1. Introduction and Pricing Transparency
Travelocompare.net is an independent online travel agency operated by Hydra Travels Inc. We are accredited by the Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), accreditation number 45572424. We are not an airline, and we have no affiliation with, authorization from, or representation of any airline or carrier.
This Taxes & Fees Disclosure document is intended to provide passengers with a comprehensive, transparent explanation of all government-mandated taxes, regulatory fees, airport charges, and agency service fees that may be included in the total price of an air ticket purchased through Travelocompare.net. Transparency in pricing is a core commitment of Travelocompare.net, and we are dedicated to ensuring that our customers understand every component of their ticket cost before completing a booking.
The total price of any air ticket booked through Travelocompare.net comprises three primary components: (1) the base airfare set by the operating airline, (2) government-imposed taxes and regulatory fees mandated by applicable federal, state, and foreign authorities, and (3) Travelocompare.net's own service fees for facilitating the booking transaction. Each of these components is explained in detail in the sections that follow.
All amounts referenced in this document are quoted in U.S. Dollars (USD) unless otherwise stated. Tax and fee amounts are subject to change by the relevant government or regulatory body without notice to Travelocompare.net. The amounts displayed at the time of booking on our website or quoted by our service executives represent the currently applicable rates.
2. Understanding How Taxes and Fees Work
When you purchase an airline ticket, the final price you pay is rarely just the base fare advertised by the airline. A variety of government-mandated taxes and fees are added to the base fare before your total ticket price is calculated. These charges are collected by the airline or travel agency on behalf of the relevant authorities and are remitted to those bodies.
As a travel agency, Travelocompare.net is responsible for collecting and remitting all applicable taxes and fees at the time of booking. We do not profit from government-mandated taxes and fees. These are pass-through charges that go directly to the regulatory bodies, airport authorities, and government agencies that impose them. Key principles to understand:
- Taxes and fees are mandated by law and cannot be waived or negotiated by the travel agency or the airline.
- Tax amounts can vary depending on your itinerary (domestic vs. international), origin and destination airports, cabin class, and ticket type.
- Some taxes are calculated as a percentage of the base fare, while others are fixed per-segment, per-enplanement, or per-itinerary amounts.
- International itineraries may include foreign government taxes and fees that are not itemized separately and can amount to several hundred dollars depending on the destination.
- Travelocompare.net's own service fee is separate from government taxes and fees and is detailed in Section 4 of this document.
3. Itemized Schedule of Government Taxes and Fees
The following table provides a detailed breakdown of all government-imposed taxes and fees that may be applicable to your air ticket, depending on your itinerary type. Please review each item carefully to understand what is included in your total ticket price.
3.1 U.S. Domestic and International Taxes & Fees
| Tax / Fee Description | Tax Code | Amount | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|---|
|
U.S. Federal Segment Fee A per-segment fee imposed on each takeoff-and-landing segment within the continental United States. |
ZP | $4.00 | U.S. Domestic and International |
|
U.S. Excise Tax (U.S. Domestic Transportation Tax / U.S. Ticket Tax) Percentage of the base fare. Applies to flights within the continental U.S. or within the Canada/Mexico 225-mile buffer zone. Prorated for flights between the continental U.S. and Alaska/Hawaii based on mileage in continental U.S. airspace. |
US | 7.5% of base fare | U.S. Domestic and International |
|
Travel Facilities Tax (Alaska/Hawaii Ticket Tax) Applies specifically to flight segments between the continental United States and the states of Alaska or Hawaii. |
US | $12.20 | U.S. Domestic and International (AK/HI routes) |
|
Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Collected by airports to fund approved capital improvements to airport infrastructure. The fee amount is set by each individual airport authority (up to $4.50 per eligible enplanement). A maximum of four PFC charges may apply per itinerary, capping the total at $18.00. |
XF | Up to $18.00 | U.S. Domestic and International |
|
September 11th Security Fee (U.S. Passenger Civil Aviation Security Fee) $5.60 per one-way trip originating at a U.S. airport. $11.20 for a round trip. For itineraries with stopovers (layovers of 4+ hours for domestic, 12+ hours for international), the fee may accrue multiple times. |
AY | $5.60 per U.S. enplanement | U.S. Domestic and International |
3.2 U.S. International-Only Taxes & Fees
| Tax / Fee Description | Tax Code | Amount | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|---|
|
