In uncertain times, the question always arises whether one should redeem miles or not.

While there are generally several reasons in favour – better availability during low-demand periods, higher flexibility for rebookings – this time it might look a bit different: Due to high fuel prices, most airlines have already increased their fuel surcharges – even though many have secured fuel at a fixed price for the entire year through so-called fuel hedging – and in most Frequent Flyer programs, you have to pay these surcharges for award flights. Since these surcharges mean that award flights are not always economically attractive even in normal times, it looks obviously even worse now.

The situation is different only in the US and some other programs, where award flights are exempt from these surcharges.