Charged for fuel surcharge after re-booking a flight. Fair?

I booked a flight from Seattle to Paris for June 10th with Air France, but realized I could not make the flight. I called the customer service of the airline because I wanted to re-book my flight, which I successfully did!

The customer service representative informed me that the total fee for re-booking (150 euros or ~168$) + the difference in price of the two different flights (the new one on August 20th - my original one on June 10th of 106 $) would be charged to my account.

Surprisingly, I found that I was charged 274$ on the date I called customer service and an additional 320$ two days after the flight. When I called customer service I found out (after more than half an hour of waiting on the line) that the 320$ was for fuel surcharge.

First, I wasn't informed initially about this additional cost that was charged on my credit card. Second, I just read that this fuel surcharge is a bit of a lame excuse from the airline companies to charge you more for the fare (a fact which is not bothersome by itself, but why wouldn't this fee be covered by the cancellation fee?).

The main question would be if I can do anything to get my money back.

UPDATE: It was indeed a mistake and I was not charged in the end the $320. I am glad I called the customer service and called them up on that. Thank you for the answers!!

Best Answer

The carrier surcharge (or "fuel surcharge" if you prefer) is a separate calculation to the fare line on the ticket. It goes in a different box. However, the money usually goes to the same person (unless we have codeshare flights). If carrier surcharges were banned (as they are in some jurisdictions) ticket prices would not go down, the number would be bundled differently into the total price.

It sounds like you were misinformed about the correct calculation, which makes it essentially a contractual matter and not a travel question. If you have a recording of the conversation or contemporaneous notes, you could try disputing it with the carrier or with your credit card issuer, on the basis that the price agreed in the telephone call was not the one you were charged. Your chance of success will depend on your local jurisdiction, its consumer rights attitude, and the attitude of your card company. I would not advise pursuing this course of action until your ticket is completely flown, though in some cases time limits apply for disputing erroneous charges on credit cards, often ninety days.