Saving Avios and APD on long haul using BA Amex 2-4-1 Voucher

[andrew.hay620@gmail.com]

Hi
Following the suggestion in an earlier thread, I called the BA Exec Club to use a 241 voucher for two pax on the routing MAD to EZE to MAD to LHR. The intention was to book two LHR to MAD flights separately to avoid long haul business APD.
Prior to calling, I had done my research and found 2 biz class seats with Iberia for the entire routing LHR-MAD-EZE-MAD-LHR. The price was 177500 avios plus £968 tax. On calling the Exec Club, the quote for the routing excluding LHR-MAD was 162500 avios plus £2210 tax! Obviously I booked the full routing online. Why such high taxes when the LHR-MAD was excluded?
Still happy though as the flights would have cost £8600 for 2 pax.

[BA Flyer IHG Stayer]

So the “with Iberia” was priced up on their website?

BA can charge whatever they like in surcharges which aren’t taxes.

[memesweeper]

When you “found this” did you find it on Iberia or BA websites?

I’ve not checked since the BA voucher started working on IB but historically IB charged less surcharges for the same routes as BA, even on the same planes.

[ferrinha]

Happened the same with me!

Booked return IB flights to GRU a couple of weeks ago using a 241 voucher and in both cases the taxes quoted over the phone were much higher than the online value.

[andrew.hay620@gmail.com]

Memesweeper
The research was done on the BA website using Avios using the 241 voucher.
Iberia flights throughout and comparison was BA website vs Exec Club.
Still don’t understand …
Thanks for everyone’s input.