Judy

I have an Air France ticket, using Delta FF miles from Norfolk, VA to CDG in May (return in June) 1st class and the taxes were $80.14. I booked it 11/5.

Lori

I'm seeing here that people who booked AA, CO, DELTA paid less tax then those on AF or BA. That indicates to me that the U.S. companies tax and fee structures must be different. In my case, having BA FF miles, I must use them on BA for Europe, I cannot use them on AA even if AA is part of their alliance. It gets tricky

Gavin

I just booked Air Canada Toronto-Sao Paulo first class for 75,000 points. The charge was C$159 (US$136) broken down as follows: Canada Security Charge $17, Carrier Admin. Service Charge $84, Combined Tases $58.12.

The charge have certainly gone up. I recall flying Toronto-San Francisco on points for a couple of dollars about five years ago.

AAFrequentFlyer

You can use BA miles on AA, just not on any US-London routes.

Betsy

Monica, I'm not sure if this will help you or not. I'm checking flights to Europe for March at itasoftware.com and found the following: Type your multi-segment itinerary into their 30-day search window option and locate your specific flights from those that come up. If you click on your itinerary and click on through a couple of screens you'll find the taxes and fees listed. You may have to scroll down. If this is doesn't work for you, e-mail me at betsyatspeakeasydotorg, and I'll see if I can work it out for you.

Sue_xx_yy

Gavin:

"Carrier Admin Service Charge" - $84 ??! That's more than the taxes and security charge combined on your ticket!!

Monica, that can't be right - those charges sound higher than those for a paid ticket. Either that, or airlines are now charging for their so-called 'points' flights. I don't care how they try to dress it up by calling it an 'administration' charge, as in Gavin's case.

Something is rotten in the state of Fly-a-lot.

rex

<< Either that, or airlines are now charging for their so-called 'points' flights... >>

Well, they are definitely doing that - - though usually not in triple digits (except for very short notice - - might be $100 or more in some cases).

Hope that there is some kind of reduction/happy ending to this story.

Best wishes,

Rex

Betsy

I was curious, so I did the itasoftware sequence by typing in May 1 outbound and May 14 return, IAD to Florence then Venice to IAD. Clicked on Air France and opened the first flight offered as it connected through CDG. Here's the breakdown:

Fare (A1): AF WASVCE VKXNRUS5 fare (rules) $355.00
Fare (A2): AF VCEWAS VKWNRUS5 fare (rules) $385.00
Tax: US September 11th Security Fee $2.50
Tax: US Passenger Facility Charge $4.50
Tax: US International Departure Tax $14.10
Tax: Italian Council City Tax €2.00
Tax: Italian Security Bag Charge €1.75
Tax: Italian Security Charge €1.81
Tax: Italian Embarkation Tax €6.87
Tax: US International Arrival Tax $14.10
Tax: French Airport Tax €17.00
Tax: French Aviation Civile Tax €10.96
Tax: US Customs Fee $5.00
Tax: US Immigration Fee $7.00
Tax: USDA APHIS Fee $5.00

Total for 1 adult passenger: $840.60

So the fare is about $740 and the taxes and fees are about $100, for a purchased ticket. Seems like you're being charged another $183 or so. Hope this info helps when you start making phone calls.

Although I didn't look that closely, it seems as if they equate the USD with the Euro in their calculation.

monicapileggi

Judy, which phone number did you use to get your tickets? I'm wondering if since I'm going through a Canadian location, they are charging me a bunch of Canadian taxes.

Thanks,

Monica

tomboy

If it'll make you feel better, I'll pay you $300 for two RT tickets. That way you'll be $17 ahead, and feel better that no one took advantage of you.

Tere

I also booked a ticket with FF miles from Lisbon to Los Angeles and return for March and paid 167 euros for taxes . I thought it was much also.

Tere

Forgot to say it was also with Air France !!!

Judy

Monica, I used Delta miles and chose Air France as they partner with Delta....that may account for the price difference.
I called the 800 for international travel on Delta's website and asked for the partner desk.

Judy

that would be the 800 number....I should learn to preview!

Carson

Recent trip to Guadalajara, Mexico. Taxes accounted for almost 30% of the cost. You've got to be kidding!! Look at the taxes and ask yourself if you truly believe all this is necessary, not bureaucratic waste and overlapping of fees:

AIRFARE
RT Fare: $358.00
Fuel Surcharge: $10.00

TOTAL FARE: $368.00

TAXES
US Int'l Arrival: $14.10
US Int'l Dep: $14.10
Mexico Int'l Dep: $27.50
Mexico Tourism: $19.60
US Immigration: $7.00
US Animal & Plant Health Inspections: $4.90
US Psgr Facility: $13.50
Sept. 11 Sec.: $7.50

TOTAL TAXES: $108.20

AAFrequentFlyer

<b>Carson</b>,

and what does that have to do with the question here?

monicapileggi

Lots of running around today on the phone. To make a looong story short, I received the following breakdown (although she went a little fast, so my notes are not complete:

Canadian fuel tax 125CA ($108.80)
YQ tax 122CA ($104.52)
? 16.30CA ($13.96)
AY 2.89CA ($2.48)
EX 2.40CA ($2.06)
BT 2.48CA ($2.12)
YZ 5.79CA ($4.96)
XA 5.79CA ($4.96)
some French tax 15.01E ($18.03)
?? 2.74E ($3.29)
16.23CA ($13.98)
XY 8.10CA ($6.93)
France tax 23.28E ($27.96)
Italy tax 9.41E ($11.30)

Total of $325USD

I also got the run around about going to DC to buy my tickets and paying only $205. Well, by the time I use my annual leave, I might as well purchase via telephone to the Canadian Air France location. No one would pass out any DC phone number, although they gave me a fax number. Can't order tickets that way anyway as they want me to either do this in person or via phone. I might go ahead and fax them a letter anyway and ask them to call me. I have this tickets on hold till tomorrow 5pm.

Looks like the fuel charge is what's making this all add up. All other taxes are &quot;regulars.&quot;

Oh, I was also told that the &quot;type&quot; of award ticket I would get has more flexibility than other tickets and that they're good for a year, or something like that. Didn't ask details, as my mind was on other things.

What a pain in the butt this is. I think I'll change to another FF program! Any recommendations of a GOOD one without the run-around BS?

Thanks,

Monica

ira

Hi monica,

&gt;Canadian fuel tax 125CA ($108.80)

There's most of your difference.

&gt;Total of $325USD

It used to be $283.

tcreath

I just checked AA a few hours ago (where I have a frequent flyer account) and checked into the fees for St. Louis to Rome and the total, minus the miles, came to just under $60.00. I have been fairly happy with AA so far. I can travel to Europe for as little as 40,000 miles, which is nice because I don't accrue miles as fast as others.

Tracy

Patty

Monica,
I don't think the ff programs of any US based carriers pass on fuel surcharges to award tickets. If you want to be able to redeem flights on Air France, you could consider Northwest Worldperks, Delta Skymiles, or Continental Onepass. If you were reserving the same Air France award flights through any of the above programs, you wouldn't be paying fuel surcharges, only actual taxes.