Is it me or are flight prices actually getting even HIGHER?

[Mo Green]

They definitely are. Five years ago I bought a ticket for £350 out of season and £500 at Christmas. In January we are flying to Florida using Airmiles and the tax alone is £333 each. I did write to our local MP regarding the huge increase in tax on the tickets. I was far from alone and it was brought up in Parliament but I suspect that it is an easy tax for the government to claim and one which they will not want to reduce.

[shockey]

In January we are flying to Florida using Airmiles and the tax alone is £333 each.

The £333 is probably not all tax. Some airlines add surcharges on "free" tickets. Our frequent flyer miles are mostly with United, who seem better than most in their charges. We're using United miles to go to Hawaii and Florida in January, quite a complicated itinerary involving 8 separate flights, and we're paying £117.66 each in tax, of which the UK bit is about two-thirds and the next highest bit is Germany, where we are just changing planes on the way back. We're using 6 US airports (Washington, Los Angeles, Molokai, Honolulu, Houston and Orlando), and total US taxes are £18!

[Mo Green]

The £333 is probably not all tax. Some airlines add surcharges on "free" tickets. Our frequent flyer miles are mostly with United, who seem better than most in their charges. We're using United miles to go to Hawaii and Florida in January, quite a complicated itinerary involving 8 separate flights, and we're paying £117.66 each in tax, of which the UK bit is about two-thirds and the next highest bit is Germany, where we are just changing planes on the way back. We're using 6 US airports (Washington, Los Angeles, Molokai, Honolulu, Houston and Orlando), and total US taxes are £18!

Your trip sounds great. I looked again and my frequent flyer flight with BA from Gatwick to Florida actually had £331.89 added. When I looked at flights in June with BA the fare was £319 with £330.57 added for taxes and fees so more or less the same. The taxes and fees are much cheaper within America but I am amazed at your total US taxes of £18. It used to cost us £46 in tax and fees for return flight from Tampa to Chicago (and almost double that for a 2 hour return flight from London to Europe).

[Katys Grandad]

The taxes and fees are much cheaper within America but I am amazed at your total US taxes of £18. It used to cost us £46 in tax and fees for return flight from Tampa to Chicago (and almost double that for a 2 hour return flight from London to Europe).

I'm afraid that's because you're using BA miles/Avios. For example, if I use my AA miles for a JFK-LHR flight I pay just £1.50 in taxes and charges (and fewer miles) but the very same flight using Avios costs £156.50. Over 100 times more!!

This may be of interest:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/1...9A711V20131108

[Mo Green]

This may be of interest:

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/1...9A711V20131108

Interesting! I will watch for any further developments.