Tried to book a flight, from Bangkok to UK in June using air miles. Usual 80,000 air miles to go BUT taxes and surcharges are $US863. That is 500 quid.

Emirates, same day taxes and surcharges are 5055 baht, just over 100 pounds.

Any idea why this should be?

Uk Departure tax and fuel surcharge.

I just looked at the regular fare

Seems like they added another surcharge for the privelage of flying free for yours to be 863, it is supposed to match published fares I thought.

THB 16,775+ THB 22,130+ THB 300 x 1 Adult = THB 39,205Total : THB 39,205

Some/a lot of airlines charge applicable YQ (fuel surhcarge) on award tickets. Currently YQ can be equal to the 1/2 of a RT fare. Example: XYZ-BKK-XYZ, base fare XYZ-BKK: 10,000, BKK-XYZ: 10,000 baht; YQ fuel surcharge = 9,000 baht (for round trip). So on a RT award BKK-XYZ you would have to pay 9,000 plus all the other fees, and potentially taxes. Every FF program is different.

If I use UA/MP miles for an award I do not pay YQ, so for USA-BKK-USA I might pay $50 (all in, in addition to the miles of course); if I use LH M&M for the same award I might pay ~ $600.

AF: (used BKK-CG just to get a feel for current YQ)

Fare 1: Carrier AF TSRTH BKK to PAR (rules)

Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code T

Covers BKK-CDG (Coach) 12,600.00

Fare 2: Carrier AF HSFTH PAR to BKK (rules)

Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code H

Covers CDG-BKK (Coach) 19,100.00

AF YQ surcharge (YQ) 10,910.00

Thailand Passenger Service Charge (TS) 700.00

French Aviation Civile Tax (FR) 330.00

French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) 1,135.00

French Airport Tax (FR) 560.00

French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) 175.00

Subtotal per passenger 45,510.00

Number of passengers x1

TOTAL AIRFARE & TAXES 45,510.00

EK, same dates, note that there is no YQ fuel surcharge.

Fare 1: Carrier EK YRTTH1 BKK to PAR (rules)

Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code Y

Covers BKK-DXB (Coach), DXB-CDG (Coach) 30,000.00

Fare 2: Carrier EK YRTTH1 PAR to BKK (rules)

Passenger type ADT, round trip fare, booking code Y

Covers CDG-DXB (Coach), DXB-BKK (Coach) 30,000.00

Thailand Passenger Service Charge (TS) 700.00

French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ) 175.00

French Airport Tax (FR) 560.00

French International Passenger Service Charge (QX) 1,135.00

French Aviation Civile Tax (FR) 330.00

Subtotal per passenger 62,900.00

Number of passengers x1

TOTAL AIRFARE & TAXES 62,900.00

This is an important criteria when evaluating FF programs; you need to factor this into your CPM/RPM (cost per mile, redemption per mile).

Edited June 3, 201115 yr by lomatopo