re: "oneworld" award (140K/280K/420K) Planning - The Definitive Thread
You will be charged the fuel surcharge charged by the operating airline. CX charges fuel surcharges. I believe however that Hong Kong regulates fuel surcharges charged by airlines so flying via HKG does seem to have lower surcharges. The surcharge however is the same for both QF and CX to and from HKG.
No general rule really but a few of the things I would consider:
Less sectors would usually result in less surcharges
Minimise change of airlines for a single trip eg. SYD-DXB-LHR on just QF has a lower surcharge than SYD-SIN-HEL-LHR on a QF/AY combo
Get to know Air Berlin's international network really well - they have no fuel surcharge
Going to South America? Fly out of Brazil as fuel surcharges are banned there
