British Airways FF Awards
Mar 24th, 2011, 03:46 PM
#1
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British Airways FF Awards
Ok I have 100,000 miles and wanted to get 2 award tickets to Paris from Houston Tx,
I plug in all the info and select some dates in late August /Septeber 2011 and my dates are available but when I continue to checkout it says its 100,000 plus over $1,000 - the $1,000 is for taxes and fees!!!
They have got to be kidding- why spend the miles if you have top fork over $1,000 to boot.
What am I missing? Does anyone actually spend 100k miles and fork over $1,000?
I plug in all the info and select some dates in late August /Septeber 2011 and my dates are available but when I continue to checkout it says its 100,000 plus over $1,000 - the $1,000 is for taxes and fees!!!
They have got to be kidding- why spend the miles if you have top fork over $1,000 to boot.
What am I missing? Does anyone actually spend 100k miles and fork over $1,000?
Mar 24th, 2011, 04:12 PM
#2
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Ok I go back in and try to see what the cost would be if I bought the tickets- and its $1800 for 2 tickets. Now why would I blow 100,000 miles to save $800??? Something is not right here?
Mar 24th, 2011, 04:14 PM
#3
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Here are the fees and surcharges per ticket that you pay either way buy tickets or use FF miles:
Customs User Fee - USA USD5.50
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA USD16.30
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA USD16.30
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA USD5.00
Immigration User Fee - USA USD7.00
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA USD2.50
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom USD64.14
Passenger Service Charge (International) - France USD17.28
Solidarity Tax For France And French Overseas USD5.69
Civil Aviation Tax USD5.93
Airport Tax USD18.13
Passenger Facility Charge USD3.00
Total government, authority and airport charges* USD166.77
More information
Government, authority and airport chargesFlight taxes, fees and charges
These are included in the price of your ticket and are levied by airport operators, governments, or other authorities, excepting US originating flights where government, authority and airport taxes and fees are stated separately.
Some airports may levy local taxes, fees or charges against passengers upon arrival or departure. These are not included in the price of your ticket and should be paid locally.
British Airways fees and surcharges Per adult
Fuel Surcharge** USD384.00
Insurance and Security Surcharge** USD16.00
Total British Airways fees and surcharges USD400.00
More information
Insurance and security surchargesBritish Airways applies a passenger surcharge on all flights to cover insurance and security. This surcharge applies to all passengers including children and infants on both international and domestic flights.
Fuel surchargesBritish Airways applies a fuel surcharge on all flights to reflect the fluctuating price of worldwide oil.
The surcharge is based on flight duration and applies to all passengers, including children and infants travelling on British Airways operated international and domestic services.
Total taxes, fees and surcharges per person USD566.7
Customs User Fee - USA USD5.50
Transportation Tax(Departure) - USA USD16.30
Transportation Tax(Arrival) - USA USD16.30
Animal & Plant Health User Fee (Aphis) - USA USD5.00
Immigration User Fee - USA USD7.00
Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee - USA USD2.50
Passenger Service Charge - United Kingdom USD64.14
Passenger Service Charge (International) - France USD17.28
Solidarity Tax For France And French Overseas USD5.69
Civil Aviation Tax USD5.93
Airport Tax USD18.13
Passenger Facility Charge USD3.00
Total government, authority and airport charges* USD166.77
More information
Government, authority and airport chargesFlight taxes, fees and charges
These are included in the price of your ticket and are levied by airport operators, governments, or other authorities, excepting US originating flights where government, authority and airport taxes and fees are stated separately.
Some airports may levy local taxes, fees or charges against passengers upon arrival or departure. These are not included in the price of your ticket and should be paid locally.
British Airways fees and surcharges Per adult
Fuel Surcharge** USD384.00
Insurance and Security Surcharge** USD16.00
Total British Airways fees and surcharges USD400.00
More information
Insurance and security surchargesBritish Airways applies a passenger surcharge on all flights to cover insurance and security. This surcharge applies to all passengers including children and infants on both international and domestic flights.
Fuel surchargesBritish Airways applies a fuel surcharge on all flights to reflect the fluctuating price of worldwide oil.
The surcharge is based on flight duration and applies to all passengers, including children and infants travelling on British Airways operated international and domestic services.
Total taxes, fees and surcharges per person USD566.7
Mar 24th, 2011, 06:25 PM
#4
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It simply means that this is not a good way to use your miles because of the high fuel surcharge BA charges for its trans-Atlantic flights. It may make sense in cases where the fares are higher. Or use the miles on upgrades or on other oneworld partners.
Not all awards are good use of miles. In fact, many simply aren't.
Not all awards are good use of miles. In fact, many simply aren't.
Mar 24th, 2011, 06:41 PM
#5
BA is notorious for gouging on fuel surcharges. And it's not just transatlantic, it's all BA flights, but of course worse on long-hauls.
