The taxes are already in the price of the ZED. DL gets a special rate on AF, which is lower than ZED low. There are no departure taxes out of JFK, just 15-20 bucks arrival taxes. Usually you pay no taxes USA-Europe, when you come back you would pay the 40USD or so out of Germany, plus the 15-10USD to enter USA. Most places only have departure taxes, USA only has arrival taxes, some places have both. Price JFK-LHR, then price LHR-JFK, look at the price difference.

I'm not sure the exact details of the DL/AF nonrev benefits. I think it should be super cheap and biz class eligible, considering DL is flying AF routes(PIT-CDG) and AF took over all JFK-CDG. It's probably not though. I'd like to try out almost every airline, but I would rather take another DL flight in BizElite across the Atlantic than ride British Airways in Y.

You still on the ramp at CVG? How's Regional Elite treating everyone out there?