KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — AAFES gas prices will reach yet another new high Sunday, when mainland Japan and Okinawa-based servicemembers will pay an additional 21 cents per gallon for unleaded gas.
The price hike from $2.17 per gallon to $2.38 per gallon of unleaded gas is a response to record gas prices in the United States, according to an AAFES press release. Diesel fuel rose to $2.34 per gallon.
The average retail price of gasoline reached a record $2.32 a gallon on April 11, according to the U.S. Department of Energy; however, AAFES’ higher price reflects the higher-grade, 93-octane fuel it provides servicemembers.
The higher octane is the only AAFES gas available in Japan because it is what the military uses for its vehicles, an AAFES spokeswoman said in February.
At Kadena Air Base on Friday, servicemembers remembered paying only $1.64 in October before AAFES switched to a market-based pricing policy, and asked why AAFES couldn’t reverse its policy.
“It’s ridiculous,” said Airman 1st Class William Bentley. “I’m getting gas [Saturday], and I’m thinking about picking up a few containers and filling them up.”
Bentley said he’ll spend less time off base to make up for the price hikes. He says he will also trade cars with his wife, because her car is more fuel-efficient and he does more driving.
“I’ll be looking at selling my car, because it’s too expensive to maintain another car” on an airman’s salary, Bentley said.
Several customers fueling their cars late Friday afternoon at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan unknowingly saved a few bucks by beating Sunday’s price hike.
“Twenty-one more cents?” said an incredulous Tech. Sgt. Tim Abbott. Unaware that AAFES changed its pricing policy in October, Abbott said he was surprised to see prices comparable to major U.S. cities.
“We usually pay less,” he said. “That might be a spoiled type of statement, but I just paid $28 for a tank of gas, and I used to pay $17 or $18. I feel the difference.”
Another technical sergeant, who chose not to give his name, said, “Twenty-one cents — that’s kind of shocking.” He was hopeful that the United States would take steps to rein in oil prices soon “because this is getting silly.”
Senior Airman April Davis also was surprised about the increase. “We don’t like it, but there is no other option,” she said.
Other customers said they didn’t mind paying AAFES a little more for gas.
“I really don’t care,” said Airman 1st Class Jeff Gipson. “I usually pay $40-something for diesel back in the States. Today, to fill up here, it’s $30.”
