Smart Routing: A Guide to Lowering Taxes & Fees on Award Flights ✈️
For award flights, check the displayed cash component for taxes, fees, and surcharges.
Compare the departure point, routing, and booking program before moving any points.
Understand the cash component
An award ticket’s cash component can include government taxes, airport fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges. The booking system provides the exact breakdown for the itinerary.
Government aviation taxes
Germany levies Luftverkehrsteuer on commercial passenger flights departing from German airports. Air Passenger Duty (APD) may apply in the United Kingdom. The applicable rules and rates depend on the journey, so check the current guidance from the responsible authorities.
Tax rates and exemptions can change. Do not rely on an old airport ranking; compare the complete cash component in the booking system instead.
Carrier-imposed surcharges
Airlines may add their own surcharges. Whether they appear on an award and how much they cost must be checked for the specific itinerary.
Lufthansa Group charges an Environmental Cost Surcharge of €1–€72, depending on the route and fare, for flights sold and operated by the group that depart from the EU-27, United Kingdom, Norway, or Switzerland. It applies to tickets issued since June 26, 2024, for departures from January 1, 2025.
Strategy 1: Compare departure points and routings
Compare several permitted routings in the booking engine and examine the complete cash component before transferring points. A different connection can produce a different cash component; static airport rankings are not reliable enough for this decision.
ITA Airways is a Star Alliance member. When comparing routings, include available connections with ITA and other alliance members shown by the booking system.
Strategy 2: Compare booking programs
Compare the same available award through the programs you can actually access. The mileage price, cash component, and conditions may differ. Buy or transfer points only after confirming the award and its complete cost in the booking system.
Before booking, compare the mileage price, cash component, and conditions for the same available itinerary.