Fees & Taxes

What's in the price of a flight

A quoted fare is rarely just "the ticket price." Government taxes, airport fees, and carrier-imposed surcharges are typically bundled into the total shown on this site, but it helps to know what's actually in that number before you call.

1. Base fare

This is the airline's own price for the seat, before taxes and fees. It's what changes most with cabin class, how far in advance you book, and how much inventory is left in that fare bucket (Basic Economy, Economy, Premium Economy, Business, First).

2. Government taxes and statutory fees

These are set by governments and aviation authorities, not by airlines or by FlightsFareX, and are collected on their behalf. On U.S. itineraries, common examples include:

• U.S. domestic segment tax — a per-segment tax on domestic flight legs
• U.S. transportation tax — a percentage-based federal excise tax on domestic air transportation
• Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) — up to $4.50 per airport, capped at $18.00 for a round trip, used by airports to fund facility improvements
• September 11th Security Fee — a TSA-mandated security fee of $5.60 per one-way trip
• International departure/arrival taxes — foreign government taxes and inspection fees that apply on international routings

3. Carrier-imposed surcharges

Some airlines add their own surcharges on top of the base fare — fuel surcharges, or peak-season surcharges during holiday travel windows, for example. These are set by the airline and vary by carrier for otherwise similar routes.

4. Agency service fees

As an independent agency, FlightsFareX may charge a service fee for booking assistance, in addition to the airline's own fare. We don't publish a fixed fee schedule here, since it can vary by itinerary complexity — your agent will itemize any applicable fee verbally before you agree to pay, and you're never charged anything without hearing the full total first.

Fees that usually aren't included in the fare

• Checked baggage fees, where they apply — see our Baggage Fees page
• Seat selection fees on some fare types, particularly basic economy
• Change or cancellation fees — see our Cancellation & Refund Policy
• In-flight purchases (food, entertainment, Wi-Fi) not included in your cabin
• Unaccompanied minor fees, where a child travels without an adult
• Pet travel fees, for in-cabin or cargo pet transport

Why the final price can differ from the first quote

Fares and seat inventory change continuously, sometimes between when you search and when you call. If the rate has moved by the time an agent checks it, they'll tell you the current price before collecting any payment details — you're never obligated to proceed if it's changed.