This would properly be called a ''Fraud Surcharge'' because fuel is part of the cost of operating the plane and this fee goes directly to the airline. It is NOT a tax that goes to a third party such as a government. Putting this on the taxes and fees line is a huge fraud on consumers and should be prohibited under consumer protection laws.

Unfortunately, it is all too common with many foreign airlines. The only US-based airline that perpetrates this fraud upon its customers is Delta, and then only to its victimes, ..., er, customers, who live outside the US, and they call it a ''foreign origin surcharge''.

also UA and CO.

there was some rationale provided here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...charge-yq.html

So it's a fee. And putting on the taxes and fees line is fraud.

Hmmm-gotta think about that one.

The fees on that line are third party fees. Calling a ''fee'' something that is legitimately part of the fare and goes to the airline rather than a third party, like an airport landing fee, is what is the fraud. Otherwise the airline could just put the entire fare down as a ''fee''.

Planes do not fly without fuel. Fuel is an integral part of the fare, not something seperate.

New data point:

CX
PVG-HKG-JFK, C
$HK 711 = $91 (that includes YQ plus taxes)
50k miles

Considering the flight in question departs next week, the same redemption on AA would cost 55k miles plus at least $130 in taxes/fees (AA's close-in fee is $100).

Backstory:

My best friend wants to go to his grandma's 100th b'day party next week and I've been helping him look for award tickets (because revenue tickets are strangely expensive for the low season). My first instinct was to push some BD miles on him (because I have a lot and I fear for their long term value), but we struck out there (on the ANA site, at least).

Next, I went to ba.com and also found nothing at all. But, my friend called BA in Manila (his current location) and they were able to uncover the aforementioned CX find. While he was hoping to redeem in Y, the latest revival of the Chase offer couldn't have been more timely... because he now feels like the trip is completely free (i.e. he just applied for the card and --assuming he gets it-- only needs to purchase a pack of gum to get his 50k, and you can rest assured that I'll provide him with some nice ideas re the $2k spend).

SFO-LHR in Club World on BA.
 

Hello.
I just did a dummy booking (revenue) for the above route, 1 person and it listed the taxes and fees at $704-94!
Is this the amount that an Award ticket would require on the same route?

My random searches on that route have come in at closer to $650 in taxes/fees. Remember, when LHR is your destination, you get hit with a luxury tax (they have a more pertinent name for it, which escapes me) if you fly in C or F. This is not BA specific. Consequently, flights to other places in Europe require much less cash outlay (even if you connect at LHR).

Thanks for the reply^
I will look into europe as the arrival point but it really wont help as we really want to get to the UK!

Not to worry. I booked a BA round-trip Seattle-Geneva economy ticket (using miles) for September 2010, and the tax/fee surcharge was only $288.

And my itinerary include a stopover in London for several days!

QF First Class A380 240k BA miles taxes and fees only $268.51 :)

TPAC?
 

Everyone mentions the no-TATL rule but does it work in the other direction? I am HNL based and considering the BA VISA for 200k miles (also spouse), but my main purpose is [half-?] TPACs to SYD, KIX/FUK or other SE Asia. Can anyone help out with my flight options on such an itin?

maybe this is the wrong forum to post this but I am very interested to know how I could spend my future miles on economy travel within Europe.

it is slightly complicated as British does not fly the routes I wish to travel, i.e. Lyon, France to L'viv, Ukraine (or even Warsaw, Poland would work) or Vienna, Austria to L'viv, Ukraine direct.

it seems I could go through London, but I would rather fly a partner on a more direct route...

The only restriction is for No TATL AA flights. There is no restriction on partners for TPAC routes. You just have to figure out what partner(s) fly the routes you are looking for. Go to OneWorld website where you can find a very user-friendly, very intuitive Interactive Route Map which would give you info who fly to where. You need to play around a little bit to know all its functions. It is extremely versatile and user-friendly though. Of course, a thorough understanding on BA redemption rules would be the first thing to do. That can be found on BA website, under Spend BA Miles and you can determine which type of award suits your need best.

You may want to check out the options under Malev - the Hungary airline that is also a OneWorld Member. Use the Interactive Map on OneWorld website to find possible routings.

it's a real waste of miles - you still have to pay the fuel surcharges and taxes which make up more than half the ticket price more often than not.

How much Malev charges on the YQ?

I do agree with you, the LCCs intra Europe are so cheap, I dont see why anyone would use miles to fly intra Europe routes when the taxes and fees make up more than half of the ticket prices - a huge waste of miles imo.