Fuel surcharges on already booked tours - can additional costs be avoided?
Kyiv • UNN
Due to rising fuel prices, carriers have introduced additional fees for tourists. The surcharge amount depends on the cost of diesel and the length of the chosen route.
The fuel surcharge has once again become a hot topic for travelers, especially on the eve of the summer season. Tourists are increasingly noticing additional amounts on their tickets. Why this payment arises and whether it can be avoided was explained to a UNN journalist by entrepreneur and travel agent Kyrychenko Alyona.
The fuel surcharge is not a new phenomenon, but it has recently returned to focus due to the rapid increase in fuel prices. It is applied to both air travel and bus tours to Europe, and in fact, it is a way to compensate carriers for additional costs.
The fuel surcharge is an additional payment that arises due to a sharp increase in fuel costs. We see that diesel has risen in price simultaneously in different countries: in Ukraine - from 61 to over 90+ hryvnias per liter, and in Europe - from 1.65 to 2.15 euros. This significantly affects the cost of transportation. Therefore, companies are forced to introduce additional payments to cover these costs
At the same time, it is important for tourists to understand how this fee should be reflected in the cost of the trip, because in some cases it is already included in the price, but often it also appears as a separate surcharge. This is especially true for tours booked in advance.
The fuel surcharge is currently a separate additional payment. For example, for applications for air tours to Greece, an additional payment of 36 euros per person was charged. For early booking of air tours, which took place in autumn/winter, additional payments have not yet been charged. For bus transportation, according to partners, if the price of diesel fuel falls below 60 hryvnias per liter, the fee will automatically be zero
The amount of the fuel surcharge, by the way, is not fixed and can vary significantly. It depends not only on the carrier, but also on the distance of the route and the current fuel price. Because of this, the same trip can cost differently at different times.
The airline independently decides on the surcharge, which can be $15-20-25. The surcharge may not be a one-time payment. The amount of the fee depends on two parameters: the distance of the route and the current price of diesel on the day of fixation. In general, for bus transportation, the trip has become more expensive by an average of $500. Tours are calculated at old prices – up to 60 hryvnias per liter. The fuel surcharge = transparent compensation for the difference, not an increase in the tour price. For calculation, the average price of 1 liter of diesel fuel in Ukraine is used according to the data of Consulting Group A-95 - a recognized industry standard for the fuel market
Despite customer dissatisfaction, it is currently difficult to avoid the fuel surcharge, as there is no single approach among carriers, so the rules may vary depending on the company. Tourists are advised to carefully check the conditions before booking.
It is difficult to answer whether the fuel surcharge can be avoided. It all depends on the airline. After all, some already include such surcharges, some do not yet. No patterns have been observed yet. Therefore, it is important to clarify all the details before booking and be prepared for possible changes in price