airfare

Airfare is the price charged by an airline for transporting a passenger on a scheduled flight. The fare typically includes the carrier’s service from origin to destination and is presented as the base price before other charges. The total cost paid at booking usually includes government taxes, security and airport charges, and optional services such as seat selection or checked baggage.

Airfares are set through dynamic pricing and yield management. Prices change in response to demand, seasonality, booking horizon, competition, and route characteristics. Airlines group fares into classes (for example, economy, premium economy, business, and first), each with its own rules on refunds, changes, and mileage accrual. Within a cabin, fare families and fare basis codes encode restrictions.

Common fare types include nonrefundable and refundable fares, basic economy or light fares with restrictions, and standard full-fare tickets. Nonrefundable tickets may incur penalties for changes or cancellations; refundable tickets may permit changes with lower penalties or none. Some fares exclude seat selection, meals, or checked baggage, while others include them.

Pricing is distributed through multiple channels, including airline direct sales, global distribution systems (GDS), travel agencies, and online travel agencies. The published price may reflect the base fare plus taxes and surcharges; total price can differ by channel, and some ancillary services are sold separately. Fare rules and rules of origin can affect travel and mileage accrual.

Taxes and charges vary by country and airport. Fuel surcharges, security fees, and passenger facility charges are among common items that can appear separately on the ticket. Consumers are encouraged to compare total trip cost and to review fare rules before purchase, as similar routes can offer widely different terms and prices.