Originally Posted by LWT3

I just booked two one-way award tickets on American from Ecuador UIO to the U.S. As was your experience, I can't find anything on Google about it, but I was shocked to see $50 per ticket. In the past we've never paid this. It's separate from the airport exit tax which has been in place for a long time.

Did you find out anything about this? If the passenger holds an Ecuador passport, is it refunded? (Thinking an Ecuadorian citizen shouldn't have to pay a tourism tax).