What really infuriates me about fuel surcharges is the deceptive and inconsistent ways in which airlines use them.

Deceptive - they RARELY disclose them when you are talking to them on the phone or in their advertisements.

Inconsistent - they don't always apply them. For example, as of 10/13/2000 Northwest has two relatively inexpensive fares between MKE and LAN. KE14SPN at $128 and KE7NR4 at $148. The $128 fare has a fuel surcharge, the $148 fare does NOT!! Why have a fuel surcharge on one fare but not on the other? My bet is they really think the $128 fare is a bit too cheap. IE, it has nothing to do with the cost of fuel. UAL also has a $128 fare which supposedly also has a surcharge - but when you price out the itinerary it doesn't show up.