Topic Wiki

Color codes:
Green (7 programs): Never charges a fuel surcharge on their own or partner award tickets.
Lime (2 program): Does not charge a fuel surcharge for their own or for partner flights except for when flying on select partners.
Blue (3 programs): Charges a fuel surcharge for flying on their own metal and for flying on partners that normally collect a fuel surcharge for flying on their own metal.  Does not charge a fuel surcharge for flying on partners that normally do not collect a fuel surcharge when flying on their own metal.

Purple (1 program): Doesn't charge a fuel surcharge for their own or partner flights originating from the US.  Charges a fuel surcharge for their own and for partner flights originating outside of the US.
Teal (1 program):Charges a fuel surcharge for their own and for partner flights except for when flying on select partners.
Red (8 programs): Always charges a fuel surcharge on award tickets, even on partners that normally don't charge a fuel surcharge.
Orange (21 programs): Unknown or incomplete info.

Star:
Adria: ???
Air Canada: Charges a fuel surcharge for flying on their own metal.  Does not charge a fuel surcharge for flying on partner airlines.
Note: If you fly on these carriers you will pay a fuel surcharge: Adria, Air Canada, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, TAP Portugal, and THAI.
If you fly on these carriers you will not pay a fuel surcharge: Aegean, Air China, Air New Zealand, Avianca/TACA, Brussels, Copa, Croatia, EgyptAir, Ethiopian, SAS, Singapore, South African, Swiss, TAM, Turkish, United, and USAirways.
Air China: ???
Air New Zealand: ??? (Does charge on own metal, unknown about partners)
ANA: Charges a fuel surcharge for their own and for partner flights except for when flying on select partners.
Asiana: ??? (Does charge on own metal, unknown about partners)
Austrian: ???
EgyptAir: ???
Miles And More (Adria, Austrian, Brussels, Croatia, LOT Polish, Lufthansa, and Swiss): Always charges a fuel surcharge on award tickets, even on partners that normally don't charge a fuel surcharge.

Exception: No fuel surcharge for redeeming any Miles and More carrier on miles for flying on Lot Polish.
EuroBonus (Blue1, SAS): Never charges a fuel surcharge on their own or partner award tickets.
Shanghai: ???
Singapore: No longer charges for flights on their own metal but does for partner flights except for when flying on select partners.
Note: Singapore charges a surcharge for travel on most partners, with the exceptions being United and Virgin Australia.
South African: Never charges a fuel surcharge on their own or partner award tickets.
TAM: Never charges a fuel surcharge on their own or partner award tickets.
Tap Portugal ???
Thai: ???  (Does charge on own metal, unknown about partners)
Turkish: Charges on all flights including partner flights (confirmation needed about partner flights)
United: Never charges a fuel surcharge on their own or partner award tickets.

OneWorld:
AA: Does not charge a fuel surcharge for their own or for partner flights except for when flying on select partners.
Note: AA does charge a hefty fuel surcharge for redemption on partner British Airways, and a small fuel surcharge for flying on Iberia, however they do not charge it for redemption on their own metal or on other partners.
British Airways:Charges a fuel surcharge for their own and for partner flights except for when flying on select partners.
Note: BA charges a surcharge for travel on most partners, with the exceptions being Aer Lingus, Alaska, and LAN.  BA does not collect a fuel surcharge on AA flights that are wholly within the Western Hemisphere.
BA also does not collect fuel surcharges for flights within Europe.
You can transfer BA Avios to Iberia to save on fuel surcharges collected on Iberia flights.

Cathay Pacific: Always charges a fuel surcharge on award tickets, even on partners that normally don't charge a fuel surcharge.
Finnair: ???
Iberia: ???
JAL:  Always charges a fuel surcharge on award tickets, even on partners that normally don't charge a fuel surcharge.
LAN: Never charges a fuel surcharge on their own or partner award tickets.
Qantas: Charges a fuel surcharge for flying on their own metal and for flying on partners that normally collect a fuel surcharge, exception being travel on El Al metal where they don't charge fuel surcharges even though El Al does charge.  Does not charge a fuel surcharge for flying on partners that normally do not collect a fuel surcharge. 
Royal Jordanian: ???

Skyteam:
Aeroflot: ???
AeroMexico: Charges a fuel surcharge on some (possibly all) award tickets on their own metal. Unknown if they charge fuel surcharges on partner awards.
Alitalia: Always charges a fuel surcharge on award tickets, even on partners that normally don't charge a fuel surcharge.
China Southern: ???
Czech: ???
Delta: Doesn't charge a fuel surcharge for their own or partner flights originating from the US.  Charges a fuel surcharge for their own and for partner flights originating outside of the US.
Note: Delta does charge a hefty fuel surcharge for redemption on partners Malaysia and Virgin Australia, even on flight originating in the United States.
Flying Blue (AirEuropa, Air France, Kenya, KLM): Charges a fuel surcharge for flying on their own metal and for flying on partners that normally collect a fuel surcharge.  Does not charge a fuel surcharge for flying on partners that normally do not collect a fuel surcharge.
Note: This means no fuel surcharges for Delta flights.
Korean: ???
Tarom: ???
Vietnam: ???

