Airport Departure Tax
Discussion
Just been looking at flights to Edinburgh with one of our illustrious low cost airlines. Although the flight costs look great at 64p each way (yep, that's right, a grand total of £1.28 return), once you add on tax, the toal come to £43.98.
Does anyone know what the Airport Departure Tax currently sits at for domestic flights, as I've got it in my head that it's £5? That being the case, where the hell do they get the other £37.70 in tax from?
I've just worked out that as a percentage, the tax would have to be 3336% to get from a fare of £1.28 to a total of £43.98!!!
Does anyone know what the Airport Departure Tax currently sits at for domestic flights, as I've got it in my head that it's £5? That being the case, where the hell do they get the other £37.70 in tax from?
I've just worked out that as a percentage, the tax would have to be 3336% to get from a fare of £1.28 to a total of £43.98!!!
This from the CAA website:
Air Passenger Duty: This is an excise duty (known sometimes as the Departure Tax) levied by the UK Government and collected from airlines by HM Revenue and Customs. Details concerning the Air Passenger Duty can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website. On “paper” tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code GB.
UK Passenger Service Charge: In 1999 most airlines decided to separate from the fare the per-passenger element that they pay to UK airports for the use of the airport's passenger facilities. This is known as the UK Passenger Service Charge. On “paper” tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code UB. It is not a government-imposed tax.
Insurance and security surcharge: Since the events of September 11, 2001, many airlines have been levying a charge per passenger to cover increased costs of insurance and security. On “paper” tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code YQ or YR. This surcharge is not a government-imposed tax.
Fuel surcharge: Since 2004 many airlines have reacted to rising fuel prices by imposing a separate fuel surcharge. Like the insurance and security surcharge, on "paper" tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code YQ or YR, in which case it may not be distinguishable from the insurance and security surcharge. The amount of the fuel surcharge can vary by airline and route, and can be as high as £60 for a long-haul return journey. This surcharge is not a government-imposed tax.
Other taxes, fees and charges: On international flights passengers are also likely to incur taxes, fees and charges levied by other States as well as Passenger Service Charges relating to the destination airport. These will vary by destination and are too numerous to list here.
Air Passenger Duty: This is an excise duty (known sometimes as the Departure Tax) levied by the UK Government and collected from airlines by HM Revenue and Customs. Details concerning the Air Passenger Duty can be found on the HM Revenue and Customs website. On “paper” tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code GB.
UK Passenger Service Charge: In 1999 most airlines decided to separate from the fare the per-passenger element that they pay to UK airports for the use of the airport's passenger facilities. This is known as the UK Passenger Service Charge. On “paper” tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code UB. It is not a government-imposed tax.
Insurance and security surcharge: Since the events of September 11, 2001, many airlines have been levying a charge per passenger to cover increased costs of insurance and security. On “paper” tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code YQ or YR. This surcharge is not a government-imposed tax.
Fuel surcharge: Since 2004 many airlines have reacted to rising fuel prices by imposing a separate fuel surcharge. Like the insurance and security surcharge, on "paper" tickets it is usually shown in the "tax/fee/charge" box* with the code YQ or YR, in which case it may not be distinguishable from the insurance and security surcharge. The amount of the fuel surcharge can vary by airline and route, and can be as high as £60 for a long-haul return journey. This surcharge is not a government-imposed tax.
Other taxes, fees and charges: On international flights passengers are also likely to incur taxes, fees and charges levied by other States as well as Passenger Service Charges relating to the destination airport. These will vary by destination and are too numerous to list here.
Different airlines allocate the different charges to different boxes.
IIRC BA now show you the total price you will pay. They used to show you only their
'fare' part, and then add all the other charges on at the end.
SleasyJet include all charges except the tax in the price your shown (apart from the Luton Barclays Fat Cat Tax which they used to break out separately), and the tax shown was just £5.
You have to wait till you get to the final price screen to be able to make comparisons.
I was looking for an Edin/Bham return in December, and the outward flight was quoted as £0.00, plus £18.20 in charges...
IIRC BA now show you the total price you will pay. They used to show you only their
'fare' part, and then add all the other charges on at the end.
SleasyJet include all charges except the tax in the price your shown (apart from the Luton Barclays Fat Cat Tax which they used to break out separately), and the tax shown was just £5.
You have to wait till you get to the final price screen to be able to make comparisons.
I was looking for an Edin/Bham return in December, and the outward flight was quoted as £0.00, plus £18.20 in charges...
As has been stated the "tax" on an airline ticket is not the same as the tax payable to Gordon Brown, but includes all manner of other things. Its an odd way to price things, after all I haven't noticed Sainsburys charging 50p a kilo for carrots plus 10p for the transport to the store, 5p for the farmers insecticide etc.
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