Airline Fuel Surcharge

PamS

I have read recently of some airlines no longer charging or reducing the exorbitant fuel surcharge, especially in the light of the big decreases in the cost of fuel. My husband and I are travelling to Australia with Emirates later this year and are being charged a total of £718 fuel surcharge. Can this be challenged in any way to get it decreased?

CM66

The airlines can charge what they like. You either but the ticket at the agreed price or not.

Caz3121

What is your route and class? I am assuming that if you are flying in economy then this is the total for 2 people. You can look at the tax and fees breakdown in ITAMatrix
Many airlines no longer refer to "fuel surcharge" and it is often referred to as YQ surcharge or Carrier Imposed Charges
This article here discusses Emirates moving back to splitting out the YQ having previously included it in the base fare
https://theloadstar.co.uk/forwarders-hit-carriers-revisiting-fuel-surcharges-ploy-raise-rates/
Unless you were paying with airmiles it makes no difference whether it is split out in this way or whether they included it in the base fare, the total is the total

Alan_Bowen

The simple answer is the airline fixes the total price and you either pay it or don't fly. I agree that fuel surcharges are now the wrong description for what in some cases is more than the base fare being charged but whatever it is called, the amount you have to pay will stay the same

PamS

I realise that, however, airlines are reviewing their fuel surcharge policy in the light of this now unjustifiably high charge and it may be that airlines will reimburse those already ticketed. My question was really aimed at any experts, like at MSE, who may be aware of any wrinkle whereby those of us already ticketed could get a reduction/reimbursement.

pelirocco

I believe airlines fix the price of the fuel a year in advance , you wont therefore know what price they have paid .

leylandsunaddict

Airlines hedge their fuel prices sometimes up to 3 years in advance. I haven't read anything about airlines reviewing fuel surcharges. For any that do I would think they're more likely to add it to the base fare, especially those that lost out when fuel prices dropped. I somehow doubt they'll apply any changes retrospectively. One thing for sure though, the aircraft won't be running on fuel bought at the price it was when you paid for the ticket.

blindman

PamS wrote: »

I realise that, however, airlines are reviewing their fuel surcharge policy in the light of this now unjustifiably high charge and it may be that airlines will reimburse those already ticketed. My question was really aimed at any experts, like at MSE, who may be aware of any wrinkle whereby those of us already ticketed could get a reduction/reimbursement.

As you have already bought the ticket-you must have been happy with the cost:cool:
Once paid there is nothing you can do to get it back if the ticket is non-refundable.

What you may have been able to do is start the journey outside of the UK-
even economy fares can show a saving n long haul routes.

Anyway-do not dwell on the past-enjoy the holiday.;)

agrinnall

Pam, where did you read this in the first place? If you tell us that we can find the article and make a judgement on its reliability.

PamS

Hi Agrinnall, it was in the Telegraph three days ago. The headline was "Airlines urged to cut ticket prices as cost of oil continues to fall" and can be found on the Telegraph's website. From what the comments are here, it would appear that the "fuel surcharge", which is shown separately on a ticket, is in fact part of the base airfare otherwise why would an airline increase the base price of a ticket due to the fall in the fuel surcharge? And therefore is a sneaky way of promoting a lower priced fare before this surcharge is added.

agrinnall

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/07/30/airlines-urged-cut-ticket-prices-cost-oil-continues-fall/

Publicity-seeking politicians saying that fuel surcharges should be cut is rather different from it actually happening. I wouldn't hold your breath.