Best EU Port to connect back through UK to avoid UK APD

[serfty]

I am planning a journey to London next year in premium cabins.

To depart the UK I am looking at an APD of £142 (~AUD297).

To avoid the UK APD for my trip home I plan on departing from a nearby continental port. e.g. AMS-xLHR-... or CDG-xLHR- etc.

To do this, I will need to travel one way to the continent to start my journey home.

Can anyone suggest a departure ports that are generally the most cost effective?

This need to relate to ease of access, availability and number of flights back to LHR, cost of getting there and any Departure levies/fee that may be payable when departing from that port.

 

[smit0847]

Brussels is usually the easiest I would think - a simple train trip from London and the airport is basically next to the train station.

 

[opusman]

You can also get reasonable prices from LCY to e.g. AMS.

 

[Collie]

Try Dublin - pretty accessible from the Uk and both Etihad and Emirates fly direct to the ME and on to Aus

 

[serfty]

CDG is out - +++ on ex France is AU$80 more than the Netherlands for example.

From ITA:

CDG
Total:	US$86.90
AMS
Total:	US$26.10

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]France Civil Aviation Tax Domestic And International (FR)[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$8.70[/TD]

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]French International Passenger Service Charge (QX)[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$15.00[/TD]

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]French Airport Tax (FR)[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$13.90[/TD]

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]French Air Passenger Solidarity Tax (IZ)[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$49.30[/TD]

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]The Netherlands Passenger Service Charge (RN)[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$14.10[/TD]

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Netherlands Noise Surcharge (VV)[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$0.50[/TD]

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Netherlands Security Service Charge (CJ)[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$11.50[/TD]

 

[dajop]

Just need a small amount of BA points and you can get to anywhere in Europe for relatively small cost! Aside from the usual suspects (CDG, ORY, BRU, AMS, DUB), surprisingly Belfast is also an option, from memory no APD is due on departures from Northern Ireland, even though part of the UK.

 

[serfty]

Belgium is strait forward, but net cost is slightly more than the Netherlands:

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Belgium Passenger Service And Security Charge (BE)


[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-f"]US$31.50


[/TD]

[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-g"]Total

[/TD]
[TD="class: IR6M2QD-l-l"]US$31.50

[/TD]

 

[serfty]

... surprisingly Belfast is also an option, from memory no APD is due on departures from Northern Ireland, even though part of the UK.

I checked that - only on Direct flights, such as Belfast-EWR, it's payable for Belfast-xLHR-EWR.

 

[dajop]

I checked that - only on Direct flights, such as Belfast-EWR, it's payable for Belfast-xLHR-EWR.

Thought there might be a catch!

 

[mooingchicken]

Does this flight have to be J?
I would say there choices are massive... for cost you would probably be best as a multi-city, but might not be possible, award booking?
Amsterdam and paris are the obvious. I would look at munich/berlin, Barcelona

 

[serfty]

Does this flight have to be J?
I would say there choices are massive... for cost you would probably be best as a multi-city, but might not be possible, award booking?
Amsterdam and paris are the obvious. I would look at munich/berlin, Barcelona

Heading back to MEL - an can do on AAdvantage for 60K miles against 40K Economy, so yes.

Looking to burn some AA miles before the devaluation and already have held QF9-QF1 in Business.

 

[andye]

It doesnt give prices but can highly recommend the EU airport turnaround guide on the FT BAEC Forum Dashboard for logistics

 

[serfty]

It doesnt give prices but can highly recommend the EU airport turnaround guide on the FT BAEC Forum Dashboard for logistics

Thanks for that ... looks interesting.

Here's a link to that thread:

Ex-Mainland Europe Travel Planning Guide - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Mal]

This is probably the thread andye was referring to:

Back-to-back / Immediate Turnarounds at BA Destinations - FlyerTalk Forums

 

[Boca68]

I realise the trip is to London, but is there any reason why , on the return leg, you need to depart from LHR? If your only problem is the expense of departure taxes, then why not travel to AMS or BRU or wherever, as you plan and fly home from there? Why go back to LHR? Seems like you robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Just a thought.

 

[serfty]

... Why go back to LHR? Seems like you robbing Peter to pay Paul. ...

'case that's where the (online) award availability is.

Using Award nexus I can see (for example) CX AMS-xHKG-(Qf or CX)-MEL, but I would have to call to book that.

No such issues with BA/QF flights ex LON ...

 

[clifford]

You could always use FCO (I do). Good availability and a nice seaside resort close by (Lido di Ostia). You could go to worse places. Taxes are low.

But there again I'm a star alliance person in the main.