LHR APD Question

[NoName]

As I understand it if I transit in LHR for <24hrs I won't be required to pay this.

I am wanting to book a classic award on CX metal LHR-BNE and then a couple of weeks later when BA availability opens up I want to book the connection from an as yet undetermined EU port - LHR.

When I book the first flight obviously I will be slugged the tax. My question is, when I go to book the connection a few weeks later can QF link the two flights and if so will they recalculate the copayment and refund me the APD?

 

[RichardMEL]

oooh I don't know. good question.

my gut feeling is that it needs to be on the same PNR, but I could be wrong. Maybe QF would need to construct a new PNR referencing the other 2 and refare the taxes, but I'm by no means a pricing expert. Interested in how this works out. Good luck!

 

[blackcat20]

We just did this. Added in a flight before the QF10 leg and paid a change fee (3500 points). It results in the excess taxes being refunded. My only beef is that because our flight "isn't imminent", it may take "months" to get our money back according to the QF rep I spoke to.

 

[moa999]

Also of note if you are unable to get them on the same PNR, there is apparently no-way to self-claim the APD back.

 

[Danger]

Does the APD apply if you originate in the UK but then transit a non-UK port? For example, LHR-xZRH-HKG.

 

[kelvedon]

Does the APD apply if you originate in the UK but then transit a non-UK port? For example, LHR-xZRH-HKG.

I believe it is priced on distance flow

 

[kelvedon]

.....and here’s the answer.

Rates for air passenger duty - GOV.UK

 

[Himeno]

Does the APD apply if you originate in the UK but then transit a non-UK port? For example, LHR-xZRH-HKG.

Yes. Unless the transit is more then 24 hours.

International connections
Where the second of 2 flights is an international flight (from the UK to an international destination), the flights are connected if its scheduled time of departure is within 24 hours of the scheduled time of arrival of the first flight.

For example, in a journey from Manchester to New York via London:

• the first flight from Manchester to London is scheduled to arrive at 10am
• the second flight from London to New York is scheduled to leave at 9am the following day

These flights qualify as connected and duty is due at the relevant band B rate for the whole journey.

If 2 or more international flights are connected, it’s the final destination that decides what duty you should pay.

If 2 or more international flights aren’t connected, you work out the duty using the last destination (that’s not followed by a connected flight).

For example, a journey from London to Rio via Madrid:

• the first flight from London is due to arrive into Madrid at 6pm
• the second flight is due to leave Madrid for Rio after 6pm the following day

As more than 24 hours have passed between the flights, they don’t qualify as connected flights for air passenger duty. As the destination of the first flight is Madrid, duty is due at band A rate.

The class the passenger travelled in between Madrid and Rio doesn’t matter, as air passenger duty is not due on this flight.

If the second flight had left Madrid for Rio within 24 hours, then the flights would qualify as connected and duty at the band B rate is due.

A passenger whose final destination is in a lower rate country will pay the higher rate duty if they stop on the way for longer than 24 hours at a destination in a higher rate country.

ie, LHR-ZRH would be band A. If less then 24 hours is spent in ZRH, it is treated as LHR-HKG, making the band B amount due.

Band A is nations whose capital is within 2000 miles of London. Band B is everything else.

 

[Danger]

Ahhh. Interesting. So it's best to originate outside the UK and transit there, rather then other way around. That APD of GBP468 is phenomenal.

 

[kelvedon]

Ahhh. Interesting. So it's best to originate outside the UK and transit there, rather then other way around. That APD of GBP468 is phenomenal.

“For travel in planes of 20 tonnes or more equipped to carry fewer than 19 passengers“ I guess if you can afford to run a plane of this nature the £468 APD is insignificant.
Which aircraft would attract this rate. Trump’s 757, or the Saudi Royal Family’s A380?.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Ahhh. Interesting. So it's best to originate outside the UK and transit there, rather then other way around. That APD of GBP468 is phenomenal.

It is, good thing it’s really only applicable to private jets

 

[kelvedon]

It is, good thing it’s really only applicable to private jets

....and ones rhat weigh more than 20 tonnes. A Learjet weighs about 6 tonnes (empty)

 

[Himeno]

Ahhh. Interesting. So it's best to originate outside the UK and transit there, rather then other way around. That APD of GBP468 is phenomenal.

The band B rate, from April, is £78 for Y seats and £156 for everyone else. The £468 rate impacts very few flights and almost no scheduled commercial flights.

 

[Danger]

Oops.

I guess my private jet will have to stay in storage.