Why are taxes so high on BA int'l flights, but not on easyJet int'l flights?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 1999
Posts: 1,627
Why are taxes so high on BA int'l flights, but not on easyJet int'l flights?
This is a serious question about UK taxes on international flights. I'm not trying to compare BA to easyJet.
I priced two economy class flights today, one on British Airways from Baltimore to London (Heathrow), and one on easyJet from London (Luton) to Amsterdam. The UK taxes alone on the BA flight total £31.90 (plus an additional BA surcharge of $42), while the TOTAL cost of the easyJet flight is £35.98 (only £10 of which is taxes - presumably some UK and some NL).
Why are the UK taxes significantly higher on a British Airways international flight versus an easyJet international flight?
British Airways return flight
BWI to/from LHR April 6 - April 13
class: economy (World Traveller)
ticket: $316
US gov't taxes & fees: $52.15
British Airways YQ Surcharge: $42.00
UK Passenger Service Charge: £11.90
UK Air Passengers Duty: £20.00
EasyJet return flight
LUT to/from AMS April 6 - April 13
class: none?
ticket: £25.98
all taxes & fees: £10.00
I priced two economy class flights today, one on British Airways from Baltimore to London (Heathrow), and one on easyJet from London (Luton) to Amsterdam. The UK taxes alone on the BA flight total £31.90 (plus an additional BA surcharge of $42), while the TOTAL cost of the easyJet flight is £35.98 (only £10 of which is taxes - presumably some UK and some NL).
Why are the UK taxes significantly higher on a British Airways international flight versus an easyJet international flight?
British Airways return flight
BWI to/from LHR April 6 - April 13
class: economy (World Traveller)
ticket: $316
US gov't taxes & fees: $52.15
British Airways YQ Surcharge: $42.00
UK Passenger Service Charge: £11.90
UK Air Passengers Duty: £20.00
EasyJet return flight
LUT to/from AMS April 6 - April 13
class: none?
ticket: £25.98
all taxes & fees: £10.00
Last edited by starflyer; Mar 16, 2005 at 7:52 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11
I feel the same way with KLM! In my opinion, in comparison, BA taxes are pretty much mid-tier.
For example, for a SIN-LHR-SIN flight, BA taxes are about GBP65 and KLM taxes are about GBP100 (note, rough and ready conversions from singapore dollars)
All these taxes are just a compete mystery.. Evil scheme by airlines to pad thier earnings perhaps??
For example, for a SIN-LHR-SIN flight, BA taxes are about GBP65 and KLM taxes are about GBP100 (note, rough and ready conversions from singapore dollars)
All these taxes are just a compete mystery.. Evil scheme by airlines to pad thier earnings perhaps??
#3
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: SIN & elsewhere
Programs: Star going on Oneworld
Posts: 219
I can think of one word : HEATHROW.
For some reason , London airports Heathrow and Gatwick charge very high fees and this is passed onto the passenger.
International overseas taxes are also double that of international European taxes . But enjoy the 'lower' rates when you can. I understand that the international fees are set to raise even higher in the next few years.
Well, someone has got to pay for the 5th Terminal at Heathrow!
For some reason , London airports Heathrow and Gatwick charge very high fees and this is passed onto the passenger.
International overseas taxes are also double that of international European taxes . But enjoy the 'lower' rates when you can. I understand that the international fees are set to raise even higher in the next few years.
Well, someone has got to pay for the 5th Terminal at Heathrow!
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,871
Taxes at Heathrow are substantially higher than at Luton.
BA also includes some other spurious charges, such as its fuel surcharge, in with taxes. If you try to book the same BA flight on aa.com you'll find it is cheaper because AA doesn't add on one of BA's funny extras.
BA also includes some other spurious charges, such as its fuel surcharge, in with taxes. If you try to book the same BA flight on aa.com you'll find it is cheaper because AA doesn't add on one of BA's funny extras.
#5
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: AKL via LPL, LHR, MAN and origainally CFN
Programs: BD DC, BA EC, AAdvantage, Hhonors and now NZ Aipoints
Posts: 764
Originally Posted by Globe Trots
I feel the same way with KLM! In my opinion, in comparison, BA taxes are pretty much mid-tier.
For example, for a SIN-LHR-SIN flight, BA taxes are about GBP65 and KLM taxes are about GBP100 (note, rough and ready conversions from singapore dollars)
All these taxes are just a compete mystery.. Evil scheme by airlines to pad thier earnings perhaps??
For example, for a SIN-LHR-SIN flight, BA taxes are about GBP65 and KLM taxes are about GBP100 (note, rough and ready conversions from singapore dollars)
All these taxes are just a compete mystery.. Evil scheme by airlines to pad thier earnings perhaps??
P
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London
Programs: Mucci. Nothing else matters.
Posts: 38,644
Originally Posted by starflyer
Why are the UK taxes significantly higher on a British Airways international flight versus an easyJet international flight?
The true UK government tax - the Air Passenger Duty - is charged at the international rate for LON-WAS but at the domestic/European rate for LON-AMS. There was litigation about this; it is illegal for the UK to charge more for an EU flight than for a UK domestic flight. In many ways, flights to the EU must be treated more as domestic than international.
#8
Moderator: UK and Ireland & Europe
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Biggleswade
Programs: SK*G, Lots of Blue Elsewhere
Posts: 13,611
Originally Posted by pdotie
But is this difference not because BA is a direct flight and the KLM flight is via AMS so you get stung for the taxes there too?
It can also be interesting to compare their taxes and charges between paid flights and award flights.
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: back to my roots in Scotland!
Programs: Tamsin - what else is there to say?
Posts: 47,843
Originally Posted by stut
It can also be interesting to compare their taxes and charges between paid flights and award flights.
Back to the original question. We have discussed this quite a lot on the KLM board. The non-LCCs tend to put a lot of extra charges into their taxes (including airline ones ). The LCC's tend to include these in ticket price. Also, we know at some airports, some of the LCC's have negotiated discounts of the PSC due at some airports, but will not want their competitors (and no doubt the airport will not want other airlines) to know exactly what rate the are paying. Hence, it's very rare to find a PSC included in the taxes and charges of a LCC, as then they would have to provide this information.
#10
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,353
Originally Posted by RJB
If you try to book the same BA flight on aa.com you'll find it is cheaper because AA doesn't add on one of BA's funny extras.
#11
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: London, U.K.
Programs: bmi British Midland International Diamond Club
Posts: 3,370
Are we Brits the only ones to be robbed by the Chancellor if we happen to turn left on a plane or are there other countries that charge different rates of departure tax depending on which cabin you are ticketed in? I reckon we're the only ones. Thank god for the Channel Tunnel!
#12
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Paris 04ème, France
Programs: Junior Jet Club
Posts: 546
Originally Posted by UK flyer
are there other countries that charge different rates of departure tax depending on which cabin you are ticketed in? I reckon we're the only ones. Thank god for the Channel Tunnel!
#13
Join Date: May 2003
Location: London
Posts: 1,666
Pakistan for another. F,J,Y, would you believe!
Originally Posted by UK flyer
Are we Brits the only ones to be robbed by the Chancellor if we happen to turn left on a plane or are there other countries that charge different rates of departure tax depending on which cabin you are ticketed in? I reckon we're the only ones. Thank god for the Channel Tunnel!
#15
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Paris 04ème, France
Programs: Junior Jet Club
Posts: 546
Originally Posted by UK flyer
But Australia does not charge different rates of tax in F J Y if I'm not mistaken.