How to avoid Fuel Surcharge when booking a trip?

How can I avoid fuel surcharge when making travel arrangements?

Cheap airfares or alluring mileage redemption rates could lure you while you're organizing the ideal vacation. However, as soon as you pay, a fuel cost of several hundred dollars shows up, making self-defense difficult.
This post is for you if you have ever come across these "hidden fees" 👇!

🔍 What is a fuel surcharge?

A fuel surcharge is an extra cost that airlines impose in reaction to changing fuel prices, frequently on long-haul or international flights, particularly when a mileage ticket is being used.
Keyword Description:

• Also referred to as the "YQ fee" or "fuel tax."
• frequently seen on invoices alongside "airport taxes" and "additional service charges."
• especially common with cheap or "free" tickets.

🧭What Kinds of Trips Are Most Likely to Have Fuel Surcharges?

1️⃣ Fuel surcharges are more likely to occur on the following kinds of travel:

• using airline points to pay for travel abroad, particularly on transoceanic routes
• High YQ fees are levied on award tickets by airlines such as British Airways and Lufthansa.
  

2️⃣Moreover, several Asian airlines frequently impose exorbitant surcharges.

• Special rates purchased through third-party websites
• Some online travel agencies (OTAs) don't disclose surcharges beforehand.

3️⃣Code-share travel

You can be subject to a premium at Airline B's tariff if you make your reservation through Airline A but are actually transported by Airline B.

💡 Travel Money Saving Advice: How to Prevent or Reduce Fuel Surcharge?

✅ Select airlines that don't impose fuel fees:
Nearly no YQ costs are charged by United Airlines, Delta, and Alaska Airlines!
For the best value, use your miles to redeem tickets on these airlines.

📌 Updated 2025 Chart — Airlines That Charge Minimal or No YQ (Fuel Surcharge)

💡Pro Advice for Preventing Fuel Surcharges:

1. Choose partner airlines that don't pass on YQ. For instance, booking Lufthansa awards using Avianca LifeMiles frequently saves you a lot of money.
2. Steer clear of making direct reservations with airlines that have a high YQ—British Airways and Lufthansa are notoriously costly for award redemptions.
3. Make sure to compare round-trip and one-way surcharges because some carriers only impose full YQ on round-trip flights.
4. For outbound flights, Japan, Brazil, and Hong Kong frequently have lower or no YQ. Depart from nations with low or prohibited fuel surcharges.
5. Utilize flexible points from Amex, Chase, and Capital One to switch to programs with less expensive surcharges.

📌 2025 Update — Which Airlines Don't Charge Fuel Surcharges (YQ)?

✅Transfer Credit Card Points to Platforms with Low YQ

Transferring Amex/Chase points to Avianca LifeMiles, Air Canada Aeroplan, and other programs will help you avoid expensive fuel costs when redeeming trips.

✅ Better for domestic travel

On the same trip, fuel prices are higher from some nations. To cut down on surcharges, consider moving to a country with lower taxes, like Malaysia or Hong Kong!

✅When making a trip reservation, make sure to check the total cost beforehand

When making reservations on legitimate websites like Trip.com, look for the "Taxes & Fees" area to prevent ad hoc price rises.

How to Book a Flight on Trip.com

✅ Step 1: Open the Trip.com app or website

Go to Trip.com or use the iOS and Android Trip.com mobile app.

✅ Step 2: Enter the details of your flight

Choose the Flights tab from the homepage.
Complete the necessary fields:
Destination and departure cities

Departure date (or return date if the booking is for a round-trip ticket). Number of passengers. Class of travel (business class, economy class, etc.)

✅ Step 3: Look for flights

The Search button can be tapped or clicked.
A list of available flights, arranged by price, duration, airline, and other factors, will be shown on Trip.com.

✅Step 4: Choose and filter flights

To reduce the number of alternatives, use the filters (airlines, stops, times, etc.).
Choose flights based on your budget and schedule.

✅Step 5: Verify the flight information

Verify flight schedules, baggage restrictions, and cancellation procedures one more time.
Note any stopovers or codeshare details because some flights are run by partner airlines.

✅ Step 6: Enter the details of the traveler

Enter all of the passenger's information:
Complete name (as on the ID or passport). Birthdate
ID number or passport (for travel abroad)
Contact details (phone number, email address)

✅ Step 7: Optional Extras

Additional baggage (if available), seat preference, and travel insurance are also options.

✅Step 8: Complete the Payment

Put in your payment information.
Trip.com takes several payment options, including PayPal, Alipay, and credit cards.
Verify the entire cost, including all applicable taxes and levies (such as a fuel premium).

✅ Step 9: Verify Reservation

You will receive an e-ticket and a confirmation email upon payment.
Additionally, you may see your reservation on the Trip.com account's "My Trips" section.

🔔 Travel.com Booking Advice:

• Compare costs: One-way tickets can occasionally be more expensive than round-trip ones.
• Before checking out, check the fare breakdown to see whether there are any fuel surcharges.
• Use Trip Coins: Use Trip Coins to receive discounts if you have an account.
• Install the application. Exclusive bargains are occasionally made available to app users.