UC reward flight fees more in US than UK for identicl trips?

I was looking at UC reward flights, and found that a round trip flight between LHR and JFK is GBP500 + 80,000miles if originating in the UK... BUT the same r/t flight originating in USA, is $1050 = GBP661 plus 80,000miles.

why the significant extra cost for a loyal USA based VS flyer?

Perhaps they are basing it on a currency exchange rate of about 4 years ago where the pound was $2?

Taxes & Fees

Flight from US return
YQ $778.00
AY $2.50
XA $5.00
XY $7.00
YC $5.50
GB $206.60
UB $54.80

Total $1059.40

Flight from UK return
YQ £319.00
AY £1.60
XA £3.20
XY £4.40
YC £3.50
GB £130.00
UB £34.49

Total £496.19

translate please for us simpletons! where does the surcharge lay, and at whose door?
It appears to be in the YQ bit, which means... what?

YQ = the 100% Virgin imposed fuel surcharge

The rest are charged by UK and S Governments and Airports

GB = UK APD (applied only to ex-uk legs)

The rest are the UK and US airport fees (UB = the BAA LHR passenger service fee)

It seems that VS are using a very different exchange rate when the convert the YQ than they do for example convert the APD.

so fuel surcharge flying an UC Round Trip:
book in USA - JFK to LHR is $778
book in UK - LHR to JFK is $505 !!
a $270 (50%!) difference for no explicable reason.

might it work by making two one way bookings, and getting the "lower" UK fees on the UK originating flight?

Well it might be worth costing your trip as two one-ways rather than a return and see how it comes out.

Let us know how that comes out.

It seems USA FC members have to pay a surcharge on the surcharge, of over 50%.

Nice.

I see someone lawyer-ing up eventually. Class action?

Well no as VS charge the same surcharges etc to those paying cash as to those using miles so there is no surcharge on the surcharge for FC members.

There is just a different rate of fuel surcharge for flights bought in the US than in the UK.

Would be interesting to see the breakdown of BA surcharges for ex US flights paid with cash and avios though.

Yes, but... no!

The point is that for identical journeys, the fuel surcharge (whether miles of cash) is higher for USA based customers than UK based ones.

Same routes, same distance, same class, same planes, but just in reverse order. Why gouge USA customers 50% more for fuel than UK ones?

Same routes, same distance, same class, same planes, but just in reverse order. Why gouge USA customers 50% more for fuel than UK ones?

I think the answer will be 'because the market will bear it'

Similar with the AMS 'trick' where it can be cheaper to fly to AMS then start a new trip AMS-LHR-USA which can be massivly cheaper than the same LHR-USA flight even though the LHR-USA flight is on exactly the same plane.

When asked about this VS responded it was down to markets and what they would bear.

I see someone lawyer-ing up eventually. Class action?

I do sympathise -- but what would be the ground for a class action?

Why gouge USA customers 50% more for fuel than UK ones?

cos they are larger and use more fuel ????????

Why gouge USA customers 50% more for fuel than UK ones?

cos they are larger and use more fuel ????????

ha. ha.
no its a bunch of toss.

I guess we can earn miles easier than you all over the pond (our credit cards pay out better) but really they giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other.

but really they giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other.

twas it ever any different?

[Pete]

Class action? Why is the first thought to get litigious rather than ask Virgin directly whether there's a reason for the difference?

[Scrooge]

I see someone lawyer-ing up eventually. Class action?

I do sympathise -- but what would be the ground for a class action?

Nope.

Class action? Why is the first thought to get litigious rather than ask Virgin directly whether there's a reason for the difference?

It wouldn't even get out of a lawyers office, however, there have been murmurings of a lawsuit based on the fuel surcharge by one of the states.

Over here a reward flight is free, except for fees and taxes imposed by government both federal,local and airport and if there are special circumstances, such as booking it 48 hours out (why this deserves an extra fee is beyond me).

The legal stance taken is that as a reward flight you have already paid for the fuel using your miles.

It is an election year here, things always get interesting and a tad silly, people are always looking for a way to be able to show how they stuck up for joe public against the big mean nasty corporations and really, what better way than against foreign ones where you don't hurt the companies that send you checks every year.

Would be interesting to see the breakdown of BA surcharges for ex US flights paid with cash and avios though.

LHR - JFK CW rtn

British Airways fees and surcharges Per adult
Fuel Surcharge** GBP319.00

JFK - LHR CW rtn

British Airways fees and surcharges Per adult
Fuel Surcharge** USD778.00

Surprisingly similar...

Cough... cough... collusion... cough...

oh please excuse me, I have something stuck in my throat.

Cough... cough... collusion... cough...

oh please excuse me, I have something stuck in my throat.

They must hedge their future fuel costs at exactly the same rate and both be highly surprised that they suddenly become higher, as a fuel charge is to cover the "extenuating circumstances/ out of the norm/unexpected" change in rates...

Does beg the question how a "surcharge" can be levied nearly 12mths in advance!