MSE News: Air passenger duty to be scrapped for children under 12: Autumn Statement 2

Heliflyguy

You are correct it is a departure tax and IMO you should get a refund but not forgetting that airlines are not obligated to refund APD but I believe Thomsons are in most cases.

With airline fares child retuning as a adult can get a bit more complex but with this there should not be any confusion.

Can only suggest you keep asking for a refund.

jmds

I've come on to ask a similar question to ask a similar question to a number of others posed previously.

We booked (2 adults and 2 children aged 7 and 9) to fly with SunExpress to Izmir, travelling in August. I've been chasing the company for a refund of the APD for the kids but today received a response that says:

"Kindly be informed that our airline company does not operate in compliance with the regulation you noticed. With regard to your flight reservation, the same prices and conditions continue to apply."

Firstly, how can they not operate in compliance with the regulation? That appears absurd.

Secondly, does anyone know if the regulator are taking an interest in this?

callum9999

jmds wrote: »

I've come on to ask a similar question to ask a similar question to a number of others posed previously.

We booked (2 adults and 2 children aged 7 and 9) to fly with SunExpress to Izmir, travelling in August. I've been chasing the company for a refund of the APD for the kids but today received a response that says:

"Kindly be informed that our airline company does not operate in compliance with the regulation you noticed. With regard to your flight reservation, the same prices and conditions continue to apply."

Firstly, how can they not operate in compliance with the regulation? That appears absurd.

Secondly, does anyone know if the regulator are taking an interest in this?

1. They do operate in compliance with the regulation. The response is clearly written by a non-native English speaker who has gotten the terminology mixed up. They have no choice but to pay APD - they presumably mean that they aren't taking part in the refunds.

2. The regulator has no power to force airlines to refund charges that they have no legal responsibility to refund. Good luck, but your only option is to keep pestering them hoping they either a) didn't understand what you were asking for or b) relent and refund it. Not that you should be keeping your hopes up.