Two leading UK travel associations have called on airlines to clarify whether fuel surcharges are taxes or part of the ticket price.
The UK and Ireland Institute of Travel Management (ITM) and the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) said some airlines were classing it as part of the ticket.
This meant it was not refundable if the ticket was unused.
The two associations, which respectively represent buyers and agents, said it has been an ”existing practice” for airlines to refund any taxes on unused tickets.
A joint letter, signed by Paul Tilstone, executive director of ITM and Philip Carlisle, ceo of the GTMC, said if airlines wanted to include fuel surcharges as part of the ticket price, then it should be included in any deals between airlines and corporates.
The letter added: ”The airline community is entitled to treat the surcharge as they wish as far as refunding is concerned, but you cannot have your cake and eat it.
”It should either be treated as a tax or as part of the fare or applied accordingly to relationships to TMC”s and travel buyers.”
Visit www.itm.org.uk and www.gtmc.org.