Qatar Airways Fuel Surcharges – Up to $1,650 on Long-Haul Flights

Qatar Airways (Source)

With the end of the pandemic, many airlines significantly increased their fuel surcharges. A particularly negative example is Qatar Airways. The surcharge component of the ticket, also known as YQ, now amounts to approximately $1,650 return on the longest business class routes. Unlike its competitor Emirates, which imposes similar airline surcharges, there is a silver lining for frequent flyer program members: not all frequent flyer programs pass on the surcharge in full.

Fuel surcharges, often referred to more vaguely as Carrier Imposed Surcharges, allow airlines to artificially increase the price of regular and award tickets and are a popular revenue tool for many airlines. With the recovery of air travel, numerous airlines have taken advantage of this pricing lever. Both ANA (All Nippon Airways fuel surcharges) and Japan Airlines (Japan Airlines fuel surcharges) have reinstated fuel surcharges. While the Japanese airlines base these surcharges on the increased price of kerosene, the Middle Eastern carriers take it to the extreme.

Up to $1,650 Fuel Surcharge (YQ) on Long-Haul Business Class Flights

For some time now, Qatar Airways has been in a neck-and-neck race with its competitor from Dubai for the highest surcharges. On the longest business class routes, surcharges can reach approximately $825 one-way or $1,650 return. The following values for the surcharge, referred to as YQ, are provided by ITA Matrix. It is noticeable that the YQ surcharge on flights to Doha is higher than on flights from Doha. Additionally, flights from Europe often have the highest surcharges.

Business Class (one-way) – Examples

• Doha – Dubai: $53

• Dubai – Doha: $45

• Doha – Frankfurt: $108

• Frankfurt – Doha: $258

• Doha – New York: $162

• New York – Doha: $488

• Doha – Singapore: $118

• Singapore – Doha: $292

• Doha – Cape Town: $89

• Cape Town – Doha: $493

• Doha – Sydney: $162

• Sydney – Doha: $343

• Düsseldorf – Doha – Melbourne: $845

• Melbourne – Doha – Düsseldorf: $343

Business Class (return) – Examples

• Frankfurt – Doha: $518

• Doha – Frankfurt: $218

• Frankfurt – Doha – Dubai: $620

• Dubai – Doha – Frankfurt: $193

• Frankfurt – Doha – Accra: $1,176

• Accra – Doha – Frankfurt: $1,156

• Frankfurt – Doha – Singapore: $1,288

• Singapore – Doha – Frankfurt: $958

• Frankfurt – Doha – Johannesburg: $1,176

• Johannesburg – Doha – Frankfurt: $1,273

• Frankfurt – Doha – Tokyo: $1,288

• Tokyo – Doha – Frankfurt: $0

• Frankfurt – Doha – Sydney: $1,688

• Sydney – Doha – Frankfurt: $686

Tip: For a breakdown of flight ticket price components, see “How are the taxes and fees on a flight ticket composed?”

Uneven Impact on Frequent Flyer Programs

For frequent flyers booking with miles, the increase in surcharges can make a significant difference, potentially turning good deals into unattractive ones overnight. However, not all frequent flyer programs pass on the full surcharge.

Maximum Fuel Surcharge with Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific is passing on full surcharges (Source)

A frequent flyer program that passes on the surcharges in full is Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles. A Qatar Airways business class flight from Frankfurt and back costs 126,000 Asia Miles and $682. Of this, $518 is the fuel surcharge (YQ). Approximately $174 accounts for actual taxes and fees, such as the German air traffic tax.

High but Reduced Fuel Surcharge with Executive Club and Privilege Club

Bookings with Avios allow for slightly lower surcharges (Source)

In early 2022, the Qatar Airways Privilege Club adopted Avios as its program currency, enabling Avios transfers between the Qatar Airways Privilege Club and British Airways Executive Club. Qatar Airways appears to aim to shield its frequent flyers from the increased fuel surcharges somewhat. A Qatar Airways business class flight from Frankfurt to Doha and back requires 86,000 Avios and $280 in taxes and fees in both the Privilege Club and Executive Club. Thus, only a fraction of the YQ surcharge is passed on to Privilege Club members.

No Fuel Surcharge for American Airlines AAdvantage Members

AA does not pass on fuel surcharges (Source)

Only American Airlines AAdvantage members are completely spared, as AAdvantage is among the frequent flyer programs that almost never pass on fuel surcharges.

Conclusion

With the recovery of air travel, many airlines have increased or reintroduced their fuel surcharges. For frequent flyers, this often means higher additional payments when booking award tickets. In the case of Qatar Airways, however, the level of surcharges varies significantly depending on the frequent flyer program.

This article was first shared on meilenoptimieren.com (in German).