Aug 1st, 2011 at 3:02PM: There was hope and outcry last week after news broke that as part of its partial shutdown, the FAA wouldn't be collecting the fees that it assesses against domestic airline tickets. Looking forward to a tax holiday, many travelers started searching for tickets only minutes after the tax break went into effect -- only to learn that airlines had raised their ticket prices to wipe out any savings -- ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
taxes posts
Breaking: Delta to refund taxes collected during FAA shutdown
Aug 1st, 2011 at 3:02PM: There was hope and outcry last week after news broke that as part of its partial shutdown, the FAA wouldn't be collecting the fees that it assesses against domestic airline tickets. Looking forward to a tax holiday, many travelers started searching for tickets only minutes after the tax break went into effect -- only to learn that airlines had raised their ticket prices to wipe out any savings -- ...Duty free rules, know before you go
Mar 9th, 2011 at 7:00AM: Duty Free. It sounds like such a good idea. Duty Free shops and zones in airports and other places common to travelers beckon us to save money . Quick and convenient, we find savings of up to 50 percent just after passing through security on the way to our plane, train or ship. But buyer beware, you may not make it to your final destination with that great deal.
Duty free shop personnel often ...Ryanair cuts 1000 jobs and 150 flights over German air tax increase
Oct 27th, 2010 at 2:00PM:
When the German government recently announced a new tourist tax designed to offset their budget woes, many airlines announced they'd be forced to cut flights and jobs. So far, Irish low cost carrier Ryanair has been the only one to actually deliver on that threat.
Because of the upcoming tax, the airline is reducing its presence at Frankfurt Hahn airport. At the moment, Ryanair operates ...Taxes could make discounted hotels more expensive
Oct 22nd, 2010 at 1:00PM: If your next hotel stay is more expensive than you expected, blame the government. State and local governments, still reeling from the recession, are looking for any source of revenue they can grab. And, they're next target seems to be online travel agencies.
Online booking sites, such as Expedia and Orbitz, negotiate a rate with hotels for available inventory, market it up a bit and pass it ...New York to tax travel, the web
Aug 5th, 2010 at 12:00PM: New York has been scrambling for tax revenues, and no stone has been left unturned (including my beloved cigars, which are now costing me more than they did a week ago). Well, the Empire State looks like it's now going after my second passion: travel. Visitors who book hotel rooms on sites like Expedia or Orbitz could get slapped with a higher total price if a proposed tax on lodging booked online ...Kimpton takes the edge off tax season
Mar 4th, 2010 at 9:00AM: 'Tis the season for taxation. We gather up our W-2s, sift through 1099s and try to figure out just how painful the experience is going to be for our wallets. Tax season isn't the most pleasant of experiences for many, so Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants is hoping to take the sting out a little bit. With its "Sweet Tax Relief" deal, Kimpton will make sure tax time leaves you with an enjoyable taste ...Save money for the departure tax - International travel tip
Feb 20th, 2010 at 9:20AM: Having never traveled to a foreign country, I didn't realize I had to pay a departure tax when leaving St. Lucia. Check with your travel agent or with the airline before you leave, so you'll know how much you're required to pay in taxes and other fees not included with the price of your ticket.
Pro tip: learn the method of payment that's allowed before reaching the airport. Most places will not ...Who pays for rescue efforts when people are lost? Who should?
Dec 17th, 2009 at 7:30PM: A few days ago, Kraig wrote about the three hikers lost on Mt. Hood. At the time of his post, one of the hikers had been found dead. The other two were still missing. Almost a week after they set out on their climb, they are still missing and most probably are dead. Because of this tragic situation, the question of who foots the bill for rescue efforts has come up once more.
Back in 2005, then ...Another "blue ribbon" panel to fix the airline industry
Nov 23rd, 2009 at 3:00PM: It's been a tough month year decade for the airline industry. In the United States, it's lost $58.5 billion and cut 158,000 jobs. There never seems to be an answer, and news of an industry in jeopardy has become routine. So, .
But, it will be different this time. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says it will not be "just another advisory committee."
