Refunds of Taxes on Nonrefundable Tickets; Restrictions on Using Miles

As a frequent traveler on a budget, I sometimes forfeit the fare if I cannot use a nonrefundable ticket. My travel agent says that airlines should refund the tax I have paid. But British Airways tells me that the entire amount I paid is nonrefundable. Who is right, B.A. or my agent? -Steve Chernysh, Preverenges, Switzerland.

Several readers have asked this question. Eric Clark, a reader in London, writes, "If I have to cancel a nonrefundable cheap ticket for a fare costing £10 plus £50 tax, will the airline keep £10 or £60?"

Tony Cane, a spokesman for British Airways in London, says that taxes (which can now make up more than 50 percent of the total amount you pay for a ticket) will be refunded "after deduction of an administration fee of £20 to £25." Samantha Day, a spokeswoman for easyJet, says that travelers can claim the tax part of a nonrefundable ticket by filling out the customer service form on the Web site (www.easyjet.com). There is a £5 administration fee.

European travelers have learned that the price of an airline ticket bought online can just about double when it comes to the final amount charged. According to the London-based travel agent Trailfinders (www.trailfinders.com), there are 453 taxes that can be imposed on passengers, depending on when and where they book a flight and where they are traveling. Taxes are as wide-ranging as the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Tax, the British Air Passenger Duty, Sydney Noise Tax and the Canadian Airport Improvement Fee.

Moshe Goldberg in New York asks: "If I were to buy two or more seats to stretch out in economy class as a comfortable and cost-effective alternative to business class, can I earn miles on every seat?"

Paul Marston, a spokesman at British Airways in London, said that miles are only awarded for one person traveling, no matter how many seats he or she has booked.

Perverse? Don't count on logic in the arcane world of taxes and frequent flier rules. The whole point of frequent flier programs is to award disproportionately more miles to travelers who pay the most for their tickets. So bear in mind you may earn proportionately more miles for a business-class ticket than for one in economy. Airlines often award no miles at all for the cheapest discount tickets.

Questions for this column may be sent to travelmail@nytimes.com. They will be answered only through the column. Please include a daytime phone number and a hometown.