Bad News: Major international airlines raise fuel surcharges to Europe now $496! Airlines began imposing fuel surcharges 5 years ago when oil prices surged.
Dublin went sky high and increased by 30 fold, and yet it is still has the cheapest fuel surcharge we have seen this year.
Back in November the international airlines increased fuel surcharges from $420 to $440 roundtrip. Today, the new fuel surcharge to about 95% of Europe is now $496. Back in September 2007 the fuel surcharge to Europe was only $150 roundtrip.
Fuel surcharges to England, including London are now $438 roundtrip, and to Ireland, including Dublin is now $428 roundtrip.
Check out our chart below and see how airline fuel surcharges have fluctuated gradually over the past five years.
One other food for thought in July 2008 the cost of jet fuel was approximately $146 per barrel. Today, a barrel of fuel has been hovering around the $105 range. Yet, when fuel was almost 50% higher in 2008, the fuel surcharge was $330 roundtrip, now we pay $168 more than 2008 even though the cost of fuel has gone way down. Something is wrong with this picture!
Oil prices aren't the only factors driving higher fares to Europe, supply and demand are at work. Airlines have reduced the number of seats they are offering in response to fewer people traveling. Even though reports are showing business and leisure travel is almost back up to pre-recession numbers. The result: Airlines can charge more for their seats.
In Asia, South America, and many other countries require airlines to file for price increases, including fuel surcharges, and must be government approved. We notice that fuel surcharges are lower to some of these destinations than to Europe, where the rules are more liberal. A flight from New York to Hong Kong is more than double the distance of a New York to Paris flight, at over 8,000 miles each way, yet the fuel surcharge is $270. That’s a $170 price difference for a flight that is less than half the distance.
Another thing you’ll need to watch out for is fuel surcharges on award tickets. A number of foreign airlines are charging a fuel surcharge for award tickets on international flights, but we haven’t yet seen U.S. based carriers do the same. If you want to cash in miles on British Airways to Europe, you’ll be redeeming 50,000 miles, plus paying the fuel surcharge and other taxes and fees.
You are better off redeeming those BA miles on a domestic flight on their codeshare partner American Airlines, since fuel surcharges will not apply. However, you will be required to pay international taxes, such as entry and exit fees, but it is still far less than the fuel surcharges to Europe. We think Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean are great options when you cash in those BA miles on American Airlines and avoid the fuel surcharges.
See the charts below for all fuel surcharge increases from Fall 2007 to current:
| Travel Period To Dublin | Roundtrip Fuel Surcharge |
| February 20, 2012 to current | $428 Roundtrip |
| January 1, 2012 to February 19, 2012 | $402 Roundtrip |
| November 14, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011 | $372 Roundtrip |
| May 9, 2011 to November 13, 2011 | $352 Roundtrip |
| May 6, 2011 to May 8, 2011 | $372 Roundtrip |
| April 11, 2011 to May 5, 2011 | $352 Roundtrip |
| March 1, 2011 - April 10, 2011 | $292 Roundtrip |
| January 24, 2011 - February 28, 2011 | $252 Roundtrip |
| December 6 - January 23, 2011 | $212 Roundtrip |
| November 17 - December 5, 2010 | $202 Roundtrip |
| October 12- November 16, 2010 | $192 Roundtrip |
| February 24, 2010 - October 11, 2010 | $182 Roundtrip |
| January 6, 2010 - February 23, 2010 | $160 Roundtrip |
| December 14, 2009 - January 5, 2010 | $140 Roundtrip |
