OK, so let's focus on flights that DON'T go through London. I read posts about people going to Asia and South America and places like that using these free tickets (so the flights must be BA only) and not going through London so they don't get the crazy fees. But everything I put in the routing from the US goes through London. (I tried SFO, LAX and NYC)

Or am I misunderstanding? Are there large fuel surchages on ALL BA flights?

Thanks!