Ex-US Fuel Surcharges for F up 50%
#31
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
Of course - and I believe that there is restrictions in the Philippines plus , in China, Hong Kong restricts what airlines can charge - there may be other locations where airlines are restricted from disguising fares
#32
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: YOW
Posts: 74
BA Avios - No Fuel Surcharge partners and ways to minimize costs (incl. trans-atlantic!) https://travelupdate.boardingarea.co...inimize-costs/
Last edited by ibling; Nov 20, 2018 at 7:58 am Reason: Adding Details
#33
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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BA Avios - No Fuel Surcharge partners and ways to minimize costs (incl. trans-atlantic!) https://travelupdate.boardingarea.co...inimize-costs/
#35
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,541
#36
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
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Posts: 7,541
Are people saying, to avoid these crazy new high fees in award F, that even using a 2 for 1, you can book two one-ways and the fees and taxes will ex-US to Europe will be approx $1000 round trip vs $1800?
#37
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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LAX-LHR one way J
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA $18.30
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA $5.60
Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
British Airways fees and carrier charges Per adult
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total charges $581.40 (~£454)
LHR-LAX one way J
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom £156.00
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom £46.62
Customs User Fee - USA £4.50
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA £14.20
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA £3.10
Immigration User Fee - USA £5.40
Carrier imposed charge £200.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total charges £429.82
LAX-LHR rtn in J
Customs User Fee - USA $5.77
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA $18.30
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA $18.30
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA $3.96
Immigration User Fee - USA $7.00
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA $5.60
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom $200.43
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom $59.90
Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Carrier imposed charge $1,106.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total charges $1,429.76 (~£1,118)
Total TFC booking exUS as one ways £883.82
Total TFC booking exUS as a return £1,118
→ Therefore cheaper as two one ways in J saving ~£235.
LAX-LHR one way F
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA $18.30
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA $5.60
Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Carrier imposed charge $753.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total charges $781.40 (~£611)
LHR-LAX one way F
Government, authority and airport charges* Per adult
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom £156.00
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom £46.62
Customs User Fee - USA £4.50
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA £14.20
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA £3.10
Immigration User Fee - USA £5.40
Carrier imposed charge £200.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total charges £429.82
LAX-LHR rtn in F
Customs User Fee - USA $5.77
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA $18.30
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA $18.30
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA $3.96
Immigration User Fee - USA $7.00
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA $5.60
Air Passenger Duty - United Kingdom $200.43
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom $59.90
Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Carrier imposed charge $1,506.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total charges $1,829.76 (~£1,431)
Total TFC booking exUS as one ways £1,040.82
Total TFC booking exUS as a return £1,431
→ Therefore cheaper as two one ways in J saving ~£390.
#38
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
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Posts: 4,163
So, BA must be officially mad. A J redemption ex-US now has a cash component higher than an ex-EU J cash fare for which you accrue Avios and TP. See the latest Sweden to US offers. This does seem to make it pointless for US residents to redeem on BA.
#39
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: BA blue,, aeroplan 25K
Posts: 1,028
J reward costs for 2 people out of Toronto to london avois plus $2600CAN ($2000US)
F reward costs for 2 people out of Toronto to London
avios plus $3300 CAN ($2500US)
It’s the first time I’ve seen such a difference between J AND F (CW vs F)
per passenger the CW costs are $1000 US and F $1250 US.
CRAZY
F reward costs for 2 people out of Toronto to London
avios plus $3300 CAN ($2500US)
It’s the first time I’ve seen such a difference between J AND F (CW vs F)
per passenger the CW costs are $1000 US and F $1250 US.
CRAZY
#40
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum (3MM), QF Lifetime Gold, Bonvoy Lifetime Platinum, Ex-Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 7,541
J reward costs for 2 people out of Toronto to london avois plus $2600CAN ($2000US)
F reward costs for 2 people out of Toronto to London
avios plus $3300 CAN ($2500US)
It’s the first time I’ve seen such a difference between J AND F (CW vs F)
per passenger the CW costs are $1000 US and F $1250 US.
CRAZY
F reward costs for 2 people out of Toronto to London
avios plus $3300 CAN ($2500US)
It’s the first time I’ve seen such a difference between J AND F (CW vs F)
per passenger the CW costs are $1000 US and F $1250 US.
CRAZY
Today, that same routing is showing $1,681.
NUTS!
#41
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,839
i presume the market segmentation piece affecting the US specifically is as a result of increased demand as a result of huge issuance of Avios through big take up of credit card offers etc.?
#42
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: JAX
Programs: Ex-BA/AA/CP/LY staff, BA Executive Club Blue, IHG Diamond, Marriott Silver, Chick-fil-A Red
Posts: 3,588
The main reason for US YQ prices being higher than other currencies is for BA to be collecting more in USD, in which a lot of costs are paid (such as fuel for example) - then when other currencies fluctuate they already have USD reserves. There are probably more complexities to it, but that's my understanding from an internal explanation some years ago.
#43
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,600
The main reason for US YQ prices being higher than other currencies is for BA to be collecting more in USD, in which a lot of costs are paid (such as fuel for example) - then when other currencies fluctuate they already have USD reserves. There are probably more complexities to it, but that's my understanding from an internal explanation some years ago.
There is nothing defenisble about disguising the fare as some charge. Any justification for fuel surcharges disappeared years ago and no reason for them at all - just set the fare to the level for the rate for the journey
#44
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Munich, Algarve, Sussex or S.F Bay Area
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I’m not sure it makes it pointless, just expensive, as without wanting to be glib, a flight departing ex-EU isn’t that helpful to most people in the US.
i presume the market segmentation piece affecting the US specifically is as a result of increased demand as a result of huge issuance of Avios through big take up of credit card offers etc.?
i presume the market segmentation piece affecting the US specifically is as a result of increased demand as a result of huge issuance of Avios through big take up of credit card offers etc.?
I suspect the volumes of Avios out there may have something to do with this as well as the price point at which BA “sells” Avios to banks and credit card companies in the US to finance the large bonuses offered. Does anybody have any comparison to Europe on this?
That is not any justification for the USD prices to be higher - if anything that would justify a lower USD charge
There is nothing defenisble about disguising the fare as some charge. Any justification for fuel surcharges disappeared years ago and no reason for them at all - just set the fare to the level for the rate for the journey
There is nothing defenisble about disguising the fare as some charge. Any justification for fuel surcharges disappeared years ago and no reason for them at all - just set the fare to the level for the rate for the journey
YQ increased roughly as fuel costs increased but did not proportionately decrease as fuel prices receded. Now prices are rising again, using the same excuse but coming from a higher base seems unfair. I also agree that this kind of surcharge is a dishonest way of increasing fares. If the fare needs to be higher, increase it and take your luck with the competition but don’t slap a surcharge on.
Another unfair practice in my opinion is that new YQ will be applied and charged on previously sold flexible tickets as soon as a ticket change is required. This would not be the case if base fares were increased since changes after departure are usually at historical fare points.
And, didn’t BA lose a legal case on YQ and fuel charges and rename it to carrier surcharge? While not familiar with the reasoning in that case, I wonder what justification can be given for a further increase.
#45
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Location: Montreux CH
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This is why I do not use BAEC for long distance award redemptions at all. There's no point in collecting Avios any more if cash prices are the same or lower (maybe this is what they want). But where Avios do have value is for short trips in Europe and elsewhere and sometimes the partners can offer interesting alternative redemption possibilities. But I keep a low Avios balance just for these short distance flights. The taxes became beyond ridiculous when they went past GBP500 for a RT, and now it is just ludicrous. Somebody's going to call time on this programme at some point in the not too distant future.