As rkkwan says, use them for upgrades, or for redemption on partner airlines where the fuel surcharges aren't as great. You might look at using them on American Airlines, which doesn't have the same fuel surcharges as BA does.
The bite becomes more tolerable (but hardly painless) if you redeem for business or first class instead of economy. In that case, while you'll still be paying hundreds for the fuel fines, it will be in the context of getting seats that would cost several thousand dollars each.
As rkkwan says, use them for upgrades, or for redemption on partner airlines where the fuel surcharges aren't as great. You might look at using them on American Airlines, which doesn't have the same fuel surcharges as BA does.
The bite becomes more tolerable (but hardly painless) if you redeem for business or first class instead of economy. In that case, while you'll still be paying hundreds for the fuel fines, it will be in the context of getting seats that would cost several thousand dollars each.
Mar 25th, 2011, 04:43 AM
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Have gone over twice to europe with BA.com on their FF miles
programs usually your cheapest rates will be NYC LON
there still were surcharges tax etc of $100-150 each way
still great value but they do add on price from LON.
ATL NCE 50000 pp for me last year...
$175 surcharges/tax each way pp still a great deal.
For me ATL ROM in 2 weeks 60000 ff miles
$225 surcharge tax each way still LOTS cheaper than regular
air for me but out of HOU might checkout www.continental.com
Onepass get cheap fares thier FF miles on CC 30000 per card
book coach get FF mile upgrades works out cheaper.
They all charge for tax etc usually pay $85-150 each way
even with continental but you are correct BA worst than most.
EVERYTHING cost extra including seats so shop around
HOU PAR www.kayak.com/buzz good screening site...
programs usually your cheapest rates will be NYC LON
there still were surcharges tax etc of $100-150 each way
still great value but they do add on price from LON.
ATL NCE 50000 pp for me last year...
$175 surcharges/tax each way pp still a great deal.
For me ATL ROM in 2 weeks 60000 ff miles
$225 surcharge tax each way still LOTS cheaper than regular
air for me but out of HOU might checkout www.continental.com
Onepass get cheap fares thier FF miles on CC 30000 per card
book coach get FF mile upgrades works out cheaper.
They all charge for tax etc usually pay $85-150 each way
even with continental but you are correct BA worst than most.
EVERYTHING cost extra including seats so shop around
HOU PAR www.kayak.com/buzz good screening site...
Mar 25th, 2011, 07:23 AM
#7
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I also got in on the 100K deal with a BA visa. Like most people I have discovered those are the most expensive "free" tickets I've ever tried to use. I plan to use my points for domestic travel on AA.
Mar 25th, 2011, 03:55 PM
#8
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Yes BA lousy airline to collect miles- my 100,000 came via a credit card deal. I don't accumulate them any more- waste of money.
I"ll use the miles on AA- I can go to Europe for 2 for 80,000 miles and no outragious fuel charges
I"ll use the miles on AA- I can go to Europe for 2 for 80,000 miles and no outragious fuel charges
Mar 25th, 2011, 04:32 PM
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Depends on how far you want to go and how you like to travel. I used the credit card bonus miles plus a voucher allowing a companion to travel with me at no extra miles to fly Seattle to the far East in February - in First.
Sure, I had to pay about $1500 in taxes, fees, etc, but that's still hundreds less than I would have paid for two people in coach. And a good $20,000 less than I would have paid for two people in First. That was a splurge, of course, because I'd never pay what they ask for First. I usually use my BA miles to upgrade to Club World.
So no, I don't agree BA is a lousy airline for collecting miles. Just depends on what you want to do with your miles.
Sure, I had to pay about $1500 in taxes, fees, etc, but that's still hundreds less than I would have paid for two people in coach. And a good $20,000 less than I would have paid for two people in First. That was a splurge, of course, because I'd never pay what they ask for First. I usually use my BA miles to upgrade to Club World.
So no, I don't agree BA is a lousy airline for collecting miles. Just depends on what you want to do with your miles.
Mar 26th, 2011, 02:06 PM
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Can't even get flights on partner airlines (domestic or international flights) - it so difficult to even see what is available. Maybe I can convert these miles into something useful. Ok some think BA is fine - I'm happy for you- but for me fuggettaboutit!
Mar 29th, 2011, 09:09 PM
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In the new partnership deal between BA and AA, AA raised its fees to match BA's.
I only use miles for expensive upgrades and biz. It takes me two years to accumulate 100000 miles. So I spend $750 for a $4000 long haul biz flight. Yay for me.
Going through oneworld.com can be less expensive. But using miles got much more expensive this year.
I only use miles for expensive upgrades and biz. It takes me two years to accumulate 100000 miles. So I spend $750 for a $4000 long haul biz flight. Yay for me.
Going through oneworld.com can be less expensive. But using miles got much more expensive this year.
