The best deal
So why separate the airfare from the taxes and fees in the first place? Why not simply have one all-inclusive price for the ticket?

"Airlines do want you to know what we're charging, and we want you to know that the total ticket price is not all us," says Heimlich.

Listing the airline fares separately from taxes and fees is the only way consumers know where the money goes when they buy those tickets, he says.

Fortunately, with an abundance of online sites for airlines, discounters and consolidators, consumers have more options than ever for comparison shopping.

That shopping around can save you money because some airlines will charge more in fees than others, says Howard.

In addition, some routes will cost more because more taxes or fees are incurred.

That's especially true with international flights where you're subject to other countries' fees and taxes, says Howard. So pay careful attention to the price difference in those one-stop and nonstop flights on other continents, where stopping over in a third country can add a whole new set of fees.

To get a feel for the ways the cost of your trip can go up or down with certain routes or choices, put several versions of your trip itinerary into an airline's online site and see how ticket prices may change. Try the same approach with a site like Orbitz.com or Travelocity.com that allow you to peruse prices from multiple airlines.

How do you evaluate those rock-bottom travel deals you see advertised without taxes and fees? Use your calculator.

"The rule of thumb, from my own personal experience, is for a domestic ticket, multiply the price by 1.25," says Greenberg. "And for an international ticket, multiply it by 1.75."