Following the decline in global crude oil prices, Japan Airlines (JL) and All Nippon Airways (NH) recently announced that they will eliminate fuel surcharges on all international routes starting this December. Beginning on December 1, international tickets on these two airlines purchased or redeemed with miles outside Japan will no longer incur fuel surcharges. JAL has not announced when it will resume collecting fuel surcharges, while ANA will begin charging fuel surcharges again starting February 1 next year. As many readers know, ANA offers 60,000-mile economy and 95,000-mile business class awards for round-trip travel between China and the U.S. However, because ANA imposes high fuel surcharges on its own flights, many people prefer to use ANA miles to redeem UA tickets instead. That said, ANA flights remain a top choice for many travelers heading home because of the airline’s excellent service. If you purchase or redeem ANA tickets between 12/1 and 1/31 next year, you can avoid fuel surcharges and save $200 or more. In addition to booking or redeeming tickets directly with these two airlines, ANA flights redeemed through Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer will likewise not be subject to fuel surcharges. Note that the elimination of fuel surcharges starting December 1 refers to tickets booked on or after December 1. If you book now on ANA’s website for travel after December 1, fuel surcharges still apply. Are any readers planning to book NH/JL tickets in December or January? Feel free to leave a comment and share your plans with us!