Thread: Departure Tax

I recall seeing $140 total taxes/fees on a "free" DL RT flight but no breakdown info. I guess it;s zone distance price plus that

I believe that ZEDs include the departure taxes (unless it's collected at the airport, of course) but I'd talk to your pass bureau to be sure.

A ZED Medium according to DL's website would run $82.80 JFK-LHR, for example.
$64 is for the fare itself
$16.40 for US Transportation tax
$2.50 for Passenger Civil Aviation Security Service Fee

Coming home, you'd be looking at:
$64 Fare
$16.30 Transportation Tax
$5.50 Customs User Fee
$7 Immigration User Fee
$5 APHIS User Fee
$49.40 Passenger Service Charge (maybe you can get that waived if you ask for no services :P )
$96.77 Air Passenger Duty

Again, that's for Delta. AA could be a lot different in theory, but that should give you a starting point at least.

Unfortunately the last government found that charging air passengers to get out of the country was an easy way to raise tax revenue ( especially being an island ) and that tax has increased year on year on year to the ridiculous charges that now exist. Note that the tax to fly to Europe is a lot lower so on rebate tickets it might be cheaper to fly direct into the UK ( no APD ) and then return via one of your European gateways.

You will always have to pay the UB airport tax ( Passenger Service? charge ) of about USD 30 out of LHR in each direction. The APD charges are a bit more complex in that they do not apply if you are on a confirmed ticket showing both connecting flights on the same ticket however standby tickets are normally treated as two separate non-connecting flights ( as you may not get accepted on the connecting flight ). Its normally up to the ticket issuing carrier to make this call as it is that carrier who will be charged the APD if the authorities deem it is applicable.