Transparency
Taxes & Fees
Every fare we quote includes all taxes and fees. Here is what makes up the total price on your ticket.
Last updated: 2026-04-16
BookMyBusinessClass quotes are all-inclusive. The price you see in your quote is the price you pay — any service fees are listed on the quote itself, and there are no payment-method surcharges at checkout. Below is a breakdown of the components that make up your fare so you understand exactly what you are paying for.
1. Base Fare
The base fare is the price the airline charges for your seat before any taxes, surcharges, or government-imposed fees. This is the component where consolidator pricing makes the biggest difference — our negotiated contracts with airlines give us access to unpublished net fares that are typically 40-70% below the retail base fare shown on airline websites or online travel agencies. The base fare varies by route, cabin class, fare class (booking code), travel dates, booking lead time, and airline inventory availability.
2. Government Taxes
Government taxes are imposed by national and local authorities and are mandatory on all airline tickets regardless of how or where they are purchased. These taxes are collected by the airline at the time of ticketing and remitted to the relevant government agency. Common government taxes include:
| Tax | Imposed By | Description |
|---|---|---|
| US Federal Excise Tax (US) | IRS / US Government | 7.5% of the base fare on domestic segments. Applied to all US domestic and certain international tickets. |
| US International Departure / Arrival Tax | US Government | Per-passenger fee on international departures and arrivals from/to the United States. |
| Flight Segment Tax | US Government | Per-segment fee applied to each domestic flight segment on your itinerary. |
| September 11 Security Fee | TSA / DHS | $5.60 per one-way trip, capped at $11.20 per round trip. Funds aviation security operations. |
| Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) | Local airport authority | Up to $4.50 per airport enplanement, max $18.00 per round trip. Funds airport infrastructure improvements. |
| APHIS User Fee | USDA | Customs and agriculture inspection fee on international arrivals into the United States. |
| Immigration User Fee | CBP | Customs and Border Protection fee on international arrivals. |
| Foreign departure taxes | Foreign governments | Many countries impose their own departure, arrival, or transit taxes. Amounts vary by country and are included in your quoted fare. |
3. Airline-Imposed Surcharges
Airlines may impose additional surcharges that are set by the carrier (not by governments). These are included in the total fare we quote you.
- Fuel surcharge (YQ/YR): The largest airline-imposed surcharge on most international tickets. Fuel surcharges can range from $50 to $800+ per direction depending on the carrier, route, and cabin class. This surcharge is set by the airline and is subject to change.
- Insurance surcharge: Some carriers add a small per-ticket surcharge to cover insurance costs.
- Carrier-imposed service charges: Certain airlines add flat fees per segment or per ticket for operational costs.
4. Airport Fees
Airports charge various facility and service fees that are passed through in the ticket price. These may include terminal use charges, noise abatement fees, airport development levies, and ground handling charges. Airport fees vary significantly by airport and are included in the all-in fare we quote.
5. What Is Not Included in Your Fare
Your quoted fare covers the flight ticket with all taxes and surcharges. The following items are separate and are not included in the fare we quote unless specifically discussed:
- Travel insurance: We recommend comprehensive travel insurance but do not include it in the fare.
- Visa and entry fees: Visa application fees, Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETA/ESTA), and similar entry permits are your responsibility.
- Excess or special baggage: Business and first class include generous baggage allowances (typically 2-3 checked bags). Excess, overweight, or oversized baggage fees are charged directly by the airline at the airport.
- Seat selection fees: Most business and first class fares include complimentary seat selection. Where seat selection carries a fee (some discounted fares), we will advise you before booking.
- Ground transportation: Airport transfers, chauffeur drives (unless included by the airline, e.g., Emirates), and parking are not included.
- In-flight purchases: Wi-Fi, duty-free shopping, and similar in-flight purchases are between you and the airline.
6. Changes in Taxes and Fees
Government taxes and airline surcharges can change between the time you receive a quote and the time a ticket is issued. If a tax or surcharge changes before ticketing, we will notify you of the updated total before proceeding. Once your ticket is issued, the taxes and fees are locked for your itinerary. Subsequent changes by governments or airlines do not affect issued tickets.
7. Refund of Taxes on Unused Tickets
If you cancel an unused ticket, the refundability of taxes depends on the fare rules and the specific tax. Most government-imposed taxes on completely unused tickets are refundable, even on non-refundable fares (the base fare may be forfeited, but the tax component is typically returned). Airline-imposed surcharges follow the fare rules of your specific ticket. We process tax refund requests through the airline and return applicable amounts to your original form of payment.
Questions?
If you have questions about the taxes and fees on your specific quote or ticket, contact us at billing@bookmybusinessclass.com or call +1 (866) 699-4488. We are happy to provide a line-by-line breakdown of any fare.