Missed or cancelled your flight? Here’s how to reclaim taxes & fees

Were you unable to take your flight due to illness, did you miss it (no-show), or did you cancel voluntarily? With cheaper, “non-refundable” fares, the basic ticket price is often lost. What many airlines do not make clear, however, is this: you can still reclaim a significant part of the money.

An airline ticket is made up of the basic airfare plus various taxes, airport charges and security fees. As the airline only has to pass these charges on to the airport or the authorities if you actually board the flight, it may not be entitled to keep them if you do not travel. Reclaim your money now without risk.

Important note on use
This tool is an automated template letter generator (self-help guidance). It simply inserts your details into standard legal templates. There is no individual assessment of your case. This free service does not replace legal advice from a solicitor. Use is at your own responsibility, and no guarantee of success is given.

Generate your reclaim

Select your airline to create a legally robust claim letter for the refund of your taxes & fees (100% free):

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Checklist: how to proceed properly

To avoid the airline delaying your refund with arbitrary deductions or excuses, keep these points in mind:

Checklist

Check your booking confirmation: Look on your e-ticket for terms such as “Taxes”, “Fees”, “Airport charges” or codes such as “XT”. This will show you exactly how much you may be entitled to reclaim.
Cancel the flight proactively: Even if this is not always strictly necessary for reclaiming taxes (a no-show may still be enough), an official cancellation before departure often speeds up the refund process.
Provide your own bank details: When making the claim, make sure you state where the money should be paid, especially if the original payment card has expired.
Challenge administration fees: If the airline deducts £20 to £45 as an “administration fee” from your refund without proper justification, object immediately and ask for the legal basis and a full breakdown.

Case studies: why it is worth the effort

Example 1: The flight to London (budget airline)

Anna books a budget flight for £57. She falls ill and cannot travel. The fare is non-refundable. A look at the ticket breakdown shows that the basic airfare is only £13, while the remaining £44 consists of taxes and passenger charges from the airports.
Outcome: Anna reclaims the charges using our form. The airline must refund the full £44, even though the flight itself was not refundable.

Example 2: Unjustified administration fee

Mark cancels a flight and reclaims £70 in taxes. The airline pays him only £26 and keeps £44 as a “cancellation and administration fee”, relying on its terms and conditions.
Outcome: Such deductions are not automatically enforceable. Mark uses our portal to challenge the deduction, and the airline must also pay the remaining £44 if it cannot justify withholding it.

FAQ: common questions about tax refunds

Can I still get money back for a non-refundable ticket?

Yes. Even if you booked the cheapest fare (e.g. Economy Light), where the basic airfare itself is not refundable, the airline must still refund taxes and charges that were not incurred, such as airport charges and security fees. That is because the airline only pays these amounts on if you actually travel.

Can the airline charge an administration fee for the refund?

Generally, airlines cannot simply deduct arbitrary administration fees from refunds of unused taxes and charges unless this is lawful and clearly provided for in the contract. If an airline makes such a deduction, you should challenge it and ask for a full breakdown.

Can I also get the fuel surcharge back?

That depends on the individual case and the airline’s terms and conditions. Airlines often classify the fuel surcharge (usually shown as YQ or YR on the ticket) as part of the basic airfare, which may not be refundable on budget fares. Genuine third-party charges, such as airport taxes, should however be refunded if they were not incurred.

How far back can I reclaim the taxes?

Time limits depend on the legal basis of your claim and the circumstances of the booking. In the UK, limitation periods can vary, so you should act promptly and, if needed, seek guidance from Citizens Advice or a legal professional.