Are Fees/ Taxes really nearly 1000GBP on a J TATL these days
Oct 16, 2017, 5:26 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
Are Fees/ Taxes really nearly 1000GBP on a J TATL these days
Just search for a BA reward for the first time in a year or so and was surprised to see Fees etc.. nearly touching a grand.
Is this truly the case now, or am I at the mercy of a GBP/USD indicator snafu (searching BOS-LHR return)? If so they're definitely trying to add a little more value to UUAs again!
Is this truly the case now, or am I at the mercy of a GBP/USD indicator snafu (searching BOS-LHR return)? If so they're definitely trying to add a little more value to UUAs again!
Oct 16, 2017, 5:33 am
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,095
For a J return BOS-LHR I see taxes/fees/charges of:
Customs User Fee - USA USD 5.50
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA USD 18.00
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA USD 18.00
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA USD 3.96
Immigration User Fee - USA USD 7.00
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA USD 5.60
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom USD 198.48
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom USD 54.87
Passenger Facility Charge USD 4.50
Carrier imposed charge USD 956.00
Total - USD 1,271.91
Customs User Fee - USA USD 5.50
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA USD 18.00
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA USD 18.00
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA USD 3.96
Immigration User Fee - USA USD 7.00
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA USD 5.60
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom USD 198.48
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom USD 54.87
Passenger Facility Charge USD 4.50
Carrier imposed charge USD 956.00
Total - USD 1,271.91
Oct 16, 2017, 5:38 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,795
Usually around £360 LHR-JFK and £398 JFK-LHR when I've looked at J/F redemptions.
I sometimes fly DUB-LHR-JFK as the taxes/fees/charges are around £170 although a few more Avios involved and more time.
I sometimes fly DUB-LHR-JFK as the taxes/fees/charges are around £170 although a few more Avios involved and more time.
Oct 16, 2017, 5:39 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: BA - Blue > Bronze > Silver > Bronze > Blue
Posts: 6,812
I swear it was only circa 6-700 or so just last year.
Interestingly, a one-way LHR-BOS only comes in at 367 GBP?! Which I assume means theyre charging 600 odd for the BOS-LHR sector which makes no sense, esp APD wise
Interestingly, a one-way LHR-BOS only comes in at 367 GBP?! Which I assume means theyre charging 600 odd for the BOS-LHR sector which makes no sense, esp APD wise
Oct 16, 2017, 5:41 am
#6
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,095
The OP is asking about an exUS booking, and the carrier surcharge is significantly higher than on an exUK->US return.
Oct 16, 2017, 5:42 am
#8
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
Programs: BA GGL/CCR, GfL, HH Diamond
Posts: 43,095
It's the carrier imposed surcharge which BA sets itself that is increased.
Oct 16, 2017, 5:45 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: BAEC Silver, IHG Diamond
Posts: 7,795
I'm flying CX to HKG and then BA back to LHR as I won't pay £400 to get back from the east coast. Sure it blows a load of Avios, but taxes were around £70.
Could be a little bit cheaper getting a positioning flight and flying say ex-YYZ?
Last edited by xenole; Oct 16, 2017 at 5:50 am
Oct 16, 2017, 5:53 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: London
Posts: 1,503
If I recall correctly it was first brought in years ago when the cost of oil went upwards. Funnily enough, since oil prices have halved over the past few years, this carrier imposed surcharge has risen. Hilarious
Oct 16, 2017, 5:58 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,676
Yes they are. It's just money into BA's coffers. Makes you appreciate the overall value of redemptions if you compare to purchasing a ticket outright during a sale (whether that cash ticket is on BA or elsewhere).
If I recall correctly it was first brought in years ago when the cost of oil went upwards. Funnily enough, since oil prices have halved over the past few years, this carrier imposed surcharge has risen. Hilarious
If I recall correctly it was first brought in years ago when the cost of oil went upwards. Funnily enough, since oil prices have halved over the past few years, this carrier imposed surcharge has risen. Hilarious
Oct 16, 2017, 6:01 am
#12
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,641
Oct 16, 2017, 6:10 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,213
It's one reason why people shoud be careful of lumping it in a generic 'taxes' statement when
(a) it is not a tax
(b) it far outweighs the amount of the proper government taxes.
Oct 16, 2017, 6:11 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: London
Posts: 1,503
Slightly OT but it's made me start to think again about the value of using my BAEC Amex card to build up lots of Avios and a 2-4-1 redemption, when the added costs are so high (and availaibility challenges for when/where I want to fly, the overall standards on BA compared to a few years ago, etc etc etc..).
Oct 16, 2017, 6:17 am
#15
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 8,788
BOS-MAN return is nearer the £1000 mark, but then VS wasn't offering BOS-MAN return for £999.
When making redemptions it's always important to consider value versus cash alternatives, but they need to be realistic ones.