I had a return on American on March 10th (BZE-MIA-TPA) and was not charged. The gal at the counter wrote down 40.00 on the ticket, but no funds were collected. Same for my travelling companion. Nice surprise as I thought I had a cheap ticket anyway.
I am going again in April and sometimes wonder if I could be the one singlehandedly driving up those tourist arrival figures (6 times in one year).

It's a fairly recent thing that the departure tax has been included in the ticket price. Not all airlines do it and if you purchased your ticket before a certain date (Dec 2003 sometime), it may not have been included. If the tax is $50 something it is not included, if the tax is $70 or $80 something, it is included. Can see all taxes listed on your ticket receipts.

Yes, they are collecting $35 per person now when you go to leave the airport. This is a pretty big financial hit for a family traveling with children. I don't mind paying a reasonable fee to help with development, but when it costs as much as a night in a resort it may cause me to rethink my travel plans in the future

try Ecuador ! Fees there were just as high 4 years ago! and they've done NADA to upgrade facilities sicne.

We used TACA and had to pay it so not sure about that.

Oh my...Well, I guess we need to be prepared to do some research on that American Airline then, for future travel.
It was our first time with TACA. I must have jumped the gun with saying it was them. Perhaps it was our airmiles tickets hm.......

Either way, we didn't have to pay it and we always had in the past.

The new tax was not yet implemented, does that count
Thanks again.

They have only been including the departure tax ($20) on new tickets purchased since about Dec 2003. Now they will be adding in the new $35 dep tax on tickets purchased from now on. So if you purchased tix within the last few months, they probably will have the old dep tax included but you will have to pay the $15 difference. If you purchase tickets from now on, they will have the $35 dep tax included. Except USAir which has not been including the old or the new dep tax and you will have to pay the $35 at checkin.

HARUMPH! I just checked my receipt, and you are right Barb, it had $20. I paid $35 at the airport. Guess that was my contribution to the effort. Well, I know to look next time!

Thanks BarbaraK