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hidden europe 7

Hidden charges

by hidden europe

Summary

"taxes, fees and charges extra" say the airline advertisements in tiny print, as they hawk low price flights across Europe. But what is included in taxes, fees and charges? And who levies these extras?

hidden europe 7 / Snippet  / By hidden europe

The cost of air travel around Europe has plummeted so dramatically over the last several years that sometimes checking the small print on a plane ticket seems scarcely worth the trouble. Nowadays the amount due to the airline under the catch-all heading 'taxes, fees and charges' (TFC) is often higher than the basic fare. Many passengers erroneously assume that everything that features under this heading is somehow levied by a third party. Yet, even for flying the same route on the same day, the amount levied by two competing airlines under the TFC banner may vary enormously.

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