Taxes/surcharges on a reward flight (inspired by dmg24)

Murphy_The_Cat

Reading through some recent posts, I spotted that dmg24 has recently utilised a 'reward flight' to the US, but had been stung for £330 in taxes & surcharges for the 'free' flight.
I'm also in the happy position of getting a 'reward' flight to the US, but the taxes/surcharges for me were only £60.

Why is there such a huge difference and has anyone got any similar figures to throw into the pot ?

fifeken

My take on it is that different airlines split the cost different ways and the "Taxes and Charges" will consist of government taxes and whatever the airline choses to classify as an extra charge - sometimes airport fees, wheelchair levy, fuel "surcharge", insurance etc etc.

A recent example for me was £62 total to pay on a reward flight from Glasgow to Bangkok via Dubai on Emirates. I have also heard of other reward flights costing over £300 from UK to Far East. Can you tell us what airline your flight was with as it seems one of the better ones?

pompeyrich

If I recall correctly I think dmg24s flight wasn't in economy class, any class, where the seat pitch is greater than 40inches, attract higher charges. Well according to HMC&E, anything above the lowest class of seat is charged at the standard rate,£80 and the lowest class charged at the "reduced" rate, £40, merely a play on words.

Murphy_The_Cat

My flight was with AA (in cattle) & the tax/surcharges were £60 per ticket.
TBH, £40 in 'tax' & £20 in made up taxes/surcharges didn't seem to bad for me, for a 'free flight' (especially when the AA website pried the taxes/surcharges @ £93), but £330 seems to me to be completely taking the Mickey, on a 'free' flight.

than4

We are flying BA from LHR-Nairobi and it cost (i think) just over £200 in taxes for two of us. I didn't think that was too bad.

Even though I know the best use of your points is to upgrade - I would still rather take a "free" flight.

richardw

Worth remembering that https://www.airmiles.co.uk flight redemptions include taxes, fees and charges. I'm going to Paris for £31.25 in tesco vouchers, the equivalent Eurostar fare was £125, so was a good deal.

dmg24

I don't think I have ever had a positive thread inspired by me before!

I'll elaborate a bit on my ticket ...

I am flying with Air France, using Flying Blue miles. FB seem to be well known for their award anomalies, indeed since recent changes many of their FF's are choosing to fly with other airlines.

Points I noted:

* It was £30 cheaper to fly with KLM rather than AF (I chose AF for timings and because their product seems to have the edge)

* The difference between an economy or business ticket was just the cost of the additional tax

* There was no difference in the cost between a first and business award ticket (am flying business one way and first the other - there is no first service on my outbound route)

Interesting point made by than4 about the best use of points being for an upgrade - this isn't always so. Many airlines require a full fare economy ticket to be purchased before a miles upgrade is possible, and this can often cost more than an inflexible business seat, so it can be a false economy.

Murphy_The_Cat

dmg24 wrote: »

I don't think I have ever had a positive thread inspired by me before!

I'll elaborate a bit on my ticket ...

I am flying with Air France, using Flying Blue miles. FB seem to be well known for their award anomalies, indeed since recent changes many of their FF's are choosing to fly with other airlines.

Points I noted:

* It was £30 cheaper to fly with KLM rather than AF (I chose AF for timings and because their product seems to have the edge)

* The difference between an economy or business ticket was just the cost of the additional tax

* There was no difference in the cost between a first and business award ticket (am flying business one way and first the other - there is no first service on my outbound route)

Interesting point made by than4 about the best use of points being for an upgrade - this isn't always so. Many airlines require a full fare economy ticket to be purchased before a miles upgrade is possible, and this can often cost more than an inflexible business seat, so it can be a false economy.

Hurray Thats a First Then !

I may have got the wrong end of the stick - yours was a miles related upgrade, whereas mine was a free flight due to mile 'earned'.
Have I got that right ?

If I have, £330 still seems to be a bit 'naughty'.

dmg24

Murphy_The_Cat wrote: »

Hurray Thats a First Then !

I may have got the wrong end of the stick - yours was a miles related upgrade, whereas mine was a free flight due to mile 'earned'.
Have I got that right ?

If I have, £330 still seems to be a bit 'naughty'.

No, mine was an award ticket, not an upgrade.

The miles were a gift from a friend. With AF you can gift someone an award ticket, but you can only gift an upgrade if they are your travelling companion (I am travelling alone). Another bizarre AF 'quirk'!

old_motters

The last time I booked an airmiles ticket 4 years it cost me £40 for a US roundtrip ticket.

I looked to do the same earlier this year, it was going to cost £240 to £260 in charges and fees. The deepest discount economy fare was £330 so we bought that instead.

It makes using airmiles for economy airfares ex-UK almost pointless. I will be using mine for upgrading YBM fare class tickets to business or business class award outright. Once I've burned my miles I'm going to convert new miles into hotel points, probably Marriott.

Murphy_The_Cat

By the looks of it, The American Airline AAdvantage card is a real good'un then.
After only 4 transatlantic flights with AA** (or 3 if you manipulate it nicely) you get one for free and just pay the £60 tax/surcharge.



** dependant on final destination in the Americas