Shouldn't we be asking for fuel rebates?
 

Airlines started imposing what's commonly known as a "fuel surcharge" onto the overall cost of air tickets when they discovered the rising price of crude oil (and thus aviation fuel) was eroding into their profit.

However, since then, companies like CX has been putting up their ticket prices significantly on both short and long haul flights. Presumably some of the increase was to cover the cost of purchasing the then expensive fuel.

Now that oil prices have returned to a more normal level, shouldn't we be asking for a fuel rebate? Or can I look forward to a reduction in fares?

I think I see pigs flying outside the aircraft.

Because they still have a fuel hedge contract.

When you bought a ticket when oil was $60/blarrel and flew when oil was $120/bl did the airline ask you for extra $$ at checkin?
If not, then it's fair to say the airline won't offer you a rebate when you purchased a ticket at $120/bl oil and flew at $60/bl.

Didnt CX not long ago just reduced their fuel surcharge? that should be a good sign that they are willing to do something? (at least because other competitiors are doing that)
And increasing airfare maybe more to do with the airline's cost, not mainly of fuel..I presume
And not when oil just went back up to US$50 per barrel today...hope they wont put prices back up again...

I think my point is misunderstood.

If we are happy to accept the concept of paying a fuel surcharge because ticket prices did not cover an unforseenable rise in the cost of fuel, then when airlines adjust their ticket prices upwards (bi-annually, quarterly, whatever) to take into account the higher fuel prices but the cost of fuel subsequently retreated, why are we still paying higher ticket prices AND a fuel surcharge? Shouldn't the travelling public be asking for a reduction in ticket prices and/or a fuel rebate?

Yes that's true and I am sure it is a core arguement of CX's when it applies to the CAD every two months to maintain a fuel surcharge. But frankly I have no sympathy with CX on this and don't see why we (as passengers) should have to pay for their mistake. It's a shareholders' problem (for the record, I am one).

Yes they do if you try to change flight that requires a ticket re-issue. I am not asking them to refund the fuel $ they charged me for the ticket I bought six months ago. I am just asking they don't double-charge us today (in the form of higher ticket prices AND a fuel surcharge) for a "cost" that doesn't exist anymore, at least for the time being.

I think they would like to charge more but CAD won't allow it.

CX's employment cost has gone down from the year before, fuel, or hedging contracts, is by far the large single cost-inflation item on CX's P&L.

The ticket price you and I pay today assumes oil prices of way above $50.