UK announces sharp rise in air passenger duty

[adrian]

I remember this being announced when it came out, but have since forgotten about it. As someone who has paid the departure tax at least 10 to 12 times in the last year (usually in J, so it must be well over $1000 by now), it is going to affect me a lot, and will no doubt change my flying habits....

Unfortunately, LHR is a Oneworld hub. I use Iberia quite a lot (with plenty of lost & delayed luggage), but I could end up using it a lot more.

I assume that, for example, LHR-ROM(stop)-LHR(transit)-SYD, would attract the Zone 1 rate of duty. If so, I may be having some interesting stopovers on my way home. Or have they changed these rules also? They didn't mention those detailed cases in the document linked at the top of the thread (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2008/pbrn20.pdf), so I am assuming that the transit rules etc. stay the same.

 

[NM]

I assume that, for example, LHR-ROM(stop)-LHR(transit)-SYD, would attract the Zone 1 rate of duty. If so, I may be having some interesting stopovers on my way home. Or have they changed these rules also? They didn't mention those detailed cases in the document linked at the top of the thread (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/pbr2008/pbrn20.pdf), so I am assuming that the transit rules etc. stay the same.

yes, I believe there is no change to the rules for application of the duty, just in the amount and some definitions of destinations. The definition of transit is different for transfer to an international flight (within 24 hours) and transferring to a UK domestic flight (6 hours when arrival is before 5pm, must depart by 10am following day for arrival after 5pm).

Note too that if you depart the UK in economy for say CDG and then connect to a business class seat out to SIN, you pay the higher rate equiv for a flight UK-SIN. But if you stop over in CDG for more than 24 hours then you only pay the intra-EU discounted (lower) rate.

And if transiting the UK (less than 24 hours) from say CDG-LHR-SIN then you are exempt from paying the GB duty. My last visit to the UK was just over 23 hours.

This hike in GB duty is certainly going to encourage people to be creative in routing the journey through the UK and I suspect will encourage people to spend less time (and hence money) in the UK and more time (and money) in other places around Europe.

 

[docjames]

Is this priced into ticket (a la australian and AKL departure tax) or is it paid at the airport separately when leaving?

 

[NM]

Is this priced into ticket (a la australian and AKL departure tax) or is it paid at the airport separately when leaving?

Included in the Taxes component of the fare paid.

 

[serfty]

Is this priced into ticket (a la australian and AKL departure tax) or is it paid at the airport separately when leaving?

It's part of the

.

Note that if flying AA ex UK to USA and you upgradefrom Coach then the additional £40 becomes payable to AA. (You've already paid £40 APD in respect to the coach ticket).

 

[adrian]

It's part of the

.

Note that if flying AA ex UK to USA and you upgradefrom Coach then the additional £40 becomes payable to AA. (You've already paid £40 APD in respect to the coach ticket).

Plus a couple of extra pounds. I am guessing AA charge a credit card fee. Changing my PRG-LHR(transit)-FCO to PRG-LHR(stop)-FCO cost me 22 pounds p.p

 

[adrian]

yes, I believe there is no change to the rules for application of the duty, just in the amount and some definitions of destinations. The definition of transit is different for transfer to an international flight (within 24 hours) and transferring to a UK domestic flight (6 hours when arrival is before 5pm, must depart by 10am following day for arrival after 5pm).

Note too that if you depart the UK in economy for say CDG and then connect to a business class seat out to SIN, you pay the higher rate equiv for a flight UK-SIN. But if you stop over in CDG for more than 24 hours then you only pay the intra-EU discounted (lower) rate.

And if transiting the UK (less than 24 hours) from say CDG-LHR-SIN then you are exempt from paying the GB duty. My last visit to the UK was just over 23 hours.

This hike in GB duty is certainly going to encourage people to be creative in routing the journey through the UK and I suspect will encourage people to spend less time (and hence money) in the UK and more time (and money) in other places around Europe.

Yes, I have had many visits at just under 24hrs, but sadly plenty of visits over.

Out of interest, I just checked my records, and since June 2008, I have landed at Heathrow 16 times. 8 were stopovers, mostly in J. Ouch.

With the can't be a great thing for BA to have to deal with, considering their current situation, or for the UK economy.

 

[Andyzx]

A slightly diffierent twist to the extreme cost :evil: of UK departure tax from our corp travel service

UK Raises Departure Tax and Benefits Rail Travel
On 1 November, the UK government raised its airport departure tax by as much as 55%. Different rates apply according to the distance flown with four distance bands, making long haul flights significantly more expensive. The rates also depend on cabin class with the departure tax on a basic economy fare increasing from $115 to $177 and more expensive fares increasing from $229 to $355. As a result, it has now become more economical to take the Eurostar from London to Brussels or Paris and fly out of those cities.

:arrow:

 

[simongr]

That is just crazy money... I will seriously be looking to avoid it somehow on my next UK trip...

 

[serfty]

That is just crazy money... I will seriously be looking to avoid it somehow on my next UK trip...

I've been avoiding it since 2005 ... last two examples were:

TLS-xLHR-MEL (Had to pay French tax though, still high but not nearly as onerous.
DBV-xLON-SIN