Airline Taxes Explained
All you need to know about airline taxes and fees
What are airline taxes?
Airline taxes and fees are the mandatory charges added to your flight ticket. Some taxes are charged by the government (government-imposed duties), others by the airport (departure tax), and some by the airline itself (carrier-imposed surcharges).
The amount you pay in airline tax depends on:
- Your country of departure
- Your arrival destination
- The distance between destinations
- Your age
- Your cabin class
The tax will be added to the base fare of your ticket and will be made evident to you at checkout.
Airline tax and fees in the United Kingdom
Air Passenger Duty (APD) is charged on the carriage of passengers flying from the United Kingdom on a commercial aircraft.
Research by Airlines UK, the trade body for UK registered airlines and representing airlines including British Airways, Ryanair and EasyJet, has published a report stating that the amount of mandatory tax added to an airline ticket can add up to as much as half the price of an off-peak, short-haul flights, and about 40% of a long-haul ticket.
APD Rates
The amount of APD you will be required to pay is based on two factors: your class of travel and the distance you’re flying. Those flying long distance will pay significantly more tax, as will those flying in a higher class. APD adds £6.50 to every domestic ticket, £13 to the cost of every short-haul ticket and £87-91 to every long-haul fare. Those travelling in premium cabins need to pay more per person, distance depending. UK APD is also set to rise in April 2024.
Domestic and Band A (0-2,000 miles):
- Reduced Rate (Travel in the lowest class): £7
- Standard Rate (For any other class of travel): £14
Band B (Flights between 2,001-5,500 miles):
- Reduced Rate (Travel in the lowest class): £90
- Standard Rate (For any other class of travel): £216
Band C (Flights over 5,500 miles):
- Reduced Rate (Travel in the lowest class): £94
- Standard Rate (For any other class of travel): £224
*fees relevant for the current tax year (running until late March 2026) expect tax rise April 2026*
Airline tax and fees in the United States
Airlines and their passengers pay many taxes and fees to a variety of authorities.
The amount a passenger pays in taxes and fees on a ticket will vary based on itinerary, including the number of flights and which airports someone is flying to. The total price of the flight ticket will include these mandatory taxes.
US Government taxes on flights include the following:
Federal Excise Tax: A federal excise tax of 7.5% is charged on all domestic flights. Airlines must include that tax in their advertised fares - a rule set out by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Segment Fee: A segment fee of up to $5.30 USD applies per flight segment (domestic and international). A flight segment is defined as one takeoff and one landing. Individual airports can impose an ‘international facility fee’ of $23.40 USD.
U.S. or International Departure and Arrival Charges: U.S. or international government imposed taxes and fee of up to $200.00 USD may apply depending upon the itinerary chosen.
September 11th Security Fee: A September 11th Security Fee of $5.60 USD applies per one-way flight. Applies to domestic and international flights. An additional fee(s) of $5.60 can be added if the trip itinerary includes a layover or stopover of longer than four hours (domestically), or 12 hours (internationally), or to/from Alaska and Hawaii.
Additional: Airlines flying to/from the US may also add international taxes and government or airport-imposed fees, including various departure taxes, foreign taxes, inspection fees, and security charges, to the ticket. Select countries, such as the UK, France and Ghana require additional taxes based on the cabin of service.
Recent news: As of the start of February 2026, the TSA will charge a $45 identification verification fee if a traveller does not have a Real ID-compliant license or passport.
Booking flights through Alternative Airlines
Who is Alternative Airlines?
Alternative Airlines is an accredited online flight booking service with a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot. We let people travel across the globe with over 600 airlines and more than 40 ways to pay available.
How much airline tax will I be charged?
It's hard to state for sure how much your airline tax will be, as the charge can vary significantly depending on your travel destinations, cabin class, age, and more. Two airlines flying the same route could charge entirely different air taxes.
What we can say, though, is that the amount you'll be charged will be made clear to you during the booking process.
When you search for flights through Alternative Airlines, we clearly display the total ticket price, including mandatory airline taxes and fees, before you pay.
You can even click the 'Price Breakdown' tab to see exactly which taxes and fees are included in the price of your ticket.
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