It would appear that at least one airline has defied the recent industry trend of pocketing the uncollected excise taxes due to the recent non-renewal of the FAA, and is passing those savings along to customers.
As has been noted on Dkos previously (http://www.dailykos.com/...), most airlines exposed the lie of the conservative doctrine that lowering taxes will result in lowered costs for consumers, as corporations were assumed to pass those savings along. In the airline industry recently, that hasn't been the case, with this notable exception by Alaska Airlines (perhaps viewing that as no one else was doing it, they could promote themselves as being exceptional).
This isn't intended to promote this airline in particular, although I do fly them frequently and enjoy their free local brew (on Horizon Air), but to point out that while most airlines are simply collecting the money that was intended for taxes and pocketing it, without necessarily letting customers know they've just been swindled, Alaska Airlines is using the upcoming renewal of the excise tax as a means of promoting lower ticket prices.
Temporary Tax Reductions
Aviation Excise Tax Holiday Ending Soon
Tax Relief Explained
The Aviation Excise Tax expired Friday, July 22, 2011, at midnight and will be reinstated Monday, August 8, 2011. Unlike some of our competitors, Alaska Airlines has not raised fares in connection with the federal taxes that lapsed and we're passing along the savings to you.
For tickets sold between July 23, 2011, and August 8, 2011, the following taxes will not be collected:
The 7.5% tax generally applicable to domestic transportation (as well the 7.5% tax on amounts received from the sale of "frequent flyer miles".)
The $3.70 domestic segment tax.
The $16.30 international arrival/departure tax.
The $8.20 departure tax for flights between Alaska/Hawaii and the mainland US.
http://www.alaskaair.com/...
11:20 AM PT: It would appear that Delta and US Airways will refund a portion of the taxes, after the IRS intervened and encouraged them to do so. It looks like the bad press may have been catching up with them.
http://consumerist.com/...