The Q surcharge is a set of fees charged on an airline tickets. These fees, which fall outside the category of airport or fuel fees, may include Canadian Navigation fee and Hong Kong Security tax. The fees are always given in U.S. dollars.
Types
There are various types of fees a passenger may be charged outside of the actual price of the airline ticket. Such fees may include a baggage fee, charged for each piece of luggage carried on a plane. They may also include a reservation fee. Fuel fees are another type of fee that have started to increase due to the rise in fossil fuel prices in the early twenty-first century.
Canadian Navigation Fee and Hong Kong Security Fee
The Canadian Navigation fee may be related to the NAV Canada, an organization which seeks to recover the cost of air navigation services by charging operators. It periodically revises its charges after consulting with others in the industry throughout Canada. The Hong Kong Security fee may be related to increased security measures the airport uses to prevent terrorist attacks on its planes.
Trend
There is an increasing trend to add fees to the price to tickets. Some of this is related to increased security following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. and other parts of the world following September 11, 2001. Others are related to the periodic increase or decrease in travel that is seen by airlines.
Trend to Continue
According to Christopher Elliot, ombudsman of National Geographic Traveler magazine, the trend is most likely to continue. These fees are often hidden with other fees on a ticket or bill to help the airline make a profit.
Avoiding Charges
Some Q charges may be unavoidable, but other charges are. Bring your own food rather than spending money on inflight food. Wear some of your clothing items, like sweaters or boots, in order to reduce the weight of your luggage so you don't have to pay for extra baggage. Make your reservation and check in your luggage online, as it is considered to be cheaper, according to English travel site, Essential Travel.
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