TATL Carrier Charges on Reward Bookings

[sqrt()]

What is happening with BA (and AA?) carrier charges for reward bookings? I'm looking at booking some positioning flights to Europe (BUD, FRA, ZRH) from US East Coast in March for a BA TP run and return J carrier charges are USD $1700-1800 alone + tax and fees, so approaching $2k + 150k QFF Points. Y surcharges are about $500 return.

These are approaching or exceeding the crazy EK F surcharges, and are for flights that only transit LHR, so the UK APD isn't applicable. I get fuel is expensive, but $850 extra freedom bux expensive each way?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yeah… BA TATL surcharges have always been high… double or triple what AA charges for the same.

Rising fuel hasn’t helped.

The insane surcharges do seem to come down to something more reasonable if the TATL is booked as part of a longer itinerary, like a oneworld award. It’s basically a penalty against trying to get ‘cheap’ travel TATL.

Other airline programs such as Aeroplan or lifemiles will get you TATAL fairly cheaply, without surcharges.