Originally Posted by
Allvest
Aeroplan still posts that the "fuel surcharge" is passed to the "ticketing carrier", i.e. AC (014 ticket stock)
The fraud started in 2011 and continues to this day.
The big mystery is how AC is able to keep the fuel charge for other carriers as the ticketing carrier, or if they pass some of that along, but of course of late AC's official line is that there is no fuel surcharge, and it's just a carrier admin charge.
https://www4.aeroplan.com/whats_new/...670_2011_11_10
Lest we forget, income tax was initially billed as a temporary measure to pay for the war. I believe the war is over (and a subsequent half dozen wars/police actions/interventions/etc.) and we're still paying more of it than ever.
Fees are to corporations as taxes are to a government. Its addictive as heroine times 1,000,000.
It was called fuel surcharges because people could relate. It was getting more expensive to fill your car, so it was understandable that airlines charged more. Heck, gas stations had to change their boards because gas was over $1/litre!!
Now that fuel prices are dropping, the only solution is to rename the fee. Like hotels on the strip in Vegas charging a $25 a day 'resort fee' but you get free local calls (who doesn't have a cell phone these days?), Fitness club access (really??) and free wifi.
Auxiliary revenue is the new norm. Baggage fees, seat fees, Buy on Board, etc.
Welcome to the new normal....
As for who actually gets the money, I doubt AC could keep it all. The other airlines need their fix too.