Cheaper Flights

theshed

Hi, We are planning a family holiday to Orlando in summer 2012, our first for a while.
I have read that it is possible to cut airfare costs by flying from the UK to a European Airport and then on to Florida. This apparently cuts out a lot of the 'green' taxes.
Now the 2 eldest of my three children are classed as adults by airlines, thats 11 and 14, the costs soon rack up so any reduction would be good.
If anyone has tried this please share any info' good or bad.
Thanks.

Caz3121

There are advantages but also risks of this approach.
advantages
tax savings - taxes from UK are £330+ from London to Orlando, you could save maybe £60+ per head travelling from another European Airport

disadvantages
you have the cost of getting to the other airport on a separate ticket (the tax saving does not apply if you are on a though ticket)
you may have overnight accommodation at the European destination
If your inbound flight is delayed then you are stuck as you are not protected as you would be on a through ticket

Not sure about your comment about taxes penalising families, many airlines charge the same fare for everyone that takes up a seat irrespective of age, whether you are travelling as a family or a group of friends, more seats = more taxes
Might be worth having a look at some of the charter flights Thomson, flythomascook and Monarch http://www.charterflights.co.uk/ but with the taxes still applying it will be hard to get cheap by the time you add up 5 tickets and you will also find the flights more expensive in school holidays

theshed

Yes I agree each person pays a tax, but the way it appears to work is a five year old going on holiday pays the same as a company director going on a 'jolly'. Simplistic I know but it seems the tax is not relevant to ability to pay, which is suposed to be the basis of a fair tax system.
Otherwise, thanks for your input.
Maybe not such a good idea after all.

malkie76

Sorry, but we don't have a fair tax system - income tax is progression and inherently "unfair".
It doesn't penalise families - if anything it keeps everything fair by charging each individual in a seat the same in taxes and fees.
However, if you sit in a premium cabin you actually get charged even more (hence another progressive system) despite using the same amount of fuel, same amount of airport usage etc etc.

richardw

theshed wrote: »

it seems the tax is not relevant to ability to pay, which is suposed to be the basis of a fair tax system.

er that's income tax, not tax on spending. Why should the poor pay 20% VAT on a small luxury food purchase?

copa_feela

theshed wrote: »

Yes I agree each person pays a tax, but the way it appears to work is a five year old going on holiday pays the same as a company director going on a 'jolly'. Simplistic I know but it seems the tax is not relevant to ability to pay, which is suposed to be the basis of a fair tax system.
Otherwise, thanks for your input.
Maybe not such a good idea after all.

If you cannot afford airline taxes you certainly cannot afford a holiday!

richardw

What should be taxed is frequent flyer benefits that individuals accrue where their employer pays for the flights.

theshed

Getting a bit personal are we not ! ?
We are not discussing being able to afford a holiday but the fairness of a so called green tax.
If it is a green tax what is the money being spent on ?
If it is to be effective in reducing emmisions then the purpose is to discourage people from flying, therefore the gov't and the green lobby do not want families to fly on holiday. Why should the rich please themselves whilst the average family are priced into a caravan in Clacton ?
Can I just remind everyone, the purpose of this thread was to discover ways of cutting costs, not to abuse others.
The clue is in the title; "Money Saving Expert"
Very nice Clacton by the way, just not to often !

richardw

You have not been abused.

You got good advice in post number 2.

The rest was a bit of a discussion about income and purchase taxes.

If you are expecting lower air travel taxes just because you are a family and not rich, then it isn't going to happen, so perhaps best to read the good advice again in post number 2.

Oliver_Zarmy

copa_feela wrote: »

If you cannot afford airline taxes you certainly cannot afford a holiday!

How did you find out that theshed cannot afford airline taxes?

Biggles

theshed wrote: »

Hi, We are planning a family holiday

theshed wrote: »

Yes I agree each person pays a tax

theshed wrote: »

Getting a bit personal are we not

Good grief, if you must play with the typefaces and sizes, surely you can stick with one and make it easier on the eye?