Taxes/Charges on AA Flight taken as QFF Award

[grussellt]

I was checking possible new routes for a QF award I have booked for October when I noticed some additional charges. One of my segments CDG-MIA would now attract charges of Euro195.21. This is more than the charges for my entire trip (CDG-SYD via MIA/LAX) when I booked it last year. If booked as an award via AA on AAdvantage the same flight attracts charges of only $US81.40. The difference (checked through ITA) turns out to be a YR (the new YQ) of Euros130.
I guess this means that AA doesn't charge AAdavantage members for YR but us unlucky flyers through QFF now have to pay it. It's another poke in the eye when we're already paying 30000 QF pts vs only 20000 AA miles (although they aren't directly comparable).

 

[serfty]

I think you may find that when QFF charged YQ it would then "trouser it" - none went to AA. It may be the same for this YR.

 

[grussellt]

Now that would enhance the profitability of QFF but it makes the programme a little less valuable for the loyal subjects who use it. I hope AA continue to sell miles at reasonable prices when Chapter11 is complete or maybe Amex could have an Australian-issued card linked to the OneWorld Airline of your choice.

 

[kempvet]

Just one of the many reasons where possible I fly on AA and not on QF or BA metal with AA awards, and when I book AA awards, I always try to fly AA, for example, it is only a few dollars tax if awards LAX to HEL are all flown with AA, however if you select a BA flight then minimum return taxes are $600, makes a big difference when SWMBO and the apprentice SWMHO also intend to come with me, could be close to $2000 in taxes on BA metal and less than $100 on AA metal with award flights. I can get off peak return J flights LAX-HEL for 100,000 AA points with little tax, if you were to book a J flight with QF points it is about 184,000 points and if BA is the metal you fly on, then perhaps $600 tax.