Airport Taxes etc

[Guest Fatboyfat]

Having just encountered a "total Tax" add on charge from Ours Travel for a Manchester / Heathrow / Bangkok return flight with EVA / Bmi in Elite class of £148: I was wondering if anybody has any idea as to how these figures are reached.

I am a bit suspicious to say the least !

[The Mook 105]

Odds are it probably includes a hefty fuel surcharge due to the high price of crude oil. The fuel surcharge has almost doubled the tax on a LAX-BKK roundtrip ticket in the last 18 months.

[echster 1]

UK ticket prices are shrouded by extras that aren't as transparent as in the US. Taxes in the UK can simply be labeled "for airline use only". Where that money goes is anyone's guess.

 

In the US, ticket price (the 2 letter codes are what you'll see on a ticket) is from the following sources:

 

Base fare - airline fare without any taxes applied

 

+

 

Federal ticket tax international/domestic (US) - 7.5% of base fare (used to fund FAA operations and the Airport Improvement Program)

 

+

 

Federal segment tax (ZP) - $3.30 per segment (used to fund FAA operations and the Airport Improvement Program)

 

+

 

Passenger facility charge (XF) - up to $4.50 per segment, max $18/ticket (used by specific airports for airport improvement projects)

 

+

 

Federal security service fee (AY) - $2.50 (used for passenger and baggage screening)

 

+

 

Additional fees for travel to/from Hawaii and Alaska can add roughly $20/ticket

 

=

 

Total ticket cost

 

If you're flying international to/from the US, there are additional taxes:

 

International arrival/departure tax (US) - $13.70 (each arrival/departure to/from the US)

 

+

 

Immigration user fee (XY) - $7.00 per arrival

 

+

 

Customs user fee (YC) - $5.00 per arrival

 

+

 

Animal and plant health inspection fee (XA) - $3.10 per arrival

 

+

 

Animal and plant aircraft inspection fee - $65.25 per aircraft

 

+

 

Jet fuel tax + leaking underground storage tank (LUST) taxes - $0.044 (4.4 cents) per gallon

 

These fees are added on.....you didn't think the airline was paying did you?

[Taltos 7]

Could it be that you are paying for both Man and LHR.

[Gus 97]

And don't forget, Thaksin still hits you for another 500 when you leave

[JohnnyK 28]

These days many, if not most, western airports have been "privatized", ie. turned over to semi-independent airport authorities who cannot simply hit up the government for cash when they run short.

It takes a lot of money to operate an airport.

 

Many airlines don't have counter staff in the airport, the airport does the check-in etc under contract.

I suspect security costs have gone up (wages for increased numbers of thick, surly dropouts to be rude to you).

Airports cannot stand still there must be provision for capital expenditures as they are constantly upgrading, expanding and improving (or they should be).

Fuel surcharges are usually in your fare price rather than as a tax as that's a direct airline cost.

 

I don't like it either but its a fact of life.

[jogsuk 0]

I've been charged different levels of tax for the same airline/flight from different travel agents!!!!!

 

I think the cost of flight before tax should not be allowed to adverrtised, it shouyld be the total cost of the flight including the tax element. Therefore we can't be ripped off by the travel agents!!!!

 

Try flightsupermarket.com and when you have the lowest fare ring flightcentre.co.uk and they will beat the best advertised price you have!!