By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: Booking an award through the wrong program can attach hundreds of dollars in fuel surcharges, turning a great-looking redemption into a mediocre one. The fix is to always total the miles plus the cash surcharge, and to book the same flight through a program that does not pass surcharges on.
Where surcharges bite
Programs like British Airways and airlines like Lufthansa, Emirates, and Air France can add heavy fuel surcharges to award tickets, sometimes several hundred dollars or more, especially on long-haul premium cabins and out of the UK. The miles look cheap, but the cash co-pay quietly erodes the value, which is why a redemption must be judged on the total, not the miles alone. See transfer bonuses.
Dodging the trap
Often the same flight can be booked through a different program that does not pass surcharges. Booking certain partners through Avios with Iberia or Aer Lingus rather than British Airways, or choosing a surcharge-light program for a given airline, can save hundreds in cash. Compare programs before you transfer. See Avios guide and Aer Lingus guide.
The habit that protects you
Always add the miles and the cash surcharge together and compare against the cash fare and against booking through another program. A redemption is only as good as its total cost, and surcharges are where otherwise great awards go to die. See booking tactics.
Frequently asked questions
Which programs have the worst award surcharges?
British Airways is known for heavy fuel surcharges, and airlines like Lufthansa, Emirates, and Air France can add large cash co-pays to awards, especially long-haul premium cabins and bookings out of the UK.
How do I avoid fuel surcharges on awards?
Book the same flight through a surcharge-light program. For example, use Iberia or Aer Lingus Avios instead of British Airways on some routes, and compare programs before transferring your points.
Are award surcharges worth paying?
Only if the total of miles plus surcharge still beats the cash fare and other booking options. Always add the cash co-pay to the miles and judge the redemption on the full cost.
Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. Every card is ranked by what it actually returns, with all points valued at a flat 1 cent and offers verified against issuer sources. About the author.
