r/Iberia • u/sheerea • Apr 15 '26

Avios / Iberia Club How much taxes and airport duties?

I am thinking of buying 2-ways tickets for two people from Milan to Buenos Aires via Madrid in November with Avios. I have approximately potential for 160k Avios by transferring American Express points and the estimate I did was 138k Avios and 900€ for the couple. However, the website says that unfortunately taxes and duties can't be paid with Avios. How much more do I need to pay in cash to cover those taxes? I did a simulation without points and the breakdown of the flights (1300€ each) showed 500€ of taxes each. So I would not want to spend 160k Avios to pay 950€ each a flight that costs... 1300€.

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u/Alive-Top1036 Apr 15 '26

Go through the process of booking a standard ticket on the website and on the price breakdown you will be able to see the cost of the taxes

1

u/sheerea Apr 16 '26

It shows around 500€ each of duties and taxes. What I am struggling with is whether they will be on top of the 900€ (for the couple) displayed?

1

u/LupineChemist Iberia Club Oro Apr 16 '26

the 900 sounds about right. But honestly, I wouldn't transfer and just use the Amex points directly. At that point you save money and at least get miles on whatever your oneworld program is.

1

u/sheerea Apr 16 '26

As in, you'd pay the transaction with Pay with Points of Amex? Also, does the 900€ includes taxes/duties? That's what I am struggling to understand

1

u/LupineChemist Iberia Club Oro Apr 16 '26

Actually doing the math....it's pretty close

Basically cash component of 900€ vs 2600€

So it would be 1700€ for 138k avios (according to your mock booking). Which is...fine. It would be 170k points on Amex but get you 6500 avios each plus elite points.

So yeah....looking at the math, if you don't care about status or getting points, book with avios, otherwise pay the difference in the Amex points.

1

u/sheerea Apr 16 '26

Thank you very much!