Stephen is an established voice in the credit card space, with over 70 to his name. His work has been in publications like The Washington Post, and his Au Points and Awards Consulting Services is used...
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Nick’s passion for points began as a hobby and became a career. He worked for over 5 years at The Points Guy and has contributed to Business Insider and CNN. He has 14 credit cards and continues to le...
& Keri Stooksbury
With years of experience in corporate marketing and as the Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Qatar, Keri is now Editor-in-Chief at UP, overseeing daily content operations and r...
47 comments
Christian
December 08, 2018
I may be wrong, but I thought that Hong Kong started allowing fuel surcharges.
Stephen Au
December 10, 2018
Hi Christian! You bring up an excellent point. Hong Kong used to completely ban fuel surcharges. Now, they allow fuel surcharges, but still regulate it. The most you’ll pay is around $167 each way in fuel surcharges. Thanks for reading!
Timbervolt
March 07, 2019
The other charge not discussed in the out of pocket costs is the award booking fee. For example, Qantas calls it “other carrier charges”. This can add $630 to a return premium cabin seat, in addition to the fuel surcharges.
Stephen Au
March 19, 2019
Hey Timbervolt,
We understand your displeasure with the carrier charges that Qantas levies. However, these are not fuel surcharges, and Qantas is currently facing investigations for these extra charges. We would advise travelers who want to fly on Qantas not to use their frequent flyer program to book, and instead using a program like American Airlines AAdvantage or Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan. Thanks for reading.
Ralph Doncaster
May 26, 2019
As of early 2019, Air China redemptions on Aeroplan have carrier surcharges.
Stephen Au
May 27, 2019
Ralph,
I just double-checked, and there are currently no fuel surcharges being passed onto Aeroplan for travel on Air China. Thanks for reading.
Andy
May 27, 2019
PEK-ICN, July 10, CA123 business class, $76 in carrier surcharges. Can’t really find long haul but the surcharges exist.
Stephen Au
May 27, 2019
Hey Andy,
Apologies for getting our wires crossed here. The premise of the article is fuel surcharges on key routes operated by the airline. It’s simply impossible to narrow down fuel surcharges on every single route for every single airline.
For Air China, you could actually argue that huge fuel surcharges exist. Take PEK-LHR for example. This route has $308 in fuel surcharges alone. This isn’t representative of the flights most U.S.-based travelers are interested in. For this reason, we are focused on U.S. routes to hub airports on the airline. In this case, it would be U.S. airports to Beijing. In the case of Lufthansa, it would be U.S. airports to Germany.
Does this make sense?
If we considered ALL routes like what you’re proposing, literally almost every single airline that operates any sort of flights to Europe would have “huge fuel surcharges”. Therefore, no airlines would have no fuel surcharges. It’s simply a rabbit hole that isn’t worth going down. Thanks for your feedback!
Kevin Firman
July 10, 2019
Thanks for the article. I would add that Taiwan also limits fuel surcharges.
I did a Business Class one-way comparison on ITA of two trips on Air Canada: YVR to PVG and YVR to TPE. The flight to PVG had YQ of $215. The flight to TPE has YQ of $48.
Same test going back to YVR. From PVG YQ is $284. From TPE YQ is $51.
R M
August 16, 2019
Hey, so I just bought (regular economy) tickets with SWISS air for me, my wife and my two-year-old son, and I was looking at the breakdown of costs: the “international surcharge” (what SWISS calls a fuel surcharge) for my and my wife was $317. The surcharge for my son (a toddler with his own seat) was $354…?!?! Is this normal practice? Do children get an extra surcharge (because they free strollers or something)?
Stephen Au
August 16, 2019
Hey RM,
Believe it or not, each carrier has its own rules and guidelines for determining fuel surcharges. Unfortunately, SWISS Air is known for levying huge surcharges.
Derek
August 19, 2019
Thanks for the article! I just did some searches on Iberia for an award. LAX-MAD-LAX (outbound business; return economy), and here’s the total: Price per adult 77,500 Avios + $ 237.24, which “includes air fare, taxes, fees and carrier charges.”
This $237.24 seems far less than you have in your article. Am I missing something?
Andrew Kunesh
August 20, 2019
Hey Derek, thanks for pointing this out! We’ve confirmed that Iberia award taxes/fees have decreased and have updated the article accordingly.
NEIL
October 06, 2019
Hi
You did not cover the Asia Miles program? Can you tell me which airlines they levy fuel surcharges please?
Stephen Au
October 08, 2019
Neil,
Asia Miles is the frequent flyer program of Cathay Pacific, which is discussed in this guide. Frequent flyer programs aren’t the ones levying fuel surcharges; instead, they may or may not choose to pass on fuel surcharges. Airlines are the ones that actually levy the fuel surcharges, which is why we talk about Cathay Pacific instead of Asia Miles.
Dianne Modestini
October 20, 2019
Excellent tip about United. Saves over $1,000.
