When you book a flight through Absolute Holidays, the total price you pay consists of three components:
All three components are clearly displayed before you confirm your booking. There are no hidden charges — the price you see at checkout is the total price you pay.
The following government-mandated taxes apply to flights within the continental United States, and to flights between the US mainland and Alaska or Hawaii.
| Tax Name | Code | Applies To | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
|
US Excise Tax
aka US Domestic Transportation Tax / US Ticket Tax. Percentage of base fare. Applies to flights within the continental US or within the Canada/Mexico 225-mile buffer zones.
|
US | Domestic & Intl | 7.50% |
|
US Federal Segment Fee
Per-segment fee applicable to each individual flight segment within the continental United States. Charged per flight leg, not per itinerary.
|
ZP | Domestic & Intl | $4.30 |
|
Travel Facilities Tax
aka Alaska/Hawaii Ticket Tax. Applies to certain flight segments to or from Alaska or Hawaii as an alternative to the standard US Excise Tax.
|
US | Domestic & Intl | $9.50 |
|
Passenger Facility Charge (PFC)
Variable charge based on the specific airport(s) used. Funds airport infrastructure and facilities improvements. A maximum of 4 PFCs per itinerary applies, regardless of the number of airports.
|
XF | Domestic & Intl | Up to $18 |
|
September 11th Security Fee
aka US Passenger Civil Aviation Security Fee. Assessed by the US government on all itineraries originating at a US airport. Funds the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
|
AY | Domestic & Intl | $5.60 one-way $11.20 round-trip |
The following taxes apply to international flights arriving in or departing from the United States, as well as foreign government charges imposed at international destinations.
| Tax Name | Code | Applies To | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
|
US International Transportation Tax
aka US International Arrival/Departure Tax. Applies to all flights arriving in or departing from the United States, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands.
|
US | International | $18.90 |
|
US APHIS Fee
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service fee. Applies to all flights originating outside the US (except Canada) and landing in the United States, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands.
|
XA | International | $3.96 |
|
US Immigration & Naturalization Fee
Applies to all international arrivals to the United States, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands. Collected to fund immigration inspection services.
|
XY | International | $7.00 |
|
US Customs User Fee
Applies to all international arrivals from outside the US Customs territory. Funds US Customs and Border Protection inspection services.
|
YC | International | $5.89 |
|
International Taxes & Government Fees
Various foreign government taxes, airport departure taxes, inspection fees, and security charges imposed by destination countries. Excludes most airport departure taxes which are collected by the airline or airport directly. Amount varies significantly by country and route.
|
Varies | International | Up to $349* |
* Approximate amount. Actual international taxes vary significantly by country, route, and airline. The exact breakdown is shown at checkout before payment.
The following is the complete reference table as published for Absolute Holidays bookings. All amounts are in USD and are subject to change by the relevant government authority without notice.
| Name & Description | May Apply To | Code | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 US DOMESTIC TAXES | |||
Travel Facilities Tax aka Alaska/Hawaii Ticket Tax — applies to certain segments to/from Alaska or Hawaii |
US Domestic & Intl | US | $9.50 |
US Federal Segment Fee Per-segment fee for flights within the continental United States |
US Domestic & Intl | ZP | $4.30 |
US Excise Tax Percentage of fare for continental US and Canada/Mexico 225-mile buffer zone flights |
US Domestic & Intl | US | 7.50% |
Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) Variable airport fee; max 4 charges per itinerary |
US Domestic & Intl | XF | Up to $18 |
September 11th Security Fee US government TSA security fee per one-way trip originating in the US |
US Domestic & Intl | AY | $5.60 / one-way $11.20 / round-trip |
| 🌍 INTERNATIONAL TAXES | |||
US International Transportation Tax Arrival/Departure tax for all flights to/from US, Puerto Rico, or US Virgin Islands |
International | US | $18.90 |
US APHIS Fee Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service — applies to international arrivals (excl. Canada) |
International | XA | $3.96 |
US Immigration & Naturalization Fee Applies to international arrivals to the US, Puerto Rico, or US Virgin Islands |
International | XY | $7.00 |
US Customs User Fee For international arrivals from outside the US Customs territory |
International | YC | $5.89 |
International Taxes & Gov. Fees Foreign government taxes, airport departure taxes, inspection and security charges — amount varies by country and route |
International | Varies | Up to $349* |
| 🛎️ ABSOLUTE HOLIDAYS SERVICE FEES | |||
Online Air Transaction Service Fee Charged on all airfares. Applies per person for all passenger types: Adult, Child, Senior, Infant, Student, Military. Non-refundable under all circumstances. |
US Domestic & Intl | Fee | Up to $100.00 |
* Approximate amount | All Transaction Service Fees are non-refundable | Government taxes subject to change without notice.
