Is it legal for an agent to make up a carrier charge on a BA flight where BA doesn't?
Aug 7, 2018, 5:33 pm
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, AS, BA, SQ, CX, IB
Posts: 58
The YQ being charged is the same amount that applies to a revenue booking, so the amount isn't 'made up' but comes from the F class fare quote for the itinerary - the fare has been zeroed of course, but the YQ hasn't. Whether it should be removed by IB or not isn't clear.
F class fare quote in EUR:
F class fare quote in EUR:
Code:
FXX/R,MAD.MAD
01 P1
LAST TKT DTE 18AUG18/23:59 LT in POS - SEE ADV PURCHASE
------------------------------------------------------------
AL FLGT BK DATE TIME FARE BASIS NVB NVA BG
HKG
LON BA 28 F 19AUG 2345 FNNF00S0 3P
HKD 82510 19AUG18HKG BA LON Q10.00 10505.03FNNF00S0
EUR 9091.00 NUC10515.03END ROE7.846716
EUR 227.40-YQ XT EUR 19.84-G3 EUR 4.96-I5
EUR 13.23-HK
EUR 24.80-XT
EUR 9356.43
RATE USED 1HKD=0.110176EUR
So unless the various selling agencies are bypassing the Hong Kong laws which BA themselves are abiding by, what is the explanation?
Charges applied to your flight
There are certain taxes, fees and carrier charges that are applied to your booking by British Airways, airport operators, governments or other authorities. Here you will find a full breakdown and explanation of the taxes, fees and carrier charges applied to your booking.
Government, authority and airport charges
Air Passenger Departure Tax - Hong Kong
Per adultHKD 120.00
G3RE
Per adultHKD 180.00
I5SE
Per adultHKD 45.00
Total government, authority and airport charges*More information
Per adultHKD 345.00
Per adultHKD 120.00
G3RE
Per adultHKD 180.00
I5SE
Per adultHKD 45.00
Total government, authority and airport charges*More information
Per adultHKD 345.00
British Airways fees and carrier charges
Total British Airways fees and carrier charges
Per adultHKD 0.00
Total taxes, fees, carrier imposed charges or fuel surcharge, where applicable, per person
Per adultHKD 345.00
*Government and/or airport taxes are refundable, however some countries will apply a Value Added Tax, Sales Tax or equivalent, which will only be refunded on fully flexible tickets.
Per adultHKD 0.00
Total taxes, fees, carrier imposed charges or fuel surcharge, where applicable, per person
Per adultHKD 345.00
*Government and/or airport taxes are refundable, however some countries will apply a Value Added Tax, Sales Tax or equivalent, which will only be refunded on fully flexible tickets.
Aug 7, 2018, 6:23 pm
#17
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: 3,586
The equivalent F class quote in HKD has no YQ:
Code:
FXX/R,HKG.HKG
01 P1
LAST TKT DTE 18AUG18/23:59 LT in POS - SEE ADV PURCHASE
------------------------------------------------------------
AL FLGT BK DATE TIME FARE BASIS NVB NVA BG
HKG
LON BA 28 F 19AUG 2345 FNNF00S0 3P
HKD 82430 19AUG18HKG BA LON10505.03FNNF00S0 NUC
10505.03END ROE7.846716
HKD 120-HK
HKD 180-G3
HKD 45-I5
HKD 82775
Aug 7, 2018, 6:27 pm
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, AS, BA, SQ, CX, IB
Posts: 58
It appears this exact same issue was discussed in 2015 in relation to BA Executive Club overcharging carrier Fees for flights originating from HKG for a number of carriers. At that time it appears that the Honk Kong CAD was advised of the mischarging by BAEC which resulted in Avios awards from BAEC being correctly charged the limited YQ.
Does British Airways Executive Club overcharge Fuel surcharge on flight from HKG?
Somehow IB+ have escaped this net for all this time, probably because anyone with Avios would have moved them to BAEC to make their redemption except in this strange situation where some Avios in IB+ are no longer transferrable. As JAXBA has shown, it appears that travel agencies pricing through Amadeus is not showing the HK CAD approved YQ for some reason. So does this mean that any Airline that does not have flights departing HKD, their associated FF program would be using this Amadeus pricing which doesn't take into account HK CAD regulations?
Does British Airways Executive Club overcharge Fuel surcharge on flight from HKG?
Somehow IB+ have escaped this net for all this time, probably because anyone with Avios would have moved them to BAEC to make their redemption except in this strange situation where some Avios in IB+ are no longer transferrable. As JAXBA has shown, it appears that travel agencies pricing through Amadeus is not showing the HK CAD approved YQ for some reason. So does this mean that any Airline that does not have flights departing HKD, their associated FF program would be using this Amadeus pricing which doesn't take into account HK CAD regulations?
Last edited by relaxonbarton; Aug 7, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Aug 7, 2018, 7:22 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Australia
Programs: QF, AS, BA, SQ, CX, IB
Posts: 58
It also appears that Gary Leff from the View from the Wing blog reported on AAdvantage doing the exact same thing last year. (i.e. overcharging YQ on award bookings of BA flights departing HKG) After he raised it with AA they refunded the difference between Hong Kong's CAD maximum Fuel Surcharge and the amount charged on the award.
https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea...award-tickets/
This seems to be one of those issues that if not chased down with each individual program they will just abuse member's trust and charge them a surcharge that is not legal.
https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea...award-tickets/
This seems to be one of those issues that if not chased down with each individual program they will just abuse member's trust and charge them a surcharge that is not legal.