How is this reasonable?
 

Almost redeemed IAH-AMS & FCO-AMS-IAH for Aug using 100K miles on Flying Blue (Biz class), but saw that taxes & fees are around $550, so I decided to check with Skymiles, use the same amount of miles, and total taxes & fees is only $60. I can understand 100-200 difference since FB is notorious about fuel surcharges, but 490 is absolutely unreasonable.

Also, ended up adding AMS-ZHR and ZHR-FCO without using any additional miles. This one Flying Blue can't do (at least not online).

I think it has to do with the fact that for US carriers fuel is charged as part of the ticket price (and therefore included in the redemption) while non-US carriers can include the fuel surcharges separately.

If you think $550 is unreasonable, try booking a redemption on Virgin Atlantic. In mid-2009 when fares were really low, I tried booking JFK-LHR-JFK in economy using Virgin Atlantic points, and the fees and taxes ended up being almost the same price as paying outright for an economy fare.

This is really becoming ugly. IMO all those surcharges make it unprofitable to book eco awards. It's a bit better for biz awards.

It's a big devaluation of our miles that we cannot use them in a profitable way to book eco awards anymore.

Problem is the same everywhere. I just booked an award on LH FRA-JFK/YUL-ZRH-FRA and it came to a whopping 375 Euro surcharge.

Yet another reason why the US carrier programs are, so far, a better deal than most others, regardless of alliance.

Well, as I pointed out in another thread, there are some options like US-domestic if you want to avoid paying taxes: SFO-JFK for 12500 miles and 1.90EUR of taxes (actual ticket for the same flight in T fare is about 120EUR).

so DL to avoid fees

but whats best for KE/AF F awards?

(AF requires status for AF F awards right?)

I am never convinced redeeming F award on AF is worth it considering their recent increase in mlieage requirement. Are you using AF miles or which program?

For KE F award seat, I recommend you call an agent to book that.

is KE FFP best for KE/AF F awards? or something else?

can you use KE for AF F awards?

i presume KE is better than AF for KE F awards, right?

hmm

KE - EK AF?
AF - JL MH