Mason From United States, joined Jun 1999, 730 posts, RR: 0 Posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2158 times:
Sorry if this has already been discussed. Who has the most expensive airport tax? To me, this is what I hate most about traveling. I remember SCL charging me almost US$50 a few years ago, now I hear it's even higher! Only for US and Canadian travelers, though. Others pay less.
VinnieWinnie From France, joined Nov 2005, 446 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 21 hours ago) and read 2128 times:
To me LHR should obviously be the most expensive airport to land in. Isn't it the airport which has the most sought after slots? Every major international airlines goes or wants to go there but due to capacity it is not always feasible. Apparently there is even a gray market where airlines swap and buy eachother slots for huge amounts of money. Basic law of supply and demand but really wonder if it actually the case.
So sorry if my contribution is a bit worthless! But I'd also like to know
Pope From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2111 times:
Quoting Mason (Thread starter): remember SCL charging me almost US$50 a few years ago,
I don't think that's a fair comparison. The $50 fee is a one time fee (equivalent to a visa application fee that the US charges Chileans) that lasts for the validity of your passport. You could go in once a week for 10 years and not pay it again.
EHHO From Germany, joined Dec 2005, 815 posts, RR: 10 Reply 3, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2050 times:
Quoting VinnieWinnie (Reply 1): LHR should obviously be the most expensive airport to land in
Indeed, in theory that should be the case. However, for some reason BA is very competitive on flights from Holland and western Germany (AMS/DUS/HAM) to Asia and the US. Their deals are usually better than competitors', even though you have to go through LHR T4. So I don't think that the tax that the pax pay is significantly higher that at FRA, CDG or AMS.
Quoting Mason (Thread starter): To me, this is what I hate most about traveling.
I bet you don't hate good, comfortable and clean airports. Airports cost money. Period.
"Get your facts first. Then you may distort them as much as you please" -- Mark Twain
BA From United States, joined May 2000, 10658 posts, RR: 71 Reply 4, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1964 times:
Airport departure taxes are becoming increasingly rare in my experience.
The last time for me was in June 2004 departing Amman Queen Alia Int'l in Jordan. We had to pay 5 Jordanian Dinars each which is about $7USD. This fee was for non-Jordanian citizens. Jordanians citizens pay a different amount which I forgot now.
In 2000 when we flew out of Nassau in the Bahamas, we also had to pay an airport departure tax, but I forgot what the amount was.
Beirut used to charge an airport departure tax, but this was stopped several years ago, I think ever since the new terminal opened in 1998. The fees are now included in your ticket.
Quoting Pope (Reply 2): I don't think that's a fair comparison. The $50 fee is a one time fee (equivalent to a visa application fee that the US charges Chileans) that lasts for the validity of your passport. You could go in once a week for 10 years and not pay it again.
That's not an airport tax then, it's a visa fee and has nothing to do with the airport itself, but the country's customs and immigrations.
Visiting Turkey last summer, we had to pay $20USD each and it was only a 3-month multiple entry visa. This was the fee for US passports.
Many countries charge for visa on arrival. It's considered a source of revenue for them.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
There is no such thing as airport tax in the UK. Air Passenger Duty is a governement imposed tax and ranges from £5 to £40 depending on destination and class of travel.
Quoting VinnieWinnie (Reply 1): To me LHR should obviously be the most expensive airport to land in
He didn't ask which was the most expensive airport to land in. The cost of landing would include at least a landing fee and navigation service charge but neither is a tax.
Aussieindc From United States, joined Jul 2005, 360 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 1937 times:
Hang on a second. Are we talking about airport taxes or departure taxes? The reason I ask is because the UK departure tax is quite high and as far as I'm aware, the money goes to the government, not the airline. The only airport taxes I'm immediately aware of are the airport security screening tax and maybe an airport improvement tax.
Beware though, if you go 'J' or 'F' class to the UK, expect to pay roughly double for the UK departure tax.
EnviroTO From Canada, joined Aug 2004, 689 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1782 times:
YYZ has the highest landing fees but on the other hand doesn't as many other separate fees that get charged by other airports (i.e. gating, de-icing, etc). I haven't seen a real world comparison with those other fees factored in.
Lapper From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2002, 1416 posts, RR: 11 Reply 9, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1776 times:
Quoting HS748 (Reply 5): There is no such thing as airport tax in the UK.
