Savings on US, Europe flights - but not much

Travelers flying to America or Europe can save over HK$400 for a return trip as a number of airlines plan to lower their fuel surcharge starting today.

According to the local flagship carrier Cathay Pacific, the fuel surcharges will drop to HK$719 from the current HK$923 for a ticket between Hong Kong and Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa and South West Pacific.

It means a return-trip ticket between Hong Kong and America or Europe could cost HK$408 less. For Cathay flights between Hong Kong and India, the surcharges are reduced by around HK$100, from HK$440 to HK$343. For other flights to Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, the newly-adjusted surcharges are HK$161 - HK$46 cheaper than the previous rate.

Hong Kong Airlines reduced its fuel surcharges to HK$161 from HK$207 for flights between Hong Kong and Taipei, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam Brunei, Indonesia, and Maldives.

But the fuel fees for destinations, including the mainland, America, Europe, the Middle East, and South West Pacific, will remain at HK$900 per ticket.

Yuen Chun-ning, executive director of local travel agency WWPKG, said that fuel surcharges for flight tickets on the same day would vary depending on the ticket issue dates.

Since November 2018, airlines can choose whether to impose a surcharge, which is adjusted in accordance with fuel prices, which the airlines review monthly.

But he said the drop in fuel surcharges would not bring a significant change to travelers' ticket costs, as there are other additional charges.

"For a flight to Japan, apart from the flight ticket price, it normally costs an extra HK$1,000 for other miscellaneous fees such as taxes," Yuen said.

"The decrease in fuel surcharge may only be accounted for a small part in the ticket price, and maybe less than one percent of the total travel costs."

A travel agency sales manager, Wong, feels the decrease would not affect his business."You can still save the [surcharges] for a meal, and it can somehow stimulate the travelers as they may feel the tickets are cheaper. But it is less likely to affect an agency's promotion strategies," Wong said.

eunice.lam@singtaonewscorp.com