FAA shutdown, Airlines cash in,raise rates

[NYDisneyKid]

http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/07/...?icid=main|htmlws-main-n|dl1|sec3_lnk3|219916

 

[eliza61]

sad.

 

[n2mm]

I haven't seen any rate increase for my favorite airline, Jetblue. Actually on their website, they are telling you how to apply for a refund of the taxes if you are flying this week! For my flights one way the savings is just a few dollars, so I didn't see a need in booking now for my January trip.

 

[bumbershoot]

That article is confusing.

On one hand: "the uncollected tax will come out to roughly $61 per domestic ticket."

On the other: "Southwest and AirTran have increased fares by $4-each way"...


Pretty big difference between the two amounts.


Now that I've had a chance to think about it, honestly, I don't blame the airlines for doing it, and don't particularly mind, as long as the total isn't coming up higher than what it would have been. If I was prepared to pay $100, $85 to the airline and $15 to taxes, well I'm prepared to pay $100. If the airline can help their bottom line by raising the fare to $89 or even up to $100, I'm having a hard time condemning them for it.

Ultimately it's no difference to the person (as long as the price is the same it would have been) and it offsets other issues for the airline, so....

 

[DebbieB]

What if the government comes back and wants to collect those taxes? I'm sure they will once all this is resolved. It would be easier to pay now rather than having them coming back later looking for more money. Or the airline will have to absorb it, which would not be fair to them. It's not like the tax is permanently gone, it will come back.