FAQ on flight ticket tax refunds

Yes, certain taxes and fees can be requested when you did not board. This depends on the airline, the country of departure, the ticket and the purchase channel.

No. On a non-refundable ticket, the ticket price itself cannot be recovered. However, the airport taxes and fees included in your ticket price are refundable when you did not take your flight. Airlines are required to refund these taxes upon request, as they are collected on behalf of airports and governments, not kept by the airline.

A ticket refund concerns the price of the transport. A tax refund concerns certain amounts collected for the airport, security or passengers, which may not be owed if the flight is not used.

Refundable taxes typically include: airport taxes (passenger service charges), security fees, passenger levies, and certain government taxes. Fuel surcharges and airline service fees are generally not refundable. The exact amount depends on your departure airport, airline, and destination.

Yes, a missed flight can fall within the scope of a tax refund request, provided you did not use the ticket.

Not necessarily. Deadlines vary by airline and country. The sooner you make the request, the simpler the process is to follow.

Deadlines vary by airline. Ryanair accepts requests up to 5 years after the flight date. Air France and KLM typically allow 2 years. EasyJet recommends submitting within 3 months of the flight date, though later requests may be considered. It is always best to submit your claim as soon as possible after the scheduled flight date.

No, the refund is not 100% guaranteed. It depends on the airline, ticket type, departure airport, taxes actually paid, and purchase channel (direct or via a travel agency). However, airport taxes are legally refundable in most cases across Europe, and airlines are obliged to process valid claims.

If you bought your ticket through a travel agency or an online travel agency (OTA) such as Booking, Opodo, eDreams or Expedia, your refund request must generally be sent to the agency rather than directly to the airline. The agency is the intermediary that collected the taxes. The process may take longer but the taxes remain recoverable.

No, you should never share your login credentials with any third party. To submit your claim, you will need your booking reference (PNR), ticket number, flight date, and your bank account details for the transfer. No password is required.

Processing times range from 7 to 90 days depending on the airline. Ryanair states 5 to 10 working days. Air France and KLM typically take 4 to 8 weeks. EasyJet may take up to 30 days. These timelines may be extended during high-volume periods.

Prepare your name, booking reference, ticket number if available, flight date, itinerary, booking email and proof of purchase.

No. Each airline has its own forms, deadlines, possible fees and contact channels. This is why the guides are organized by airline.

General information exists online, but airline-specific procedures change frequently, the right forms are hard to find, and common mistakes lead to rejections. Our guides give you the exact, up-to-date procedure for your airline, the precise information to prepare, a ready-to-use message template, and the mistakes to avoid — all to maximise your chances of a fast, successful refund.