• Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Live and Let's Fly
  • Home
  • Reviews
    • Flight Reviews
    • Hotel Reviews
    • Lounge Reviews
    • Trip Reports
  • About
    • Press
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Award Expert
  • Advertising Disclosure
Home  >  Award Bookings • emirates  >  Massive Emirates “Fuel” Surcharges Shows There Is Never A Better Time Than Now To Redeem Miles
Award Bookingsemirates

Massive Emirates “Fuel” Surcharges Shows There Is Never A Better Time Than Now To Redeem Miles

Matthew Klint Posted onJune 22, 2022 16 Comments

I always used to say that miles are like are a depreciating asset like used cars. With the price of used cars still surging, that’s not the case any longer. But points are still a depreciating asset and a string of recent actions by Emirates in raising surcharges demonstrates why it is always better to burn your miles sooner rather than later.

Emirates Raises “Fuel” Surcharges For Third Time This Year…Causing Great Regret For Those Who Waited To Book

One Mile At A Time notes that Emirates has raised surcharges on award redemptions for a third time this year. To help you understand how bad this is, in February taxes and fees totaled $181.20 for a one-way business class ticket from Los Angeles to Dubai. In March, that rose to $431.20. Two weeks later, prices rose again and the same ticket suddenly cost $611.20. Now, as of early June, the same ticket carries taxes and fees of $816.50.

Yes, fuel has certainly risen in price over the last year, but $181.20 to $816.50 is quite the greedy move from Emirates, if I may so opine.

As always, fees are quick to rise when fuel prices goes up and very slow to fall when fuel drops in price. It’s hardly a surprise, but it is a great wake-up call that points are to use, not to hoard.

I’m not saying to blow your miles and points foolishly, but I know several people who are hitting themselves on the head for not booking their Emirates awards earlier. You can book almost a year in advance and space, especially if you are just looking for economy or business class, is often widely available. Surcharges are still low on Emirates’ Fifth Freedom transatlantic routes (New York – Milan, Newark – Athens).

And don’t think Emirates is alone. We saw unannounced devaluations during the pandemic from Delta and United and it can happen anytime. Singapore Airlines is about to raise pricing on KrisFlyer redemptions and we are still long overdue for an Alaska Airlines devaluation.

So start thinking about winter and spring 2023 travel now. If you can plan this far in advance, book now…you’ll really be glad you did if prices (whether miles required or surcharges) rise without notice.

CONCLUSION

Consider this a gentle nudge to start thinking about future award bookings. We never know what airlines will do, but the long-term trend is clear: devaluation, devaluation, and more devaluation. During this period of inflation, it should come as no surprise when airlines take advantage of the opportunity to raise price. You’ve been warned.

image: Emirates

Previous Article Review: EasyJet A320 Basel To Las Palmas, Gran Canaria
Next Article Hertz Saves The Day In Spain

About Author

Matthew Klint

Matthew is an avid traveler who calls Los Angeles home. Each year he travels more than 200,000 miles by air and has visited more than 135 countries. Working both in the aviation industry and as a travel consultant, Matthew has been featured in major media outlets around the world and uses his Live and Let's Fly blog to share the latest news in the airline industry, commentary on frequent flyer programs, and detailed reports of his worldwide travel.

Related Posts

  • Cool: Free Point.Me Award Searches Via Bilt Rewards

    January 26, 2023
  • SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus

    January 5, 2023
  • Emirates Gives Us A Lump Of Coal For Christmas

    December 23, 2022

16 Comments

  1. Andy K Reply
    June 22, 2022 at 2:01 pm

    Ironic given that Emirates has some of the lowest actual fuel costs of any airline. They are doing this because they can get away with it!

  2. Sam Reply
    June 22, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    They increased the miles needed to redeem on one way tickets on one of the previous two increases as as well as the cash, iirc. JetBlue mint partner redemptions are really the only worthwhile value from EK miles at this point.. If you live in LAX, SFO, SEA, BOS or NYC…

    • Sean M. Reply
      June 22, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      My last 3 Skywards redemption to wipe out the last dregs of my once proud balance have been for Marhaba arrivals service at Dubai, a hotel using Skywards Hotels and a shopping voucher for my mother.

      That pretty much tells you the best value of Skywards miles today.

