts: 126
Taxes on LM redemption ex UK
Just got a nasty surprise when booking a *A redemption, flying LHR-DEL on AI. 312 USD in taxes and fees!
So far, I've only used LM for US-India *A trips. In this case I'm doing two o/ws, LHR-DEL and then returning the following month. The taxes on the return leg are what I would expect, around 40 USD. I don't recall taxes on any departures from the US being more than about 70 USD.
Any idea why UK is so ... special?
So far, I've only used LM for US-India *A trips. In this case I'm doing two o/ws, LHR-DEL and then returning the following month. The taxes on the return leg are what I would expect, around 40 USD. I don't recall taxes on any departures from the US being more than about 70 USD.
Any idea why UK is so ... special?
#3
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: not far from MUC
Posts: 6,620
The passenger service charge ex-LHR is also fairly hefty (compared with other airports).
Looking for the cheapest AI cash fare LON-DEL gives you some idea of the relative taxes/fees/charges for this sector:
APD is £71 and PSC another £41.65, so that's ~$163 already, these would be charged on every Y award ticket.
Once you're in a higher cabin you're looking at the higher rate of APD at £142, which takes the UK-levied bit of the total to ~$265
"Because they can" is the somewhat unfortunate answer.
Looking for the cheapest AI cash fare LON-DEL gives you some idea of the relative taxes/fees/charges for this sector:
Code:
Fare 1: Carrier AI SOW4M62 LON to DEL (rules) Passenger type ADT, ONE-WAY-ONLY fare, booking code S Covers LHR-DEL (Economy) £19.00 United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) £71.00 United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) £41.65 Indian User Development Fee (IN) £14.50 AI YQ surcharge (YQ) £120.00 Subtotal per passenger £266.15 Number of passengers x1 Subtotal For 1 adult £266.15
Once you're in a higher cabin you're looking at the higher rate of APD at £142, which takes the UK-levied bit of the total to ~$265
"Because they can" is the somewhat unfortunate answer.
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Georgia, USA
Programs: DL Diamond, UA Silver, AV
Posts: 126
Thank y'all ... this is a J class AI ticket on their (relatively) new 787s. The UK tax portion was about 286 USD, IIRC, of the total 312.
Right now, my plans are such that flying out of the UK to take another flight to DEL using LM won't really work. So I might have to eat that tax, unless something changes. Good to know for the future!
Right now, my plans are such that flying out of the UK to take another flight to DEL using LM won't really work. So I might have to eat that tax, unless something changes. Good to know for the future!