How do taxes and fees differ among different airline mileage redemption programs, such as Alaska Mileage Plan, British Airways Avios, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and Etihad Guest?

Taxes and fees can vary widely depending on the airline and the specific mileage program you use.

Alaska Mileage Plan (Atmos Rewards)

• A short domestic flight costs 7,500 miles plus $18.10 in taxes and fees, which includes a $5.60 U.S. security fee and a $12.50 partner award booking fee.
• British Airways Avios redemption for the same route requires 16,000 Avios and only $5.60 in taxes and fees, reflecting a lower cash component.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

• Taxes and fees on Virgin Atlantic awards can be “terribly hard to swallow,” sometimes reaching $1,000, though cheaper options may be only a few hundred dollars.
• Recent surcharge hikes have increased fees on routes such as Atlanta‑Johannesburg from $238 to $290 and Washington‑Bangalore from $238 to $290, with premium‑economy taxes and fees rising from $469 to $526 and business‑class fees exceeding $1,000 one‑way.

Etihad Guest

• An example redemption of 120,000 miles includes rough