    • Gene Reply
      June 22, 2022 at 4:38 pm

      @ Sam — Why do you need to live in those cities? Fortunately for those of us who don’t hesitate to book positioning flights, most people seem to only search for award space from where they live to their final destination…

      • Sam Reply
        June 22, 2022 at 10:28 pm

        @ Gene Convenience. Plus, I typically use Mint as the positioning flight to the East coast. Positioning for a 5 hour flight starts wearing P2 down 🙂

  3. Stuart Reply
    June 22, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    There is another approach in dissecting this, that is the glass half full? Like with BA, these surcharges actually become a saving grace for award availability and weeding out those completely looking for free. It opens more seats for the rest of us. And right now there are plenty to be had on EK over the next few months. I just booked a one way mixed F and C to Mauritius in August today from DC. It would have cost me $6K one way in C if I payed. The miles and $1200 in fees for a mix of F and C seems a pretty good deal in comparison. Further, they actually HAD award space, unlike Qatar or TK. I found nothing else even remotely close that was under 300K miles. As well, it was the most convenient and easy itinerary.

    So, as much as some will complain, and they will, the fees are also a good deterrent to speculative bookings that clog it up for everyone else who wants a nice balance in being able to find some premium seats that offer a savings. It’s why it’s much easier to find award space on BA when others have nothing, or want 300K miles one way to LHR from the U.S.

    Bloggers hate this, I get it. But they are also the ones encouraging everyone to make speculative bookings and clogging up the availability for everyone else to make legitimate ones. This is the outcome. Welcome to the show.

    • Rob Reply
      June 22, 2022 at 5:18 pm

      You’re lucky to have found this availability! I’ve been searching for the same route and no luck in F.

      • Stuart Reply
        June 23, 2022 at 3:07 am

        Rob, As I mentioned, it’s combined C/F. Business IAD/DXB and First DXB/MRU. I actually saw a number of days that F was available from MIA though in August. If you don’t mind a positioning flight that could be the spot to get F now. I chose not to as I am carrying kiteboarding gear and prefer not lugging on a positioning leg. This was yesterday that I booked, fyi, so I imagine it’s still there.

        Also, I imagine if y0u waitlist for F after booking C it will most likely open up for the additional miles. It’s very rare to see an EK cabin go out completely full.

      • Stuart Reply
        June 23, 2022 at 10:08 am

        Rob, also, not sure when you are going but just checked Expert Flyer this morning and in August (as an example) though EK is not releasing F now,
        the cabins are wide open out of IAD. On the date I am traveling I put in for an auto upgrade using points. It’s very straight forward and I will wager it will clear sometime in July. Ben has a post at OMAAT that explains the steps. Also, request it on the App, not the website, as it doesn’t seem to work there.

  4. Dave Edwards Reply
    June 22, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    Basic rule of life, never trust people who throw gays off of buildings.

    And anyone who visits these countries or supports their airlines is part of the problem.

    Hell of a way to support Pride month, but with many of the people here, their personal travel and business greed overcomes the equality discussion.

    And I must say, Stuart has been 100% correct lately.

    • ps241 Reply
      June 22, 2022 at 8:30 pm

      Not 100% correct – he wrote “payed” instead of “paid” just like someone else did the other day.

      “It would have cost me $6K one way in C if I payed.”

      Where is that coming from?

      • stuart Reply
        June 23, 2022 at 3:01 am

        So, 99.8% correct?

    • T- Reply
      June 23, 2022 at 12:44 pm

      Thank You for the comment. Though others should know.

  5. Jason Reply
    June 23, 2022 at 12:46 am

    As noted, jetBlue remains a bright spot. I just liquidated my Skywards balance on a couple of LON-NYC one-ways in Mint. Taxes/fees were about $275/ticket, inclusive of UK APD.

  6. Imtiaz Agboatwala Reply
    June 23, 2022 at 2:22 pm

    It is unfair and ironic that Emirates is doing so. For many routes, Emirates is the only option, so they are taking unfair advantage.

    • Stuart Reply
      June 23, 2022 at 11:04 pm

      How so? You can buy a ticket and avoid.

Leave a Reply

Cancel reply

Search

Recent Posts

  • pirate shipping
    It’s Cheaper/Faster To Fly To Buenos Aires Than Ship A Box January 29, 2023
  • summer travel
    Conflicting Information Creates Cloudy Summer Travel Picture January 29, 2023
  • Waldorf's take on eggs Benedict with truffle sauce and caviar
    Extending Hilton Diamond Status For Three Stays (Or Less) January 29, 2023
  • Review: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea January 28, 2023

