What are you paying for when you buy an airline ticket? (2024)

New Delhi: What are the various cost components that go into your airline ticket? Why is there still a fuel surcharge when oil prices are now lower? To find out answers to these airline ticket FAQs, Mint talks to Richa Goyal, director of Stic Travel Group. Edited excerpts:

The biggest cost component for any airline is typically landing and parking charges. These depend on which city you are flying to and how much time an aircraft spends on the ground between flights.

Who levies landing and parking charges?

Airport operators.

What are the various elements that a passenger pays for in a ticket? When I book a ticket, I see three components—full economy fare, PSF and fuel charges. Could you explain these?

Full economy fare is your basic fare for that sector. PSF is what we call the passenger service fare, and the fuel surcharge is the surcharge that most airlines are now levying on top of the basic fare because of the increase in fuel costs.

Click here to listen to the extended interview with Richa Goyal.

A domestic carrier may have fewer tax components. For example, Jet Airways (India) Ltd will have a YQ tax, which refers to the fuel surcharge. And they’ll have an IN tax, which is like a departure tax for Delhi airport, for instance. And they’ll have a PSF as well.

To give you another example, if you look at an international carrier and if you look at a one-way fare, Delhi-New York say, the basic economy fare one way would be Rs16,650. On top of that is your fuel surcharge, your YQ tax, which is Rs8,803... And then they have almost six other tax components on top of these two, which basically refer to different types of departure taxes.

The key learning, I think, with all these tax components, for a traveller, is that when you are buying a ticket which is, say, a refundable ticket, it is important for you to know what component you will get the refund on. Because typically, on the basic fare, you will get the refund, but you will not get a refund on taxes.

How come when I book a ticket today I still see a fuel surcharge on the ticket, despite the fact that oil prices have gone back down?

But that has been for a very short period of time. If you compare the period of time that it has come down to the years when it has been significantly high, then there’s a big difference. If you average it out, it’s still been on the higher side.

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Published: 31 Mar 2009, 12:14 AM IST

What are you paying for when you buy an airline ticket? (2024)

FAQs

What is included in airline ticket price? ›

Other airline fees that you could see on a ticket include: baggage fees, seat upgrades, early boarding, unaccompanied minor fees, and departure tax on international flights. Aside from the notion of making profit, there are things that affect the price of a passenger's ticket.

What happens when you buy a plane ticket? ›

Once a ticket is booked, from any source, the details are sent to the particular airline reservation system. Many airlines use the same software for this, but there is no centralized ticketing agency. Airlines will create and issue their own tickets, once payments are made.

When you buy a plane ticket online, how do you get it? ›

After you've selected your flight online, you'll be prompted to pay with a credit or debit card. The screen will then present you with your payment confirmation receipt, your eTicket, and your itinerary. Many travelers print the eTicket and itinerary or make sure they're saved together in their email for easy access.

What information do you need to buy a plane ticket? ›

Before booking a flight, you will need a flight and passenger details like the destination you are traveling to, preferred flight class, and your personal information like full name, ID, mobile number, residential and e-mail address.

What is a ticket price? ›

Ticket Price means the full price paid for a ticket and including the air fare, and all applicable taxes, charges, surcharges and fees paid for all optional and non-optional services included in the ticket; Sample 1Sample 2Sample 3.

What determines the price of a ticket? ›

To set your ticket price, you need to take account not only of your costs, but also assess how much a visitor is prepared to pay to attend your event. After all, your event offers value to the visitor. This value takes different forms. It can be entertainment (if it is a concert) or knowledge (if it is a congress).

Do you have to pay for a plane ticket there and back? ›

Both flights are booked as one ticket. So when you're purchasing the ticket, you select your origin, destination, departure and return date. You make one payment, whether it's with cash or miles.

Do you have to pay for a plane ticket back? ›

Canceled or changed flights

If your flight has been canceled by the airline, you're eligible for a full refund. This is true even if you've been rescheduled on another flight. You don't need to accept that flight, and can instead ask for your money to be returned.

Is it cheaper to buy airline tickets at the airport or online? ›

For most airlines, there are no incentives for buying plane tickets at the airport. You might end up paying more for a flight at the airport than if you were to book online. However, some budget airlines are the exceptions.

Where do I get my boarding pass? ›

If you check in at the airport, you may print your boarding pass from a self-service kiosk near check-in, or an airline representative can print one for you at the check-in counter. If you lose your pre-printed boarding pass or misplace the link, you can reprint your boarding pass when you get to the airport.

Do you have to print out a plane ticket if you buy it online? ›

Can I travel without a hard copy of an e-ticket? Yes! The only thing you'll need to check into your flight online is the confirmation code you got when you booked it, which doesn't usually appear on your e-ticket.

Do you have to print out your plane ticket? ›

Nowadays, passengers have a choice: You can either load a mobile boarding pass onto your smartphone or opt for the traditional printed version. While the digital boarding pass is undoubtedly convenient, there are compelling reasons why printing a physical boarding pass can still be worthwhile.

Can someone else pay for my flight ticket? ›

Yes, someone else can buy your plane ticket for you. Not only can you buy a plane ticket for someone else, at Alternative Airlines, but you can also have someone buy a plane ticket on your behalf. Just make sure that they have all your correct details (name, date of birth etc) to buy the flight.

Does a plane ticket have your birthday on it? ›

Your birth date is electronically and securely transmitted in to the travel reservation to comply with TSA requirements.

Are baggage fees included in ticket price? ›

Unless baggage is included in a higher-class (premium economy, first, business class, etc.) ticket, passengers should expect to pay a fee.

What is included in cost per flight hour? ›

Cost per Flight Hour means the hourly cost to the UN for the provision of Services by an Aircraft, which shall include the cost of oils and lubricants for the Aircraft and shall not include Reimbursables or the cost of aviation jet fuel to be used by the Aircraft or any Annual Charges.

How do I know if my flight includes a meal? ›

If you are wondering about meal service, pick up the phone and call the airline you are flying to inquire. There are certain flights that will never have meal service. You can find this out just by looking at the length of your flight, and the time of day you will be flying.

Do plane tickets include food? ›

The shorter flights do mostly do not serve full meals, not even on full fare traditional airlines, partly because there is not much time and most passengers come from waiting for a long time in the airport where they have had something to eat, but airlines still offer either a snack and a drink or have an option to buy ...

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