"The cost to
travel outside the United States is becoming more expensive due to special
add-on fuel surcharges imposed by most U.S. and international airlines across
the globe" - says Tom Parsons, CEO and founder of Bestfares.com.
On several international routes, the fuel surcharge compared to last summer
has more than doubled on most routes.
Fuel surcharges to London have taken the biggest hit. Last summer, the fuel
surcharge to London was $130 roundtrip from most U.S. cities. Today, from
Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington (DC), Atlanta, Miami and Houston
the fuel surcharge is $302 roundtrip. From Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, San
Francisco, Seattle and other cities west of the Rockies, the fuel surcharge is a
whopping $426 roundtrip. "That's more than triple the $130 roundtrip fuel
surcharge that we paid just one year ago" - states Parsons.
Fuel surcharges to most other European destinations (except Germany) were
$150 last year. Today, the new surcharge from most U.S. cities is $350
roundtrip. Fuel surcharges to many worldwide destinations have also more than
doubled over last summer's add-on fuel surcharges.
We've also seen the fuel surcharges to South American cities including Rio de
Janeiro, Buenos Aires and Santiago, Chile triple since last summer.
As the cost of a barrel of oil teeters at the $140 mark and the price of fuel
continues to climb, so will airfares. "The real question is, at what point
do these new higher airfares and fuel surcharges start affecting the demand for
international travel? These new increases may just be it" - adds Parsons.
Listed below is a comparison chart of fuel surcharges in summer 2007, spring
2008 and the current fuel surcharges by most major airlines that offer
international service from the United States.
| Destination |
Summer
2007 Fuel
Surcharge (Roundtrip) |
Spring
2008 Fuel
Surcharge (Roundtrip) |
Summer
2008 Fuel Surcharge (Roundtrip) |
Fuel
Surcharge As Of July 31, 2008 (Roundtrip) |
| Most European cities including Amsterdam,
Athens, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Prague and Rome |
$150 |
$270 |
$330 |
$350 |
| United Kingdom (London, Manchester and Glasgow)
from most Eastern U.S. cities |
$130 |
$242 |
$302 |
$302 |
| United Kingdom (London, Manchester and Glasgow)
from most Western U.S. cities |
$130 |
$306 |
$426 |
$426 |
| Beijing, Manila and Tokyo |
$180 |
$270 |
$340 |
$340 |
| Most German cities including Berlin, Frankfurt
and Munich |
$150 |
$210 |
$180 |
$280 |
| Hong Kong |
$180 |
$270 |
$340 |
$340 |
| Honolulu |
$18 |
$130 |
$260 |
$260 |
| Most Mexico cities including Mexico City,
Acapulco, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta |
$80 |
$120 |
$140 |
$160 |
| Rio de Janeiro |
$56 |
$170 |
$210 |
$250 |
| San Jose, Costa Rica |
$130 |
$250 |
$290 |
$300 |
| Santiago, Chile |
$130 |
$310 |
$390 |
$430 |
| Sydney |
$70 |
$230 |
$220 |
$220 |
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