Correct, but the most expensive Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) in the UK, which is the UB tax code shown on a ticket, is I believe for LCY which charges gbp17.90 for the use of its facilities when departing from the airport.
Edit:
I've just foudn out that NWI charges a hefty gbp19.60!!!
[Edited 2006-01-12 13:55:22]
Number of flights so far this year - 72. Next flights - LCY-RTM-LCY VG F50 (new route for me).
Brilondon From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 1466 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 6 hours ago) and read 1739 times:
When you talk about a tax or improvement fee your still talking about a surcharge added to the regular price of the ticket. To me who now pays his own way and anybody in the general flying public will agree that you can come up with all the fancy different ways of saying " tax, improvement fee, navigation surcharges, pfc etc. " This is all just tax in Canada since the government gets all the money including fuel taxes which are now also a surcharge from most airlines. Oh by the way before we talk about private ownership in Canada. The major airports all run under airport aurthorities which means the government owns them in a convoluted way but now does not have to fund them.
Having low expectations means you won't be disapointed.
Malaysia From United States, joined Nov 1999, 2874 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 1529 times:
Quoting BA (Reply 4): Airport departure taxes are becoming increasingly rare in my experience.
Still around at BKK,
but its discriminatory at CGK, where Foreigners dont have to pay much compared to an Indonesian Citizen who has to pay a lot more for leaving the country.
There Are Those Who Believe That There May Yet Be Other Airlines Who Even Now Fight To Survive Beyond The Heavens
Mason From United States, joined Jun 1999, 730 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 10 months 3 days ago) and read 1440 times:
Sorry for the confusion, I ment departure tax, although in SCL, we paid upon arrival. I'll have to look at my passport to see if it is good for 10 years! I don't think so, but I'll check. In LIM, the departure tax is like US$30 or something. Every international passenger must pay this, as far as I know. I have never visited the UK. Is there a similar departure tax there? Is it the same for LHR, MAN, and LGW?
BA From United States, joined May 2000, 10658 posts, RR: 71 Reply 14, posted (3 years 10 months 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1405 times:
This web site has a database of regularly updated visa and immigratin requirements into all countries and all nationalities and it also has information about airport taxes:
Very useful service provided by IATA and it is also found on some airline websites.
Here is Beirut, Lebanon:
LEBANON (LB)
A. EXIT TAX is levied on all passengers leaving Lebanon travelling:
a. First class: LBP 100,000.- or equivalent in foreign currencies;
b. Business class: LBP 75,000.- or equivalent in foreign currencies;
c. Economy class: LBP 50,000.- or equivalent in foreign currencies.
PLACE OF PAYMENT: at ticket issuance or, if failed to be collected at ticket issuance, at airport of departure in Lebanon.
EXEMPT are:
1. persons visiting Lebanon upon official government invitation;
2. Lebanese government representatives on official missions abroad holding official documents;
3. heads of diplomatic delegations, consuls, secretaries, attaches accredited to Lebanon;
4. technical and military attaches accredited to Lebanon;
5. General consuls and consular representatives accredited to Lebanon;
6. U.N. staff and their families residing in Lebanon and U.N. staff on official missions, all holding U.N. passports;
7. infants less than 2 years of age;
8. transit passengers staying less than 24 hours.
B. DEPARTURE TAX is levied on all passengers leaving Lebanon by air or sea: amount LBP 5,000.
a. This tax will be in the form of a departure stamp.
b. It must be affixed on all tickets of departing passengers by companies/agents operating in Lebanon (whether tickets are issued locally or abroad).
c. This tax is not refundable after being affixed to the ticket.
d. Non compliance of affixing this stamp to the ticket will result in a fine of LBP 25,000 in addition to the cost of the stamp.
PLACE OF PAYMENT: the departure stamp is obtainable from the Ministry of Finance.
EXEMPT: no exemptions exist.
The exchange rate is roughly $1USD = 1500LBP.
So that's approximately $33USD for Economy Class passengers, $50USD for Business Class passengers, and $66USD for First Class passengers, plus approximately $3.33USD in addition per passenger.
All these fees are included in the ticket.
Not really sure how this compares to the rest of the world. Unfortunately it doesn't list any information for the UK or the US, probably because there are so many airports and each have their own fees.
