You might have noticed that airfares are on the rise.
Fuel costs are increasing with international tensions. Major carriers are battling to survive. Those super-low fares will be scarce and therefore even more attractive. But you'll want to take a very close look at the fine print before clicking "buy."
Fees and taxes are pop up in that fine print area. Some of the fees existed previously but have jumped so much you might not recognize them.
Some examples for travel within the U.S.: Security Service Fee or "September 11 Fee" pays for added airport anti-terrorism precautions. It will add $2.50 per flight segment, with a maximum of $10 USD to a roundtrip ticket total for any journey originating in the United States. Federal Excise Tax will add another 7.5%. This one's been around for decades, but it's increased in recent years. Arrival, Departure and Customs Taxes can add $25 USD or more to your bottom line. Passenger Facilities Charges vary by location, since they fund local airport operations. It's assessed at $4.50 USD per flight segment, up to a U.S. maximum of $18 USD.
On international flights, the toll rises sharply: U.S. International Transportation (Arrival/Departure) Tax is $14.50 International Taxes and Fees are imposed by country and vary widely. But these foreign taxes, inspection fees, and security charges can add up to as much as $250 USD/ticket.
Don't consider this an exhaustive list of all possible domestic fees, and remember they vary according to the number of connections. But if you add up just these costs, the sum can increase your base price by up to $65 USD.
Many times, it's far more than that. All you need to do is look at a couple of "promotional" fares to see how it works. Click "next" for some examples.
