Best way to book an AA (US dom) flight?

[Dave Noble]

Its on hold. So you suggest I wait?

Yup. If its just a hold it will disappear off in a few days, the number of days is dependant upon the bank; longest I know of is 10 working days

Dave

 

[simongr]

Hmm - just trying to work my own RTW to be ticketed so that I can request my QF upgrade to F (I am becoming addicted ) - I called India and sadly as this is a DONE4 and has yet to be priced they have to send it to pricing for ... pricing...they asked if I could call again tomorrow. AS I am on a flight this tomorrow that could be tough. OK email thay say and then finish the converstion "so you will call us tomorrow then?"...

 

[serfty]

Not sure when you intend to travel on this 'DONE4', but note that upgrades cannot requested earlier than T-90 days.

 

[simongr]

T-90 was two days ago at 21:30 HKG time I set a reminder to to request it only to find it needed to be ticketed first.

One concern is that there are two open segments and its an AAA ticket so I am wondering if the ticket will be an eticket - I have heard (unsurprisingly ) conflicting answers...

 

[Dave Noble]

T-90 was two days ago at 21:30 HKG time I set a reminder to to request it only to find it needed to be ticketed first.

One concern is that there are two open segments and its an AAA ticket so I am wondering if the ticket will be an eticket - I have heard (unsurprisingly ) conflicting answers...

If you are planning open sectors , I am prepared to bet that it will be paper. I would suggest putting random dates so that there are no open sectors

Dave

 

[simongr]

Thanks - I think you are right and unsurprisingly I havent had the email for pricing... Now I am wondering if I am at LHR in a week or so whether it is possible to walk up there and get it ticketed? Given I have the Oz credit card problem if I have to do it by phone and I will be near a ticket office.

There seems to be a ticket office at LHR T3 - I know I will be at T1 but I can mooch between terminals potentially - I will be on foot without baggage (not meant in jest given the lack of baggage currently...)

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks - I think you are right and unsurprisingly I havent had the email for pricing... Now I am wondering if I am at LHR in a week or so whether it is possible to walk up there and get it ticketed? Given I have the Oz credit card problem if I have to do it by phone and I will be near a ticket office.

There seems to be a ticket office at LHR T3 - I know I will be at T1 but I can mooch between terminals potentially - I will be on foot without baggage (not meant in jest given the lack of baggage currently...)

If you are booking an ATW ticket, then if you purchase at T3, then you will pay the UK price for the ticket. They can happily take UK credit cards at the T3 ticket desk

Dave

 

[wandering_fred]

On my recent trip to the USA via Canada (BA WT+) my Oz travel agent was pretty well able to match/better the AA web site pricing.

There was some relationship to having the e-ticket issued with BA ticket numbers in conjunction with the long haul tickets. Which I was able to use with AA 500 mile stickers with no problem.

She was also able to issue exSIN tickets at SIN prices.......

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[simongr]

If you are booking an ATW ticket, then if you purchase at T3, then you will pay the UK price for the ticket.

Dave

OK - not a great plan then!

I will call US today to see if I can get the fare calculated and put in the random dates for the SYD-MEL-SYD flights - seems weird now to be doing such a simple routing on SOB...

 

[justinbrett]

I booked a BA flight whilst in the UK (domestic) on aa.com - for some reason it was heaps cheaper than the BA site. (I remember this used to happen with QF domestic fares, until somebody found out about it).

Anyway, I went to the BA desk at an airport, should them my receipt and asked to put my QFF number on it. No problems at all.

Half expected a grilling as to why I didn't purchase it from BA (would of expected it with QF) but it was fine.

 

[JohnK]

....(I remember this used to happen with QF domestic fares, until somebody found out about it).

Many people had a good run out of it but it had to happen eventually. I am surprised it lasted that long. It is illegal to sell domestic airfares in Australia, not directly related to an international itinerary, without charging GST.

 

[Dave Noble]

Many people had a good run out of it but it had to happen eventually. I am surprised it lasted that long. It is illegal to sell domestic airfares in Australia, not directly related to an international itinerary, without charging GST.

Absolute rubbish!

