how do I get around airport tax?

[lemurs2]

Okay, we decided on PNG, I found some good airfare and then they added on the airport tax and it was over $625 each ticket! which put us out of budget. I checked other airlines and routes to get to PNG and the tax was all the same. Is it the PNG government?

 

[ChrisM]

Someone's lying to you or fleecing you. 2 second google search shows the Papua New Guinea aiport tax is the equivalent of about $10-15.

http://www.walindi.com/Travel.html

 

[OHGoDive]

Probably not the airport tax per se (which is like $15 US that you pay on arrival in kina), but the taxes that governments adds on to all tickets. Probably no way around it, it's built into the price of the tickets for using their airports.

Since you aren't flying from San Diego non-stop to PNG, you're getting hit with several countries worth of taxes, depending upon your route and where you transit. I've heard that it's expensive to land in Australia and hop someplace else, but, not sure if that is really the case, or if it's worse than anywhere else.

I know that I found flights from Singapore to Bangkok that were very cheap, but the taxes more than doubled the price of the "cheap" fare. Yikes. They don't tell you about that until you go to actually purchase them.

We're flying from LAX to PNG on Malaysia to Singapore and then onto PNG from Singapore on Air Niugini. The taxes are a big chunk of the cost of the tickets.

Try a bunch of different carriers and routes. You can get to PNG thru Singapore, Hong Kong, Honoria, and Australia (anywhere else?). Try em all. Good luck.

(Of course, you could always try floating in on a raft from Cairns, but, the risk to reward ratio is probably a bit too high to make this practical )

 

[alcina]

Brisbane is much cheaper (or it was last year) than Sydney, so try to route through there if you can.

 

[almitywife]

......(Of course, you could always try floating in on a raft from Cairns, but, the risk to reward ratio is probably a bit too high to make this practical )

the aussie federal government has a policy that means the rafter will end up in a dog box in the middle of the aussie dessert or Naru. Naru would be good but no dive shop on the island unfortunatley

as far as dive tax goes - that seems over the top steep and Alicinas suggestion might work out something better for you

goodluck... PNG is on my list and im getting to it eventually

 

[lemurs2]

Yes, I did check about flying through Singapore because we went that route when we went to the Maldives in Jan 07 and airfare was very reasonable. I did check out another site recommend by a SB person zugi.com.au. Airfare to the Solomans was more but not the tax. It only goes up when hitting PNG We aren't planning to go until Oct so maybe there will be some good deals at the Long Beach Scuba show in June. Otherwise maybe I'll use a giant squid to strap myself to a great white and get a ride that way

 

[tarangau]

Yeah there is no way to beat those taxes, PNG government has high taxes as well as the Australian government.

This option is much more risky but may save you heaps if it all works out.

Airlines PNG (not Air Niugini) are now flying from Brisbane to Port Moresby. Look on thier website as they often have specials and you can book them online.

www.apng.com

you can pick up a return airfare from brisbane to POM for AUD $400 including taxes.
They also fly from Cairns so this could be cheaper as well in terms of where the cheaper route is from say the US.

now they don't fly everywhere in PNG so domestic destinations may have to be through Air Niugini which will be very expensive.

So for example, if you were going to Walindi Resort the domestic airfare would costs around AUD $500 return (port moresby - Hoskins) air niugini has started online booking.

This is for flights to Hoskins (HKN) where Walindi/FeBrina and Star Dancer are located.

So Brisbane - Port Moresby - Hoskins - return

Pros:

CHEAP! (from Australia)

Same day connections

Long waiting times (3-4 hours) in between domestic and international flight gives you a better chance of reaching your connection if the domestic flight is delayed (which happens).
If you don't want to wait at the Port Moresby airport (nothing to do there) the Airways Hotel has shuttle busses and takes only 5 minutes to get there, they will even look after your bags while you wait. They have a nice pool side bar to have drinks, very nice

Problems with this method:

If either of the airlines are cancelled they won't refund you etc for missing other airlines flight (obviously)

The Brisbane to POM flight on Airlines PNG gives you 30kg baggae but because you booked only the domestic route through Air Niugini, you only get 16 kg allowance.
Who knows it may even be cheaper to pay excess baggage if you have all your dive gear.
The other option is to hire all your gear at the resort or liveaboard when you get there to reduce weight.


I have travelled this method several times now and so far so good!

So research cheap fares to Australia (Brisbane or Cairns) and look up airlines PNG

 

[alijtaylor]

One further thought. If you can I'd plan to arrive at the destination a day before your liveaboard departs. I shared a transfer to Walindi with a couple who should have been there the day before to catch their departure but had a cancelled flight. While the liveaboard had hung around they had missed a day's diving and had all the stress to deal with. Not a great start to the holiday and it happens more often that you would like to think.
Alison

 

[silent running]

Okay, we decided on PNG, I found some good airfare and then they added on the airport tax and it was over $625 each ticket! which put us out of budget. I checked other airlines and routes to get to PNG and the tax was all the same. Is it the PNG government?

I had no idea there was such a thing-govt tax on the ticket. Maybe that's why my ticket from NYC was a little over $3k US last time I priced it, when it was about $2200 on my previous trip. Has this tax been in effect for long?

I'll still go, just means I have to stay for longer each time-at least a month-to amortize the airfare, but then I won't be able to go as frequently...