The US government charges a fee for customs/immigration/agricultural inspection on all travellers leaving or entering the US. That has to be paid by everybody on a ticket issued within the US for travel originating in the US. Similarly, other countries have entry or exit fees which airlines generally collect and pass on the authorities. And of course, there are now the security fees levied in the US and Canada, and perhaps other countries. These must be paid by the airline on your behalf, and are charged back to you even on an Award ticket.

What is not included and does not have to be paid -- or is covered by the airline -- on an award ticket are the FAA charges, certain airport terminal fees [in the US, but not in Canada where they are added to the cost of an award ticket], fuel surcharges and the like. In Canada, the NAVCAN fee is a percentage of the ticket price, and thus is not charged on an award ticket. [It is based on airline revenue, not per passenger, and thus is not a factor in an award ticket.] Also, award tickets issued for travel into the US from abroad DO NOT include the US immigration/customs/ag fee. [Not sure why, but let's keep this one quiet so they don't decide to make us pay!]

Award tickets to the UK are also subject to an immigration fee based on the class of service flown, so if you have a F-Class or Concorde, you pay close to L25! Business is a bit less at around L15, while economy runs about L10. Of course, J/C and F/R do get expedited processing using Fast Track lines, so you are getting better service for the higher fee paid. [My recent Concorde ticket cost me US$28.90, US$25 representing the US immigration/customs/ag fee, and US$3.90 heaven only knows what. Since I connected onto a European-bound flight, I was not charged the UK immigration fee.]

I suppose I disagree with most here. It is not to be expected that the airline covers anything more than those costs related to getting you from point to point on an award ticket. The additional fees charged by governments and terminal operators are levied on the passenger, not the airline. The airline is merely a convenient collector. We, like every other passenger, should be paying these, even on "free" tickets. [Hey, US$28.90 for a return flight on the Concorde, and onward is a pretty good deal. As is US$1,300 if you got it through the INSIDE FLYER subscription promo.]

And quinella66, doesn't the Chilean government charge you an entry fee of US$25 or so when you get off the plane?