You might save some money if you buy your plane tickets after midnight tonight!

[ChristineandLiv]

The tickets I have been looking at from PVD to SNA are down to $311 per person (from $349). I'm still reluctant to book though because our trip is in January and I'd like to see SW's fares.

 

[n2mm]

Jetblue has some policy on their website right now. They are offering a tax refund on your current tickets if you are traveling within the next 7 days. Anything after 7 days will be posted as the situation changes. My January flight is lower this morning (was $84 and dropped to $78) and the tax is less. I will be buying this morning.

Greetings JetBlue Customers,

We have yet to determine how the recent expiration of the Federal Excise Tax, and other taxes, will impact our operation. As we work with the Federal Government to make this determination, we ask that you please follow the guidelines below:

If you are scheduled to travel with us within the next seven (7) days, and would like to request a refund on the recently expired taxes, please email us at dearjetblue@jetblue.com with your name and confirmation number. Please also include "Expired Tax Refund Request" in the subject line of your email. We will then process your request in the order in which it was received based on the guidance provided by the Federal Government.


If you are scheduled to travel with us outside of the next seven (7) days, and booked your reservation prior to July 23rd, we ask that you check back on jetblue.com at a later time. Updates will be made as more information becomes available.

Please note: Expired taxes will not be applied to newly booked travel on/after July 23, 2011.

 

[buckeev]

I just priced some other tickets on Expedia....when I got my final price, I got the "we're sorry, the price of this flight has increased from $205.58 to $242.20"

And that was just from clicking on the price to getting the total - the airlines are definitely raising the base fares to offset the taxes.

."..
...and then some....airline jerks.

 

[MAH4546]

I think it's because Travelocity's system is up to date. This is post #6 on FlyerTalk (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/delt...ecting-taxes-midnight-07-23-news-article.html) about Travelocity:



I checked airfares at American's web site, and they also charged just $7 in taxes per domestic flight. However, the international taxes on American's award tickets haven't budged since I checked earlier, and that's what I considered ticketing now rather than later.

That's because almost all those taxes go to foreign governments. The U.S. doesn't have ridiculous airfare taxes like the rest of the world.

 

[jsilvers]

That's because almost all those taxes go to foreign governments. The U.S. doesn't have ridiculous airfare taxes like the rest of the world.

Perhaps its depends on your definition of "ridiculous" - but the U.S. taxes for air travel are significant. A round-trip within the U.S. with non-stop flights in each direction is subject to the following taxes:

7.5% of the base fare
$7.40 in segment fees
$5.00 for the September 11th Security Fee
Up to $9.00 for Passenger Facility Charges, depending on the airports.​

(The taxes that have lapsed as of this morning are the 7.5% tax on the base fare and the segment fees.)

 

[pooch]

went from $99 - $109.70 with taxes & fees to $92.09 - $99.09 with taxes & fees. But nothing about refunding the difference of course!! Can't REALLY complain, my total R/T comes to $200 and change with perfect times and I'M GOING TO DISNEY!!!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

So...why would airlines increase the price like that? Just for profits (the customers think it's the same but they get to pocket it?), or because the airlines will eventually have to pay those taxes, so they'll charge that amount, put it into a savings account, and use that for the future taxes? Or just orneriness?


For those few people who can take Virgin America...their email today is titled: "Take a tax holiday. Grab a seat with fewer federal taxes for a limited time only."

 

[NancyIL]

So...why would airlines increase the price like that? Just for profits (the customers think it's the same but they get to pocket it?), or because the airlines will eventually have to pay those taxes, so they'll charge that amount, put it into a savings account, and use that for the future taxes? Or just orneriness?


For those few people who can take Virgin America...their email today is titled: "Take a tax holiday. Grab a seat with fewer federal taxes for a limited time only."

I imagine the airlines are hoping to keep the extra money collected by the higher fare prices.

 

[MAH4546]

Perhaps its depends on your definition of "ridiculous" - but the U.S. taxes for air travel are significant. A round-trip within the U.S. with non-stop flights in each direction is subject to the following taxes:

7.5% of the base fare
$7.40 in segment fees
$5.00 for the September 11th Security Fee
Up to $9.00 for Passenger Facility Charges, depending on the airports.​

(The taxes that have lapsed as of this morning are the 7.5% tax on the base fare and the segment fees.)

Yeah, um, that's cheap. In the UK and Germany, taxes are usually double the price. Taxes add at least $200 to an international ticket from London.

 

[NancyIL]

Yeah, um, that's cheap. In the UK and Germany, taxes are usually double the price. Taxes add at least $200 to an international ticket from London.

I noticed that about flights originating in the UK and Germany! I have been looking at award tickets on American Airlines from various places in Europe to my home airport in central Illinois for next June. The plane ticket is "free" - but I have to pay the taxes. They range from a high of $165.50 out of London, to a low of $38.70 from Helsinki, $39.90 from Barcelona, and $41.70 from Madrid.

 

[jsilvers]

Yeah, um, that's cheap. In the UK and Germany, taxes are usually double the price. Taxes add at least $200 to an international ticket from London.

The taxes previously described were for flights within the U.S., so comparing them to an international flight is an apples-to-oranges comparison.