I can’t get my head around this?
Discussion
First I hope this is left in NP and E, its definitely economics and will receive a wider audience.
I’ve attached a breakdown of a flight I booked.
70% of the total cost is shown as fees and taxes, 30% the flight.
Can someone break this down as I simply cannot fathom how an airline can fly someone 5000 miles for £120 net.
What am I missing?
Thanks
I’ve attached a breakdown of a flight I booked.
70% of the total cost is shown as fees and taxes, 30% the flight.
Can someone break this down as I simply cannot fathom how an airline can fly someone 5000 miles for £120 net.
What am I missing?
Thanks
Airlines have allocated landing slots at various airports which they can lose the rights to if they don't use them.
So commercially it's better for them to at least fly the plane to those airports consistently all year round even if it means some flights are near empty as the flights may be jam packed during peak season. They can't sidestep the taxes and fees but if they can squeeze a little bit out of a paying passenger that's better than nothing.
So commercially it's better for them to at least fly the plane to those airports consistently all year round even if it means some flights are near empty as the flights may be jam packed during peak season. They can't sidestep the taxes and fees but if they can squeeze a little bit out of a paying passenger that's better than nothing.
eltawater said:
Airlines have allocated landing slots at various airports which they can lose the rights to if they don't use them.
So commercially it's better for them to at least fly the plane to those airports consistently all year round even if it means some flights are near empty as the flights may be jam packed during peak season. They can't sidestep the taxes and fees but if they can squeeze a little bit out of a paying passenger that's better than nothing.
That fits nicely with saving the enviroment!So commercially it's better for them to at least fly the plane to those airports consistently all year round even if it means some flights are near empty as the flights may be jam packed during peak season. They can't sidestep the taxes and fees but if they can squeeze a little bit out of a paying passenger that's better than nothing.
Peter911 said:
eltawater said:
Airlines have allocated landing slots at various airports which they can lose the rights to if they don't use them.
So commercially it's better for them to at least fly the plane to those airports consistently all year round even if it means some flights are near empty as the flights may be jam packed during peak season. They can't sidestep the taxes and fees but if they can squeeze a little bit out of a paying passenger that's better than nothing.
That fits nicely with saving the enviroment!So commercially it's better for them to at least fly the plane to those airports consistently all year round even if it means some flights are near empty as the flights may be jam packed during peak season. They can't sidestep the taxes and fees but if they can squeeze a little bit out of a paying passenger that's better than nothing.
eltawater said:
There are a surprising number of commercial cargo consignments also carried by these passenger flights. I learned the other day that we Brits are exporting an increasing number of Brown Crabs to the far east as they are loaded on board the same flights members of the public would take, thus avoiding the need for dedicated cargo flights.
Having worked for an aircraft cleaning company I can confirm we definitely import a lot of "brown crabs" from other countries as well... just don't stand too close if the hose splitsBiker 1 said:
I'm planning a trip to the US in a month or so. Prices range fro £400 to £3,500, all cattle class. The only differences I can see are time of day & which airport I make the connecting flight. A real dark art indeed!
3.5k cattle to the US 
Last week I booked 2 flights to the US non-stop for the week after next. The price I paid was less than the next lower class by around 1500quid. The only reason …. I took a hire car at the same time. The same ticket, same flight is now more than 6 times what I paid.
Edited by GT03ROB on Friday 11th October 11:44
Your ticket should have a breakdown of the fees into government and carrier imposed ones. Here is a breakdown of costs on a recently booked flight.
The flight in total was £420. £160 odd just in governement imposed taxes and fees. The UKs Air Passenger Duty is often the largest one, £78 imposed for the cheapest fare on any flight over 2000 miles. For £260 they're flying me halfway around the world and back... And I'm not flying a budget airline either.
In some places it is legal to advertise fares sans taxes and fees. So they can advertise a $50 flight and add on $100 in charges and the tax on top of that. Fortunately that is illegal here and in most modern countries. If Ryanair advertised a £19 flight, there must be a ticket that can be purchased for £19 Inc all mandatory taxes and fees.
The flight in total was £420. £160 odd just in governement imposed taxes and fees. The UKs Air Passenger Duty is often the largest one, £78 imposed for the cheapest fare on any flight over 2000 miles. For £260 they're flying me halfway around the world and back... And I'm not flying a budget airline either.
GT03ROB said:
1) Also check the fees "carrier imposed surcharge" = money we will still charge you even though it's not in the ticket price
2) Airline pricing models are a black art verging on the incomprehensible.
Carrier imposed surcharges usually relate to a cost borne by the airline and passed on to the buyer. Things like fuel, maintenance and insurance. It's good in some way as you see how much it's costing but it really exists to be used in some really a scummy ways.2) Airline pricing models are a black art verging on the incomprehensible.
In some places it is legal to advertise fares sans taxes and fees. So they can advertise a $50 flight and add on $100 in charges and the tax on top of that. Fortunately that is illegal here and in most modern countries. If Ryanair advertised a £19 flight, there must be a ticket that can be purchased for £19 Inc all mandatory taxes and fees.
captain_cynic said:
GT03ROB said:
1) Also check the fees "carrier imposed surcharge" = money we will still charge you even though it's not in the ticket price
2) Airline pricing models are a black art verging on the incomprehensible.
Carrier imposed surcharges usually relate to a cost borne by the airline and passed on to the buyer. Things like fuel, maintenance and insurance. It's good in some way as you see how much it's costing but it really exists to be used in some really a scummy ways.2) Airline pricing models are a black art verging on the incomprehensible.
In some places it is legal to advertise fares sans taxes and fees. So they can advertise a $50 flight and add on $100 in charges and the tax on top of that. Fortunately that is illegal here and in most modern countries. If Ryanair advertised a £19 flight, there must be a ticket that can be purchased for £19 Inc all mandatory taxes and fees.
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