Surcharges on BA Award Tickets
Feb 8, 2009, 12:45 pm
#1
Original Poster
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Location: Maryland, USA
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Surcharges on BA Award Tickets
I wrote to BA about this and they said they would reply but haven't. When trying to book six round trip award tickets for my family, the total cost is nearly 2000 dollars in fees and fuel surcharges, which is considerably higher than when booking the equivalent trip using AA miles.
Also the surcharges and fees for an award ticket appear to be much higher than the surcharges and fees for a paid ticket on BA - are we being duped? They've already been penalized via a class action suit for this, so haven't they learnt? Why are there surcharges when the cost of oil is lower than ever?
Also the surcharges and fees for an award ticket appear to be much higher than the surcharges and fees for a paid ticket on BA - are we being duped? They've already been penalized via a class action suit for this, so haven't they learnt? Why are there surcharges when the cost of oil is lower than ever?
Feb 8, 2009, 12:50 pm
#2
Join Date: Jan 2007
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If you're in the US, the cost of oil has fallen for the past five months. But, in the UK, the cost of oil has risen during the same period. All oil is priced in dollars and the pound sterling has fallen in value against the dollar, so BA is not benefiting much from the drop in prices.
That being said, the fees are simply outrageous.
That being said, the fees are simply outrageous.
Feb 8, 2009, 1:05 pm
#3
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Feb 8, 2009, 1:19 pm
#5
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Second, as the surcharges are being paid in $, not GBP, the forex variation should substantially cancel out.
It is generally possible to avoid paying some of those fees by booking from another FF account. Until recently AS awards on BA did not incur the surcharges, but BA forced AS to start charging. However, I believe that AA, CX and some other OW partners still do not.
Also, remember that a large chunk of the taxes/fees are the very high UK taxes.
Last edited by dgwright99; Feb 8, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Feb 8, 2009, 1:26 pm
#6
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Feb 8, 2009, 3:54 pm
#7
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As an example (courtesy of ITA), the additions breakdown for a purchased CW return US east coast to LHR return, would be:
For a total of US$521.10 per adult.
hth
Tax: US International Departure Tax $16.10
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $2.50
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Tax: BA YQ surcharge $322.00
Tax: USDA APHIS Fee $5.00
Tax: US Immigration Fee $7.00
Tax: US Customs Fee $5.50
Tax: United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty £80.00
Tax: United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge £19.70
Tax: US International Arrival Tax $16.10
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $2.50
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Tax: BA YQ surcharge $322.00
Tax: USDA APHIS Fee $5.00
Tax: US Immigration Fee $7.00
Tax: US Customs Fee $5.50
Tax: United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty £80.00
Tax: United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge £19.70
Tax: US International Arrival Tax $16.10
hth
