All Legacy Carriers Add $50 Fuel Surcharge—Except Northwest

[Matt Molnar]

Following United's lead on Friday, American, Continental, US Airways, and Delta have all boosted their fuel surcharges to $50 round trip on ALL domestic flights. The lone holdout is Northwest.

I understand the price of fuel is out of control, but this is just insulting to our intelligence. If you want to raise fares, raise them. But how is it fair to add a substantial charge specifically for fuel that is the same no matter if I fly LGA-BOS or FLL-SEA?

[Alex T]

Because the airline gets to keep it.

Taxes are less on the fuel surchage part then just raising the fare.

Airlines can raise fares all they want, but the tax will still go up on it.

By charging a fuel surcharge the airline can keep more of the fuel charge then from just raising the fare.

Alex

[ChrisW]

And stay in business. What's more important to you? Your $100 round-trip to Orlando from JFK or the having the option to fly said route nonstop at all?

Welcome to 2008.

[nwafan20]

Glad to see Northwest hasn't done it, but I suspect it wont be long till they join. I will probably have to book my flight soon.

[ChrisW]

I suspect it won't be long before Northwest customers are being charged Delta fuel surcharges. :-)

Got your Skymiles account open yet? :borat:

[nwafan20]

I suspect it won't be long before Northwest customers are being charged Delta fuel surcharges. :-)

Got your Skymiles account open yet? :borat:

Eww, don't remind me of that meger, not looking forward to it! (if it happens)

WorldPerks is by far a superior miles program too... Hopefully they keep it..

[Matt Molnar]

And stay in business. What's more important to you? Your $100 round-trip to Orlando from JFK or the having the option to fly said route nonstop at all?

Welcome to 2008.
It's actually $25 each way, $50 round trip. As I said, I have no problem paying more as a result of increased fuel costs. However, by making this so called "fuel surcharge" a flat fee no matter where you fly is insulting. Obviously the cost of fuel varies widely based on the distance flown, and of course they'll pocket the difference on short flights. There were already fuel surcharges based on distance, why not just raise those? Because they can get away with screwing us? It's not right. Stuff like this will just drive more passengers into the seats of the LCCs.

[ChrisW]

And when said passenger gets stuck in Wilmington or St. Augustine because their plane to Greensboro is stuck in Bellingham, they'll wish they had flown Delta or American.

[Art at ISP]

While the surcharge is distasteful, it is necessary for the long term viability of the airlines. In general this is one of the only industries who does not price their product in line with the actual costs of providing the service. In real terms, the adjusted cost of airfares has gone DOWN over the years--as prices have held close to where they were many years ago.

It's a matter of survival for airlines at this point--which is NOT to say that some airlines are seriously mismanaged by greedy managements, but that is a different story.