I have a DONE3 issued on Cathay electronic ticket stock. In a recent reissue, Cathay claimed I owed an additional $216+ of fuel surcharge. When I inquired, Cathay said all the YQ charged on my prior ticket was for segments on JL. (My other segments, on AA and on BA flights booked using AA codeshares, have no fuel surcharge.) In particular, Cathay claimed the new $216 was “YR” surcharge that had been omitted by the agent who initially issued the ticket (an outside travel agent, chosen for expedience when I was in a tight spot) and also omitted by a prior Cathay reissue.

Biggest question: What is this YR mystery? Is it properly added by Cathay, and truly due under fare rules? I do most of my RTW ticketing with AA, which may be why I’ve never seen this – but it sure comes as a surprise to me.

Also on my mind: Does Cathay in fact collect YQ for JL? So is it plausible that the $216 I already paid was for JL? ($216 seems like a lot for my one short-haul and one long-haul JL segments, but maybe possible.) Any way I could have avoided that? And, more generally, how to know which issuing airlines collect YQ for which carriers? Anything better than trial and error using the online booking tool?

Guidance appreciated!