Charlie
November 14, 2019
We are looking to make a pit stop in London before heading back to the USA from Greece. Any suggestions as to the best way to change the route to avoid the surcharges. My Chase UR points show that two one way business tickets from LHR to the US had almost $1300 in fees. I have plenty of Chase UR points that I can redeem, just trying to avoid the huge fuel surcharges. Thanks!
Stephen Au
November 14, 2019
Hi Charlie,
The best way to cut off half of your surcharges is to book a stopover in London from Greece back to the United States all on one ticket. If you’re using Chase points, there aren’t many good ways to do this, unfortunately. Alternatively, you can fly on an airline that doesn’t levy fuel surcharges. These airlines are outlined in this guide. Thanks for reading!
Winnie
December 21, 2019
I don’t quite follow how adding a stopover could reduce FSC.
Say I need to fly from SFO to TPE (roundtrip) anyway. By adding a stopover in NRT or any other city, I would still need to pay for the FSC for the origin SFO. Besides, I would also need to pay for the FSC for the stopover NRT or any other city.
I must misunderstand the whole point of the article. Could you elaborate a bit?
Thanks.
Stephen Au
December 30, 2019
Hi Winnie,
Adding a stopover will not usually reduce FSC. There’s no mention in the guide regarding adding stopovers. Where you might reduce fuel surcharges is by changing your origin city to one that limits/bans fuel surcharges. One example is Australia. Thanks for reading!
Ibrahim
January 19, 2020
It appears that Saudia is now passing along an $800 surcharge when booking via Delta. LAX-JED in business was previously showing $49. in fees, but now shows $849 as of last week!
Taylor Shaw
January 25, 2020
I just bought a roundtrip United Airlines ticket in Coach to Beirut. Outbound connects in Frankfurt and return through Paris. United is charging over $400 in fuel surcharges on a $1200 airfare ($1393.75 including other taxes and fees). What sucks is that they deduct this fuel charge from the PQP (formerly known as PQD’s) so this trip is only worth 800 PQD’s. When I called questioning United on the discrepancy between they airfare spend and the PQP’s, they said it was Middle Wast Airlines charging this but I used the ITA software matrix and the segments in and out of Beirut were less than $100. The other flights are United routes, not codeshare, so United does have a fuel surcharge. Even worse is that they lied about it on the call. This needs to be exposed.
Matthew Schermer
January 30, 2020
First of all great article! There is a lot of very helpful information here. I am in the middle of planning an around the world trip on ANA’s RTW ticket using AMEX MR points and I’m very confused by the fees. I am trying to find the best route with the lowest fees. I am using ITA matrix to try to calculate the fees. You say United does not pass on the fuel charges. so if I look on ITA matrix for a ORD-PRG leg on United is says the YQ is $650. I won’t be charged that? Also with the airports that ban fuel surcharges does that not reflect when searching ITA matrix? So I search IST to ICN on LOT it says YQ and YR are over $572. That won’t be charged?
Stephen Au
January 30, 2020
Matthew, there’s a few things to remember for your situation:
ANA will not enforce fuel surcharges on some airlines that levy them. United is an example airline in this case. You can always search for a flight on the same route via ANA’s website to figure out the surcharges.
The airports that apply are only if you originate from them. So ICN to IST works but IST to ICN will not work.
If you feel like you’d get value from an service that will optimize your award travel and offer ultra-personalized points wealth management, please feel free to contact me directly at stephen@upgradedpoints.com to inquire about a monthly subscription service.
Anita
March 26, 2023
Now in 2023, ANA had a fuel surcharge of about $600 for an award flight on all United metal, nonstop SFO to ICN. ThIs $600 was the same whether business or economy. I forget the fees on United, but they were way less (but more miles). Needless to say, I didn’t book. It was cheaper to go to TPE and get another flight to Seoul.
Vincent
April 29, 2020
I am abit confused.
TK M&S is one of the FFP which levys fuel surcharge.
But you mentioned that Turkey is one of the countries that has banned FSC.
I just checked there is surcharge. is the info correct?
Stephen Au
May 06, 2020
Hi Vincent,
Turkey is one of the countries that restricts fuel surcharges. You’ll see a reduced amount levied, only $220 as opposed to Europe’s $500+ in fuel surcharges.
Saeed
September 22, 2020
I am trying to use AAdvanatage miles to book my ticket on Qatar airlines but there is a fuel surcharge there. You mentioned they don’t do that on Qatar airlines, has that changed now and what is the current policy. Also why AAdvantage is not giving Etihad choice any more for going to Middle East.
Thanks
Stephen Au
September 22, 2020
Saeed,
AAdvantage still doesn’t pass on fuel surcharges on Qatar Airways. You’ll pay $15-$20 in taxes and fees, even in QSuites.
With Etihad Airways flights, you’ll need to call AAdvantage to book the tickets.
travelagt
April 25, 2021
“The only people that really feel these fuel surcharges are award travelers.”
