I canceled a RT ticket JFK to FRA in March this year because of the passport issue. I paid a $200 cancelation fee and the refund came. However, I did not receive the full refund.

2 Transportation Taxes of $21.20 each and a Passenger Facility Charge of $4.50 were not part of the refund. I contacted Singapore Airlines in May and finally got an answer on 8/10/23. Here is the response from Singapore Airlines:

"As per your concern, upon checking the update from the relevant team Transportation Tax (Domestic/ International) and XF - Passenger Facility Charge are sales taxes imposed by US airport/ government authorities and its not refundable."

Is that correct? Did anyone have any similar experience? Since when did transportation and facility taxes become sale taxes? Even if they are sales tax, they should be refunded since I did not receive the products/goods.

It is not a lot of money, $46.70. But I honestly did not think SA should keep it. On top of this, it is really difficult to contact them when issues come up.

Any thought? Thanks.