Taxes & Surcharges From the USA
May 26, 2017, 12:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Yorkshire
Programs: Skywards, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 31
Taxes & Surcharges From the USA
My mother-in-law lives in the USA and last year I introduced her to the concept of collecting Avios. Suprisingly (she is in her 80's) she fully embraced the idea and twelve months later she has enough miles for a return flight ATL x MAN in First to visit us (if only I'd kept my mouth shut 
).
I have been looking at flights on her behalf and can find plenty of availability on BA, however I was a little suprised to find that Taxes and Surcharges amounted to $1286.75 as opposed to approximately Ł500 when we do the trip starting in the UK!
After a little further investigation I find that if booked as two one way flights the taxes and surcharges are considerably cheaper - $993.88 ($525.22 ATL x MAN & 468.66 for the return).
Booking two one way tickets would appear to be a 'no brainer', however are there any disadvantages to this course of action and why should it work out so much cheaper?
I'll brace myself for the Mother-in-law jokes now
).I have been looking at flights on her behalf and can find plenty of availability on BA, however I was a little suprised to find that Taxes and Surcharges amounted to $1286.75 as opposed to approximately Ł500 when we do the trip starting in the UK!
After a little further investigation I find that if booked as two one way flights the taxes and surcharges are considerably cheaper - $993.88 ($525.22 ATL x MAN & 468.66 for the return).
Booking two one way tickets would appear to be a 'no brainer', however are there any disadvantages to this course of action and why should it work out so much cheaper?
I'll brace myself for the Mother-in-law jokes now
May 26, 2017, 12:30 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 29,532
My mother-in-law lives in the USA and last year I introduced her to the concept of collecting Avios. Suprisingly (she is in her 80's) she fully embraced the idea and twelve months later she has enough miles for a return flight ATL x MAN in First to visit us (if only I'd kept my mouth shut ).
I have been looking at flights on her behalf and can find plenty of availability on BA, however I was a little suprised to find that Taxes and Surcharges amounted to $1286.75 as opposed to approximately Ł500 when we do the trip starting in the UK!
After a little further investigation I find that if booked as two one way flights the taxes and surcharges are considerably cheaper - $993.88 ($525.22 ATL x MAN & 468.66 for the return).
Booking two one way tickets would appear to be a 'no brainer', however are there any disadvantages to this course of action and why should it work out so much cheaper?
I'll brace myself for the Mother-in-law jokes now
).I have been looking at flights on her behalf and can find plenty of availability on BA, however I was a little suprised to find that Taxes and Surcharges amounted to $1286.75 as opposed to approximately Ł500 when we do the trip starting in the UK!
After a little further investigation I find that if booked as two one way flights the taxes and surcharges are considerably cheaper - $993.88 ($525.22 ATL x MAN & 468.66 for the return).
Booking two one way tickets would appear to be a 'no brainer', however are there any disadvantages to this course of action and why should it work out so much cheaper?
I'll brace myself for the Mother-in-law jokes now
The disadvantage to booking two one-ways is that in the event one needs to cancel the trip or change the dates of travel in each direction, you'd be looking at two cancellation or change fees, instead of just one. That's a risk that I think most would be willing to accept for the surcharge savings.
May 26, 2017, 12:49 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Juneau, Alaska.
Programs: AS 75K;BA Silver;AA G;HH Dia;HY Glob
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See also the discussion in these threads:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...rn-ticket.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...d-trip-us.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...rn-ticket.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...d-trip-us.html
May 26, 2017, 3:26 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Yorkshire
Programs: Skywards, British Airways Executive Club
Posts: 31
Many thanks to you both for the prompt replies, the links to the other threads answered many questions.
AH......I'd not thought about cancellation fees, but as you say probably worth the risk.
Thank you
AH......I'd not thought about cancellation fees, but as you say probably worth the risk.
Thank you
May 26, 2017, 7:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Alameda, CA, US
Programs: BAEC Gold (GGL/CCR), HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,346
Yes, BA is pilfering more money from US based fliers. Surcharges are charged based on the starting point, so for a round trip it is most expensive to buy a round trip from the US to Europe, cheaper to buy two single for US-Europe-US and cheapest to buy Europe-US. One of many reasons I am finally moving on from BA and will not renew my status or miles.
May 27, 2017, 2:33 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: ±38,000 feet
Programs: LH HON, BA GGL, AF Plat, EK Plat
Posts: 6,426
You might want to consider one way US-UK and then a separate return journey UK-US-UK with almost a year apart, which would let her come again and save a lot on surcharges as she would originate all following tickets as UK US returns...