Fuel Surcharges Skyrocket as Oil Prices Rise

Contributing Editor Carl Unger believes that every trip is worth taking. He loves an extended trip to Europe as much as he enjoys exploring the towns and landscape near home. Basically, you'll find him wherever there is good food, fresh air, and plenty of stories to bring home.

Carl has been writing for SmarterTravel since 2005. His travel writing has also appeared on USA Today and the About.com Boston travel guide.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "It's not revolutionary, but a small Moleskine notebook is my one travel must-have. It's great for noting things you want to remember and it takes up hardly any space in your bag."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Japan. I'd love to take a month off and visit the cities, temples, and countryside. I'm fascinated by the country's juxtaposition of ancient traditions and modern ambitions."

Travel Motto: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.” –Terry Pratchett

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window."

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Airlines’ fuel costs have spiraled into the stratosphere amidst rising oil prices, and according to Bloomberg, fuel surcharges have reached record levels as well. United and several domestic competitors recently unleashed a $420—yes, $420!—surcharge on consumers traveling overseas. $420 is a pretty good deal on off-season airfare to Europe!

According to Bloomberg, “surcharges are as much as 50 percent greater than those put in place when fuel prices reached a record three years ago.” But much like the last fuel spike in 2008, prices are currently rising unabated, with no sign of relief on the horizon.

But for travelers considering a European vacation this summer, the picture is increasingly bleak. We reported weeks ago that cheap fares are increasingly rare, and this trend of escalating fuel surcharges suggests that won’t change soon. And Europe isn’t the only region seeing massive surcharges. “Fuel surcharges between the U.S. and some countries in South America are as much as $580 round trip today, up from $390 in 2008,” says Bloomberg. “The fee on flights between the U.S. and Sydney is $500 now, compared with $220 in mid-2008.”

Readers, have you been searching for fares this summer? Are prices higher than you remember?

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