Unaligned:
Alaska: Does not charge a fuel surcharge for their own or for partner flights except for when flying on select partners.

Note: Alaska does charge a hefty fuel surcharge for redemption on partner British Airways, however they do not charge it for redemption on their own metal or on other partners like AA, Air France/KLM, Cathay Pacific, Delta, or Qantas.
El Al: Always charges a fuel surcharge on award tickets.
Emirates: Never charges a fuel surcharge on their own or partner award tickets.
Virgin Atlantic: Always charges a fuel surcharge on award tickets, even on partners that normally don't charge a fuel surcharge.
« Last edited by as2 on January 01, 2019, 06:29:17 PM »

Author Topic: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!  (Read 608750 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #120 on: November 08, 2010, 11:38:43 AM »
More date points on using BA miles for partner travel:
MIA-EZE on AA online: $61
MIA-EZE on AA phone: $475
MIA-EZE on LAN online/phone: $61

There were no fuel surcharges for using BA miles on AA on the phone or online for LGA-YYZ or LGA-CLE.

So I have no idea when they do or don't charge for AA.  It all seems very haphazard for now.  I would burn BA miles while you can without a fuel surcharge.

BA for now falls into the "Teal" category along with ANA.
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Offline Mikeoracle

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #121 on: November 08, 2010, 11:41:21 AM »
Dan,
You posted that CX has a fuel surcharge even online, can you elaborate on what route and what charge you found?
My BA accounts are all died out now so I can test that myself.

I booked a o/w HKG-JFK in Biz last week online and was charged $99 which doesnt sound much more than usual.

Offline Dan

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #122 on: November 08, 2010, 11:42:25 AM »
al613 commented that BMI doesn't charge a fuel surcharge for redemption on USAir or LOT Polish.
Super, have you experienced that as well?
Bump, Super?
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Offline Dan

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #123 on: November 08, 2010, 11:51:03 AM »
Dan,
You posted that CX has a fuel surcharge even online, can you elaborate on what route and what charge you found?
My BA accounts are all died out now so I can test that myself.

I booked a o/w HKG-JFK in Biz last week online and was charged $99 which doesnt sound much more than usual.
The fuel surcharge for AA appears to be even higher than the very high fuel surcharge that BA would normally charge for that route.
For MIA-EZE is appears that BA is applying their highest possible surcharge, $205 each way plus tax.

For all other airlines BA is simply adding the fuel surcharge that they normally charge on a paid ticket.
For Cathay Pacific's JFK-HKG route that would be a 133.60 fuel surcharge, plus tax, for a total of $170 using BA miles.  It would be under $40 using AA miles to fly on Cathay Pacific.

For Qantas' LAX-BNE route that would be a 160 fuel surcharge, plus tax, for a total of $280 using BA miles.

It all depends on each airline's charge for each route.
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Offline momo

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #124 on: November 08, 2010, 11:51:41 AM »
cx round trip13:55

23 Nov
   19:00

24 Nov
   John F Kennedy (New York)   Hong Kong   CX0831

Cathay Pacific Airways
   Economy
Inbound - Friday 26 November 2010
Flight   09:35

26 Nov
   12:10

26 Nov
   Hong Kong   John F Kennedy (New York)   CX0830

Cathay Pacific Airways
   Economy
   

50000BA Miles

plus

$ 169.08
Price breakdown

* The price of your ticket includes a security, insurance and fuel surcharge per flight levied by the carrier.

More details

Conditions of carriage
   
Passenger   Total BA Miles   Price per person   Taxes, fees, charges and surcharges* per person   Inclusive total
1Adult   50000   $ 0.00   $ 169.08   $ 169.08

Offline Mikeoracle

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #125 on: November 08, 2010, 12:02:14 PM »
Dan,
I havent booked a RT in Economy but it does not sound like there are any new fees added for CX. Fees for CX JFK-HKG-JFK in biz have been aprox $150-$200 for the last few months even before the latest changes.

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #126 on: November 08, 2010, 12:07:42 PM »
Dan,
I havent booked a RT in Economy but it does not sound like there are any new fees added for CX. Fees for CX JFK-HKG-JFK in biz have been aprox $150-$200 for the last few months even before the latest changes.
I've never had any BA miles, but new or not new, they're definitely adding the fuel surcharge now to nearly all partner airlines.
You can view the fuel surcharge under the YQ or YR line on ITA.

Still have no idea how they calculate the insane AA surcharge.
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Offline damaxer91

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #127 on: November 08, 2010, 12:53:07 PM »
I booked HKG-LAX and HKG-YYZ-HKG in the last week with BA miles on CX and the fees were less than $100 each

Offline Dan

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #128 on: November 08, 2010, 12:58:54 PM »
I booked HKG-LAX and HKG-YYZ-HKG in the last week with BA miles on CX and the fees were less than $100 each
Can you check if they want more now?
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Offline AsherO

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #129 on: November 08, 2010, 01:34:08 PM »
I've never had any BA miles

Why didn't you apply for the 100K offer?
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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #130 on: November 08, 2010, 01:44:34 PM »
Why didn't you apply for the 100K offer?
I boycott airlines that play games and charge fuel surcharges (aka co-pays) on miles.

