Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Miles&Points > Airlines and Mileage Programs > Southwest Airlines | Rapid Rewards
Reload this Page >

International Flight - Rate differs for OW vs. RT

International Flight - Rate differs for OW vs. RT

Old Apr 21, 2016, 11:22 am
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
International Flight - Rate differs for OW vs. RT

Looking at booking a flight between BWI & PUJ (Punta Cana). When I price the flight as a round trip, I'll get a return flight price of $245 (for example). When I price the return trip as a One Way, I get a fare a bit higher, such as $267.

Tried the 1 person vs. 2 people thing, just in case it was that. It's not.

Punta Cana does have a $20 visitor fee for anyone leaving, but that's already included in the ticket price, regardless.

Any idea why a one way flight would be more than pricing it via a round trip? Does it have anything to do with it being an international trip?

And another question...if that's the case, would it be safe to cancel the one way going to the island (which I have booked), and rebook the trip as a round trip? I don't have the EBCI, and I am aware of the risk of the price changing between cancelling and rebooking.
jeffandnicole is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2016, 11:41 am
  #2  
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,492
Isn't $22 fare differential more nuisance than obstacle?

Mid-July outbounds are $219 and returns $285.
LegalTender is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2016, 11:44 am
  #3  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,888
See this existing thread on the topic: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards/1601713-international-book-round-trip-instead-one-ways-save-intl-transportation-tax.html
FindAWay is offline  
Old Apr 21, 2016, 6:36 pm
  #4  
FSU
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 369
Originally Posted by FindAWay
See this existing thread on the topic: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ation-tax.html
Findaway, I meant to thank you 6 months ago for this thread. I ran into this issue when booking Punta Cana last December and couldn't figure it out until I read your explanation. Anyway, thanks a bit late.
FSU is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2016, 6:50 am
  #5  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
Yes, Findaway, that was perfect. As I see, you ran into that in the past. Thank you so much for the explanation! I'll quote the pertinent part of what you wrote on that previous thread here...

I'm looking at flying one of the new international non-stops out of MDW on WN and ran into a taxes savings by booking a round-trip instead of separate one-ways... Specifically, the "+Transportation Tax (International)"...is charged on the return only if it is a one-way flight and is not charged on the return if the reservation is booked as a round-trip.
jeffandnicole is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2016, 6:52 am
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
Originally Posted by LegalTender
Isn't $22 fare differential more nuisance than obstacle?

Mid-July outbounds are $219 and returns $285.

The difference here is if you book it as a round trip, you would pay the $219 & $285. If you booked it as separate one-way trips (which is often suggested), you would actually pay $219 & $315 or thereabouts due to the return tax as findaway mentioned. For one ticket, $30 is a nuisance. For a family, it starts to add up.
jeffandnicole is offline  
Old Apr 22, 2016, 7:44 pm
  #7  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston (HOU/IAH)
Programs: WN, UA, DL, AA, Chase UR, Amex MR
Posts: 2,267
I know the findaway's thread highlights an additional tax that is levied on one ways but have we been able to figure out whether this is a "real" tax that some countries add for one ways or just another Southwest IT glitch that can't compute correctly?

Their crack IT actually saved me some money when it forgot to charge me for the Belize departure tax so at least it works both ways (although it appears that problem has since been fixed when I try a dummy booking).
alggag is offline  
Old Apr 23, 2016, 8:02 am
  #8  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,930
Originally Posted by FindAWay
See this existing thread on the topic: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/south...ation-tax.html
The reason for the price difference is that the DR has a 18% Tax on the base fare which is ONLY due when your point of origin is the DR. When you book a roundtrip fare from the US, your point of origin is the US and there is no 18% DR tax due. The Southwest fee listings can be a bit cryptic. They call this 18% tax "Transportation Tax (International)" in the fee breakdown. In the case above, $180 x 18% = $32.40. If you book a flight on Delta, they have more detail on this tax along with the two-letter fee code, "Dominican Republic - Transportation Tax (DO)". So, in short, this is a real tax and Southwest is correctly charging it only for DR point of origin flights.

Last edited by xliioper; Apr 23, 2016 at 8:16 am
xliioper is offline  
Old Apr 24, 2016, 11:32 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: AA EXP, DL-Plat, WN-CP | Hotels: Choice-Gld, IHG-Plt, Rad-Gld, HH-Dia, Hyatt-Glob, Marriott-LtPlt
Posts: 2,888
Originally Posted by LBJ
The reason for the price difference is that the DR has a 18% Tax on the base fare which is ONLY due when your point of origin is the DR. When you book a roundtrip fare from the US, your point of origin is the US and there is no 18% DR tax due. The Southwest fee listings can be a bit cryptic. They call this 18% tax "Transportation Tax (International)" in the fee breakdown. In the case above, $180 x 18% = $32.40. If you book a flight on Delta, they have more detail on this tax along with the two-letter fee code, "Dominican Republic - Transportation Tax (DO)". So, in short, this is a real tax and Southwest is correctly charging it only for DR point of origin flights.
I think you meant to post immediately before your post and not mine.

I never thought or inferred that it wasn't being correctly charged or questioned whether or not this is a real tax. I merely pointed out the difference.
FindAWay is offline  
Old Apr 25, 2016, 10:28 am
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 921
Prices have jumped up a bit, and I never actually booked that return fare yet. So I'll probably just wait until they fall a bit again. I have several months before the trip, and price fluctuations seem to occur on a weekly basis. At that time I'll either cancel the outgoing trip and rebook the whole thing as a round trip, or just call SW and do it over the phone!
jeffandnicole is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.