There are plenty of examples available where the fuel surcharge well exceeds the actual fuel cost per seat mile. This (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...urcharges.html) is just the latest.

As has been discussed at length, I'm sure, the fuel surcharge is a basically dishonest business practice. Imagine if Safeway advertised a $2 loaf of bread, you take it to the cash and they slap on $0.75 more as a "wheat surcharge". How long do you think before the Competition Bureau would shut that crap down?

AC has had this dishonest fuel surcharge for 6-odd years now. They've been edging it ever higher so that in many cases it is far more than compensating for higher fuel costs... it's actually them passing on the full cost of fuel and taking some profit to boot.

Now AC has joined some other industry "leaders" in charging an even more dishonest surcharge: "Peak Travel Premium: For travel to/from certain international destinations on peak travel dates, a Peak Travel Premium may be added to the 'Taxes, fees, charges and surcharges' component of your fare. The actual premium charged and the applicable peak travel dates are subject to change." (Source: http://www.aircanada.com/shared/en/c...surcharge.html)

Thought the base price covered supply-and-demand? Think again! High demand now means a higher base fare PLUS this peak demand surcharge. So contrary to what AC has been saying, surcharges are not just for external costs they have no control over. They are now nakedly putting a "just cuz we can" surcharge on certain routes in high season.

THIS NEEDS TO STOP

Demand an investigation by the Competition Bureau: Complain about the fuel surcharge. Complain about the Peak Travel Premium (I already did). Both are deceptive marketing practices and they are illegal.

Here's how you can complain to the Competition Bureau, in just 5 minutes: go to http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/e...%C3%89T-7TDNA5

Near the bottom of the form, where it asks which Act your complaint relates to, check off "Competition Act".

When you are done, come back here and brag about it!