Commuting and Fees (Taxes, etc)

[HansDietrich]

G'day all!

So I'm a little new to the commuting game and I have some questions regarding its cost.

1. I can commute with my own airline, with the price of one way ticket ranging from $30 - $60 one way.
2. I can commute on other airlines for half that cost.
3. I can commute on certain airlines (J/S) without paying a penny.

I'm looking at the taxes and fees and I see that in some cases I pay a lot, in some, nothing. How is that possible? How are these taxes being generated and why do I pay them on certain airlines and not on others? I don't want to give specific names.

The hard part is that it costs me about $500 a month to commute from my home airport to my base. I'm going to move to my base as soon as possible, and I'm okay with that. Meanwhile, I just don't understand the cost structure.

[fish4life]

When you J/S on other airlines they are sucking up the cost of the fees and taxes. As for them being collected on other airlines well it is currently an illegal collection and charge by the airports at the moment that is being fought, they were never supposed to have been collected on airline employees.

[pelmet]

The good news is that the government is now looking at overbooking legislation in Canada and the US. I'm getting tired of having to worry about an available seat at certain companies.

[av8ts]

The good news is that the government is now looking at overbooking legislation in Canada and the US. I'm getting tired of having to worry about an available seat at certain companies.

Yes commuting is not for everyone. I would say anyone who regularly stresses about whether or not they are getting on should definitely not commute long term.

[pelmet]

The good news is that the government is now looking at overbooking legislation in Canada and the US. I'm getting tired of having to worry about an available seat at certain companies.

Yes commuting is not for everyone. I would say anyone who regularly stresses about whether or not they are getting on should definitely not commute long term.

Or commute in a guaranteed first class seat. But there is the inconvenience of those darn paying pax getting in the way of holiday Z travel as well.

[infiniteregulus]

Airport fees for employees is illegal?? Is there a class action I can hop onto?

[av8ts]

The good news is that the government is now looking at overbooking legislation in Canada and the US. I'm getting tired of having to worry about an available seat at certain companies.

Yes commuting is not for everyone. I would say anyone who regularly stresses about whether or not they are getting on should definitely not commute long term.

Or commute in a guaranteed first class seat. But there is the inconvenience of those darn paying pax getting in the way of holiday Z travel as well.

Are you confusing commuting with deadheading? Who commutes in a guaranteed first class seat?

[confusedalot]

My information is dated, but the total cost of commuting reaches 10000-12000 easily. Be honest with yourself.

As far as tax deductions are concerned, in my time, there actually were tax breaks for transportation workers, food, lodging, etc....

Suspect these forms are still available, but sorry, can't remember anymore.

Sorry I can't help more.....

[Black_Tusk]

You sound confused a lot?

[confusedalot]

yeah that was badly written.

[mbav8r]

As far as expense, I've been commuting for 10 years and I average 5-600/mth and that's paying for a bedroom to myself, no bunk beds for me. So, you can keep it to 400/mth if you don't mind sharing a room. It would be more expensive while you are junior and can't get a commuter friendly schedule. Far cry from 10-12,000, if your talking gross then yes paying 6,000/yr after tax is equivalent to 10g gross.
It is absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay these fees to go to work, imagine if you work at the airport and there was a fee just to enter the airport property for everybody, you as an employee were also subjected to it. Seems ridiculous but it's exactly the same thing!
As for deductions, there is a tax form, I believe t2200, does not apply for commuting, it is for meals, lodging, etc, while away from base for work. It also does not apply if you receive per diems and hotels provided.

[infiniteregulus]

It half applies with per diems paid that aren't on par with the governmental minimums.

[HansDietrich]

As far as expense, I've been commuting for 10 years and I average 5-600/mth and that's paying for a bedroom to myself, no bunk beds for me. So, you can keep it to 400/mth if you don't mind sharing a room. It would be more expensive while you are junior and can't get a commuter friendly schedule. Far cry from 10-12,000, if your talking gross then yes paying 6,000/yr after tax is equivalent to 10g gross.
It is absolutely ridiculous that we have to pay these fees to go to work, imagine if you work at the airport and there was a fee just to enter the airport property for everybody, you as an employee were also subjected to it. Seems ridiculous but it's exactly the same thing!
As for deductions, there is a tax form, I believe t2200, does not apply for commuting, it is for meals, lodging, etc, while away from base for work. It also does not apply if you receive per diems and hotels provided.

I agree 100%

I've also heard rumors of some legal means to fight this. Hopefully something will be done, because it's insulting.

[seniorpumpkin]

My last trip home got complicated, had to switch carriers, take transit twice, it was a nightmare and cost about $100.
I'm getting sick of this game and seriously can't believe we have to pay the airport tax. I'd be happy to hear more about this law suit in progress. Our airports are way too expensive and they seem to put all the money into fancy architecture instead of the actual functionability of the airport.