I just booked a roundtrip flight to London. $1271.
Of this, "taxes and fees" were $656! Now I always thought that air travel was expensive because of fuel, equipment and (hopefully) maintenance costs! Guess not!
Peter.

Yep.

And we are most definitely NOT getting our money’s worth in services from airports.

Nor from the folks that those taxes are paid to.

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
I just booked a roundtrip flight to London. $1271.
Of this, "taxes and fees" were $656! Now I always thought that air travel was expensive because of fuel, equipment and (hopefully) maintenance costs! Guess not!
Peter.

Economy tickets are break even for the airlines as they have to compete with all the other airlines in the advertising market so $600 is about right for their cost.

Airlines make all their profit on the forward compartment seats and cargo.

I am in the middle of a serious customer relations issue with American Airlines and the trip insurance provider I used.

Three months ago my wife and I sat on a plane at DFW for over five (5) hours unable to get permission to take off for Miami on our way to Ecuador and the Galapagos. The reason given by American Airlines was severe weather in Miami.

When the pilot was finally given permission to take off for Miami, he announced they were unable to start the left engine and had called for a mechanic.

When we finally left DFW we were too late for our connecting flight from Miami to Guayaquil.

Everyone on board was asking if American Airlines was going to put us up in a hotel and provide meals. Their answer was; "No", the problem was caused by weather.

We found ourselves in Miami, after midnight, during Spring Break with no hotel room. We finally found one for $500 a night, 40 miles away. We stayed in the room three hours.

I filed a claim with the trip insurance after we got home. They are stalling trying to find a way out of paying. They asked me to find out from American Airlines the official reason for the flight delay. I contacted American and their written response was that the 5+ hour delay was caused by mechanical failure. American Airlines had basically stiffed everyone on that flight. They owed us all hotel, taxis, and meals.

I'm waiting to hear what the insurance says. If they say "no", I'm turning back on American Airlines. I have their email saying it WAS their problem and not the weather as they had claimed.

Customer Service? I don't think so.

Check this out…

https://www.transportation.gov...nd-Cancelled-Flights