Thailand to Implement 300-Baht Tourism Tax Starting with Air Travel

[sandyf]

18 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

The above is a dishonest misrepresentation of the fees and surcharges by the airline or ticketing entity.

Most of the fees and surcharges are airline generated, and not government.  Some airlines don't want to be honest and  show that they circumvent fare rules by charging fees and surcharges. An airline doesn't need to  refund many fees and surcharges, nor does it pay  tax on all of them.

You are wrong, the majority of airfare surcharges are paid to the governments of the airports concerned. All surcharges have a code that is listed in an IATA publication which unfortunately has to be paid for. However all the codes can be seen on this website.  https://blog.thetravelinsider.info/air-travel-taxes

 

Different alirlines present the charges differently which often leads to confusion. This is how Emirates do it, if I remember right "F6" &"UB" are the charges imposed by the UAE for passing through Dubai. "GB" is a variable  tax imposed by the UK, dependent on distance and seating arrangement. "TS" is the passenger service charge for Thailand.

[SmokeandIce]

Here are some countries that charge for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) and the typical fees associated with them:

1. Australia: AUD 20 (approximately USD 13) for the ETA.

2. Canada: CAD 7 (approximately USD 5) for the ETA.

3. New Zealand: NZD 12-35 (approximately USD 8-23) for the ETA, depending on the processing option.

4. Turkey: USD 50 for an e-Visa, which functions similarly to an ETA.

 

[Patong2021]

7 hours ago, sandyf said:

You are wrong, the majority of airfare surcharges are paid to the governments of the airports concerned. All surcharges have a code that is listed in an IATA publication which unfortunately has to be paid for. However all the codes can be seen on this website.  https://blog.thetravelinsider.info/air-travel-taxes

 

Different alirlines present the charges differently which often leads to confusion. This is how Emirates do it, if I remember right "F6" &"UB" are the charges imposed by the UAE for passing through Dubai. "GB" is a variable  tax imposed by the UK, dependent on distance and seating arrangement. "TS" is the passenger service charge for Thailand.

 

No I am not "wrong".You are using an airline ticket that is not issued in Thailand.  You have missed the point, that  airline tickets issued in Thailand by some carriers obscure the airline charges. In Thailand, airlines are allowed to declare a lump sum.   It is a practice long ago stopped in Australia, USA, UK and EU.

 

It is deceitful for an airline to present all of the charges, taxes and fees as a lump sum.  This gives the impression that all of the charges do not originate with the airline. 

 

If I go to the Air Asia  website and put in a basic DMK-KUL-DMK itinerary, it returns the following;

Base fare USD 106.24                             ,

Taxes, fees & surcharges USD 78.03,

Add-ons   USD 14.85,

Total Amount USD $199.17

 

If  a bag, seat  and meal are selected, the add on cost increases to $110.89  with a total of $295.02 The charge for airport and taxes is unchanged. The invoice does not include a description of how the add on total is calculated. 

 

Here's where the issues arise;

i. Part of the add on cost  is not requested by the passenger and is a negative option purchase, meaning that if not specifically rejected, is automatically charged. (This is not allowed in many jurisdictions, particularly those which forbid  abusive selling practices)

ii.- The tax is not shown as a  separate line item 

-The passenger immigration fee is not shown as a separate item 

-The separate visitor fee is not shown as a separate item.

-Sometimes an airline fuel surcharge is included but not declared as such

 

 

I provided the line split that is shown when an airline ticket is issued outside of Thailand;

For reference sake,  my round trip on TG to Tokyo next month is invoiced with these charges in Thai baht;

Advance Passenger Processing User Charge	68
International Arrival & Departure Fees	30
Passenger Service Charge - Thailand(TS)	728

Some Thai airlines do not include this split in their invoicing. Nor do they specifically declare their own add on costs, other than as a total amount. This is why it is misleading. It's like advertising round trip airfares to KUL for 500 baht, without declaring the airline surcharges, fees and taxes.

[FRM-BKK]

On 10/24/2024 at 3:48 PM, sandyf said:

The ETA system only applies to those not arriving on a visa, those on a tourist visa would be exempt.

There is no easy solution based on arrival, why many countries collect the tourist tax through accommodation charges.

I would imagine that when arriving on a tourist visa or any other non-long-term visa, the 300 baht tourist tax could be collected by the embassy or consulate by adding it to the visa charge; that way they could levy the charge to the correct categories.

[Puccini]

5 hours ago, FRM-BKK said:

I would imagine that when arriving on a tourist visa or any other non-long-term visa, the 300 baht tourist tax could be collected by the embassy or consulate by adding it to the visa charge; that way they could levy the charge to the correct categories.

 

What would you imagine for tourists not arriving on a visa?

[sandyf]

15 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

 

No I am not "wrong".You are using an airline ticket that is not issued in Thailand.  You have missed the point, that  airline tickets issued in Thailand by some carriers obscure the airline charges. In Thailand, airlines are allowed to declare a lump sum.   It is a practice long ago stopped in Australia, USA, UK and EU.

