Report: JAL Refunds Fuel Surcharges on Emirates First Class Award After DOT Complaint
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available – Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Emirates awards are some of the most highly sought after awards in the points and miles hobby. And that's for good reason. From unbelievable new suites to posh new business class seats, Emirates provides some of the top experiences in the sky.
Our go-to way of booking Emirates awards was through Japan Airlines' Mileage Bank. That was until November 22, 2017. Overnight, JAL changed its maximum fuel surcharges on Emirates awards. While it previously charged no more than $78.20, overnight that amount jumped to $1,716.09.
The sudden increase threw a wrinkle in travelers' plans, leaving them with the decision of having to either book Emirates awards for more miles/points through a different program, or paying the substantially higher out-of-pocket cost to continue booking through JAL Mileage Bank. One traveler chose the latter choice, but didn't stop there.
The Traveling Millennial had already transferred 85,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points to Mileage Bank when the sudden change was made. With the 105,000 miles — after the SPG transfer bonus — already in his JAL account, he felt stuck. So, he went ahead with booking the Emirates first flight and paid an additional $515 in fuel surcharges.
Next, he filed a complaint with the US Department of Transportation. Calling it "a shot in the dark," he didn't expect to get very far. So, he kept it short:
JAL started imposing fuel surcharges on Emirates award tickets without providing any advanced notice. The fees increased from approximately $20 to $820 for a one-way ticket. The DOT should require JAL to give advanced notice before imposing this change, and refund all surplus fuel charges imposed in the interim.
Finally this week — months after the complaint was filed — his case was resolved. In the response, JAL references that the terms and conditions of the Mileage Bank program allow changes at any time. With that said, Japan Airlines gave him two choices: cancel his booking and receive a full refund of points and taxes/fees or get a refund of $515 in fuel surcharge after he completes his trip.
Can you guess which one he chose? He accepted the offer to refund the additional fuel surcharges. Yeah, not really a hard decision.
What Does This Mean for Travelers in the Same Situation?
First, there's no guarantee that you'll end up with the same outcome. But, the Traveling Millennial's example shows that JAL Mileage Bank is understanding about the consequences of its overnight change. If you're in the same situation as he was — where you had the miles already in your JAL account and booked shortly afterward — you might be able to convince JAL to refund the additional fuel surcharges.
Before filing a DOT complaint, I'd recommend reaching out to JAL Mileage Bank first. Explain your situation, reference this decision and ask if JAL will refund the additional fuel surcharges you paid. You might be able to get the same result much quicker this way.
If you're unsuccessful working with Mileage Bank directly, you can file a DOT complaint to try and get the same outcome as The Traveling Millennial. However, it's important to note that the DOT didn't force Japan Airlines to refund the additional fuel surcharges. This was an offer by Japan Airlines in response to TM's complaint. So, you are far from guaranteed to get the same result.
If you're still hoping to accrue points and miles for a spectacular Emirates first class experience, here's our latest strategies and tips on how to do so. Hint: You're going to want Starpoints, and the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express is a good place to start.
H/T: View From The Wing
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.