Airport tax refund rip off?

dmg24

Alfie_E wrote: »

Me: I’ve got £10 of your money.

You: Can I have it back?

Me: Sorry, you can’t have it now.

You: Why not? You just said you’d got my money.

Me: But, you asked for it back.

You: So?

Me: There’s an administration charge for me reaching into my pocket. That charge is always greater than the amount of your money I have in my pocket. So, when you asked for your money back, it instantly became mine.

You: That’s not fair.

Me: Tough.

That's why Easyjet are a very successful business, and we are on MSE! x

(That text has come out ever so strange - I didn't put all those lines in it!)

Thailand

dmg24 wrote: »

Thailand,

Could I suggest that, if you are so sure that you are right, you take one of the airlines to court? You could easily book a cheap flight and then attempt to reclaim the taxes when you don't show/ cancel it.

I'm not going to force the issue like that, and like I've said, I suspect it is still challengable - I'm not sure as you put it. People have challenged and won, but there isn't much information to go on.

I will of course be doing just that if I find myself in that situation in the future.

Thailand

budgetflyer wrote: »

Or does Thailand just load the gun but wait for someone else to shoot it ?
Just because its automated, doesnt mean there shouldnt be a charge.
The whole world is automated now. My car tax was completely processed by an automated telephone line. They still charged me !

BTW I recently had to pay a name change fee for a mistake I made. Instead of ranting about rip offs etc Im just mad at my self for making such a simple error, especially after my advice to CHECK< CHECK and RE CHECK b4 paying

No, BF. I scoured the net to find advice and previous on this sort of claim and it was thin on the ground. I still started the process with Ryanair regardless on my own back, with some help. As i've said I didn't litigate as nobody was sure if I could serve thier head office or Satelite 3 Stansted (I wasn't going to waste money not knowing). My intyentions are not for somebody to do the leg work for me.

Thailand

It appears everybody is missing the point that the admin fee is unfair, until proven otherwise. Yes, until that hand is forced they won't show us - but that is the point, they are making money out of this, so why would they.

Other airlines do not treat thier customers this way.

I can't say anything for 100%, but I disagree that because thier will be some possibilty of an admin fee (tiny IMO) it jusifies what they are taking.

I think people should be able to make thier own minds up about this.

BF, I missed the bit about name changes on your post. That's in the T&C's - I agree. It is just the APD issue I have a problem with.

Thailand

Tozer wrote: »

I completely disagree from my knowledge of the legal principles. But there we go.

This is what I'm most curious about. What is the difference from a catalogue companies admin fee and an airlines? Is it the same principle? ( I'm not being funny {with anyone} I really want to know)

Tozer, on what grounds do you think a claim like this would fail?

budgetflyer

Should therefor on a 1p inc tax promotional flight or even for that matter on anything under £20 + tax flights where they are clearly loss leaders, charge the passenger the full cost of the flight for a "No Show".
The more the courts and government get involved in our day to day lives, the narrower our freedoms become.
Its hard enough going to work these days with all the H&S legislation. You need a hard hat, high vis vest, and safety shoes just to walk 3 yards along the pavement !
Id like to think market forces will naturally decide whose good and who is bad. Flying is for most of us a choice. If they get too bad, we wont.
Ryanair, with the increases in some of their charges are getting that way for me

Thailand

Darn it, typed out long reply and it timed out.

I can understand what you are saying Budget, especially about the H&S!

Thing is, Ryanair don't lose out on no shows apart from maybe the sale of a £4.20 hot dog etc... They don't incur any taxes nor any fare losses.

What you say is all well and good, but they are profiteering IMO, and as far as the market forces, I wish you were right. I reckon you are, but Ryanair (as an example) are so cheap even those that say they won't fly again, do!.

Thailand

This is pretty much the way of it, not taken from this thread, and nothing we didn't know - just a summary:

I believe I am right in saying that the law regarding only states that when a flight is cancelled or if a passenger does not take a flight then the tax is not payable to the government. However the law falls short of stating that the tax should then be paid back to the passenger. This is why you find some airlines saying a refund of the tax can be refunded, however an admin fee is payable in order to get the refund!!!

Morally, I have no doubt what they are doing is wrong. Legally, it is up to the individual to challenge it, I guess. There appears to be no definitive answer either way.... but I have read sucess stories, and they would have to be taken at thier word. There are no losses I have heard of either.

Heck, at least this thread gives somebody with this question a better idea of what is going on.

Thailand

From Ryanair's travel questions:

All Ryanair fares are fully changeable flight/dates/times/routes and names (up to 4 hours prior to original flight departure) however fares, fees or charges are non-refundable. Government taxes are the only portion of taxes, fees and charges which are refundable. Government tax refunds are subject to an administration fee of just £15, which is half BA's admin fee of £30 and significantly lower than BMI's £25 or Easyjet's £17.50. If the refund amount due to the customer is less than the applicable refund administration charge then no refund will be made. Government tax refund requests must be made within one month from the booked travel date.

Easyjets £17.50?

One month before? what's the point if they aren't going to refund anyway!!

Tozer

Thailand wrote: »

This is what I'm most curious about. What is the difference from a catalogue companies admin fee and an airlines? Is it the same principle? ( I'm not being funny {with anyone} I really want to know)

Tozer, on what grounds do you think a claim like this would fail?

On the basis that there is no breach of contract and so the law of penalties does not apply. See earlier posts.