Categories

Popular Posts

  • Casting Couch? Kuwait Airways Forces Prospective Flight Attendants To Undress For “Research Purposes” January 4, 2023
  • Spirit Airlines Captain Runs Out Of Cockpit After Woman Yells “I Hope Y’All Crash And Die!” January 17, 2023
  • SWISS First Class Awards Bookable With United Airlines MileagePlus January 5, 2023
  • United Airlines 2023 Status Extension
    United Airlines Quietly Extends MileagePlus Premier Status…Again January 14, 2023

Archives

January 2023
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Dec    

As seen on:

live_and_lets_fly

The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles The new United Polaris Lounge at Washington Dulles is the most beautiful of all Polaris Lounges. Stay tuned for a detailed look and many more photos on the blog tomorrow. Well done @united.
@malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire i @malaysiaairlines just announced it would retire its A380 fleet. While not surprising, it is sad to see the growing list of carriers retiring this superjumbo jet. On Malaysia Airlines, I flew the #A380 once from Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London (LHR) and had the entire first class cabin to myself (full review on the blog). It was a beautiful flight that I will always remember.
Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited tha Welcome to @fly_bur @aveloair! I am so excited that a new carrier, Avelo, has launched, especially from an airport just 12 minutes from my home!
I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxair I greatly miss the @lufthansa #747-8 at @flylaxairport. Hopefully this summer it will return.

.
.
.
.
#Lufthansa #FirstClass #747 #747-8 #StarAlliance #Miles #Points
I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. I recently spent a weekend at the @ventanabigsur. This is not only a lovely, all-inclusive resort, but one of the best properties to use your @hyatt World of Hyatt points.
.
.
.
.
#Hyatt #BigSur #California #WorldofHyatt #CA-1 #Points #Hotels
In terms of a spacious first class product, the @E In terms of a spacious first class product, the @Emirates suite on a 777-300ER is hard to beat. My preference is Suite 2K.

.
.
.
.
#Emirates #777 #firstclass
Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from I Nearly five years ago, I took a “break” from Instagram ahead of the birth of my first child. Goodness, how time flies. While I’ve enjoyed catching up on others over the years, now it is time for me to return to Instagram. In this first post, I highlight two joys in my life, my two children, whom I trust will grow up to be prolific travelers that circumnavigate the globe as ambassadors of love and respect.

.
.
.
.
.

#travel #airplanes #airlines #miles #points #familytravel #human #integrity #honor
United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improv United Airlines' new Polaris seat is a huge improvement over UA's current business class seat. Check out my blog at liveandletsfly.com for 70+ photos of how @united is transforming its entire business class experience starting this December!
The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben! The perfect @flysas name tag for #Longyearben!
Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen - Spotted four #polarbear outside of #longyearbyen -- oh, and I love 40°F summer weather!
One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure One of the best crews I have ever had the pleasure of flying with in all my years of flying. Thank you @flysas SK940 on 11 Aug 2016
Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I a Next stop ARN! But dear @flysas , next time if I assign a window seat months in advance, don't move me to a center seat "for my convenience" with no way to get my original seat back... 😞
Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be rac Ready for #PIA from #MAN to #JFK -- we will be racing the #Delta flight to JFK at the gate next to us, which also departs at 12:45p. With @onemileatatime
Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregenc Another room with a beautiful view... #hyattregencycasablanca #cassablanca #hyatt
Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the i Enjoying #shanghai with @onemileatatime from the inside of the @grandhyatt_shanghai ... It is 40°C outside! 😓
From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minut From my front gate to my boarding gate in 15 minutes flat. I ❤️ #bur #burbankairport
@malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in se @malaysiaairlines #747 out of retirement and in service at #kul -- beautiful livery!
View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful bran View from my 61st floor room at the beautiful brand new @parkhyattguangzhou -- look for a full review coming soon on the blog #hyatt #parkhyatt #guangzhou #parkhyattguangzhou
Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, Will miss the @united #globalfirstlounge at #ord, which closes tomorrow and the Queen of the Skies #747 which will be retired in 2018.
The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. The colonial #architecture of #mumbai is stunning. If you're ever here, get up at 5am and have a walk around the city before it gets busy. You can hear the birds instead of honking horns.
Load More... Follow on Instagram
facebook twitter instagram rss

This site is for entertainment purposes only. The owner of this site is not an investment advisor, financial planner, nor legal or tax professional and articles here are of an opinion and general nature and should not be relied upon for individual circumstances.

 

Advertiser Disclosure: Some links to credit cards and other products on this website will earn an affiliate commission. Outside of banner ads published through the Boarding Area network, this compensation does not impact how and where products appear on this site. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. Please view our advertising policy page for additional details about our partners.

 

Editorial Disclosure: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any entity mentioned herein. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.