Question about International taxes and fees

tdew · 03-20-2010, 06:50 AM

I'm definitely not complaining, just wondering about this. When you look at flights for International destinations, the taxes and fees often add up to more than $400.

Last night I booked a reward ticket for September - from Newark to Barcelona and back from Rome.
This is the breakdown of fees that I paid.

Airfare:0.00USD
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 5.00
Italy Security Bag Charge: 2.80
Italy Council City Tax: 6.10
Italy Embarkation Tax: 10.30
Italy Passenger Service Charge: 0.90
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00
U.S. Security Service Fee: 2.50
Italy Security Charge: 2.50
Per Person Total: 42.60 USD

eTicket Total: 42.60 USD

deangreenhoe · 03-20-2010, 07:52 AM

Fun, ain't it?

Now just imagine what's on one of my typical corporate air tickets where they transit several countries and each one takes a dip into the fee/tax pool. Then they make a change and you have to reissue the ticket which often involves manually calculating which taxes/fees have been used, which unused no longer apply and what new ones get added on. If you are off by a penny, or G~d forbid forget to collect one, they can fine you.

Basically I'm admitting I'm an idiot for doing this job. LOL.

Anyway, we get off pretty light in the U.S. for nonrev ticket taxes and fees. Especially in many EU countries or GB, the way they tax "free" tickets often results in the equivalent of hundreds being charged. It's quite the racket.

Linder · 03-20-2010, 08:34 AM

I used my miles Alaska Airlines miles last year to fly to Europe on British Airways, and the amount of taxes and fuel surcharged on this ticket came to just under $350 (in addition to the 150,000 miles). It was ridiculous to have that high of a charge on a free ticket, but I did fly first class, and it was awesome, especially the First Class Lounge in Terminal 5 at Heathrow, with the incredible spa shower, free massage, nice restaurant (no charge for meals for first class passengers). I took FULL advantage of the lovely champagne........

tdew · 03-20-2010, 09:30 AM

I webt back in time to see what we paid for tickets to Paris and Oslo in 2006. I never realized there was such a difference in the taxes before.
Arrive in Paris - leave from Paris $63.02
Arrive in Paris - leave from Stockholm $40.68
Arrive in Oslo - leave from Copenhagen $63.02

while travel to Hawaii was just $7.50 per person.

Loonbeam · 03-20-2010, 12:13 PM

When I flew Us-Hong Kong-Singapore-Beijing-US, the taxes and fees were something like 30% of the cost of the ticket.

mercwyn · 03-20-2010, 07:51 PM

Hey, they are missing a few taxes there so you got off light. There should be another $32.00 or so in US taxes.

Last year at this time Icelandic Air was offering a round trip fare from New York City to London with a base fare of $68.00. When you added in the taxes and fuel surcharges the total was over $400.00.

03-20-2010, 06:50 AM	#1
tdew Senior Member Über Poster Member since: Apr 2005 Location: Bergen Co, NJ Posts: 3,558 Rep Power: 220	Question about International taxes and fees I'm definitely not complaining, just wondering about this. When you look at flights for International destinations, the taxes and fees often add up to more than $400. Last night I booked a reward ticket for September - from Newark to Barcelona and back from Rome. This is the breakdown of fees that I paid. Airfare:0.00USD U.S. APHIS User Fee: 5.00 Italy Security Bag Charge: 2.80 Italy Council City Tax: 6.10 Italy Embarkation Tax: 10.30 Italy Passenger Service Charge: 0.90 U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50 U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00 U.S. Security Service Fee: 2.50 Italy Security Charge: 2.50 Per Person Total: 42.60 USD eTicket Total: 42.60 USD Last edited by tdew; 03-20-2010 at 06:50 AM. Reason: unwanted repetition

03-20-2010, 08:34 AM	#3
Linder Travel Professional Gold Poster Member since: Jun 2005 Location: Seward, Alaska Posts: 813 Rep Power: 56	I used my miles Alaska Airlines miles last year to fly to Europe on British Airways, and the amount of taxes and fuel surcharged on this ticket came to just under $350 (in addition to the 150,000 miles). It was ridiculous to have that high of a charge on a free ticket, but I did fly first class, and it was awesome, especially the First Class Lounge in Terminal 5 at Heathrow, with the incredible spa shower, free massage, nice restaurant (no charge for meals for first class passengers). I took FULL advantage of the lovely champagne........ __________________ Raspberry Moose

03-20-2010, 09:30 AM	#4
tdew Senior Member Über Poster Member since: Apr 2005 Location: Bergen Co, NJ Posts: 3,558 Rep Power: 220	I webt back in time to see what we paid for tickets to Paris and Oslo in 2006. I never realized there was such a difference in the taxes before. Arrive in Paris - leave from Paris $63.02 Arrive in Paris - leave from Stockholm $40.68 Arrive in Oslo - leave from Copenhagen $63.02 while travel to Hawaii was just $7.50 per person. Last edited by tdew; 03-20-2010 at 09:49 AM.

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03-20-2010, 07:52 AM	#2
deangreenhoe Travel Professional Super Über Poster Member since: Jun 2005 Location: Sheridan, MI Age: 52 Posts: 9,522 Rep Power: 382	Fun, ain't it? Now just imagine what's on one of my typical corporate air tickets where they transit several countries and each one takes a dip into the fee/tax pool. Then they make a change and you have to reissue the ticket which often involves manually calculating which taxes/fees have been used, which unused no longer apply and what new ones get added on. If you are off by a penny, or G~d forbid forget to collect one, they can fine you. Basically I'm admitting I'm an idiot for doing this job. LOL. Anyway, we get off pretty light in the U.S. for nonrev ticket taxes and fees. Especially in many EU countries or GB, the way they tax "free" tickets often results in the equivalent of hundreds being charged. It's quite the racket.

03-20-2010, 12:13 PM	#5
Loonbeam Senior Member Diamond Poster Member since: Dec 2005 Location: Marlton, NJ Posts: 2,455 Rep Power: 193	When I flew Us-Hong Kong-Singapore-Beijing-US, the taxes and fees were something like 30% of the cost of the ticket.

03-20-2010, 07:51 PM	#6
mercwyn Travel Professional Diamond Poster Member since: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,383 Rep Power: 148	Hey, they are missing a few taxes there so you got off light. There should be another $32.00 or so in US taxes. Last year at this time Icelandic Air was offering a round trip fare from New York City to London with a base fare of $68.00. When you added in the taxes and fuel surcharges the total was over $400.00.