taxes!
 

I just got a Travelocity fare watcher email about a $188 fare from PIT to AUS. Great, I thought. Time to fly some family down to visit.

Called AA EXP desk to book the tickets. After taxes, total per seat is $248! Yes that is $60 in taxes PER TICKET! I checked my full Y ticket for next week (AUS to PHL) and on an $850 ticket, only $50 of that is taxes.

The cs rep was suprised as well. She double checked and indeed the taxes are correct.

Might this have something to do with fees flying AA into USAirways hub?

Just curious...$248 is still a good fare, it just isn't as good as $188 :-)

SteveH

Were you stopping 3 or 4 times each way? Or going through an international hub? That just does not sound right (and the airline doesn't set the taxes - though you can be nicked $3+ for PFCs plus the $2 segment charge plus the normal US taxes. But still ....

I think that the airlines have their fuel surcharge on some fares, but not all. That could account for the difference.

Only 1 stop ... PIT to AUS via DFW.

Same on return, but reversed http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I suspect the problem is that the cheaper fare is only available for (usually) Tues/Wed/Sat travel; if you're flying a more typical Friday to Sunday or Monday, the fare is often $20-30 higher each way, which seems to agree with the prices you quote.

I'd be astonished if there really is $60 in taxes on that ticket. No way!

I suspect that the so-called "fuel surcharge" may be the culprit here. It's become the airline equivalent of the "resort fee" made infamous by Starwood; for example, less than a year ago, taxes on most fares from HI to the West Coast were in the $20-30 range. Now, they run closer to $50-60...

Interesting... Let's see:

Fare 174.88
+ Fuel surcharge 37.20 (2x18.60)
= Base fare 212.08
+ US transportation tax 15.92
+ US segment tax 11.00
+ Airport "passenger facility charges" 9.00
= Total 248.00

So here's who to blame:
* AA, for hiding $40 (after taxes) in "fuel surcharges", or an additional whopping 23%
* Your federal representative, for allowing $35.92 in various taxes (of which only $13.12 were included in the 188.00 quoted), amounting to 17% of what the airline gets

Do I smell the need for both a "Fairness in Fares Quoted" and a "Flyer's Tax Relief" initiative?

PS interestingly, UA has the same fare on those markets, but does not charge the $40 fuel surcharge that AA does -- so the total tichet is $208 vs $248. NW, codesharing on CO, also has a matching fare, but it charges a $20 fuel surcharge, for a total of $222, which is $6 shy of $228 because you also save "passenger facilities charges" in IAH (each airport sets its own, up to $3). Mindboggling.

Way! Departing Sat AM, returning following Tues PM. This is in March, so > 21 days also.

Thanks! Helps to see it broken down. Since I am using travel voucher, I have to stick with AA.


[This message has been edited by 330CiC (edited 01-16-2001).]

30,

If you are using a voucher you may not have to the taxes. I have used DBCs often and they do not charge me taxes when I use those coupons (though if you are using a voucher from an old ticket then there would be taxes). And that fuel surcharge is outrageous!

FF

Agreed! Taxes ad surcharges on tkts are outrageous.

And, THERE NEEDS TO BE A REVOLUTION!