Taxes going up on some long haul flights

mad_rich

alanrowell wrote: »

Why is it inconvenient. Most of us who aren't in spitting distance of London will already be flying / travelling into London in order to get our onward flights.

And in some cases it's less inconvenient - I'm flying to Ecuador soon and the least inconvenient option was to fly to AMS first then onwards with a direct flight to Quito. Other routings involved flight changes at either London / Madrid or London / Miami

Remember that if you want to go via Amsterdam (or Paris, Madrid, Frankfurt...) then you will need to book two separate tickets in order to avoid paying APD. (And all the risks that come with that: missed connections, transferring your own baggage, etc.)

If you simply book, say, a NCL-AMS-Quito return, then you will still be charged longhaul APD based on UK-Ecuador. (Quite how the UK taxman can have jurisdiction over a flight that departs from another country is beyond me...).

Also, remember that APD isn't charged to connecting passengers. So you might buy a cheap flight to AMS, then get straight back on the same aircraft to fly via London to wherever you want to go. Madness.

Finally, bear in mind that various European countries are changing their policies more frequently than their underwear. The Netherlands introduced something similar, then scrapped it after KLM complained that it was losing passengers who nipped over the border to Dusseldorf. Now Germany is introducing its own version, so no doubt a load of pax from Northern germany will be flying from Amsterdam next year.

mad_rich

Just to clear up any confusion from further upthread....

There are four price bands for Air PAssenger Duty (APD), based on distance from London to the capital city of the country in question. (There are some anomalies, and some exceptions. Russia is split into two zones, for example.). The country is the destination on your ticket, not the destination of your first flight.

Band A: 0-2000 miles (including UK domestic)
Band B: 2001-4000
Band C: 4001-6000
Band 6001 +

The tax depends on the day you fly, not the day you booked. The prices rises being talked about today, which come into force on 1 November 2010, have already been announced, and are already built into ticket prices. You won't be asked for any more money.

The tax applies to departures from the UK only, not arrivals. Passengers who start their journey outside the UK, and are connecting to another flight within 24 hours, on the same ticket, aren't liable for APD.

Now: here are the prices, for economy class (other classes, including premium economy, cost double).

A: £11 today. £12 from 1 Nov 2010.
B: £45 today. £60 from 1 Nov 2010.
C: £50 today. £75 from 1 Nov 2010.
£55 today. £85 from 1 Nov 2010.

I don't think I've missed anything. Of course it will all change within a couple of years, as the government are now taling about a 'per plane' rather than 'per passenger' charge.

Just for interest, here's what it looked like before 2007:

Europe: £5/ £10
Rest of World: £20/ £40

Quite some change in a few years!

leew

Still a bit confused with this

We booked some Florida flights a few weeks back and we're going on the 21st Nov, will we have to pay any more?

Cost enough already!

Ta.

mad_rich

leew wrote: »

Still a bit confused with this

We booked some Florida flights a few weeks back and we're going on the 21st Nov, will we have to pay any more?

No. It was in the price you've already paid.

SailorSam

Air passengers have for a long time been receiving subsidised travel haven't they ?
The fuel the motorist buys is highly taxed with both duty and Vat, aircraft are exempt so are able to offer lower fares.
Isn't the new travel tax just making it an equal playing field.

whatmichaelsays

SailorSam wrote: »

Air passengers have for a long time been receiving subsidised travel haven't they ?
The fuel the motorist buys is highly taxed with both duty and Vat, aircraft are exempt so are able to offer lower fares.
Isn't the new travel tax just making it an equal playing field.

Unless you compare it with rail or bus travel, which is still exempt from VAT, fuel charges and various duties and taxes.

jeanniebeanie_2

SailorSam wrote: »

Air passengers have for a long time been receiving subsidised travel haven't they ?
The fuel the motorist buys is highly taxed with both duty and Vat, aircraft are exempt so are able to offer lower fares.
Isn't the new travel tax just making it an equal playing field.

For the playing field to be level there must be viable comparison. When did you last drive across the Atlantic?

Fat_Debtor

mad_rich wrote: »

Just to clear up any confusion from further upthread....


The tax depends on the day you fly, not the day you booked. The prices rises being talked about today, which come into force on 1 November 2010, have already been announced, and are already built into ticket prices. You won't be asked for any more money.

Erm, doesn't that suggest the tax you pay depends on the day you book, not the day you travel? If booked 3 months ago to travel at xmas, I'd not have to pay any more. If I book tomorrow to travel at xmas, I'll have to pay the extra tax when I book?

Alan_Bowen

It doesn't matter when you booked, all air fares, for all flights departing from tomorrow onwards, have had the extra tax included since the fares went on sale. For once, the government gave more than a year's notice of the increase. Anyone being asked to pay more now is simply being robbed by their airline, agent or operator!

Fat_Debtor

I officially give up with trying to find an answer to this.