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Cruise lines (British Cunard liner Queen Victoria is pictured in Rotterdam) are beginning to remove fuel surcharges. |
By TOM PARSONS
The Dallas Morning News
With a steady drop in the price of fuel, some travel retailers are beginning to lower fuel surcharges.
Effective Dec. 17, Carnival Cruise Lines is removing the fuel surcharge from its six brands.
If you've already paid the fuel surcharges, you'll receive an onboard credit for the amount you paid. This applies to cruises on Carnival, Costa, Cunard, Holland America, Princess and Yachts of Seabourn.
Other cruise lines, such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean, also have said they're removing fuel surcharges, but the fees will remain in effect until Jan. 1 or later. They are waiting until after the holidays when they have many people cruising.
The good news continues with cruises. We are seeing some great prices for travel after the holidays.
WHAT ABOUT AIRFARE?
Airlines removed fuel surcharges for travel within the continental U.S. and Canada about a month ago. However, what they did was roll the price of the fuel surcharge into the fare.
Airlines continue to levy fuel surcharges on international routes, except to some destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean.
The average fuel surcharge to Europe is more than $250, which is up from an average of $150 a year ago, even through fuel is selling at a four-year low.
I predict the fuel surcharges to Europe will go down, but don't look for domestic carriers to lead the way.
European carriers such as Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and Lufthansa already have reduced some fuel surcharges, and U.S. carriers have followed suit in those markets.
We expect to see more fuel-surcharge reductions initiated by the European carriers, who are facing pressure due to a drop in value of the euro and the pound.
These fuel-surcharge reductions vary by market.
We recently saw airfares for January flights from Washington to Dublin for $319 round-trip, including all taxes, fees and surcharges, yet out of Dallas the fuel surcharge alone to London was $362.
When you check airfares, you'll see the total fare, including fuel surcharges, international taxes, landing fees and government taxes. The government requires this.
Unfortunately, cruise lines, car-rental companies and hotels don't have the same rules about advertised pricing, making it tricky to figure out your true cost of travel. Whenever you book travel, be sure to read the fine print.
