Anyone Else Noticing "FEES"??

[omegaet]

We just finished booking some International flights on-line.....the fares we reasonable, but then we looked at the "FEES".....and had a little "sticker shock" at what we saw:

APHIS User Fee:$5.00
GT-Departure tax:$30.00
Immigration User Fee:$7.00
Passenger Civil Security Fee:$2.50
Passenger Facility Fee:$4.50
Passenger Usage Fee:$9.80
US Customs Fee:$5.50
US-International Departure Tax:$32.20

TOTAL FEES $96.50

We can't even decipher half of the fees! Anyone else notice this trap....smoke and mirrors!

[kyshel]

taxes?? we don't need no stinkin' taxes...

This has been in the works for quite some time--are you really surprised? The departure tax will vary by country but I believe this is a ticket for Guatemala, si? That $30 fee was previously collected at the airport. I think part of this is a result of new "truth in ticketing" regs that those fees are no longer included in the ticket "price" and must stand alone (or in this case within a gaggle of fees). Maybe we have someone with travel agent experience who can elaborate?

[omegaet]

Yes, I am surprised (almost as surprised as when I read in aother thread you will e going to a foreign destination and actually staying for more than 48 hours).....not at the Departure Taxes (yes, it on a Guatemala ticket), but at the other "FEES."

Looking at the break out....it appears there is some double-dips involved......I foolishly thought the income taxes we pay go toward many of the "service agencies"....at least some of them. Now we are paying what appears to be extra fees.

Maybe I'm just having a bad day and feel a little oppressed....too much reality and not enought idealism.

Maybe I need to focus on the upcoming trip.....yes, that's the answer....think about good things, volcanos, good coffee, great service from a friendly staff and all of which was secured at a deeply discounted Mystery Auction price here on LL (back in the old days when we had Mystery Auctions)!

I feel better already!

[CMDAVILACLI]

Hi Omegaet....
that's the ticket (yes, a pun intended)... looking at the silver lining! I too flip out when I see these fees... I've been searching for a flight to Italy and have been checking out www.cheapoair.com. When you look up the fares, the fares seem reasonable... then you can see the added fees, and BOY OH BOY do you get slapped down... and whats really weird is that the fees will vary per airline even though the departure and return info is the same, just a different airlines... go figure!
cmdavilacli

[kyshel]

Airfare: R3,200.00
Taxes: R1,809.00
TOTAL: R5,009.00
This is RT ticket on South African Airways--1100 miles Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
I can't even get a breakdown of the fees/taxes on any websites w/out buying a ticket so I have no clue why over 1/3 the price of the ticket isn't even the ticket!! Obscene.

[bonniejoy03]

Ok...I hate to be doom and gloom but we also have the "stupid fees". Heading to Anguilla next month and will have to pay for our bags! At least USair stopped charging for beverages! Now they are free! (Don't know if anyone saw the cute cartoon about the air passengers. One says how great it is that the airlines are giving away free coffee and the other one adds that now they are charging for the bathrooms!)

And, this week, I also paid $24 for seats on Air tran for our June trip. My cheap air tickets are starting to cost me.

[thepiranha]

I feel your pain. I found a great deal on a roundtrip flight for only $200, but taxes and fees were $312, far more than the flights themselves. I forgot where the flight was to, but it was pretty easy for me to not buy the ticket.