ESTIMATE
How much can you recover on the taxes
of an unused plane ticket?
Didn't take your flight and want to know how much you can recover? The answer depends on several factors: the ticket price, the breakdown of taxes, the airline, the country of departure, the purchase channel and the applicable conditions.
The main thing to remember: you generally do not recover a fixed percentage of the total ticket price. The recoverable amount only corresponds to the taxes and fees that are actually refundable.
Indicative estimate · Guides by airline · Message templates · No guaranteed refund
The amount recoverable on the taxes of an unused plane ticket depends on the fare breakdown of the ticket. In practice, you can sometimes recover certain airport taxes or passenger fees, but not necessarily the full ticket price, options, baggage, seats or agency fees.
In France, article L224-66 of the Consumer Code provides for the refund of itemized taxes and fees whose applicability depends on the passenger actually boarding. The refund must be made no later than 30 days after the request is received; the online request is free.
Estimating the recoverable amount based on the ticket, the taxes and the airline
The recoverable amount is not calculated purely from the total price paid. A €300 ticket does not automatically entitle you to a €30, €50 or €100 refund.
You first need to understand the breakdown of the ticket: the price of the air transport, airport taxes, passenger fees, security fees, carrier surcharges, service fees, options, insurance, baggage, seats. Only certain taxes or fees may be recoverable if you did not board.
Definition: what is the recoverable amount?
The recoverable amount corresponds to the sum you can potentially recover after a refund request for the taxes and fees linked to an unused ticket. This amount is never guaranteed: it depends on the taxes actually paid, the country of departure, the airline, the purchase channel and the applicable terms and conditions.
Definition: which amounts are not necessarily recoverable?
Not all amounts paid when buying the ticket are recoverable taxes. In general, the following items are not automatically refundable:
- –the airfare excluding taxes
- –carrier surcharges
- –service or agency fees
- –baggage, seat, priority boarding options
- –insurance
- –change or cancellation fees
Key facts
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Purpose of this page | Estimate how much to recover on the taxes of an unused ticket |
| Amount guaranteed | No |
| Basis for calculation | Recoverable taxes and fees actually paid |
| Full ticket price | Generally non-refundable if the ticket is non-refundable |
| Online request | Free in France for the taxes concerned |
| Offline fees | Maximum 20% of the amount refunded in France |
| French legal deadline | 30 days maximum after the request is received |
Simple formula to estimate your recoverable amount
Estimated recoverable amount =
recoverable airport taxes
+ recoverable passenger fees
+ any other recoverable taxes
− any processing fees
Example: €32 airport tax + €18 passenger fee = €50 potentially recoverable.
Simple estimate example (ticket paid at €180)
| Ticket item | Amount paid | Recoverable? |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare | €95 | Generally not |
| Airport taxes | €32 | Potentially yes |
| Passenger fee | €18 | Potentially yes |
| Carrier surcharge | €20 | Often not |
| Service fee | €8 | Variable |
| Seat selection | €7 | Generally not |
| Total paid | €180 | — |
Indicative ranges by ticket type
| Ticket type | Price paid | Possible recoverable amount |
|---|---|---|
| Short-haul low-cost flight | €30 to €80 | Often low, sometimes a few euros to a few dozen euros |
| Standard European flight | €80 to €250 | Variable, often more significant |
| Long-haul flight | €400 to €1,200 | Can be higher depending on taxes and country |
| Ticket with many options | Variable | Options generally distinct from taxes |
| Ticket via OTA | Variable | Possible agency fees, more complex procedure |
Step 1: find the breakdown of the price paid
Start by finding your confirmation email, e-ticket, receipt, invoice or payment summary. Look for lines such as: "Taxes", "Airport taxes", "Airport charges", "Passenger charge", "Government tax", "Security fee", "QW", "QX", "Fees", "Carrier surcharge".
Step 2: identify the taxes linked to boarding
French regulations target taxes and fees whose applicability depends on the passenger actually boarding. In practice, you need to try to identify the amounts linked to the passenger not being carried.
Step 3: remove non-recoverable items
To avoid artificially inflating your estimate, remove the airfare, options, baggage, seats, service fees, insurance and carrier surcharges.
