Questions and Answers

Lucky — i took the IAD-DSS trip Washington Dulles to Dakar, Senegal) twice this year using Virgin points to get the incredible deal: 40k for RT in coach; 50k for RT in biz. In April, there was no carrier-imposed fee. In August, it appeared (see below) – a whopping $460 more than what I paid a few months earlier. Is Virgin imposing the fee or SAA? What can we do to have it removed? Why did Virgin retract its fee on Delta’s flights?

[B]Fare Breakdown[/B]
Base Fare
GBP 0.00
Carrier-imposed International Surcharge (YR)
USD 460.00
United States – Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee (AY)
USD 5.60
United States – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Fee (APHIS User Fee – Passengers (XA)
USD 3.96
United States – Immigration and Naturalization Fee(Immigration User Fee) (XY)
USD 7.00
United States – Custom User Fee (YC)
USD 5.65
Senegal – Security Charge (DF)
USD 10.60
Senegal – Infrastructure Development Charge (HP)
USD 62.

Senegal – Civil Aviation Charge (KQ)
USD 3.50
Senegal – Immigration User Fee (VH)
USD 24.00
Senegal – Passenger Service Charge (ZE)
USD 17.70
United States – Transportation Tax (US)
USD 36.60
Total Amount
USD 637.41
80

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If this was for travel on SAA booked using Virgin’s program, then it’s SAA imposing the surcharge that Virgin is passing along. Fares change all the time, including the fare structure. SAA also isnt doing great financially, so this may be one way to try and monetize. There might be accounting reasons for splitting up the ticket costs between Base Fare and Surcharges as well.

There’s no way to have it removed that I can think of.

Ben’s post: [URL]https://onemileatatime.com/redeem-virgin-atlantic-miles-south-african-airways/[/URL]