Korean Air Skypass - Korean Air Surchages

I was shocked to be quoted a 500 dollar surcharge from korean Air for a open air ticket from Singapore -> San Fran and returning from Phtuket -> Seattle.

The same trip using points from Alaska only costed 140 in fees.

Is there anyway to dodge these steep korean air surcharge fees?

KE collects fuel surcharges on their award tickets. Because of the way they publish the fuel surcharge (it's embedded as a Q surcharge in most fares rather than broken out as YQ/YR), most partners do not collect it. The only way I know of to avoid it is to use another program's miles.

Does anyone know what the surcharge is for a Domestic Award Ticket from either Incheon or Gimpo to Jeju?

Thanks!

O/W: 11,400 Won this month. I think it drops by 1,000 Won next month.

I booked a DL award this week: LAX-BNE-PQQ on VA [OPEN JAW] DPS-ICN on KE [stopover] ICN-LAX on KE. All in bizclass. Total fees $126.40. Sounds like a ripoff with your routing using KE miles.