BA increase fuel surcharge

[Robert5988]

British Airways is to increase its fuel surcharge on all tickets from next week.

From June 3, the surcharge for short-haul flights will increase by £3 per flight (£6 return) from £13 per flight (£26 return) to £16 per flight (£32 return).

The surcharge for long-haul flights of less than nine hours will increase by £15 per flight from £63 per flight (£126 return) to £78 per flight (£156 return)

The surcharge for long-haul flights of more than nine hours will increase by £30 per flight from £79 per flight (£158 return) to £109 per flight (£218).

[Katys Grandad]

My fear is that this isn't the last of these (and BA always seem to be the first off the mark). I'm looking to spend some of my BA miles in a few months and just checked for Florida in September. The taxes and surcharges alone for 2 tickets now add up to £651!!! Makes me wonder whether it's all worthwhile these days.

If oil prices do fall what do you think the chances are of them reducing it? I'm not holding my breath.

[Jill]

As they buy fuel on the forward markets which is not quite the same as petrol going down 1p at the pumps at the local garage so I would not necessarily expect to see any sudden decrease in the fuel surcharge.

[peterB]

Does this apply to bookings already made ? In other words do I save if I book this weekend for our next trip in 2009 ?

[Tonish]

I would imagine these surcharge increases will start coming in thick and fast now. Assuming most of the airlines hedged their fuel requirements last year, these will be running out and they certainly won't get the same deal this time.

[Robert5988]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quoteoes this apply to bookings already made ? In other words do I save if I book this weekend for our next trip in 2009 ?[/quote]

I believe last time that Virgin insisted on collecting the extra money, but BA didn't.

For the previous BA increase it was:

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The surcharge applies, as detailed below, to all tickets issued on or after 2 May 2008, based on the flight duration and where the ticket was purchased[/quote]

If they follow the same procedure you should be OK if you book now(perhaps!!!)

In any case if you book now, and they do decide to ask for the extra money, you will surely be entitled to a full refund if you wish.

In fact that might not be a bad idea, book now and if you find a cheaper flight over the next few months, get a refund.

[Katys Grandad]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Robert5988
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quoteoes this apply to bookings already made ? In other words do I save if I book this weekend for our next trip in 2009 ?[/quote]

I believe last time that Virgin insisted on collecting the extra money, but BA didn't.

For the previous BA increase it was:

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:The surcharge applies, as detailed below, to all tickets issued on or after 2 May 2008, based on the flight duration and where the ticket was purchased[/quote]

If they follow the same procedure you should be OK if you book now(perhaps!!!)
[/quote]

A BA spokesman is saying that the rise won't be applied retrospectively and appears to be encouraging passengers to buy tickets over the next few days.

[peterB]

Thanks for the replies. I guess their scheme works for me. I'll book today. For 4 persons it is a decent amount that i'll save.

[domster]

You will feel much better when the flights are purchased. Have a great trip.

[MrCake]

thanks peterB i was wandering about being charged fingers crossed