There is nothing illegal about issuing a ticket for travel within Australia without GST if the ticket is issued outside of Australia

The only reason it is not so easy now is that QF have sales rule in the cheaper fares which restrict AA and others from being able to sell it. Can still be a decent saving on more expensive fares

Dave

 

[Dave Noble]

To be more specific, an entity (company/business) can charge what it wants for solely domestic Oz travel. What is illegal is for that entity to not 'pass' on 9.09% (1/11) of the total cost of that sale to the Australian Federal Government.

No.

The GST is NOT owed when the ticket is issued outside of Australia.

NAME: GOODS AND SERVICES TAX
CODE: UO
AMOUNT: 10 per cent Goods and Services Tax is applicable to the total value * of all Tickets,
MCO’s, PTA's for wholly domestic travel, ie. including any (other) ticket taxes shown
thereon.
* round to the nearest 1cent (see W1-8 domestic ticketing example)
EXEMPTIONS: 1. Domestic travel in conjunction with international air journeys and shown on the same
ticket.
2. Domestic travel sold in conjunction with international air travel but on a separate ticket
where the domestic ticket is cross referenced to the international ticket and the domestic
ticket is issued prior to the commencement of the international journey.
3. Domestic travel ticketed outside Australia.
4. Infants.


Dave

 

[JohnK]

Some references from the ATO website.

When can I supply the domestic legs of international transport of passengers GST-free?

Domestic transport by air

You can supply domestic air transport GST-free if:

• the domestic transport is part of an itinerary or arrangement leading to international air transport, and
• the domestic transport formed part of a ticket for international air transport when the arrangement was made, or was cross-referenced to it.

Can I supply domestic transport to non-residents GST-free?

You can supply air transport within Australia GST -free to non-residents, provided they are outside Australia when they purchase it.

Domestic sea transport you supply to non-residents is subject to GST unless the requirements discussed above in ‘Domestic transport by sea’ are met.

 

[Dave Noble]

Some references from the ATO website.

And that *only* applies to companies in Australia - note it is from the AUSTRALIAN Tax office

AA in the USA can no more charge Australian GST, than an Australian company can charge UK VAT

Hence the exception for the UO tax which is explicity stated

Dave

 

[JohnK]

AA in the USA can no more charge Australian GST, than an Australian company can charge UK VAT

Are you sure? When a person purchases a hotel room in the UK using an Australian travel provider do they get charged VAT? Yes. How about a hotel room in Greece? Or a hotel room in Singapore? Or a hotel room in Thailand? How do you avoid the 17.7% tax & service charge in Singapore and Thailand or the VAT in the UK?

Try purchasing airfares for travel in Europe, or more specifically Greece, with an Australian travel agent and see if you can get away from paying the local GST/VAT.

AA is an off shore company but is breaking the law by selling purely domestic airfares to Australian residents/citizens without charging GST. If you won't take my word for it then ask your accountant. If you are still not sure then ask the ATO. I have asked both. You will be surprised at the answer they give you.

 

[Dave Noble]

Are you sure?

Completely. Only a company registered for VAT can charge VAT ( and reclaim VAT ). I do know this having had VAT registered company. Typically companies with a turnover of > GBP50000 will register though there are exceptions. Also, when selling to non EU countries, I would have to not charge the VAT .

THE GST COMPONANT IS NOT DUE WHEN A DOMESTIC TICKET IS ISSUED OUTSIDE OF AUSTRALIA - as per the tax applicability for UO.

Dave

 

[justinbrett]

I would think if anything Qantas should be charging AA GST when it sells AA the seats, and AA charge the passenger the total amount (but no extra GST).

 

[simongr]

I think re JohnK's points about buying overseas services through an Oz based TA leading to paying local VAT is that the overseas service provider who is providing a service in their country is charging the VAT to the TA and the TA is passing that on to tha PAX.

In relation to AA - AA are not providing a service in Australia. It is no different to OfficeMax sending you a US$200 computer part - you wont pay GST on that.

I would be intrigued as to how QF get away without charging GST to AA though - they are providing a service in Oz. We used to be able to not charge GST for work we did in Oz for overseas companies as our final product (a report) was provided to the overseas company rather than the local subsid.

 

[serfty]

Methinks such loopholes extends to more than QF/AA, but who?

Interesting that tiger reveal the +++ on their MEL-DRW 79.99 flights as being solely comprised of Oz GST (Base fare is 72.72):

Here is a breakdown of the taxes and 
fees that apply to your purchase.

Departure

7.27 AUD  GST Australia

 7.27     Total Taxes, Fees & Charges