U.S. International Transportation (Arrival/Departure) Tax Applies to all international flights arriving in or departing from the United States (including the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia). Also applies to flights between the U.S. and U.S. territories and possessions such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. |
US | $17.50 | International Arrivals/Departures |
|
U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) User Fee Charged on flights originating from abroad (except Canada) and landing in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. This fee funds USDA agricultural inspection services. |
XA | $5.00 | International (non-Canada) arrivals to U.S. |
|
U.S. Immigration and Inspection User Fee Applies to all international arrivals into the United States, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands. This fee funds U.S. Customs and Border Protection immigration inspection activities. |
XY | $7.00 | International arrivals to U.S. |
|
U.S. Customs Inspection User Fee Applies to passengers arriving in the United States from outside the U.S. Customs territory. This fee supports U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection operations. |
YC | $5.50 | International arrivals from outside U.S. Customs territory |
|
Foreign Government-Imposed Taxes, Fees, and Airport Charges Various foreign government-imposed taxes and fees including but not limited to: foreign airport departure taxes, arrival fees, passenger service charges, security levies, fuel surcharges, and government-mandated tourism or conservation levies. These amounts vary significantly by country and airport authority. |
Varies | Up to several hundred dollars | International itineraries |
Note: The above fee amounts reflect currently published rates and are subject to change by the issuing government authority at any time. Travelocompare.net will collect and remit the rates in effect at the time of booking.
4. Travelocompare.net Service Fees
In addition to government-imposed taxes and fees, Travelocompare.net charges a service fee for facilitating your air ticket booking. This fee compensates for the platform infrastructure, booking tools, and 24/7 customer support resources we provide. Our service fee is not a government tax and is retained by Travelocompare.net / Hydra Travels Inc.
| Service Type | Applicable To | Fee Amount (per person) |
|---|---|---|
| Online Air Transaction Service Fee | All Ticket Types (Domestic & International) | Up to $100.00 |
The service fee varies based on the following factors:
- Cabin type (Economy, Premium Economy, Business Class, First Class)
- Trip type (One-way, Round-trip, Multi-city)
- Route type (Domestic within the U.S. vs. International)
- Number of passengers (fees apply per passenger, per ticket)
- Fare class and ticket type
Note: The exact service fee applicable to your specific booking will be clearly displayed at the checkout stage before you confirm and pay. By completing your booking, you authorize the charge of this fee.
5. How Taxes and Fees Are Applied to Your Ticket
The total price displayed on Travelocompare.net at the time of booking is the all-inclusive fare, which includes the base airfare, all applicable government taxes and fees, and the Travelocompare.net service fee. We are committed to full price transparency and do not add hidden charges.
Here is how the total ticket price is typically structured:
| Price Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Base Airfare | The fare set by the airline for the specific flight and cabin class selected. |
| U.S. Government Taxes & Fees | Federally mandated taxes including Excise Tax, Segment Fee, Security Fee, and PFC (as applicable). |
| International Taxes & Fees | Foreign departure taxes, airport charges, and government-imposed international fees (applicable to international routes). |
| Travelocompare.net Service Fee | Our agency service fee for booking facilitation and 24/7 support (per passenger, per ticket). |
| TOTAL TICKET PRICE | Sum of all the above components. This is the amount charged to your payment method. |
6. Tax Code Reference Guide
The following reference guide provides a consolidated list of all tax codes used in airline ticket pricing and referenced in this document. These codes appear on your e-ticket receipt and in airline reservation systems.
| Code | Full Name | Amount | Applicable To |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZP | U.S. Federal Segment Fee | $4.00 | Domestic/Intl |
| US | U.S. Excise Tax / Int'l Transportation Tax | 7.5% or $17.50 | Domestic/Intl |
| XF | Passenger Facility Charge | Up to $18.00 | Domestic/Intl |
| AY | September 11th Security Fee | $5.60/segment | Domestic/Intl |
| XA | APHIS User Fee | $5.00 | International |
| XY | U.S. Immigration and Inspection Fee | $7.00 | International |
| YC | U.S. Customs Inspection Fee | $5.50 | International |
7. Refundability of Taxes and Fees
In general, government-imposed taxes and fees may be partially refundable depending on the circumstances of the cancellation, the ticket type, and applicable regulations. Travelocompare.net's service fee is non-refundable once a booking has been completed. The following guidelines apply:
- U.S. federal taxes (Excise Tax, Segment Fee, and September 11th Security Fee) may be refundable if the ticket is cancelled and refunded in accordance with the airline's fare rules.
