i recently flew from Amstedam to the US through Gatwick. One flight was British Airways and one flight was USairways, same day, 2 hours apart. USairways charged me 80 pounds departure tax although this was simply a connection. Is this correct? Does the UK charge 160 dollars to walk through their airport or does this tax not apply for "in-transit" passengers? Any suggestions?
Posted by
Portland, OR, USA
805 posts
It is very much their tax, although a lot of it may be a fuel surcharge. The UK did just substantially increase their tax in order to try and fund offsets for the greenhouse gases created by air travel.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1601 posts
Yes, UK taxes are insanely high. That plus the hell hole that is Heathrow makes me avoid going through London.
What I have noticed is that if connecting through London all on the same ticket then the taxes seem to be reasonable - i.e similar to traveling through other European airports. However, if you use separate tickets that either start or end in the UK the taxes go sky high. Albeit this is not scientific - just what I noticed when booking award tickets through UA.
Posted by
Nottingham, UK
658 posts
That tax was correct - even thoughyou were in transit at LHR.
Of course our government will roll out a lot of high minded sounding twaddle about discouraging global warming and polution etc.
In my, very cynical, opinion they are just over-taxing travellers to recoup the vast cost of Terminal 5 and to pay for the 2012 Olympic games.
I believe it was an issue of unfair taxation that caused the original split between America and Britain - nothing changes !
Posted by
Manchester
497 posts
Hey Al, as you work in the industry do you know how the UK taxes compare internationally? I think France, for instance, introduced "Environmental Surcharges" before we did.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
780 posts
OOOH Im confused again.....So does this mean, if im going to London via Heathrow, that when i get ready to leave after my week there, that I will have to pay to leave? Isnt that part of the taxes I already paid for my round trip? Will I have to make sure to have an extra 80 pounds to cover this? Or is this a tax for people on a layover at Heathrow, but not Heathrow as a destination? I am also going US Airways, all connections will also be US Airways...
Posted by
Manchester
497 posts
Taxes are included in the ticket price just like everywhere else - so no need to worry.
Some airlines itemise out "taxes and fees" to make their fares look lower initially but you always pay the full price at the end.
Posted by
Boulder, CO, USA
780 posts
Ah ok, because my tickets include $185 in taxes and fees paid already... I was thinking it meant something over that! (typical anxiety ridden yank that I am... :)
Yes AL, youre correct about the Tax thing coming between the US and Britain (2 nations divided by a common language and all that). I believe it culminated in some sort of Tea related incident.....
Posted by
Manchester
497 posts
Always worth while asking. There was some kerfuffle last year (maybe the year before) when the tax was raised but not back-dated - meaning people who bought advance tickets hadn't paid enough tax. There was a lot of confusion as some airlines were charging the excess at check-in, some were absorbing the cost...
Posted by
OP
charlotte, nc, usa
2 posts
Taking $160 dollars of tax from the traveler changing planes in an airport is akin to pick-pocketing. I will avoid the UK in the future.