So...I thought I knew AP and how to get around YQ scamcharges. But they may have invented something with fuel surcharges instead.

I'm e35 so I'm still exempt from the DOM/TB fees. I called today to book the following...

YVR-PDX-EWR (AC/UA)
EWR-LHR-BKK (UA/TG [who no longer charges YQ on flights to/from or within Thailand)
BKK-ARN-CPH-BOS-YYZ-YOW (TG/SK/AC on the TB/DOM part)
YOW-YVR (AC)

I get it, I'm gonna incur some taxes, $50 from UK, $60 from Denmark, a few bucks here and there from others, maybe totalling $200 CAD for the whole thing. Even $250.

She quotes me $792. $792 for ECONOMY.

I ask where the hell that is coming from and she says "well the fuel surcharge is just over $500 being collected by SK/TG and AC". I said, "excuse me? FUEL SURCHARGE? I'm 35k so I know I'm exempt from the charge on domestic and TB AC". She said "yea but the international portion", of which I assured her I had picked no AC intl flights. She had no explanation.

If I book all the flights one way, the total is like $200 give or take, and not one of the routes shows FUEL SURCHARGE or even Carrier Surcharge because of the airlines I chose.

I did a mock booking with different route on the website doing jut 2 stops YVR-BKK-YOW-YVR. Obviously the options suck for the most part, but I found everything scam charge free except ANA on YVR-BKK. Look up just YVR-BKK on NH and it's $171, look it up as part of a whole booking and now the carrier surcharge is $401.

So clearly AP is adding any fee AC might charge a non-status customer and then some. What the hell is going on here? Now you can avoid the YQ but you just get hit with some other BS fees?