Absolute Holidays charges a service fee on all bookings. This fee is included in the total price displayed at checkout and covers booking processing, 24/7 customer support, post-booking itinerary management, and access to consolidated/wholesale fares not available elsewhere.
| Service Fee Type | Applies To | Fee Amount | Refundable? |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard Booking Fee Economy class domestic and international bookings made online |
All passengers | Up to $100/ticket | Non-refundable |
Business & First Class Fee Premium cabin bookings — may be up to $100 per passenger on all ticket types |
All passengers | Up to $100/ticket | Non-refundable |
Multi-City Trip Fee Itineraries with 3+ cities or complex open-jaw routings |
All passengers | Up to $100/ticket | Non-refundable |
Multi-Airline / High-Risk City Fee Itineraries combining multiple carriers or routes through cities with elevated fraud risk |
All passengers | Up to $100/ticket | Non-refundable |
Phone Booking Assistance Fee For bookings completed over the phone with an Absolute Holidays agent |
All passengers | $100/ticket | Non-refundable |
Baggage fees are set and collected by the operating airline — not by Absolute Holidays. They vary significantly by airline, route, fare class, and frequent flyer status. The following are typical ranges for major carriers, provided as a guide only.
| Baggage Type | US Domestic (typical) | International (typical) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1st Checked Bag |
$30 – $40 | Often included (varies) | Free on some premium fare classes |
2nd Checked Bag |
$40 – $50 | $50 – $100 | Weight limit typically 23kg (50 lbs) |
Overweight Bag (23–32kg) |
$75 – $100 | $75 – $200 | Per bag, per direction |
Oversized Bag (>62 linear inches) |
$100 – $200 | $100 – $200 | Per bag, per direction |
Carry-On Bag |
Free – $65* | Generally free | *Charged on Basic Economy fares |
Sports Equipment |
$150 – $200+ | Varies widely | Golf clubs, bicycles, skis etc. |
Ancillary Charges
- Seat selection: $10 – $150+ depending on seat type (standard, extra legroom, exit row, bulkhead)
- In-flight meals: Included in Business/First Class; $8 – $25 on Economy on some carriers
- Priority boarding: $10 – $40
- Pet travel (cabin): $95 – $200 per segment
- Unaccompanied minor fee: $75 – $150 per segment (set by airline)
These charges are the passenger's responsibility and are paid directly to the airline. They are not included in the Absolute Holidays booking price.