| July 28, 2009 - December 13, 2009 | $100 Roundtrip |
| June 12, 2009 - July 27, 2009 | $60 Roundtrip |
| January 11, 2009 - June 11, 2009 | $14 Roundtrip |
| Travel Period To Paris, Spain, Italy, & Most Other European Cities | Roundtrip Fuel Surcharge |
| February 20, 2012 to current | $496 Roundtrip |
| January 1, 2011 to February 19, 2012 | $470 Roundtrip |
| November 11, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011 | $440 Roundtrip |
| May 9, 2011 to November 10, 2011 | $420 Roundtrip |
| May 6, 2011 to May 8, 2011 | $440 Roundtrip |
| April 11, 2011 to May 5, 2011 | $420 Roundtrip |
| March 1, 2011- - April 10, 2011 | $400 Roundtrip |
| January 24, 2011 to February 28, 2011 | $360 Roundtrip |
| December 6- January 23, 2011 | $340 Roundtrip |
| November 17, 2010- December 5, 2010 | $330 Roundtrip |
| May 3, 2010 - November 16, 2010 | $320 Roundtrip |
| April 5, 2010 - May 2, 2010 | $300 Roundtrip |
| January 7, 2010 - April 4, 2010 | $280 Roundtrip |
| July 25, 2009 - January 6, 2010 | $260 Roundtrip |
| June 16, 2009 - July 24, 2009 | $280 Roundtrip |
| June 9, 2009 - June 15, 2009 | $240 Roundtrip |
| December 17, 2008 - June 8, 2009 | $224 Roundtrip |
| December 1, 2008- December 16, 2008 | $264 Roundtrip |
| Summer 2008 June 15- November 30 | $330 Roundtrip |
| Spring 2008 March 1- June 14 | $270 Roundtrip |
| Fall 2007 September 1- February 28 | $150 Roundtrip |
| Travel Period To England including London | Roundtrip Fuel Surcharge |
| February 20, 2012 to current | $438 Roundtrip |
| January 1, 2012 to February 19, 2012 | $412 Roundtrip |
| November 14, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011 | $382 Roundtrip |
| May 9, 2011 to November 13, 2011 | $362 Roundtrip |
| May 6, 2011 to May 8, 2011 | $382 Roundtrip |
| April 13, 2011 to May 5, 2011 | $362 Roundtrip |
| April 11, 2011 to April 12, 2011 | $352 Roundtrip |
| March 1, 2011-- April 10, 2011 | $332 Roundtrip |
| January 24, 2011 to February 28, 2011 | $272 Roundtrip |
| December 21- January 23, 2011 | $252 Roundtrip |
| November 17- December 20, 2010 | $232 Roundtrip |
| January 29, 2010 - November 1, 2010 | $222 Roundtrip |
| January 7, 2010 - January 28, 2010 | $242 Roundtrip |
| January 11, 2009 - January 6, 2010 | $222 Roundtrip |
| December 17, 2008- January 10, 2009 | $226 Roundtrip |
| December 1, 2008- December 16, 2008 | $266 Roundtrip |
| Summer 2008 June 15- November 30 | $302 Roundtrip |
| Spring 2008 March 1- June 14 | $242 Roundtrip |
| Fall 2007 September 1- February 28 | $130 Roundtrip |
| Travel Period To Frankfurt & Most Other German Cities | Roundtrip Fuel Surcharge |
| February 20, 2012 to current | $496 Roundtrip |
| January 1, 2012 to February 19, 2012 | $470 Roundtrip |
| November 14, 2011 to Dec. 31, 2011 | $440 Roundtrip |
| May 9, 2011 to November 13, 2011 | $420 Roundtrip |
| May 6, 2011 to May 8, 2011 | $440 Roundtrip |
| April 11, 2011 to May 5, 2011 | $420 Roundtrip |
| March 1, 2011-- April 10, 2011 | $400 Roundtrip |
| January 24, 2011 - February 28, 2011 | $360 Roundtrip |
| December 6- January 23, 2011 | $340 Roundtrip |
| November 17- December 5, 2010 | $330 Roundtrip |
| May 3, 2010 - November 16, 2010 | $320 Roundtrip |
| April 5, 2010 - May 2, 2010 | $300 Roundtrip |
| January 7, 2010 - April 4, 2010 | $280 Roundtrip |
| November 7, 2009 - January 6, 2010 | $260 Roundtrip |
| June 11, 2009 - November 6, 2009 | $180 Roundtrip |
| January 21, 2009 - June 10, 2009 | $160 Roundtrip |
| December 17, 2008 - January 20, 2009 | $180 Roundtrip |
| December 1, 2008- December 16, 2008 | $200 Roundtrip |
| Summer 2008 June 15- November 30 | $280 Roundtrip |
| Spring 2008 March 1- June 14 | $210 Roundtrip |
| Fall 2007 September 1- February 28 | $150 Roundtrip |
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