Little rant: Ridiculous air taxes

[coastgirl]

So I'm just surfing around, looking for deals. Checked out the Sept sell-off for Sunwing from Halifax--hey I can get a couple of days in Toronto for a $39 fare, round trip. Cool. Click through to check out the taxes
.......
Remember, the fare is $39 total.
.......
$217 in fees and taxes!

 

[Cruiser1969]

Just the other day I was telling my DH about this very thing!! Pretty ridiculous, isn't it???

 

[TimNDansMom]

Takes the "fun" out of it, doesn't it!

 

[OntFamily]

Some of the charter airlines (such as Sunwing) hide part of their price in "fees" such as a fuel surcharge. Most mainstream airlines (such as Westjet and Air Canada) do not have such fees.


This allows Sunwing to advertise a low price, and then nab you with a higher cost (and most people will blame the government for the taxes and fees, when really part of it goes to Sunwing).


For the government taxes (notwithstanding we have high taxes in Canada) it makes sortof sense that regardless of the air fare you pay, you must pay the same fees. ie it costs NavCanada the same amount to supervise your jet's movement throughout Canada, regardless of how much you paid. Plus, the airport improvement fees are a fixed cost.

I'd suggest you get from SunWing an itemized list of the taxes and fees. You'll be surprised who is getting a portion of the money you pay on each trip.

 

[Northstar]

I agree with Ontfamily. Of course there's the usual high sales tax, but a lot of the other add-ons are fees not taxes. Also, it's deceptive when airlines include part of the money that THEY are getting in the taxes and fees. Fuel surcharges make me crazy... if you have to raise the fare, raise the fare, don't pretend this is some kind of special cost that shouldn't be included in the airfare you advertise.

Come on, airlines. We KNOW you can't fly us anywhere for $39... hey, that's less than a week's gas for my car and I'm sure not traveling as far or fast as a plane! Don't tantalize us. We just hate you for it in the end.

 

[chasbos]

How come SWA can fly us for $29 one way??? And they do not tax us to death?

 

[laura001]

I don't think they should be allowed to advertise any flights or vacation packages that way....all the prices should include everything. Who do they think they are fooling???? If I want to know the price of something, I want to know the complete price. Don't try to entice me, by making it look so cheap.