As I've posted before, once an airline charges a surcharge for travel on their own metal, it's only a flick of a switch to start charging on partners.   Which is the reason I have no Aeroplan miles.
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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #131 on: November 08, 2010, 02:24:19 PM »
As I've posted before, once an airline charges a surcharge for travel on their own metal, it's only a flick of a switch to start charging on partners.   Which is the reason I have no Aeroplan miles.

Well your losing out big time. Just 100k for Europe in F, or Asia or Oz in J+2 Stops.  Doesn't get much better than that

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #132 on: November 08, 2010, 02:24:57 PM »
Can you check if they want more now?

HKG-LAX today in Business for 99.76 in surcharges +50k

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #133 on: November 08, 2010, 02:41:59 PM »
HKG-LAX today in Business for 99.76 in surcharges +50k
One way or round-trip?

Well your losing out big time. Just 100k for Europe in F, or Asia or Oz in J+2 Stops.  Doesn't get much better than that
I have AMEX points to transfer to Aeroplan should I need them.  I'll use them if I need to, but I won't accumulate and leave miles there like I will for AA, CO, or UA.

I tried using Aeroplan for my May Europe trip and for the current trip.
Both times they shot me down due to going over the MPM so I still haven't used Aeroplan miles yet.
If I go back to Hawaii and they still aren't charging a fuel surcharge for partner travel then I'll probably use Aeroplan.  60K in J vs. 80K with COUA.
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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #134 on: November 08, 2010, 02:45:24 PM »
Well your losing out big time. Just 100k for Europe in F, or Asia or Oz in J+2 Stops.  Doesn't get much better than that
+1

I boycott airlines that play games and charge fuel surcharges (aka co-pays) on miles.

So you'll apply at Citi/Chase for 25-35k AA/CO miles, but not 100K BA? Are you saying that in your eyes BA miles are worth less than a third of the value of AA/CO miles?
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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #135 on: November 08, 2010, 03:46:43 PM »
So you'll apply at Citi/Chase for 25-35k AA/CO miles, but not 100K BA? Are you saying that in your eyes BA miles are worth less than a third of the value of AA/CO miles?
I'm saying I didn't trust BA and it proved to be true.
They are adding surcharges on all their partners.

No point investing in a currency when you don't trust the issuer.  I also wouldn't make an investment in Mexican Pesos.
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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #136 on: November 08, 2010, 04:43:21 PM »
I'm saying I didn't trust BA and it proved to be true.
They are adding surcharges on all their partners.

No point investing in a currency when you don't trust the issuer.  I also wouldn't make an investment in Mexican Pesos.
I hear your point but I respectfully disagree in this situation. If you would get 25K BA then you have a point because why waste a hard pull when you can get AA/CO... instead. 100K BA is a whole other story, my bonus miles posted a year ago and the fact that they added surcharges now was irrelevant to me since I spent my miles a while ago for AA flights that would have cost over $1000. The accounts with 100K BA were selling for an avg of $1250 for the people who do that.
Even if you would have used them for the cheapest domestic AA flights that would still be $100's value minimum, it takes more work to figure out all those Amazon coupons to get some free diapers....

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #137 on: November 08, 2010, 04:47:50 PM »
I hear your point but I respectfully disagree in this situation. If you would get 25K BA then you have a point because why waste a hard pull when you can get AA/CO... instead. 100K BA is a whole other story, my bonus miles posted a year ago and the fact that they added surcharges now was irrelevant to me since I spent my miles a while ago for AA flights that would have cost over $1000. The accounts with 100K BA were selling for an avg of $1250 for the people who do that.
Even if you would have used them for the cheapest domestic AA flights that would still be $100's value minimum, it takes more work to figure out all those Amazon coupons to get some free diapers....
To each their own I suppose.
I'm not in this game to flip and sell.  See also all of the accounts that BA have shut down b/c of suspicion of selling...

I'll get better use out of having another 30K CO miles in my stockpile that I trust that CO will protect their value than 100K miles that you can wake up one day and find out that they're worthless.

In principle I don't collect and hoard miles in airlines that don't play fairly.
Am I being silly? Perhaps, but I'm entitled to some mishigas.
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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #138 on: November 08, 2010, 05:00:18 PM »
I guess it also depends if someone has a use for them right away in which case there is more of a chance of getting your value out of them than hoarding...
And you are definitely entitled to your mishigas  ;D same as anyone else!

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Re: The New Color-Coded Fuel Surcharges On Award Tickets Master Thread!
« Reply #139 on: November 08, 2010, 05:05:32 PM »
I guess it also depends if someone has a use for them right away in which case there is more of a chance of getting your value out of them than hoarding...
+1
Rarely am I getting miles for immediate use.
And being based in CLE, I'm almost always flying CO for domestic flights.
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