As of Dec. 1, 2008, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members will be charged a mandatory fuel surcharge fee, ranging between $460 to $532, on all flight awards redeemed on partner British Airways. The fee is in addition to any other taxes and fees, such as the $15 fee for award reservations made over the phone, and the $25 partner award fee. As of yet, British Airways is the only Alaska Airlines partner that requires a fuel surcharge.

So if you want to redeem miles for a flight to Europe, you can redeem with another Alaska Airlines partner that will fly you across the pond for a lot less money, including Air France, KLM, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines.

We asked British Airways’ other U.S.-based partner, American Airlines, whether they are planning on charging AAdvantage members a fuel surcharge when flying on an award flight with British Airways. Our contact at American AAdvantage said, “We don’t currently have a fuel surcharge in place for award tickets on AA or partner airlines and I have no info on future plans to do so.”