UK Departure Tax to increase

[andye]

Is Ireland still excluded from the UK APD? I know Northern Ireland is included

If we depart DUB and transit LHR, we'd avoid the tax right?

Republic of Ireland not part of UK and APD doesn't apply and wouldn't be charged in your case with a <24h transit

Direct long-haul flights from Northern Ireland are excluded but there are not many of those (only BFS-MCO currently)

 

[garybatz]

I'm trying to work out if I'm affected by this. I'm flying in J on QF1/2 but not staying in the UK for longer than 24 hours in either direction. On arrival I'm flying to Barcelona with a 5 hour transit, and on departure I have an 8 hour transit after flying in from Vienna. The article seems to say I wouldn't cop the APD on my departing flight, but I can't see how to check if I've been charged it as part of my fare with Qantas (can't see any reference to it at MMB or the emailed itinerary). And if I have been charged it how would I request a refund?

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[andye]

I'm trying to work out if I'm affected by this. I'm flying in J on QF1/2 but not staying in the UK for longer than 24 hours in either direction. On arrival I'm flying to Barcelona with a 5 hour transit, and on departure I have an 8 hour transit after flying in from Vienna. The article seems to say I wouldn't cop the APD on my departing flight, but I can't see how to check if I've been charged it as part of my fare with Qantas (can't see any reference to it at MMB or the emailed itinerary). And if I have been charged it how would I request a refund?

Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks.

You shouldn't have to pay APD.
It doesn't apply to inbound anyway
As long as VIE-LHR and LHR-Au are on the same PNR it won't apply to outbound either
I thought the eticket should have a breakdown of taxes payable but when I checked a recent QF international redemption of mine it didnt

 

[garybatz]

You shouldn't have to pay APD.
It doesn't apply to inbound anyway
As long as VIE-LHR and LHR-Au are on the same PNR it won't apply to outbound either
I thought the eticket should have a breakdown of taxes payable but when I checked a recent QF international redemption of mine it didnt

Sorry I should have said that the Vienna flight is a separate PNR, booked direct with BA.

 

[andye]

Sorry I should have said that the Vienna flight is a separate PNR, booked direct with BA.

My understanding is that APD would be payable and I don't think you would be eligible for a refund I'm afraid
An exception might be if they are on the same flight summary (like you might get from a travel agent)
This thread on FT is pretty comprehensive

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/american-airlines-aadvantage/1407945-uk-apd-air-passenger-duty-charged-uk-departures-master-thread-4.html

 

[serfty]

My understanding is that APD would be payable and I don't think you would be eligible for a refund I'm afraid
An exception might be if they are on the same flight summary (like you might get from a travel agent)

Yes, the tickets need to be issued in 'conjunction'.

 

[garybatz]

Yes, the tickets need to be issued in 'conjunction'.

Thanks for clarifying, much appreciated.

 

[AFF Editor]

The APD rates increased again on 1 April 2023. The UK government has also created two new bands - domestic and an ultra long-haul zone (called Band C).

UK Air Passenger Duty: How to Avoid Paying Hundreds

If you've ever booked a flight that departs the UK, you may have noticed that there's a rather hefty departure tax.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Lynda2475]

So does the price increase only apply to tickets issued after 1 April; or for flights taken after April 1?

I have a flight LHR-DUB in AUgust, where Ive already paid taxes as part of my OWA; i really dont want the headache of risking losing flights because I owe 5GBP extra.

 

[RooFlyer]

So does the price increase only apply to tickets issued after 1 April; or for flights taken after April 1?

I have a flight LHR-DUB in AUgust, where Ive already paid taxes as part of my OWA; i really dont want the headache of risking losing flights because I owe 5GBP extra.

Good point - I too have several bookings paid for ex England coming up. You'd have to think that the additional cost is already charged for tickets already issued, as they increase the ADP on the same day every year. Or as you say, only for tickets issued after April 1. I'll ask my TA if someone doesn't pipe up first.

 

[Melburnian1]

The APD rates increased again on 1 April 2023. The UK government has also created two new bands - domestic and an ultra long-haul zone (called Band C).

UK Air Passenger Duty: How to Avoid Paying Hundreds

If you've ever booked a flight that departs the UK, you may have noticed that there's a rather hefty departure tax.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

It's excellent advice to fly out of Paris rather than England using an 'open jaw' fare: enter from Oz to UK, but catch the Eurostar to Paris to avoid paying APD.

However you also mention flying ex Brussels: not as good as Paris, as a smaller choice of long haul airlines. I've not looked it up but the 'open jaw' fares may also be a bit more expensive ex Brussels.

For instance Oman Air fly ex Paris and a few other places in Europe, but do not serve Brussels using their own planes.

With Eurostar, try to book several months in advance, and avoid the usual peak times such as Friday and Sunday afternoons and nights. If you have a Eurailpass (that since 2019 includes UK travel, but like all rail passes excludes the Tube and Paris Metro), heavily discounted but quota controlled seats are available. See the helpful Seat 61 site for far more detail.

 

[wandering_fred]

A number of years ago, I faced the LHR departure tax problem.
Being of more mature years (even then) I ended up with a seniors "bus" fare London to Lille and enjoyed a couple of nights in the French city. A high speed train direct from Lille to CDG completed the "avoidance", and where my bid for upgrade on UL was successful.
Be creative when wandering
Fred

 

[amp-qld]

Just looked to see if I could fly in and out of Paris to avoid the APD but, despite it being included in the fares, a return to Paris was $200 dearer than to London and an open jaw was another $200 dearer. So many things are different in this post-Covid era.

 

[Himeno]

I haven't stayed in the UK for more then 24 hours since I started booking Business class trips in 2010, only taking connections through LHR. Because of APD.

If APD didn't exist, the UK would be getting more of my tourism £££.

 

[Beano]

Is it really worth the hassle of a train +bus/taxi to CDG from London, carrying all your luggage and hope to make connections?

Also does LHR to DXB then to SYD count as Band B or Band C?

 

[Himeno]

Also does LHR to DXB then to SYD count as Band B or Band C?

UAE is in Band B. Australia is in Band C.
If you connect through DXB to SYD (less then 24 hours in DXB), it will be charged as Band C. If you stop in DXB (for more then 24 hours), then it will be charged as Band B.

 

[SYD]

Is it really worth the hassle of a train +bus/taxi to CDG from London, carrying all your luggage and hope to make connections?

No. But you can still fly between a bunch of places for next to nothing and pickup an onward connection there.

Personally, I just plan to finish a UK/Euro trip on the continent - when possible.

 

[wandering_fred]

UAE is in Band B. Australia is in Band C.
If you connect through DXB to SYD (less then 24 hours in DXB), it will be charged as Band C. If you stop in DXB (for more then 24 hours), then it will be charged as Band B.

How would they know on separate tickets/airlines?
And yes the seniors bus fare to Lille France a few years ago was 10 pounds
And there is a direct high speed train from there to CDG

Multiple forms of transport when wandering
Fred

 

[Beano]

No. But you can still fly between a bunch of places for next to nothing and pickup an onward connection there.

Personally, I just plan to finish a UK/Euro trip on the continent - when possible.

Flying is definitely an option. Fortunately this trip I am not going to the UK, just mainland Europe. Arriving MAD departing FRA.

 

[ETW]

Last year on a Qantas points RTW we chose to fly out of Inverness (via LHR of course) to avoid the APD. We were going to Scotland anyway and it’s a nice town to spend a night.