Step 4: account for any fees
In France, the online request is free. If the request is not made online, fees cannot exceed 20% of the amount refunded for the relevant taxes and fees.
Step 5: use a clear request
Avoid "I want a refund for my ticket": use instead "I would like to request a refund of the recoverable taxes and fees linked to an unused plane ticket".
Short message to ask for the recoverable amount
Hello,
I would like to request a refund of the recoverable taxes and fees linked to a plane ticket that I did not use.
Could you please let me know the amount of refundable taxes and fees associated with this booking?
Booking reference:
Ticket number:
Flight number:
Flight date:
Passenger name:
I would like to clarify that I did not board this flight.
Best regards,
This wording directly asks for the amount, without confusing a ticket refund with a tax refund.
Common estimation mistakes
Assuming the refund only depends on the total price
An expensive ticket does not necessarily mean a large tax refund, and vice versa.
Counting options in the recoverable amount
Baggage, seat, insurance or priority boarding are not automatically recoverable taxes.
Confusing a tax with a carrier surcharge
Some lines may look like taxes but correspond to non-refundable fees.
Forgetting any fees or the agency/OTA
If the request is not made online, fees may apply; if bought via an OTA, the request may need to go through the agency.
Estimate by airline
| Airline | What to check | Recommended guide |
|---|---|---|
| Ryanair | Government Tax, possible deadline, direct booking or OTA | /guide-ryanair-flight-tax-refund |
| Vueling | Airport and security taxes | /guide-vueling-flight-tax-refund |
| easyJet | 24-hour cancellation or tax request after a no-show | /guide-easyjet-flight-tax-refund |
| Air France | Taxes and fees, ticket number, My bookings | /guide-air-france-flight-tax-refund |
| KLM | Unused airport taxes, ticket and options handled separately | /guide-klm-flight-tax-refund |
Guides available for your airline
Premium guide pricing
Premium guides give you a procedure tailored to each airline, with a message template and mistakes to avoid.
Choose my airline's guide →Secure payment · Instant access · No guaranteed refund
Special case: a very cheap ticket
On a very cheap low-cost ticket (for example €39 paid, including €8 of potentially recoverable taxes), a request may still be worthwhile, but the real gain may be limited.
Special case: long-haul ticket
On a long-haul ticket, taxes can represent a larger share of the price paid, but the recoverable amount will not necessarily equal the total taxes shown: you need to identify the ones that are actually refundable.
Special case: ticket bought via an agency or OTA
If you bought via an agency or OTA, the amount received may be reduced by non-refundable service fees or a longer processing time.
Understand the OTA procedure →What our guides do not guarantee
- –a precise amount before the request is sent
- –that all taxes shown will be refunded
- –that the full ticket price will be refunded
- –that no fees will apply if the request is not made online
The recoverable amount depends on the airline, the ticket, the country of departure, the route, the purchase channel, the taxes actually paid and the applicable conditions.
Independent site, not affiliated with any airline
Flight Tax Refund is an independent site. The site is not affiliated with Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Air France, KLM or any other airline mentioned.
Our guides are practical informational resources. They do not constitute personalized legal advice and do not guarantee that you will obtain a refund.
In summary
- –The recoverable amount depends on the actual breakdown of taxes on your ticket.
- –You generally do not recover a fixed percentage of the total price.
- –Certain airport taxes or passenger fees may be recoverable if you did not board.
- –In France, the relevant taxes and fees must be refunded within 30 days of the request being received.
- –The online request is free; offline fees are capped at 20% of the amount refunded in France.
- –Options, baggage, seats, insurance and agency fees are not automatically recoverable.
- –No refund is guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions about the recoverable amount
Ready to estimate your request?
Choose your airline and use the matching guide to prepare a clear request.
Useful sources
- – Service-Public.fr: refund of the airport tax and passenger fee
- – Service-Public.fr: letter template to claim the airport tax and passenger fee
- – Légifrance: French Consumer Code, article L224-66
- – INC Conso: recovering taxes and fees after a flight cancellation
- – La Finance pour tous: missed flight and airport tax refund