Weird pricing when trying to use GGL upgrade voucher from Prem Eco to Biz
Feb 5, 2024, 9:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,827
Weird pricing when trying to use GGL upgrade voucher from Prem Eco to Biz
Just spoke to the GGL hotline (in India), was trying to use one of my upgrade vouchers to book a flight for a friend and also upgrade him from Premium Economy to Business.
This is for a LHR-LAX-LHR return. Even though my account is in the US, the price on the BA website is shown in GBP, I assume because the flight originates from the UK.
The friendly Indian call center agent quotes me a price of 2,618.90 USD, which is quite significantly higher than the price the website shows for Premium Economy. Can this be correct? Or should I "HUACA" ("Hang Up And Call Again")?
He said that in his system, the fare is something like $ 1,100 and the taxes "after upgrading to business" are like $ 1,500. Sounds odd to me??
This is for a LHR-LAX-LHR return. Even though my account is in the US, the price on the BA website is shown in GBP, I assume because the flight originates from the UK.
The friendly Indian call center agent quotes me a price of 2,618.90 USD, which is quite significantly higher than the price the website shows for Premium Economy. Can this be correct? Or should I "HUACA" ("Hang Up And Call Again")?
He said that in his system, the fare is something like $ 1,100 and the taxes "after upgrading to business" are like $ 1,500. Sounds odd to me??
Feb 5, 2024, 9:34 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: UK
Programs: BA GGL, BA Amex Prem, Amex Plat, Hilton Diamond, Sir Crazy8534 de l'ordres des aides de Pucci
Posts: 4,468
I would call the UK office after 1000Z, there will be increased tax to pay but what they quoted you doesn’t sound right.
Feb 5, 2024, 9:47 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2009
Programs: BA GGL/GfL; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Ambassador; IHG Diamond;
Posts: 263
When you price up the ticket online, BA.com prices the ticket based on inventory and pricing using the origin airport as the POS (point of sale).
The call center may be pricing the ticket using a different POS (typically based on your country of BAEC account registration), thereby resulting in a different fare for the underlying cash ticket, even before the voucher is applied and tax difference is calculated.
The call center may be pricing the ticket using a different POS (typically based on your country of BAEC account registration), thereby resulting in a different fare for the underlying cash ticket, even before the voucher is applied and tax difference is calculated.
Feb 5, 2024, 9:55 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,827
When you price up the ticket online, BA.com prices the ticket based on inventory and pricing using the origin airport as the POS (point of sale).
The call center may be pricing the ticket using a different POS (typically based on your country of BAEC account registration), thereby resulting in a different fare for the underlying cash ticket, even before the voucher is applied and tax difference is calculated.
The call center may be pricing the ticket using a different POS (typically based on your country of BAEC account registration), thereby resulting in a different fare for the underlying cash ticket, even before the voucher is applied and tax difference is calculated.
Also, when I look up the fare information in Expertflyer, the lowest priced Premium Economy fare appears to be the same (after currency conversion), regardless of whether I put UK or US as point of sale.
Feb 5, 2024, 10:23 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,867
The taxes on the business fare are a tad over £1000, this is what you will pay on top of the WT+ fare.
United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers (XA) £3.00
United States Customs User Fee (YC) £5.50
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge Departures (UB) £48.89
United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty APD (GB) £194.00
United States Immigration User Fee (XY) £5.50
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) £900.00
US International Arrival Tax (US) £35.20
United States Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee (AY) £4.40
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) £3.60
United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers (XA) £3.00
United States Customs User Fee (YC) £5.50
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge Departures (UB) £48.89
United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty APD (GB) £194.00
United States Immigration User Fee (XY) £5.50
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) £900.00
US International Arrival Tax (US) £35.20
United States Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee (AY) £4.40
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) £3.60
Feb 5, 2024, 10:30 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,827
The taxes on the business fare are a tad over £1000, this is what you will pay on top of the WT+ fare.
United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers (XA) £3.00
United States Customs User Fee (YC) £5.50
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge Departures (UB) £48.89
United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty APD (GB) £194.00
United States Immigration User Fee (XY) £5.50
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) £900.00
US International Arrival Tax (US) £35.20
United States Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee (AY) £4.40
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) £3.60
United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers (XA) £3.00
United States Customs User Fee (YC) £5.50
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge Departures (UB) £48.89
United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty APD (GB) £194.00
United States Immigration User Fee (XY) £5.50
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) £900.00
US International Arrival Tax (US) £35.20
United States Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee (AY) £4.40
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) £3.60
Feb 5, 2024, 11:13 pm
#7
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,867
Feb 5, 2024, 11:16 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: 79856 Hinterzarten, Germany
Programs: BA GGL, BA GfL, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 188
I compared both tax breakdowns of a WT+ ticket and the business ticket.
The difference I see is the
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) £900.00 which is £630.00 more.
So the total I would say should be £1814,09 - 2.277,26 US-Dollar
Lets us know what the GGL Hotline will tell you when you call them later.
The difference I see is the
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) £900.00 which is £630.00 more.
So the total I would say should be £1814,09 - 2.277,26 US-Dollar
Lets us know what the GGL Hotline will tell you when you call them later.
Feb 5, 2024, 11:17 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,827
Okay, thank you so much for educating me - I guess then there is no way around it - not really a point of sale issue, just the way it is. I'll book it anyway, I owe the colleague a favour, he's a great guy and has never flown business, as far as I know, and I wouldn't otherwise use the upgrade voucher anyway (I only book F).
Feb 5, 2024, 11:22 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: 79856 Hinterzarten, Germany
Programs: BA GGL, BA GfL, Hilton Diamond, IHG Platinum
Posts: 188
I checked the same flights but with going from and to BSL
In this case the
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) is CHF 204 in Y+ and 600 CHF in C
So from Basel the difference should only be 396 CHF
In this case the
Carrier-imposed surcharge (YQ) is CHF 204 in Y+ and 600 CHF in C
So from Basel the difference should only be 396 CHF
Feb 6, 2024, 12:26 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 1,867
But it would sort of defeat the object of a direct LHR-LAX flight if you have to navigate across to Europe to start it
Feb 6, 2024, 4:56 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: London. Or a plane.
Programs: "Only" 50,000 TPs until BA GGLfL
Posts: 2,779
Starting from a non UK European city is almost always going to make it cheaper. I think you may have missed the increase in price for the APD between W and J as well which is another £200 or so and that would go if you start from BSL.
But it would sort of defeat the object of a direct LHR-LAX flight if you have to navigate across to Europe to start it
But it would sort of defeat the object of a direct LHR-LAX flight if you have to navigate across to Europe to start it
YQ is illegal in Brazil, so ex-GIG & GRU tickets have zero YQ.
Last edited by alexwuk; Feb 6, 2024 at 5:13 am
Feb 6, 2024, 5:28 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: BCT. Formerly known as attorney28
Programs: LH HON,BA GGL GfL,Hyatt LT Glob,Mrtt LT P,Hilt LT D,IC Amb,Acc P,GHA Tit,LHW Strlg,Sixt/Av/Hz D/Pres
Posts: 6,827