While it's undoubtedly a huge, vexing irritant, the fuel surcharge wouldn't prohibit me from redeeming a reward ticket, I don't think; at least it hasn't yet. I've still been able to derive tremendous value from the very long haul AP reward tickets in J, and my experience has been that starting a trip in comfort for a tatl in an AC pod gets things off on the right foot, so by and large I've swallowed the surcharge. I believe it got as high as $250 for one upcoming trip. I recognize, however, that others have much stronger views on this and will lable me crazy