Most airline fares today have that magic phrase after them "excluding taxes and charges". What are they? If you look at an airline ticket (or a printed copy of an electronic ticket) there are a series of mystical figures which come to not a small amount of money. With e-tickets, you probably won't even notice them, but they are worth more than a passing glance.

Each amount has a two letter code after them, such as GB or UB or DE etc. These two letter country codes usually represent the code of the country you are visiting. More, they are, in effect, the only real " tax". All the others are various "security" charges, airport charges and the most insidious of all, the fuel surcharge. Why insidious? Because airlines have now worked out what a wizzard wheeze this latter charge is.

Let's have a look at simple return to Paris. N class seats on British Airways, Fare £32. Taxes (...and charges) £54.50. On the adverts you see "Fly to Paris for only £16" and in the small print comes the bit about this being only one way and that taxes and charges extra. It still costs £89 or £105 by the time you have bought it. So, lets look at these taxes, which are as follows:

5.00 GB 13.00 UB 21.00YQ 2.70 FR 5.80 FR 7.00QX. A tidy sum. But what are they? Well, the £5.00 GB and the 2.70 and the 5.80 FR taxes are legitimate (if that is the right word) taxes. In all £13.50 which are taxes imposed by elected, national Governments. The rest is the, er, Passenger Service Charge. Sounds good! Actually it is for the privilege of being able to walk through Heathrow Airport (UB) and the privilege of using Paris Airport (7.00). Not exactly avoidable and not excatly an add on optional extra. The best of all is the YQ (or in some cases YR) tax. Here, airlines blither. It's, er, security tax. Or Petrol. Or both. Or maybe we just don't want to say. 9/11 you know, security. Rather like something out of  "The Men From The Ministry" (Yes, I am that old!). It's nothing like that, it's a wheeze. "Security" means everything these days even to staff getting all uptight with people at LHR who complain about anything. Even making a polite remark about it being rather cold for the time of year can lead to your getting marched off by two burly "armed to the teeth" members of the local constabulary for a night in chokey and an early morning appointment with the local beak.

Airlines love it and they up it almost weekly. They don't have to include it in their adverts, you won't notice it and even if you did, the magic word, "security" is mentioned and off you go, sweet as a lamb. ITS FOR THE RUDDY PETROL!!!

I don't know about you, but what would you say if British Rail said "Here's a ticket to Manchester, that's £50 plus £15 for the petrol" What happens when you fill your car up? Do you pay 99p a litre or 15p a litre (plus VAT, tax and Government surcharges)? Airlines have to buy fuel overseas. Oh Whopeee! And where does Virgin Rail by their diesel? Or National Express? Or P&O? - ASDA?

Complain now. Write to your MP. Taxation is one thing, but adding in petrol, the generous permission to use Heathrow, security, all is taxation without representation at best or just a plain fiddle at worst. What's going to be next? Contribution to the retired airline pilots pension fund? So there you have it. Makes you wonder what the "fare" part is for, doesn't it (Advertising Standards, please note)

Chocks away!

Murray