Hi all

I'm looking at a roundtrip award ticket JFK-GIG-JFK, and on AAdvantage and BA Avios, the taxes are both $56.46. However, booking the same ticket on JAL Mileage Bank cost $96.56. This is because JAL is charging the following, whereas BA and AA aren't:

The normal taxes, totalling $56.46, are:

Why is JAL charging extra taxes?

I just pulled up the fare and these are the taxes:
So, it would suggest JAL is charging appropriately.

Correct my if I'm wrong, but I don't believe the U.S. Int'l Arrival, U.S. Int'l Departure, and Facility Charges are supposed to be charged on award tickets?

Some ticketing airlines charge them, some do not. There's no shenanigans at play.

Where the ticket is issued (whether it be ticketed in Japan/US/some other country) affects whether certain taxes are collected. Also if there is a fuel surcharge (making the award ticket not exactly $0 fare), a number of US taxes are triggered as well.

There is no fuel surcharge at issue here.
JAL explicitly says it collects facility charges, etc. http://www.ar.jal.com/ar/en/jalmile/use/partner_air/p_jmb/jmb_mile_ar.html

Taxes aren't really something that are up to the airline to decide whether to collect. What I don't understand is why BA and AA don't charge it and JAL does.

My understanding is that because there is no base fare, and there are no fuel surcharges (YQ), the taxes do not apply, because you don't charge tax on $0 fare. However, the "fees" still apply (September 11, APHIS fee, Customs fee, Immigration fee, etc). This is what AA does (and BA) and I tend to trust AA over JAL when it comes to appropriately calculating U.S. taxes.

I'm thinking of bringing this up to JAL but don't exactly know how to go about doing it. I fly this route a lot and the extra $40.10 every time will add up.

But you do arrive in the US, you do depart the US, and you do use the Facilities.

Someone has to pay them.

If the ~$40 is an issue, then go with the airlines that eat that fee for you.

That's my point though, I don't think anyone has to pay them, because there is a $0 fare and no tax is payable when there is a $0 fare. It's not like AA and BA are eating the taxes, they are just not charging them because you don't charge tax on a $0 fare.

Except, no airline would eat that fee because it should not be collected to begin with on a $0 fare. Refer to 49 USC �40117 (e) (2) (c)


wiivile - By award, I'm assuming you are looking at AA nonstops.

Only the following should be collected:
Brazil Embarkation Fee (BR) $33.80 USD
USDA APHIS Fee (XA) $3.96 USD
US FEDERAL INSPECTION FEE/Immigration Fee (XY) $7.00 USD
US September 11th Security Fee (AY) $5.60 USD
US Customs Fee (YC) $5.50 USD

The following should NOT be collected:
US International Departure Tax (US)
US Passenger Facility Charge (XF)
US International Arrival Tax (US)

JL should not be charging more than this unless they tack on YQ. In which case, US, XF, US would be triggered (whether it is legal or not, is a different discussion).

Not AA, but JJ nonstops, but yes, same point. There is no YQ. So, US, XF, and US should not be charged - any ideas how I can get them to stop charging this (both on my current ticket and going forward)? Thanks for finding that, btw.

I would guess it is a programming bug on JL side. Only cost effective way to compel them to legally comply with US law on these taxes is to take them to small claims. Definitely not worth the hassle IMO.

Or you can try to ask agent to transfer you to their tariff/rates department. Hopefully the folks there are more knowledgeable and can override the system calculated taxes.

Could I try disputing the charge on my credit card as being overcharged? If they try to defend the dispute, that might get the attention of their billing dept.

Also, I'm realizing how that this is more widespread than previously thought- I made a dummy booking on Iberia and they are improperly collecting the Passenger Facility Charge on an award booking for a simple roundtrip NYC-Boston itinerary (see below). I think FlyingBlue does it too...

Credit card issuer is not in the business of interpreting US/IRS code on when aviation taxes are/aren't applicable. They are here to facilities disputes resulting in services/goods not being delivered on the agreed upon terms with card member.

By having the ticket issued, you agreed on the amount to be paid for transportation and as long as you are transported to ticketed destination in ticketed class of service, JL fulfilled their end of the agreement. You were not overcharged as the amount on the JL ticket receipt matches exactly to the amount on your credit card statement.

Not from what I see....