Rising geopolitical risk in the Middle East has rattled global oil prices, pushing up airline fuel surcharges and raising costs for travelers planning overseas trips. Fuel surcharges for May are expected to climb as high as Level 33, prompting travel companies to counter with rebates and broad discount campaigns to keep demand from weakening.
◆ “We’ll refund the increase”: Modetour launches April-only fuel rebate
Modetour said it will fully cover May’s fuel-surcharge increase for customers who finalize reservations in April under a “fuel rebate” program, aiming to ease added costs that can arise after booking amid a strong dollar and high oil prices.
The offer applies to the first 1,000 customers booking select products for Japan, China and Southeast Asia. No separate application is required: the company will automatically pay the difference between the fuel surcharge at reservation confirmation and at ticketing as tour mileage in the month after departure. The mileage is valid for five years.
Modetour also expanded short-haul options, creating categories for Southeast Asia, Japan, China/Hong Kong/Mongolia, and departures from Busan, Daegu and Cheongju. In April, bookings for China and Japan rose 16% and 2%, respectively, from a year earlier, the company said.
◆ NOL Universe steps up “across-the-board price support” with daily coupons
NOL Universe is also rolling out promotions to prevent customer churn as fuel surcharges rise, offering discounts across airfare and overseas accommodations.
Through Thursday the 30th, it will issue first-come, first-served 5% coupons each day at 10 a.m. for flights to Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand. It is also offering an additional 10,000 won instant discount on all Japan and China routes, plus 7% off overseas lodging reservations.
The company will also run limited-time deals via its live commerce channel, “NOL Live.” At 11 a.m. on Monday the 27th, it plans a one-hour Asiana Airlines special, offering viewers additional discount coupons of up to 30,000 won. On NOL Interpark Tour, it will issue first-come, first-served 10,000 won coupons twice daily, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., for all international routes. It also plans route-specific additional discounts of up to 10% for payments made with major card issuers.
◆ High oil prices and a strong dollar: Travel firms push “practical benefits”
With signs that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could persist, the travel industry faces a tougher outlook as higher fuel surcharges combine with a strong dollar to lift consumers’ perceived costs.
Travel agencies are concentrating promotions on short-haul routes, where airfare burdens are relatively lower, and emphasizing straightforward, tangible savings to attract customers.
“This fuel rebate is a practical, benefit-focused promotion designed to help customers choose products more confidently when they are hesitating due to fuel-surcharge increases,” said Jeong Hui-yong, a department head in Modetour’s marketing business division. Park Jeong-hyeon, head of NOL Universe’s air business division, said the company will “reduce customers’ travel burden through across-the-board price support and help them make reasonable choices.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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