The federal excise tax is 7.5 percent of the cost of your ticket. This money is collected by the IRS and then given to the United States' Airport and Airway Trust Fund. This fund goes toward the FAA and air traffic control.
This tax is charged for each time a passenger takes off or lands at an airport. As of January 1, 2011, the segment tax is $3.70 per take off or landing. For instance, for a nonstop flight from Miami to Los Angeles, a passenger pays a segment tax of $7.40. If that flight includes a layover in Dallas, however, the segment tax is $14.80.
When flying internationally, passengers are charged an arrival and departure tax. As of January 1, 2011, this tax is $16.30 per person. Although Hawaii and Alaska are not international destinations, passengers flying to or from those destinations pay a tax of $8.20.
Since September 11, 2001, airline customers who board a plane in the United States have had to pay a security fee that funds the TSA. This fee is $2.50 and is charged for up to two plane boardings per one-way trip. So, if your trip from New York to San Diego includes one layover, you will pay $5 in security fees, the maximum amount that can be paid for a one-way trip.
The Passenger Facility Charge is a second segment tax paid to the airport from which the flight departs and used to fund local airport projects. These include projects to reduce noise, increase airport capacity or improve airport security. As of 2011, this tax costs from $3 to $4.50 per flight segment, depending on the airport, and cannot cost more than $18 on any single ticket.
There are additional fees that are not included in the cost of the airline ticket but may need to be paid at the airport. Many airlines now charge an additional fee for checked baggage, and some even charge a fee for carry-on bags. Some countries, particularly those in South America, also charge a country entry or exit fee. This fee is paid at the airport when you arrive in or leave the country and can cost more than $100 depending on the country.