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need." - Khalil Gibran
HS748 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (3 years 10 months 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 1361 times:
Quoting Aussieindc (Reply 6): The only airport taxes I'm immediately aware of are the airport security screening tax and maybe an airport improvement tax.
Not in the UK - there is NO airport tax!
Quoting Mason (Reply 13): Is there a similar departure tax there? Is it the same for LHR, MAN, and LGW?
FLY2LIM From United States, joined May 2004, 1160 posts, RR: 13 Reply 17, posted (3 years 10 months 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1275 times:
Quoting Mason (Reply 13): In LIM, the departure tax is like US$30 or something. Every international passenger must pay this, as far as I know.
Lima's departure tax is roughly $28.25 the last time I was there which, for a family of four, is very expensive. Every international passenger must, indeed, pay it. You must even pay it if you are traveling on a mileage exchange (ff miles) or any other form of reduced travel.
Brilondon From Canada, joined Aug 2005, 1466 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (3 years 10 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 994 times:
Quoting HS748 (Reply 15): Not in the UK - there is NO airport tax!
I just about fell off my chair when I read this little tidbit. UK taxes air even more then in Canada. There are fares in the UK that are very low with the discount carriers until you add in the taxes. You may not pay any direct taxes to the airport but the airports passes on the fees to the carriers and they then add the on to the extra charges put on the tickets.
Having low expectations means you won't be disapointed.
AirafriqueDKR From Colombia, joined May 2001, 392 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (3 years 10 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 748 times:
Quoting Mason (Thread starter): Sorry if this has already been discussed. Who has the most expensive airport tax? To me, this is what I hate most about traveling. I remember SCL charging me almost US$50 a few years ago, now I hear it's even higher! Only for US and Canadian travelers, though. Others pay less.
This is not an airport tax. This is a reciprocity fee. It is the same amount that Chilean citizens are charged when they apply for a tourist visa to enter the United States. The receipt that is issued is regarded as a mulitple entry visa and is valid until the passport expires. And the fee is now 100USD for US Citizens. Canadians citizens are charged 55USD.Australian citizens 30USD. Basically any country where Chileans need to pay for a visa to enter, Chile charges the same when citizens of these countries enter Chile. EU citizens don't pay anything since Chilean citizens don't need a visa to enter the EU.
LTBEWR From United States, joined Jan 2004, 9292 posts, RR: 7 Reply 23, posted (3 years 10 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 686 times:
The departure tax at the airport on Tortola/Beef Island, British West Indies is $20 USD. Cash USD's only. No credit cards. No cash on you, then you have to take a cab to the nearest ATM. (they use USD's on the BWI due to the proximity to the USVI's). I believe this is to fund the security and facilities there, a nice, modern, small airport.
BSU747 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 142 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (3 years 10 months 2 days ago) and read 627 times:
Quoting AsstChiefMark (Reply 21): On a related note.... Avoid renting a car at DFW if at all possible.
Sorry for this not covering airport tax, but the above reply has given me a chance to air a grief of mine.
Last October I rented a car in PHX for 18 days and was ripped of to the tune of around $100 for a "rental facility charge"
This is a daily charge that was not included in my "all inclusive all fees paid" car rental which covers the cost of building a new car rental facility to be built to the west of the airport to house all rental companies and was not far off from opening if it has not opened by now.
My main gripe was that I was not told about this in advance on my rental voucher and having to pay such a huge charge when I was only renting a car once, for 17 days the car would be nowhere near the facility, how can they charge me a daily rate. I felt like going back each day to P*** them of so that I could exercise my given right to use what I had paid for.
Flying may not be all plain sailing, but the fun of it is worth the price.
HS748 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 25, posted (3 years 10 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 574 times:
Quoting Brilondon (Reply 18): I just about fell off my chair when I read this little tidbit. UK taxes air even more then in Canada. There are fares in the UK that are very low with the discount carriers until you add in the taxes. You may not pay any direct taxes to the airport but the airports passes on the fees to the carriers and they then add the on to the extra charges put on the tickets.
Which bit of 'there is NO airport tax in the UK' didn't you understand? The only tax payable is governement imposed Air Passenger Duty. Any other charge added to your fare is exactly that - a charge just like the charge you pay your supermarket for tomato ketchup.
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