Another question about AA-BA award tickets
Oct 30th, 2013, 12:05 PM
#1
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Another question about AA-BA award tickets
If I use AA miles and book a flight on AA.com and theoriginating AA flight connects with a BA flight, do I pay only AA's taxes, etc., or do I pay both AA and BA?
Oct 30th, 2013, 01:34 PM
#2
You'll pay the same <b>taxes</b> in either case. What will be different are the BA <i>fuel surcharges</i> that AA will pass through from any BA flight. Depending on the length of the BA flight (longhaul v. shorthaul) the amount of the "fuel fine" will vary.
The award booking screen on AA.com clearly lists the dollar amount applying to any award ticket booked through AA.com. Unfortunately, it doesn't let you see the makeup of that "taxes and fees" amount, but ITA does, to wit on IAH-LHR-IAH round trip sometime in June -
Fare 1: Carrier BA NHXNAJB HOU to LON (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code N
Covers IAH-LHR (Economy)
$348.00
Fare 2: Carrier BA NHXNAJB LON to HOU (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code N
Covers LHR-IAH (Economy)
$348.00
<b>BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $458.00</b>
US International Departure Tax (US) $17.20
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $3.00
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
<b>United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) $111.40</b>
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $64.20
US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.20
Subtotal per passenger $1,387.00
"YQ" is the tariff symbol for the fuel surcharge. In plain English, it translates to "profit."
The award booking screen on AA.com clearly lists the dollar amount applying to any award ticket booked through AA.com. Unfortunately, it doesn't let you see the makeup of that "taxes and fees" amount, but ITA does, to wit on IAH-LHR-IAH round trip sometime in June -
Fare 1: Carrier BA NHXNAJB HOU to LON (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code N
Covers IAH-LHR (Economy)
$348.00
Fare 2: Carrier BA NHXNAJB LON to HOU (rules)
Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code N
Covers LHR-IAH (Economy)
$348.00
<b>BA YQ surcharge (YQ) $458.00</b>
US International Departure Tax (US) $17.20
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $2.50
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF) $3.00
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $5.00
US Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50
<b>United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty (GB) $111.40</b>
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge (UB) $64.20
US International Arrival Tax (US) $17.20
Subtotal per passenger $1,387.00
"YQ" is the tariff symbol for the fuel surcharge. In plain English, it translates to "profit."
Oct 30th, 2013, 07:53 PM
#4
No you misunderstand. The amount above consists of two one-way fares of $348 ($696.) The rest of the total is taxes and fees that you'd pay for on top of the miles ($691). Of that, $458 is BA's fuel surcharge, which you wouldn't pay if you flew on AA instead.
Oct 31st, 2013, 03:31 PM
#5
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I am an Aadvantage member and it has been my experience that a "free" ticket involving a BA flight is not cheap. AA has other partners in Europe such as Air Berlin, Iberia and Finn Air. We are going to Italy in May and we made a point of avoiding BA due to the high charges. A RT award ticket involving a BA costs around $700/ticket. We booked flights on Air Berlin and we are only paying about $100/ticket.
If you can't find an award ticket to suit your needs on AA's web site then give them a call. I don't think they display Iberia's award availability on line yet so they might be able to get you something. Be sure to tell them you don't want to use BA.
If you can't find an award ticket to suit your needs on AA's web site then give them a call. I don't think they display Iberia's award availability on line yet so they might be able to get you something. Be sure to tell them you don't want to use BA.
