LH4116

If you read the first post again, I explicitly noted that one way awards are POSSIBLE for Star Alliance Airlines. I booked a one-way award BRU-NRT-SIN on All Nippon Airways a few months ago using TK miles. However, if you want to combine different airlines on a one way award you'll be charged for two separate awards as each as airlines can't be combined in one ticket.

coolburning

Hello all,

I am experiencing a very expensive TX for *A award ticket from TK Miles&Smiles: it does not make me smile at all.

I managed to reserved a ticket with UA to fly from SFO to EWR one way. It costs me 12, 500 in BC but the tax is around 700TRY or about 200USD ( about the same price if I buy revenue ticket in economy class). I checked with United website; tax and surcharge for revenue ticket is only 80-90 USD. I wonder if it is over charged or it is way of TK expensive.

Please suggest.

//KV

kohswisscheese

In response & for others' reference in the future, here's the "why":

I attempted to do a similar IAD-SFO-IAD Business Class booking at my local Turkish Airlines office today and was also quoted an inordinately high amount in taxes (about US$355 roundtrip, also close to the cost of a Y ticket).

This is similar to a BWI-SFO redemption I attempted 3 months ago (I paid the US$150+ in taxes on that occasion since I wanted to be on that flight)

Frustratingly I actually know exactly why this is happening:

1. When pricing the taxes, TK's system requires the agent to key in an appropriate fare class to calculate taxes.
2. For United Domestic Business Class redemption (Fare Class "I"), the fare class they use to calculate taxes is either "F" or "C". Both of these have high base fares
3. As a result, the US Transportation Tax (US) which is a Percentage Tax (7.5% of airfare), is calculated off the full F class fare which is around US$2.2k each way
4. The rest of the Taxes (ZP) (XF) (AY) are not percentage taxes and thus aren't affected, they are charged correctly by TK

Now this Percentage Tax shouldn't actually apply to Mileage Redemption Tickets as per the IRS Publication 510 (as per https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p510.pdf, pg27). However, knowing TK, I'm not sure if there will ever be a change in their systems.

Their agents were very helpful (I know the local team) but unable to do much due to the system limitations. I'm going down again tomorrow and will see if they manage to resolve the case with their Star Alliance liaison at United.

Interestingly there is apparently an option to claim wrongfully charged taxes back from the US Government via IRS Form 8849- not sure if anyone has successfully tried this route!

coolburning

Do you mind to suggest which page should I read about that ?

kohswisscheese

I'm not sure if I understand your question. If you're looking to read about how mileage redemption tickets should not be charged the Percentage Tax, it is on p27 as indicated. Info on Credits and Refunds is on p29.

I went ahead and paid my taxes today at the high rate, local office was still limited by their system even though they called United and were told that United only charges AY. Will attempt to claim the tax refund. Will update in 2 months.

I'm actually curious: has anyone attempted to redeem an award on United (domestic) via THY's US offices? Seems unlikely that the agents based in the US would contravene their own domestic tax code (of course it is possible they don't know better, and the tax code is a complex thing)

nacho

I actually tried to redeem UA domestic tickets using TK Miles, the problem is that for Y fare the tax is actually higher than UA's fare (which is unbelievable). I did this through their HKG office but then I decided not to do it because it's insane.

For me, this is just a way for TK to get some $ out of issuing us an award ticket, for me tax=fuel surcharge.

coolburning

Thank you very much and I will look forward to hearing how can you proceed for tax refund.

By the way, I am still in the trouble of redeeming award ticket for UA domestic flight. Local office here at GOT, they do not know how to issue the award ticket so they canceled my reservation at the end. Now I am waiting for TK's customer relation to say what will they do for me since it is their totally fault. I think I soon will leave TK for good. ><''

nacho

Have you checked the cash price for those tickets? Last time I wanted to book LAX to DEN and they charged me more YQ than a UA revenue ticket which is unbelievable. You could email to TK US offices and they might be able to help you.

Use your miles to get an upgrade/business reward ticket which has much better value.

kohswisscheese

It might still be worth it to redeem for United First transcontinental flights.

I emailed THY's US office for clarification but I believe the agents are limited in what they can do. Have also asked for the case to be escalated to the US GM if possible (honestly, it's a violation of the tax code!)

Will continue to update.

kohswisscheese

I wouldn't get your hopes up trying to get customer relations to do something for you- I don't think they would care very much (nor is there much they can do). If US domestic flights are your primary redemption bookings, probably worth looking somewhere else with less hassle.

ozflygirl747

My brother has approx 9,000 TK miles he earned on Air NZ which expire at the end of the year. Can you convert TK M&S points to any hotel programs to avoid having to do an award ticket?

I met some TK staff at the TBEX convention in Spain last year and asked them about partner awards on TG and their reply was that TG weren't in Star Alliance!

They were busy getting people to answer a survey asking people what was most most important to them when choosing an airline a) IFE b) catering c) onboard service. Call me old fashioned but I figured airline safety might rate a mention.

There's that famous expression "engine's running but nobody's behind the wheel" but it was more a case of keys not even being in the ignition.

sinus

Based on your experience, which airlines would have the lowest taxes? When I'm booking with Miles&More miles, the lowest taxes are on LO, AV, NZ and CA. Is it the same rule with burning M&S?

slickvik

How much?

slickvik

I was able to do this successfully for a United ticket! I emailed the local office, they gave me the amount of taxes and fees ($117 for a $347 ticket), somewhat high but still not bad for 20,000 miles that are about to expire 12/31. They did require a few strange things like a credit card authorization form, and a signed turkish airlines form approving the use of the miles, and pictures of the credit card and my driver's license. This is still better than going to the airport to pay though. Within an hour the ticket was issued. The responsiveness of the staff was really quite incredible and I think I will book all my tickets through the local office going forward.

B747-437B

My wife is looking at booking a *A award originating in BLZ (Blantyre, Malawi) using her TK miles due to expire this year. However, there are no TK ticket offices in Malawi for her to complete the ticketing.

Would it be possible for me to visit a TK ticket office elsewhere in the world on her behalf (with the appropriate authorisations, paperwork, etc...) to pay the taxes and get the ticket issued? The ticket will be in her own name, so no issues about identity fraud, etc...