The following fees apply in addition to any airline-imposed change or cancellation penalties. All Absolute Holidays fees listed below are non-refundable.
| Fee Type | Absolute Holidays Fee | Airline Fee | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
24-Hour Free Cancellation Within 24 hrs of booking, 7+ days before departure (US DOT rule) |
$0 | $0 | Free |
Voluntary Cancellation Non-refundable ticket, after 24-hour window |
$50 – $100 | $0 – $400+ | $50 – $500+ |
Refundable Ticket Cancellation Refundable fare, after 24-hour window |
$50 – $100 | Airline-specific | Fare minus fees |
Date / Route Change (Domestic) Exchange of domestic ticket to new dates or routing |
$100 | $0 – $200 | $100 – $300 + fare diff |
Date / Route Change (International) Exchange of international ticket to new dates or routing |
$200 – $300 | $0 – $400+ | $200 – $700 + fare diff |
Name Correction Minor spelling corrections where permitted by airline |
$50 – $250 | $0 – $200 | $50 – $450 |
Refund Processing Fee For airline-approved refunds on refundable tickets |
$100 | Airline-specific | Deducted from refund |
When you book through Absolute Holidays, here is what is always included in your displayed total price:
- ✅ Base airfare (airline's fare for your seat)
- ✅ All applicable US government taxes (excise, segment fee, security fee, PFC)
- ✅ International arrival/departure taxes where applied by the route
- ✅ US customs, immigration, and APHIS fees on international itineraries
- ✅ Absolute Holidays service fee
- ✅ Foreign government taxes where included in the ticket by the airline
What Is NOT Included
- ❌ Checked baggage fees (unless explicitly stated on the fare)
- ❌ Seat selection fees
- ❌ In-flight meals on economy fares (carrier-dependent)
- ❌ Airport departure taxes paid directly at the airport in local currency
- ❌ Travel visa and entry fees
- ❌ Travel insurance
- ❌ Hotel, transfers, or ground transportation
- ❌ Currency conversion or foreign transaction fees charged by your bank
Airline tickets and booking confirmations display taxes using standardised IATA (International Air Transport Association) tax codes. Here is a reference guide to the codes you may see on your Absolute Holidays booking confirmation:
| Code | Tax Name | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| US | US Excise Tax / Transportation Tax / International Tax | US IRS / DOT |
| ZP | US Federal Segment Fee | US FAA |
| AY | September 11th Security Fee | US TSA / DHS |
| XF | Passenger Facility Charge | Individual Airports / FAA |
| XA | APHIS Animal & Plant Health Fee | US USDA |
| XY | US Immigration & Naturalization Fee | US DHS / CBP |
| YC | US Customs User Fee | US CBP |
| GB | UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) | UK HMRC |
| RA | Canada Airport Improvement Fee | Canadian Airports |
| SQ | Canada GST on Airline Services | Canada Revenue Agency |
| YQ | Carrier-Imposed Surcharge (Fuel Surcharge) | Airline |
| YR | Carrier-Imposed Surcharge (Miscellaneous) | Airline |
| OB | Brazil AFRMM / Merchant Fee (where applicable) | Brazil / Carrier |
Tax Changes
Government-imposed taxes and fees are subject to change at any time by the relevant authority. Absolute Holidays will always charge the taxes in effect at the time of ticketing. If a tax changes after your ticket is issued, you will not be charged the difference (or refunded) unless required by law.
All Service Fees Are Non-Refundable
Absolute Holidays service fees are non-refundable under all circumstances — including airline-initiated cancellations, significant schedule changes, force majeure events, and voluntary cancellations. This is disclosed at checkout and agreed to at time of booking.
Carrier-Imposed Surcharges (YQ/YR)
Many airlines impose fuel surcharges and miscellaneous carrier surcharges (coded YQ and YR on your ticket). These are set by the airline and included in your total fare — they are not government taxes. They are non-refundable on most fare types.
Bank & Foreign Transaction Fees
International transactions or payments made in a currency different from your card's home currency may incur foreign transaction fees charged by your bank or card issuer. These fees are outside Absolute Holidays' control and are not included in the total price shown at checkout. Contact your bank for information about international transaction charges.
Currency Conversion
All prices on AbsoluteHolidays.com are displayed in US Dollars (USD). If you pay with a card denominated in another currency, your bank will convert the amount using its own exchange rate and may add a conversion fee. The rate used by your bank may differ from the rate shown on currency conversion websites.