Taxes and Fees, oh My!
Feb 21, 2018, 3:00 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 83
Taxes and Fees, oh My!
We have flown to CUN several times but never really looked at the breakdown of the taxes and fees added onto the tickets. WOW! Excise tax, US Customs fee, Plant and Animal Inspection fee, US Immigration fee, Sept. 11th Fee(I'm used to that one), International Airport Transportation tax, Tourism Tax and Passenger Facility Fee. All together, they add over $128.00 to each ticket. Seems excessive to me, but if we want to go on vacation, I guess it is what it is.
Feb 21, 2018, 4:08 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
You.may have missed one or two:
Mexico Departure Tax: $31.16.
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 3.96
U.S. Transportation Tax: 35.60
September 11th Security Fee: 11.20
Mexico Tourism Tax: 20.98
Mexico Departure Tax: 31.16
U.S. Passenger Facility Charge: 13.50
Mexico Departure Tax: $31.16.
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 3.96
U.S. Transportation Tax: 35.60
September 11th Security Fee: 11.20
Mexico Tourism Tax: 20.98
Mexico Departure Tax: 31.16
U.S. Passenger Facility Charge: 13.50
Feb 21, 2018, 6:37 pm
#3
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Houston (HOU/IAH)
Programs: WN, UA, DL, AA, Chase UR, Amex MR
Posts: 2,269
Lots of taxes come into play when crossing borders by air. It's a big reason why it's popular for Canadians to drive across then catch a domestic flight to their final destination in the US or why the Cross Border Xpress bridge to allow direct pedestrian access to the Tijuana airport came about.
Feb 21, 2018, 7:10 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
This is nothing new and it applies to all international tickets on all carriers. The taxes imposed by Mexico exist in most other countries as well and many have much higher taxes. For example, departure (APD) from LHR in F/J is just over $200 in addition to all else.
Hopefully Mods will move this to Mexico forum because it has nothing to do with WN.
Hopefully Mods will move this to Mexico forum because it has nothing to do with WN.
Feb 22, 2018, 5:33 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
The ''Canadians driving to Buffalo to fly to Florida' example is instructive.
The OP would have paid the taxes and immigration and airport fees on any carrier.
The OP would have paid the taxes and immigration and airport fees on any carrier.
Feb 22, 2018, 8:46 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
This is nothing new and it applies to all international tickets on all carriers. The taxes imposed by Mexico exist in most other countries as well and many have much higher taxes. For example, departure (APD) from LHR in F/J is just over $200 in addition to all else.
Hopefully Mods will move this to Mexico forum because it has nothing to do with WN.
Hopefully Mods will move this to Mexico forum because it has nothing to do with WN.
I know we thought twice about those "free" trips to intl destinations and the "hidden" costs that come with it.
Feb 22, 2018, 8:55 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,539
You.may have missed one or two:
Mexico Departure Tax: $31.16.
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 3.96
U.S. Transportation Tax: 35.60
September 11th Security Fee: 11.20
Mexico Tourism Tax: 20.98
Mexico Departure Tax: 31.16
U.S. Passenger Facility Charge: 13.50
Mexico Departure Tax: $31.16.
U.S. Customs User Fee: 5.50
U.S. Immigration User Fee: 7.00
U.S. APHIS User Fee: 3.96
U.S. Transportation Tax: 35.60
September 11th Security Fee: 11.20
Mexico Tourism Tax: 20.98
Mexico Departure Tax: 31.16
U.S. Passenger Facility Charge: 13.50
Feb 22, 2018, 9:07 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Blue Ridge, GA
Posts: 5,512
Feb 22, 2018, 2:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HOU, IAH
Programs: WN A-List, CP, Marriott Gold
Posts: 67
Taxes to MEX
Here's another outrageous example..:
MEX - HOU March 7
Base Fare $46.00 Total Taxes: $91.78
U.S. Transportation Tax $18.30
U.S. Customs User Fee $5.65
U.S. APHIS User Fee $3.96
U.S. Immigration User Fee $7.00
MX Transportation Tax - IVA $1.84
Intl Airport Departure Tax $55.03
Total per Passenger $137.78
MEX - HOU March 7
Base Fare $46.00 Total Taxes: $91.78
U.S. Transportation Tax $18.30
U.S. Customs User Fee $5.65
U.S. APHIS User Fee $3.96
U.S. Immigration User Fee $7.00
MX Transportation Tax - IVA $1.84
Intl Airport Departure Tax $55.03
Total per Passenger $137.78
Feb 22, 2018, 2:46 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
We have flown to CUN several times but never really looked at the breakdown of the taxes and fees added onto the tickets. WOW! Excise tax, US Customs fee, Plant and Animal Inspection fee, US Immigration fee, Sept. 11th Fee(I'm used to that one), International Airport Transportation tax, Tourism Tax and Passenger Facility Fee. All together, they add over $128.00 to each ticket. Seems excessive to me, but if we want to go on vacation, I guess it is what it is.
Feb 23, 2018, 6:53 am
#14
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Nashville -Past DL Plat, FO, WN-CP, various hotel programs
Programs: DL-MM, AA, SW w/companion,HiltonDiamond, Hyatt PLat, IHF Plat, Miles and Points Seeker
Posts: 11,073
Yep - especially if it includes London. $500+ in fees is common.
Feb 23, 2018, 9:08 am
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 83
Thanks for the tips on Not Using air miles on either Southwest or American for international flights as we are accumulating in both systems. I'll try and remember to use our miles for domestic only.
On a side note, we live in the Western NY area and are used to the planes being half full with Canadian travelers. I thought it was because of the outrageous fees that the Canadian government tack on to their flights. But now I see we have the same issues in the US. The airfare its cheap, the taxes are not.
On a side note, we live in the Western NY area and are used to the planes being half full with Canadian travelers. I thought it was because of the outrageous fees that the Canadian government tack on to their flights. But now I see we have the same issues in the US. The airfare its cheap, the taxes are not.