Originally Posted by
Davee58
Just checked it,
The UK APD
is reduced from £83.00 to £13 on the final price specification when the AMS stopover is above 24 hours (on a multiple destination ticket).
.
OK. I had thought that this had changed (they closed a few loopholes in the APD regulations along the way when they increase the duties).
But what you have noted was still the current advice in 2011:
Air Passenger Duty: how to avoid it
Don't connect
Many airlines offer long-haul fares via an intermediate airport. For example, you could book a ticket with KLM to Bangkok, changing planes at Amsterdam; or with Emirates to Australia, changing planes in Dubai. Those fares are nearly always sold as "through" tickets and, as a result, you will be charged the rate of tax applicable to the final destination (though see below). But if you buy two separate tickets – to Amsterdam with easyJet, for example, then to Bangkok with KLM – you will only pay the rate to Amsterdam (there is no departure tax from Amsterdam airport).
The problem is that most agents in Britain are geared up to sell tickets out of London, and it can be harder to find bargain fares from airports outside the UK. You will also lose your connection "rights" – if there is no through ticket and you miss the onward flight, you may have to buy another ticket (though this might be covered on your travel insurance).
Trailfinders has pointed out that, even if you buy a through ticket, if you include a stopover that is a minimum of 24 hours long en route, you will only be charged the tax to that interim destination. Stop for a break in Dubai en route to Australia and your UK APD is reduced from £92 to £65. Do the same in Amsterdam and it shrinks to £13. All other taxes remain the same. Note this strategy doesn't work in Singapore because you are subject to other increased taxes locally.