In answer to your first question: "So why the fee?" I currently have four award tickets from NW to go from Bend, Oregon, to Seattle, then to Honolulu and Kona, and open jaw return from Maui. Total fees for four was $92.80. In the left hand corner of each ticket it broke down the tax fee for each ticket as $13.20 and $10.00. The $13.00 is probably for segment charges on the itinerary and the $10.00 is for the security tax. So I'm getting a nice award from NW. Why should NW pay for my tax fee charges that are going to the government? I'll gladly pay those fees any time.