----- Original Message ----- From: "Alireza Alivandivafa" <DEmocrat2n@xxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Monday, October 27, 2003 19:07 Subject: Re: [AIRLINE] incl taxes > In a message dated 10/27/2003 9:43:18 PM Eastern Standard Time, damiross2@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: > > > Then don't read it. I don't consider what I wrote to be "alarmist > > anti-government rhetoric." If you haven't noticed, the airline industry is > > in bad shape. The government adding taxes to the price of a > > ticket (and > > cargo, too) is not helping them. > > I think most would agree that I follow the industry. Also, most airlines are returning to profits, and some have never left profit. A total of 20 or so dollars for a trip in taxes is not bad at all, especially considering that it feeds the best aviation system in the world. These taxes have been in place when airlines were doing well too, except the security fee to pay for the "take-off your boots" administration. Just re-read what you wrote, Alireza. The only tax that has been in existence for a long time is the percentage tax. The segment tax is fairly recent - within the past 3 or 4 years. I got a great deal on Southwest for OAK/LAX roundtrip - only $53.96! However, to that low amount must be added nearly 45% taxes ($24.04). How the hell can you say the taxes are too low? By the way - that's without the security tax. That has been suspended for the time being. Had that been in effect, the taxes would have been another $10 or SIXTY THREE PERCENT!!!!! David R http://home.attbi.com/~damiross http://home.attbi.com/~damiross/books.html