As annoying and sometimes expensive as they are, we have to live with departure taxes. Over the last year or so, many countries have added these taxes. They can range from approximately 20 CAD in Vancouver, B.C. Canada (YVR) to 90 GBP for a First/Business Class ride from the U.K. to the U.S., 45 GBP in Economy class. Ouch!
Most countries in Europe has a departure tax, sometimes it is a tad cheaper if you are transiting within 24 hours. You can usually pay at the airport or pay your airline when you get home. Usually if you are traveling on another carrier than your own, the taxes are in the pass you bought. They sometimes double the cost of the pass! Some countries such as Trinidad and Tobago (100 TT), Dominican Republic (20 USD) and Bonaire (20 USD) have a special booth set up to collect this taxes.
No sense in complaining, just be prepared. Check with your fellow employees on what the tax is for the city you are visiting and how it is paid. Some countries only take cash in local currency while others will take credit cards. Usually they need exact change as well.
Taxes in General
In the U.S. there are quite a bit of taxes as well, but most airlines absorb that for you so you don’t realize it. But when you purchase an OA ticket you realize how much the taxes are. As an example a ticket from say Japan to the U.S. will have a lot of taxes on it, while one to Canada will have none or very little.
The NY Times just did an article on taxes at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/business/02fees.html?ref=travel. This make a very good read so please take a look.
So What?
Be prepared before you travel internationally, you should be prepared before you travel in general. Do your research by checking the airport Web sites, fellow passriders and in person when you visit different countries. Also, just have some cash available for departures taxes before you leave a country where one is necessary. Have a credit card handy or a debit card so you can use a local ATM if necessary. Don’t spend all your money on shopping.
What do you think?
What are your thoughts on all this? Do you have any stories as you were not prepared? Do you have any tips for your fellow passrider? Please share with us.
Have a great trip and plan for the departure taxes.
passrider.com
Taxes can sure be a drain. Any country that charges over a hundred bucks in departure taxes really makes me think twice about the trip. Some of them that do that are the UK, Australia, Senegal, and Dominican Republic. For London, I usually purchase a ZED to either Amsterdam or Paris, which is much cheaper then flying direct out of the UK. Many countries that I would love to visit in Africa as well the the Middle East (Lebanon and Syria) both carry heavy departure taxes. I wonder if by lessoning the taxes in these countries, more people to visit and in turn the countries would make more of a profit? — Especially those that aren’t exactly hot tourist destinations.
Hi Travis,
Thanks for the comment. I don’t get it either, but I think the countries are looking at it as an additional source of revenue. By the way, effective Nov. 1, 2010, the UK taxes have increased by 55%! They are sure making it harder to consider London
.
I like the idea of getting a ZED for a connecting city, but Amsterdam, Frankfurt and many of the other European cities have a transit tax as well. So by the time you factor in the early wake up and increasing your chance of getting bumped with a connecting flight or getting stuck in an early morning fog delay, sometimes it is worth it to suck it up and pay the departure taxes. But creativity is the best way to go.
passrider.com
Flying out of Dominican Republic and Trinidad I’ve had several jumpseaters (cockpit and FA) that travel in the jumpseat specifically for this reason. Evidently some countries won’t charge the tax if you jumpseat (provided you’re eligible of course). I’m not sure why this is, but it works.
When I was active I always went for the JS out of SDQ. Made my weekend visits dirt cheap. When I retired and became inellegible for the JS I was shocked at how much the government took people for in departure taxes. I think the government there is short sighted and driving away tourist dollars with their taxes. Anyway, on the jump seat you are considered an additional crew member and not taxed. As a non rev you are simply another source of tax revenue.
Expect to spend $50.00 + when leaving the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. Well worth the tax though. Hop on Cape Air or American Eagle over to San Juan for connections to the mainland.
I paid $115 in taxes to jumpseat out of FRA. That’s ridiculous!! I won’t go through Frankfurt ever again.