As do travel agents. Airlines pay commission to large travel agencies, for example, 18% may be typical for a business ticket USA to Europe. BUT they only pay that on the base fare. Right now you can purchase a roundtrip discounted business fare for $350 NYC to MAD, but the fuel surcharge is $1,400 (along with other various taxes). The fuel surcharge is arbitrary and has no basis in reality, i.e. economy class fare has a $300 fuel surcharge and the passenger may even weigh more than the business class passenger with the higher surcharge.
So with a $1,400 fuel surcharge, the airline has saved a $252 payout in commission (at 18%).
Rocco
December 01, 2021
It appears that some of this information is out of date. I have been shopping for award flights to Europe on American Airlines, and they are assessing fees of $900-$1,500 for business class seats on AA metal.
Jarrod West
December 02, 2021
Hi Rocco,
What city are you planning to fly to?
Steve
January 17, 2022
Great article!
Quick question, have the parts about Air Canada’s surcharges in this articles been updated since their frequent flyer program was revamped in 2020?
Jarrod West
January 22, 2022
Hi Steve,
Thanks for pointing that out! We are currently in the process of updating this article.
Frank Peacock
March 20, 2022
Your Feb 2 article by Stephen Au is still out of date regarding AA fuel charges. Still as noted above in the $900 range on AA aircraft to nearly all cities in Europe except DUB. Really cheap, go figure. Has anyone actually talked to AA?
Stephen Au
April 13, 2022
Hi Frank,
I am still seeing that AA fuel surcharges are modest when booking with AAdvantage miles.
igobyplane
April 09, 2022
i’m looking at BKK-ORD, ORD-IST-BKK as a RTW trip w/ANA miles. can i assume the fuel surcharges would not be incurred for BKK-ORD due to thai origination? (probably ANA metal anyway). for ORD-IST-BKK, let’s assume turkish – would i be charged fuel surcharges for ORD-IST but not IST-BKK? or is it a matter of if it’s a layover, i’d be charged surcharges for both flights; but if i stopped in IST for 24 hours [or some other requirement] the fuel surcharges for IST-BKK would not be felt? (open to other suggestions in here for routing or for stops; at the moment i’d be dressed for thailand and flying in dec/jan, neither of which seem great for tokyo or istanbul stops, thus just flying through. essentially this is just a BKK round trip to ORD; but with united that’s like 99k miles each way for biz now. ANA seems like it would be 125k and i could transfer chase miles in) – would love to hear your thoughts.
Stephen Au
April 13, 2022
Layover should not be a consideration here, the fuel surcharges are mostly a function of your originating airport. So for BKK-ORD, you’ll be subject to the rules and regulations in Thailand, and for ORD-BKK, you’ll be subject to the rules and regulations in the U.S.
As long as the ORD-IST-BKK itinerary is booked altogether, you would only be charged 1 set of fuel surcharges, even if there’s a stopover. Once you split it up into separate tickets, you’ll be charged twice.
I hope this helps!
Jack Knowles
June 06, 2022
I have been looking at booking DCA to CDG RT Business Class award travel next April and noticed all AA flights now have surcharges of $900 plus. BA flights are even higher. I have never encountered this on AA flights. Do you think this is a policy change or an error?
Stephen Au
June 07, 2022
Hi Jack,
Thanks for reaching out. At the moment, we’re seeing total taxes and fees of around $150 round-trip on this route operated by American Airlines. This is likely a policy change.
Heesung
November 19, 2022
I still see that Air Canada is in the list. They stopped adding YQ/YR after the Aeroplan revamp in 2020.
Jarrod West
December 19, 2022
Hi Heesung,
Thanks for pointing this out. You are correct that Air Canada no longer passes on fuel charges on partner award tickets. We are currently in the process of performing a full update on this post.
Layne
December 02, 2022
The Points Guy and Credit Card Genius are saying Aeroplan no longer pass on fuel charges. What am I missing?
https://thepointsguy.com/guide/avoid-fuel-surcharges-award-travel/
https://creditcardgenius.ca/blog/fuel-surcharges-canada
Jarrod West
December 19, 2022
Hi Layne,
Thanks for pointing this out. You are correct that Air Canada no longer passes on fuel charges on partner award tickets. We are currently in the process of performing a full update on this post.
Traveller
February 09, 2023
I was surprised to see that Kris Flyer is charging over $900 in fees for a business class mile redemption ORD-ZRH. I did a search to redeem miles for business class ORD-ZRH on March 20 and it shows 81,000 miles + USD 962.60. I thought Kris Flyer doesn’t pass fuel surcharges to the traveler. They are displayed as Airport/Government taxes. Any comments on this?
Fare 81,000 miles
Airport/Government taxes USD 962.60
Subtotal 81,000 miles + USD 962.60
T
April 01, 2023
Great article. Do the surcharges fluctuate? On a multi-city ticket Delta is charging $400+ in DL YR charges for travel IAD/OSL (KLM) – LON/DCA (DL) this summer. Is there any chance the surcharge could come down? Thanks!
Jarrod West
April 03, 2023
Hi T,
The airline surcharges usually do not fluxuate.
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