Flying Air India to the US just got pricier: a $215 fuel surcharge each way, $430 round trip

Air India just made flying between the US and India more expensive. The airline and its low-cost sister, Air India Express, raised their fuel surcharges on October 8. On flights to and from North America, the new charge is $215 each way.

That is per flight, per person. Fly to India and back, and you pay it twice. That's $430 in fuel surcharges on a round trip, before taxes, seat fees or anything else. If four people each pay it on a round trip, that adds up to $1,720.

What Air India announced

According to Air India's announcement, the new surcharges apply to trips that start or end in India. They cover domestic flights and what the airline calls "select international routes."

Here are the new one-way charges on international flights:

• North America: $215
• Australia: $210
• Europe, including the UK: $135
• West Asia and the Middle East: $55

Domestic flights inside India now carry a charge based on distance. It starts at 400 rupees for flights up to 500 km. It rises to 600 rupees for 501 to 1,000 km, and 850 rupees for 1,001 to 1,500 km. Anything longer than 1,500 km costs 1,200 rupees.

When it starts, and who pays

The new charges apply to new bookings only. For Air India Express, they started at midnight India time on October 9. That was 2:30 p.m. ET on October 8. For Air India, they started at 11 a.m. India time on October 9, or 1:30 a.m. ET.

If you bought your ticket before then, the release does not say your fare will change. It only talks about new bookings.

The airline also says it will "review surcharges periodically." In plain terms, the number could go up again, or come down, depending on fuel prices.

Why Air India says it needs the money

Air India blames jet fuel. It says fuel prices have swung hard in recent months, "driven largely by geopolitical developments" and pressure on global energy markets. It adds that fuel is a large share of what it costs to run an airline.

The airline also says the new charge will only "partially offset" those higher costs. That is a hint that fares could keep climbing if fuel stays high.

Air India is not alone. Business Standard reports that IndiGo raised its fuel surcharges earlier in the week, and that Akasa Air also moved its charges on October 9. Business Standard also reports that Air India's North America charge was $200 before this change, so this is a $15 bump per flight.

Our take: watch the fine print, not just the fare

Fuel surcharges are easy to miss. They are part of the price you pay, but they are not part of the base fare. That makes it hard to compare one airline with another at a glance.

So here is our advice. When you price a trip to India, look at the full total, not the headline fare. Then compare it with other airlines that fly the same route. A $430 charge on a round trip is big enough to change which airline is the best deal.

Timing matters too. The charge is set when you book. If you know you are going, and the fare is fair, there is a case for booking sooner. Air India itself says it will keep adjusting.

What it doesn't change

The release says nothing about lounges, cabins or bags. Paying more in surcharges does not, on its own, get you into a lounge.

If you fly Air India in business class or hold Star Alliance Gold status, your lounge options stay the same. At home, that means the Maharaja Lounge at JFK and the Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco. In Delhi, Air India's flagship Maharaja Lounge is the one to aim for.

The release also does not say how the change affects tickets booked with miles. If you are using points, check the taxes and fees on the booking page before you confirm.