JAL & ANA Fuel Surcharges Just Doubled: What Kamaʻāina Need to Know (May 1 – June 30, 2026)
Aloha ʻohana, if you've been planning a Tokyo trip or eyeing a Japan award redemption, the new reality kicked in today. As of May 1, 2026, Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways have nearly doubled fuel surcharges on international flights, and yes, that includes our HNL to Japan zone.
The new rates apply to every ticket issued between May 1 and June 30, 2026. The surcharge is tied to Singapore jet fuel prices that spiked during the February-March benchmark window, and even with Japanese government subsidies softening the blow, these are the highest surcharge levels we've seen on Japan flights since the post-COVID recovery. The good news: there are still real ways for kamaʻāina to sidestep this, and the increase is temporary. Here's the full breakdown of what changed and how to play it smart.
What's Actually Changing on May 1
Both JAL and ANA review their fuel surcharges every two months based on the average price of Singapore kerosene-type jet fuel. The February-March 2026 average came in high enough to push the surcharge bracket sharply upward. Here's how it shakes out by zone:
How This Hits Us in Hawaii
The Hawaii to Japan zone is its own pricing tier on JAL and ANA, separate from the mainland routes. The new surcharge applies to every direct flight we love using:
- HNL ↔ Tokyo Narita (NRT) on JAL and ANA
- HNL ↔ Tokyo Haneda (HND) on JAL and ANA
- Codeshare flights operated by partners on these routes
For a family of four flying HNL to Tokyo round trip on JAL or ANA, here's the real damage:
Your Miles Won't Save You (With One Big Exception)
Here's the part that hurts. Fuel surcharges are charged in cash on top of your mileage redemption, so your hard-earned points don't shield you from this. The new rates apply to every standard JAL or ANA award booking, including:
- JAL Mileage Bank awards on JAL metal
- ANA Mileage Club awards on ANA metal
- Alaska Atmos Rewards redeemed on JAL
- Aeroplan redeemed on ANA or JAL
- Marriott Bonvoy points transferred to JAL
How to Sidestep the Higher Surcharges
The April 30 deadline is gone, but a few real strategies still work depending on how you book and how flexible you are:
- Use United miles for ANA awards. Zero fuel surcharge passed through. This is the single biggest play right now. Transfer in from Chase Ultimate Rewards, Bilt, or Marriott Bonvoy.
- Fly Hawaiian Airlines direct. HNL to HND, KIX, or FUK booked with Atmos points (formerly HawaiianMiles). Hawaiian doesn't impose fuel surcharges on award tickets, period.
- Consider ZIPAIR. JAL's low-cost subsidiary flying HNL to Narita has its own surcharge structure that is typically lower than full-service JAL. Solid option for a budget-friendly Tokyo run.
- Watch the late-June review. The new rates are technically locked in only through June 30, with the next bimonthly review happening in late June. If Singapore jet fuel prices ease, July-August surcharges could drop back down. That said, don't bank on it (more on that in my take below).
- If you ticketed before today, you're locked in. Anything issued April 30 or earlier stays at the old surcharge, even if you fly in October. Just be careful about reissuing or making major changes, since that can trigger the new rate.
Scottie's Take
This one stings, ʻohana. Tokyo is one of the easiest, most rewarding international trips for us in Hawaii thanks to direct daily service on JAL, ANA, Hawaiian, and ZIPAIR. But $200+ more per person each direction is a real hit for any family heading to Japan this summer.
My honest read going forward: stop redeeming Atmos miles on JAL for now. The math just doesn't work the way it used to with surcharges this high. Pivot your plays to United-to-ANA awards (the cleanest move available, especially if you've got Chase points to transfer) or Hawaiian Airlines metal direct using Atmos points. Both sidestep this entire mess and the savings versus a JAL Atmos redemption are now massive.
The silver lining: this is technically scheduled to end June 30. The next bimonthly review happens in late June based on April-May fuel prices, so there's a chance the July-August tier drops back toward the old levels. But I'll be straight with you, ʻohana, my gut says this sticks around longer than June 30. Singapore jet fuel prices haven't shown signs of easing, the yen is still weak against the dollar, and JAL and ANA already expanded their surcharge tier system from 15 to 18 levels, which tells me they're bracing for sustained high prices, not a quick reset. I hope I'm wrong, but I wouldn't plan a July or August trip betting on a rollback. We'll see.
Got a Japan trip you're trying to plan around this mess? Drop a comment with your dates, origin, and miles balance, and I'll help you think through the smartest redemption play. Mahalo for reading.
