THOMSONs - Please don't anyone downgrade if asked to do so!!

Westin

I read it that the upgrade was received ex UK when the APD of £65 would apply, therefore the deduction is correct as Thomson 'paid' that UK Government tax on the UK to USA flight sector. On the return no APD is paid.

mynameistallulah

AlfiestheCat wrote: »

Ok thanks for clearing that up. Sneaky arent they? It was definately a different cabin. It was separated by a curtain, different legroom etc, should have known there would be a loophole for them to jump through!

I read this about APD on HMRC website and cant understand how they can get away with it.

http://customs.hmrc.gov.uk/channelsPortalWebApp/channelsPortalWebApp.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pageLibrary_ShowContent&id=HMCE_CL_000505&propertyType=document

I guess they would argue they are doing the passengers a favour, if it was a true PE cabin they would have to pass the additional cost on to the passenger. Although if you want to see really dodgy pricing, look at BA award flights, they charge £100 extra taxes between PE and Club, but their are no extra taxes between PE and Club!

My advice for now would be to stop posting on FB etc about it until it is sorted. Whilst I think poor service should be publicised, the time to do it is once you have your money back - at the moment it is getting their backs up, hence why they are digging their heels in. Contact them again and explain that you have already paid the tax, they do not charge additional tax on the premium seat (the breakdown is on the website - worth quoting to them). If they are not willing to pay, you can issue a small claims action against them.

mynameistallulah

Westin wrote: »

I read it that the upgrade was received ex UK when the APD of £65 would apply, therefore the deduction is correct as Thomson 'paid' that UK Government tax on the UK to USA flight sector. On the return no APD is paid.

See above, for tax purposes the "premium seats" are classed as part of the economy cabin, so no further tax was paid for the "upgrade".

mynameistallulah

Here we go (random dates):

First screen, base fare/ no premium seat selected:

1× Adult £503.94
Taxes & charges £115.06
Web saving -£20.02
Total price: £598.98

Taxes & Charges
Here is a breakdown of the taxes and fees that apply to your purchase:
Fare Tax & Fees:
£65.00 Air Passenger Duty
£50.06 Fuel Surcharge and Airport Taxes
£115.06 Total Tax & Fees

Second screen, premium seat selected:

1× Adult £503.94
1× Premium Seat £199.00
Taxes & charges £115.06
Web saving -£20.02
Total price: £797.98

Taxes & Charges
Here is a breakdown of the taxes and fees that apply to your purchase:
Fare Tax & Fees:
£65.00 Air Passenger Duty
£50.06 Fuel Surcharge and Airport Taxes
£115.06 Total Tax & Fees

Incapuppy

mynameistallulah wrote: »

I am with Bob the Saver on this - once you are in your seat, don't move for anyone! I can't see why they couldn't have shuffled people about in economy.

Totally agree and I am really baffled as to why they didn't just attempt to shuffle economy!

PS: unless there are empty seats and you can grab a better one, of course!

Westin

Although if you want to see really dodgy pricing, look at BA award flights, they charge £100 extra taxes between PE and Club, but their are no extra taxes between PE and Club!

APD - a Government Tax - in Premium (including Premium Economy) is leved at the same cost as Club (and First Class!).

AlfiestheCat

Ah well, best put it down to lesson learnt chaps. Ive done what i set out to do and draw this to the attention of hundreds if not thousands of current and potential customers. Theyve now got loads of bad publicity for the sake of a few quid!

stoneman

Good for you OP to draw attention to this. A hard learned lesson but one you will remember in future. It's a jungle out there and you just have to be selfish or else someone will take advantage of you. Never assume that an airline will "do the right thing" that seems to have gone out the door years ago when the bean counters took over.
At least you have set out to do what you intended.