A Reader Shares Her Airline Tax Story
Reader Lisa M. emailed to tell of her ordeal with the FAA / American Airlines. I’m not sure how much good it will do to publicize this, but I was stunned by the story (which seems real, e.g. the electronic receipt looked authentic) and so I am passing it along. The following is her letter to an American Airlines representative.
==========
Good Morning Mr. Smith,
I have left you a voice mail earlier this week during your absence but I thought it may be beneficial to send you a copy of the complaint I sent to the FAA regarding over charge of tax by American Airlines and possible gas gouging.
—————————————————————————————
I have tried to rectify a TAX issue with American Airlines. My base fare is
$701.80 with Taxes of $398.60 for a Total of $1100.40. Every other flight that date on AA to the same routes had taxes of $97.50 or less. As of yesterday, the tax was $84.50.
When I spoke with the airlines, I was told my tax is $429. Yet on my ticket it clearly states $398.60.
I asked two different people on two different dates for an explanation of why I was charged an additional tax of $301.10. The first person told me it was a luxury tax and the next told me it was a fuel surcharge tax.
I have the following questions:
Why was only this flight on that day charged $301.10 additional fuel tax charge
Moreover, no other flights that day were charged this tax?
If it is a fuel charge tax that has since been reduced due to falling fuel
prices, why am I not being refunded the tax as I have not flown yet
nor has the airlines incurred the fuel charges.
This amounts to gas gouging.
The same flight today cost base $867 tax $83.90 Total $950.90.
I was also told since my base fare is less then the current base fare
I would have to pay a penalty to get a less expensive fare.
I am asking for the additional tax of $301.10 be returned to me.
Record Locator/AA Confirmation:ELV***
Itinerary
Date: 20Dec – Saturday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES
OPERATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE 4474 Embraer RJ145(ER4) Booking Code: S
Departure: JAX Jacksonville 12:50 PM 2HR 50MIN
Arrival: ORD Chicago 02:40 PM
M., LISA
SEAT 8C Economy FF# :AA 4H4****
Date: 20Dec – Saturday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 92 Boeing 767-300 Passenger(763) Booking Code: S
Departure: ORD Chicago 07:20 PM 7HR 10MIN
Arrival: DUB Dublin 08:30 AM
M., LISA
SEAT 25J Economy FF# :AA 4H4****
Date: 06Jan – Tuesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES 93 Boeing 767-300 Passenger(763) Booking Code: V
Departure: DUB Dublin 10:30 AM 8HR 25MIN
Arrival: ORD Chicago 12:55 PM
M., LISA
SEAT 24J Economy FF# :AA 4H4****
Date: 06Jan – Tuesday
Flight: AMERICAN AIRLINES
OPERATED BY AMERICAN EAGLE 4503 Embraer RJ145(ER4) Booking Code: V
Departure: ORD Chicago 06:05 PM 2HR 30MIN
Arrival: JAX Jacksonville 09:35 PM
M., LISA
SEAT 13A Economy FF# :AA 4H4****
Receipt
PASSENGER TICKET NUMBER FARE TAXES TICKET TOTAL
M.,LISA 0012116****** 701.80 USD 398.60 1100.40
Payment Type:
AMERICAN AIRLINES *********7809
Total
1100.40
Kind Regards,
Lisa M.