 

It is deceitful for an airline to present all of the charges, taxes and fees as a lump sum.  This gives the impression that all of the charges do not originate with the airline. 

 

If I go to the Air Asia  website and put in a basic DMK-KUL-DMK itinerary, it returns the following;

Base fare USD 106.24                             ,

Taxes, fees & surcharges USD 78.03,

Add-ons   USD 14.85,

Total Amount USD $199.17

 

If  a bag, seat  and meal are selected, the add on cost increases to $110.89  with a total of $295.02 The charge for airport and taxes is unchanged. The invoice does not include a description of how the add on total is calculated. 

 

Here's where the issues arise;

i. Part of the add on cost  is not requested by the passenger and is a negative option purchase, meaning that if not specifically rejected, is automatically charged. (This is not allowed in many jurisdictions, particularly those which forbid  abusive selling practices)

ii.- The tax is not shown as a  separate line item 

-The passenger immigration fee is not shown as a separate item 

-The separate visitor fee is not shown as a separate item.

-Sometimes an airline fuel surcharge is included but not declared as such

 

 

I provided the line split that is shown when an airline ticket is issued outside of Thailand;

For reference sake,  my round trip on TG to Tokyo next month is invoiced with these charges in Thai baht;

Advance Passenger Processing User Charge	68
International Arrival & Departure Fees	30
Passenger Service Charge - Thailand(TS)	728

Some Thai airlines do not include this split in their invoicing. Nor do they specifically declare their own add on costs, other than as a total amount. This is why it is misleading. It's like advertising round trip airfares to KUL for 500 baht, without declaring the airline surcharges, fees and taxes.

You are wrong, the codes are applicable whether identified or not, and if you looked at the list there are very few paid to the airline, mainly those that were once referred to as fuel adjustments.

[sandyf]

5 hours ago, FRM-BKK said:

I would imagine that when arriving on a tourist visa or any other non-long-term visa, the 300 baht tourist tax could be collected by the embassy or consulate by adding it to the visa charge; that way they could levy the charge to the correct categories.

People are free to imagine what they want, not going to change anything.

Tourist tax is not unique to Thailand, you can't always get what you want and sooner or later they will follow the leaders.

[geisha]

On 10/24/2024 at 1:52 AM, Denim said:

Years ago there was a 500 baht departure tax so nothing really new. I can't  imagine it will make a shade of difference to anybodies travel plans since 300 baht is hardly a make or break amount.

Why not just oblige tourists to have their own travel insurance ?? At least the tourist would have a chance of having a compétant cover. 

[Patong2021]

On 10/26/2024 at 4:42 AM, sandyf said:

You are wrong, the codes are applicable whether identified or not, and if you looked at the list there are very few paid to the airline, mainly those that were once referred to as fuel adjustments.

The codes you refer to do not appear on the receipts issued by airlines such as  Air Asia, or Thai Lion.

If the codes neither appear, nor the charges explained to the consumer, how do you expect the  typical passenger to know? I provided an example direct from the booking page of Thai Air Asia. Insisting that I am "wrong" does not change the reality which is that the charges are not itemized  which precludes the consumer from knowing what all of the fees and charges are for.

 

[freedomnow]

They wil rescind it again...

 

Planet

 

Flip

 

Flop.

[sandyf]

On 10/27/2024 at 11:58 PM, Patong2021 said:

The codes you refer to do not appear on the receipts issued by airlines such as  Air Asia, or Thai Lion.

If the codes neither appear, nor the charges explained to the consumer, how do you expect the  typical passenger to know? I provided an example direct from the booking page of Thai Air Asia. Insisting that I am "wrong" does not change the reality which is that the charges are not itemized  which precludes the consumer from knowing what all of the fees and charges are for.

 

You should be more careful on what you say, how false information is spread.

Your words "Most of the fees and surcharges are airline generated, and not government."

 

The IATA code list shows over 90% of surcharges applied to fares are paid to governments.

People are free to request a detailed breakdown from the airline if they get hot under the collar.

Do you really believe that the Thai airlines do not follow the IATA guidelines even though committed to do so.

[StayinThailand2much]

On 10/24/2024 at 6:48 AM, MalcolmB said:

Sounds like a good deal.

 

1 million 'in case of death'; how can I claim this? 😆

[MalcolmB]

45 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

1 million 'in case of death'; how can I claim this? 😆

You will need a western wife who accidentally gets pushed off a cliff.

[FRM-BKK]

On 10/26/2024 at 3:34 PM, Puccini said:

 

What would you imagine for tourists not arriving on a visa?

As I stated earlier ….. those arriving on visa-exempt will soon have to apply for an ETA prior to arrival, whereby they will be charged the 300 baht tourist tax and receive a QR code in exchange to enter Thailand.  Airlines will probably insist on passengers showing either a valid visa, or an ETA QR code for those travelling visa exempt.

Those who have applied for any short-term visa (tourist visa, 90-day non-imm visa etc.) will have the 300 baht fee added to their visa fee by the embassy.

I can’t explain it any simpler ….