What Goes Into Your Fare
The total you pay for a ticket bought through Airlines-Deal is made up of the airline's base fare plus a range of government taxes, airport fees and carrier surcharges. Federal, state and international authorities require these extra charges, and airlines collect them for the governments and agencies concerned. We believe in fully transparent pricing, so every tax and fee that applies is shown clearly before your booking is complete.
Taxes Set by Governments
Government authorities impose the taxes below, and they are built into your ticket's total price:
- U.S. Federal Excise Tax: Required by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), this tax is a percentage of the base fare on domestic flights within the United States. It currently stands at 7.5% of the domestic airfare.
- U.S. Flight Segment Tax: A charge applied to each domestic flight segment, where one segment means one takeoff and one landing. The IRS adjusts the amount every year in line with inflation.
- International Departure Tax: A tax on passengers leaving the United States on international flights. The U.S. government collects it, and the amount depends on the destination.
- International Arrival Tax: Some countries charge arrival taxes or entry fees to incoming travelers. The amount depends on the destination, and it is included in your fare where it applies.
- Foreign Government Taxes: Many countries levy their own departure taxes, value-added taxes (VAT) or tourism charges. The destination country sets them, and they can change without notice.
Airport and Security Charges
- Passenger Facility Charge (PFC): Charged by individual airports to pay for improvements and infrastructure work. Each airport sets its own PFC, subject to a maximum per enplanement.
- September 11th Security Fee: Imposed per segment by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to fund aviation security. Every passenger on a flight departing from a U.S. airport pays it.
- Airport Infrastructure Fees: Certain airports, international hubs in particular, add infrastructure or development fees that reach passengers through the ticket price.
- Customs and Immigration Fees: On international trips, your fare may include fees for customs processing and immigration inspection.
- APHIS User Fee: The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service charges passengers arriving in the United States on international flights a user fee that pays for agricultural inspections.
Surcharges Added by Airlines
- Fuel Surcharges: To cover changing fuel prices, airlines may add fuel surcharges. They can differ widely from one airline and route to another and are included in the total fare shown on our website. They are especially common on long-haul international flights, where they can make up a large share of the ticket price.
- Insurance Surcharges: Some airlines build a security surcharge or war risk insurance surcharge into the fare to pay for higher insurance premiums linked to aviation security risks.
Our Service Fee
On top of government taxes and airline surcharges, Airlines-Deal charges a service fee for its booking help and customer support. It covers searching, comparing and booking travel for you and supporting you throughout your trip. The fee is charged per passenger and shown clearly before you pay. The full list of our service fees is on our Service Fees page.
How Your Taxes Are Worked Out
Several factors determine the taxes and fees on your booking, among them:
- Where your flight starts and ends
- How many flight segments your itinerary contains
- Whether the trip is domestic or international
- Which countries and airports your route passes through
- Which airline operates the flight
- The government tax rates and fee schedules in force when you book
The relevant government authorities set tax rates and fee amounts, and these can change from time to time. The taxes shown when you book are based on the rates in force at that moment. After your ticket is issued, its taxes are usually locked in, though changing your itinerary can lead to some adjustments.
Pricing You Can Trust
Clear, honest pricing is central to how Airlines-Deal works. Whether you search on our website or talk to an agent, the total price you see already contains every applicable tax, fee and surcharge, and there are no hidden charges. You pay the price shown, plus our clearly stated service fee. Travelers should know exactly what their money is paying for, and we aim to present prices as simply as we can.
Ask for a Breakdown
Our support team can give you a detailed breakdown of the taxes and fees on your booking. Get in touch:
Phone: (800) 287-0781 (open 24/7)
Email: [email protected]
Address: IFZA Business Park - Building A2, Dubai, UAE