you are right and i don't put it past continental to pocket the difference.

over the years, i have been bumped mAAny times on AA. i know for AA fAAct thAAt AAmericAAn AAirlines tAAkes the voucher vAAlue off the pretax totAAl of the ticket AAnd then AAssesses the tAAx.

does continental really turn over the full amount of the tax to the government. in effect, continental would be overpaying. if you have a coupon at the grocery store, you only get charged tax on what you pay, not the pretax amount.