On Wednesday, March 19, Northwest Airlines and American Airlines raised their international fuel surcharges on flights to Europe by $20 roundtrip. "Currently, the fuel surcharges to Germany have increased from $170 to $190.
To England fuel surcharges, on most international airlines, have increased from $222 to $242 roundtrip and to most other European destinations the fuel surcharge has increased from $210 to $230 roundtrip"- says Tom Parsons CEO of Bestfares.com.
"American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Air France, Lufthansa, British Airways and Alitalia have all raised their fuel surcharges by an additional $20 roundtrip. US Airways and Continental Airlines, as of this morning, are the only two major U.S.A. international airlines that have not raised their current fuel surcharges"- adds Parsons. "With US Airways having an international codeshare relationship with United Airlines and Lufthansa; and Continental Airlines having a codeshare relationship with several other international carriers, it should not be much longer before US Airways and Continental Airlines also raise their fuel surcharges by an additional $20 roundtrip"- states Parsons.
Travelers who plan to travel to Europe this summer will pay almost double the airfare compared to to the sale airfares for April and May 2008. Travelers who can move their summer plans to Spring or Fall (September or October 2008) could save a bundle.
Parsons also predicts that while September and October airfares are currently already lower than summer airfares, we should see them drop even lower as airlines introduce sale airfares for the fall period within the next two to three months.
Check out these current airfare examples to Paris, France from select U.S. cities.
Roundtrip Airfares To Paris (fares include $230 fuel
surcharge):
| Departure City | April/May Airfares | June/July/August Airfares | September/October Airfares |
| New York City | $529 | $1,059 | $689 |
| Miami | $689 | $1,469 | $989 |
| Chicago | $719 | $1,429 | $989 |
| Dallas | $739 | $1,489 | $1,009 |
| Los Angeles | $729 | $1,349 | $959 |
