Changed reward flight by 1 day - $68 lower tax
Mar 31, 2011, 8:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Swamps of Jersey
Programs: US Silver, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 376
Changed reward flight by 1 day - $68 lower tax
Changed a flight on US (on co reward) from PHL-BRU from Monday to Sunday, and got a $68 refund because the tax was less.
Why would that be? Same airline, same airports, same flights, just different day.
Why would that be? Same airline, same airports, same flights, just different day.
Mar 31, 2011, 9:12 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
Could happen -- exchange rates and taxes change.
There are also rules about taxes for connections and things. I changed a US-Canada award and got a $27 refund by shortening a connection to < 4 hours.
There are also rules about taxes for connections and things. I changed a US-Canada award and got a $27 refund by shortening a connection to < 4 hours.
Mar 31, 2011, 9:16 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,230
Well, certain parts of the taxes are denominated in foreign currencies (e.g., euros), and translated to US dollars at the time of ticketing. Depending on when your ticket was originally issued, there could have been a meaningful enough change in the exchange rate to impact the taxes you have to pay. However, since the Euro is essentially at a 52-week high, that would likely have caused the taxes to go up, not down.
The only other explanation I can think of (other than an error) is that a certain component of the taxes was reduced from when you originally ticketed the reservation.
The only other explanation I can think of (other than an error) is that a certain component of the taxes was reduced from when you originally ticketed the reservation.
Mar 31, 2011, 9:28 pm
#4
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
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It seems like the taxes and fees on award tickets are very difficult to calculate. if I ever don't like what I'm quoted, I call back and get a different answer.
Do you have the fare breakdown before and after so we can see what changed?
Do you have the fare breakdown before and after so we can see what changed?
Apr 1, 2011, 8:33 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Swamps of Jersey
Programs: US Silver, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 376
Monday flight / Sunday flight
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00 / same
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 5.00 / same
U.S. Security Service Fee: 2.50 / same
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50 / same
Germany Airport Security Charge: 13.00 / 7.38
Germany Air TransportationTax: 62.90 / 11.38
Germany Passenger Service Charge: 32.60 / 33.21
Germany Passenger Service Charge: 11.30 / 11.33
Belgium Embarkation Tax: 35.60 / 23.81
Per Person Total: 175.40 / 107.11
So I guess a thank you to Germany is in order (and a smaller one to Belgium).
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00 / same
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 5.00 / same
U.S. Security Service Fee: 2.50 / same
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50 / same
Germany Airport Security Charge: 13.00 / 7.38
Germany Air TransportationTax: 62.90 / 11.38
Germany Passenger Service Charge: 32.60 / 33.21
Germany Passenger Service Charge: 11.30 / 11.33
Belgium Embarkation Tax: 35.60 / 23.81
Per Person Total: 175.40 / 107.11
So I guess a thank you to Germany is in order (and a smaller one to Belgium).