Air France and KLM have doubled their long-haul fuel surcharge from €50 to €100 round trip, with tickets to the United States, Canada and Mexico rising by €70.
The increase took effect on 13 April 2026. This is the group’s second fare hike in just over a month.
How Much More You’ll Pay
The surcharge applies to tickets issued from 13 April onwards, not to tickets already purchased.
Existing bookings are not affected, so any long-haul ticket issued before that date keeps its original price.
Here is the round-trip impact by route group:
- Long-haul routes to Asia, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and Indian Ocean: +€100 (≈ US$118) per round trip
- Long-haul routes to the United States, Canada and Mexico: +€70 (≈ US$83) per round trip
- Transavia short- and medium-haul: around +€10 (≈ US$12) per round trip on average
That means a family of four flying round trip from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Bangkok will pay up to €400 (≈ US$472) more than they would have in February.
Find the best Air France promo code on Wego and save up to USD 15 when you book.
What Flying Blue Members Need to Know
Award tickets are not spared. Air France-KLM classifies the fuel surcharge as a “carrier-imposed international surcharge”, which is not covered by miles and must be paid in cash when you redeem Flying Blue miles.
That means the higher surcharge flows through to reward bookings on Flying Blue as well as cash tickets.
One recent Paris-departure redemption already showed US$489 in taxes and carrier fees on a one-way award.
The silver lining: surcharges are capped on premium economy, business and first class, so the relative hit is smaller for those cabins.
If you redeem on partner carriers that don’t impose fuel surcharges — Delta is the most notable — you can sidestep the increase entirely.
How to Manage the Higher Costs
Because the surcharge is already in force, booking now does not help you avoid it.
The focus should be on finding value around the new pricing. A few things you can do today:
- Redeem Flying Blue miles on Delta or other no-surcharge partners for transatlantic flights to keep cash outlay low.
- Book sooner rather than later if a third surcharge increase follows: jet fuel is still trending up and Air France-KLM’s hedging coverage tapers quarter by quarter — roughly 70% in Q1, 69% in Q2, 60% in Q3 and 47% in Q4, on top of an overall one-year exposure hedged at about 87%.
- Check alternative departure points. Routing via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) or connecting via a partner hub can sometimes return lower total fares.
- Track your flight status with Wego in case of further disruption, especially on routes that overfly the Middle East.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the new Air France-KLM fuel surcharge take effect?
The new €100 round-trip long-haul surcharge took effect on 13 April 2026. Tickets issued before that date are unaffected.
Does the surcharge apply to my existing booking?
No. The surcharge applies only to new tickets issued from 13 April 2026 onwards. Your confirmed booking keeps its original fare.
Do I pay the surcharge on Flying Blue award tickets?
Yes, in most cases. The carrier-imposed surcharge is paid in cash alongside miles on award redemptions. It’s capped in premium economy, business and first class, and avoided entirely on partners like Delta that don’t levy fuel surcharges.
Will Air France-KLM raise the surcharge again?
It’s possible. The group has now raised surcharges twice in five weeks as jet fuel prices climb. With quarterly hedging cover falling from around 70% in Q1 to 47% by Q4 2026, further increases are likely if fuel prices stay high.
Is Transavia affected?
Yes, but less so. Transavia has added an average of about €10 per round trip across its short- and medium-haul network.
Sources
- Global Banking & Finance Review — Air France-KLM to Raise Long-Haul Ticket Prices Amid Jet Fuel Costs
- The Local France — Air France-KLM hikes long-haul ticket prices
- Voyages d’Affaires — Air France-KLM: New fuel surcharge increase
- Pravda France — Air France and Transavia increase fares on new bookings
- IATA — Jet Fuel Price Monitor
- Sourcing Journal — European Airports Risk Jet Fuel Shortage by May Due to Hormuz Crisis
- AInvest — Air France-KLM’s 87% Jet Fuel Hedge: A Shield Against the Strait of Hormuz Crisis
- The Traveler — Air France Fuel Surcharges Signal New Era of Costly Long-Haul Travel
- Frequent Miler — Increased Air France/KLM Flying Blue taxes and fees
- Wikipedia — 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
