Normally I am booking business (sometimes first) long haul flights for cash, and don't really pay much attention to the taxes and fees, even though they are hundreds of pounds per ticket.

I assumed that the fees for economy were MUCH lower.

I'm just looking at booking a reward economy flight LHR-LAX-LHR for a family member, and I was taken aback at the £330 cost of this "free" flight.

On looking at the breakdown, I see only £73 is actually APD. More than the same again is an assortment of airport facility charges including a pretty hefty "passenger service charge" of £41.65 for the UK.

All of these "taxes" - which I assume are standard (?) and unavoidable come to a weighty £161.85 and THEN there is £169 of "carrier imposed charge" ... what is that ? No breakdown or layman's explanation is offered.

Is this £330.85 a normal cost for taxes/charges alone for LHR-LAX ?