On his Department of Transportation blog, ...Congress to investigate airline fees ... but not for your benefit
Nov 14th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Congress is digging into all those new airline fees. Extra bags, special check-in situations ... you name it. Before you start cheering on our lawmakers, though, you should know that they aren't doing this from a sense of consumer advocacy. Frankly, Congress doesn't give a damn how much you pay for air travel. But, it does care how you pay. Why? A cash-strapped government is wondering if it's ...Are you paying for an airstrip of convenience?
Sep 18th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Taxpayers are paying to subsidize several airports around the country. Many don't service commercial passengers and do very little to add to the communities in which they reside. Take Williamsburg-Whitley County Airport in Kentucky. It was built with $11 million in cash from the U.S. government and usually sees only a handful of flights a day take off or touch down – some days, the runway is ...Increased passenger ticket fee may help pay for airport expansions
_thumbnail.png)
Sep 7th, 2009 at 12:00PM: Ever paid attention to the breakdown of the fees tacked on to your ticket? In addition to the $2.50 9/11 security fee, and a government tax of about $4, you also pay a passenger facility charge (PFC) of $4.50.
This PFC is how the government pays for all the horribly outdated airports in the country. That is right - proceeds from selling $9 airport sandwiches are not enough to maintain and ...The newest hidden cost in travel: taxes
Jul 7th, 2009 at 5:00PM: Cities and states are pumping up their coffers at the expense of visitors. Unemployment has led to a fall in income taxes, and with consumer spending off, sales taxes aren't bring in what they did in the past. So, municipalities have had to look elsewhere.
And, travel is a great place to start!
How can a city or state raise money without incurring the wrath of its own voters? You guessed it ...2/3 of Brit pubs to increase beer prices
May 4th, 2009 at 10:00AM: Nearly a fifth of British pub owners are increasing beer prices now, taking the national average above the current level of ₤3 a pint. Ten percent are looking to pop an extra 15 pence on every glass, with two-thirds looking to push prices higher by 5 pence to 10 pence. The price of a beer has tripled over the past 20 years, obviously making it a better investment than that Enron stock you're ...Backpackers learn how to steal Australian travel
Apr 7th, 2009 at 12:00PM: It's really pretty simple. Foreign backpackers go to Australia. For several weeks, they'll wander the country, get drunk and ... I don't know ... go to the opera. When the trip's over, these visitors file fake income claims, which get them thousands of dollars in tax refunds – despite not having actually worked (and thus not having paid any taxes). Through word of mouth, and probably a few ...Which U.S. cities charge travelers the most taxes
Oct 27th, 2008 at 4:30PM: Perhaps you've been one of those folks to receive your hotel bill and you clutch your chest in dismay. "My word! How can this be?" you exclaim.
You didn't touch your mini-bar. You didn't use the phone. You didn't slip so much as a washcloth into your luggage. Still, your bill is well over what you expected. What you thought was a bargain vacation has turned into more than you counted on. How ...Economics abroad: Denmark surpasses Sweden for world's highest tax burden
Mar 14th, 2008 at 4:00PM: When it comes to choosing a place to live abroad, we all know the Scandinavian countries have it made. The standard of living is high, upper education is subsidized and everyone seems to have a job and a nice living situation. But all of this comes at a price; it's called taxes. Sweden has long been known for its high taxes, the highest in the world in fact. But Denmark recently beat out it's ...Combining Business and Pleasure and how to Write it off
_thumbnail.jpg)
Jun 6th, 2007 at 12:18PM: While travel for most of us means good times and new adventures, for others--such as businessmen--it can be simply hell.
Jetting all over the country attending meetings or pitching goods, however, does have an advantage here in the States; it is tax deductible. Well, mostly.
Travel the World and Write it Off is a great little article in Budget Travel detailing the complicated tax laws and how ...Forget Flying for Cheap: Have Them Pay You to Fly!
Nov 7th, 2006 at 9:05AM: Who doesn't love to fly cheap? Well, now a European airline is offering tickets for less than zero. Yes, SkyEurope offered tickets that sold for MINUS 10 Czech crowns (about 46 U.S. cents) for some one-way tickets. Heck, I thought it was cool when I bought tickets from them for "free."
Does this honestly mean they're paying you to fly? No, the hitch is that you still have to pick up the taxes and ...