- Passenger Facility Charges (PFC) are typically refundable if the associated travel does not occur and the ticket is cancelled.
- International departure taxes and foreign government fees may or may not be refundable depending on the policies of the relevant foreign authority and the airline's handling of these charges.
- Travelocompare.net's service fee is non-refundable under all circumstances once the booking has been confirmed.
- Refund eligibility for taxes and fees is determined at the time of the refund request based on the applicable fare rules and the airline's policies.
- Processing of tax and fee refunds is subject to the same timeline as base fare refunds and is handled as part of the overall ticket refund process.
Note: Not all tickets are eligible for refunds. Most economy class tickets are sold on non-refundable fare bases. Please review the fare rules applicable to your specific ticket before purchase.
8. Changes in Tax Rates
Government-imposed taxes, fees, and airport charges are subject to change at any time by the relevant regulatory authority, without advance notice to Travelocompare.net or to individual passengers. The following policy applies to changes in tax rates:
- For tickets already purchased, the tax and fee amounts collected at the time of booking are considered final and reflect the rates in effect on the date of ticketing.
- If a tax rate is increased or a new tax is introduced after your ticket has been issued but before your travel date, additional amounts may be collected at the time of check-in or at the airport by the relevant authority, depending on the specific tax and the airline's handling procedures.
- Travelocompare.net is not responsible for any additional taxes or fees levied by government authorities after the completion of your booking and the issuance of your ticket.
- The amounts displayed on our website reflect currently published tax rates and are updated as soon as practicable following any regulatory changes.
9. Foreign Tax Disclosure
For passengers traveling on international itineraries, foreign government-imposed taxes and fees can represent a significant portion of the total ticket price. These charges are mandated by the governments of the countries you are traveling to, from, or through, and by the authorities of the international airports involved in your itinerary.
Foreign taxes and fees may include, but are not limited to:
- Departure taxes levied by the government of the country you are departing from
- Airport service charges and passenger service fees imposed by international airport authorities
- Tourism levies and environmental surcharges
- Security charges imposed by foreign civil aviation authorities
- Fuel surcharges collected by airlines on behalf of foreign governments or under foreign regulatory frameworks
- Value Added Tax (VAT) or Goods and Services Tax (GST) on air travel in applicable jurisdictions
Due to the variable and dynamic nature of foreign government taxes, the amounts displayed at the time of booking represent the best available information. Travelocompare.net is not liable for discrepancies arising from foreign government tax changes after your ticket has been issued.
10. Contact Information & Customer Support
If you have questions about the taxes and fees applicable to your booking, or if you need clarification about any charge on your itinerary, please contact our customer service team. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to assist you.
| Company Name | Hydra Travels Inc. (operating as Travelocompare.net) |
|---|---|
| ARC Accreditation No. | 45572424 |
| Phone | (877) 671-5992 |
| support@travelocompare.net | |
| Mailing Address | 8213 Almont, Plano, Texas 75024, United States |
| Support Hours | 24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week |
11. Legal Disclaimer
Travelocompare.net, operating under Hydra Travels Inc., is an independent travel agency. We are not an airline, airline affiliate, or airline representative. All airline names, trademarks, and service identifiers referenced in our materials are the property of their respective owners and are used for descriptive purposes only.
The tax and fee information provided in this document is for informational purposes only and is based on currently published rates from the relevant regulatory authorities. Travelocompare.net makes no warranty, express or implied, as to the completeness, accuracy, or current applicability of this information. Government tax rates and fee structures are subject to legislative and regulatory changes.
Travelocompare.net shall not be held liable for any inaccuracies in tax or fee amounts arising from government-mandated changes occurring after the publication of this document or after the issuance of your ticket. Our liability in connection with any booking is limited to the amount of our service fee charged for that specific transaction.
By completing a booking on Travelocompare.net, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Taxes & Fees Disclosure and agree to the collection of all applicable taxes, fees, and service charges as set forth herein.