Originally Posted by JohnAx
I repeat: that's a totally insane way to run an airline alliance (given the implication that Qantas will in fact not charge a passenger their unpaid fuel surcharge when they check in for a QF flight.)
There is nothing insane
If you have a validly issued ticket, then you are entitled to check in for the flight and travel.
If you have a ticket that needs to be reissued by Qantas, then Qantas will assess the fuel surcharges based on their formulae. They may also charge a service fee for doing it ( In Australia the cost is AUD75 ). Each airline in the alliance has its own calculation for fuel surcharges. AA has a surcharge for transpacific and transatlantic sectors and adds it to the base fare and charges nothing else; that is its perogative
Note: the fuel surcharges levied are not passed to the operating carrier but kept by the issuing carrier.
These are 2 completely separate issues and I fail to see how it is insane. The issue can be avoided by carefully choosing which carrier you get to reissue a ticket
Dave