Jul 18, 2014, 8:16 am
Last edit by: Prospero
(Link) to “United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty (APD) Charged UK Departing Passengers”
Link to html full APD tax law
APD rates as of 01 Apr 2020:
Band A (0 to 2,000 miles) £13 Reduced, £26 Standard
Band B (anything over 2,000 miles): Reduced £80, Standard £176
Infants and children
“Children below the age of 2 years who are not allocated a separate seat before boarding the aircraft are not chargeable passengers. If a seat is purchased for the infant then APD is chargeable.
From 1 May 2015, children who are under the age of 12 years on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are not chargeable passengers. Children 12 years and over, or travelling in any other class, are chargeable passengers and APD is due.
From 1 March 2016 children who are under the age of 16 years on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are not chargeable passengers. Children 16 years and over, or travelling in any other class, are chargeable passengers and APD is due.”
General notes:
distances calculated between national capitals - e.g. HNL calculated as WAS.
Link to Source: U.K. Excise Notice 550: Air Passenger Duty
APD is due when passengers pay to upgrade any stage of their journey
N.B. Arriving at a UK airport will not incur APD. Connections with less than 24 hours will generally not require APD*; you may have to have the rate desk intervene if you are not on a through ticket. As noted, "band distance" is calculated Capital to Capital.
APD is not charged on flights originating in the Scottish Highlands (INV) or Islands. APD is not payable on direct, Band B, flights departing Northern Ireland.
* Connecting flights exemption (UK APD regulation)
“The connected flights must be detailed on the same ticket or conjunction tickets to qualify for the exemption. Tickets can only be regarded as conjunction tickets if:
a. they are in one booklet, or
b. where they are in separate booklets:
each refers to the other and states that they are to be read in conjunction
there is a summary of the flights constituting the passengers journey including the flights in question
Although the flights may meet all the other criteria for determining whether Two flights are connected, they will only qualify for the exemption if the connection is evidenced on the ticket or a flight summary.”
AA (c/o JonNYC, post #219):
septix by JonNYCme, on Flickr
Link to html full APD tax law
APD rates as of 01 Apr 2020:
Band A (0 to 2,000 miles) £13 Reduced, £26 Standard
Band B (anything over 2,000 miles): Reduced £80, Standard £176
Infants and children
“Children below the age of 2 years who are not allocated a separate seat before boarding the aircraft are not chargeable passengers. If a seat is purchased for the infant then APD is chargeable.
From 1 May 2015, children who are under the age of 12 years on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are not chargeable passengers. Children 12 years and over, or travelling in any other class, are chargeable passengers and APD is due.
From 1 March 2016 children who are under the age of 16 years on the date of the flight, and in the lowest class of travel, are not chargeable passengers. Children 16 years and over, or travelling in any other class, are chargeable passengers and APD is due.”
General notes:
distances calculated between national capitals - e.g. HNL calculated as WAS.
Link to Source: U.K. Excise Notice 550: Air Passenger Duty
APD is due when passengers pay to upgrade any stage of their journey
N.B. Arriving at a UK airport will not incur APD. Connections with less than 24 hours will generally not require APD*; you may have to have the rate desk intervene if you are not on a through ticket. As noted, "band distance" is calculated Capital to Capital.
APD is not charged on flights originating in the Scottish Highlands (INV) or Islands. APD is not payable on direct, Band B, flights departing Northern Ireland.
* Connecting flights exemption (UK APD regulation)
“The connected flights must be detailed on the same ticket or conjunction tickets to qualify for the exemption. Tickets can only be regarded as conjunction tickets if:
a. they are in one booklet, or
b. where they are in separate booklets:
each refers to the other and states that they are to be read in conjunction
there is a summary of the flights constituting the passengers journey including the flights in question
Although the flights may meet all the other criteria for determining whether Two flights are connected, they will only qualify for the exemption if the connection is evidenced on the ticket or a flight summary.”
AA (c/o JonNYC, post #219):
septix by JonNYCme, on Flickr
UK APD / Air Passenger Duty charged for UK departures (Master Thread)
Apr 25, 2019, 9:28 am
#271
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
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Posts: 62,948
Understood, thank you very much. For some reason, based on several mileage runs of 3-4 years ago, I thought the (excessively) high APD could be avoided by booking a short economy segment prior to a long business segment. I must have confused myself as those were all purchased as economy tickets and then upgraded so at the time of purchase the APD charged would have been the reduced rate rather than the standard rate. I also seem to recall that when the upgrades cleared, I wasn’t ALWAYS charged the additional APD but I’m probably confused about that also. Thanks again.
May 8, 2019, 9:17 pm
#272
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
Flying saver J from UK to US--AA vs IB/BA
I had 2 ticketed itineraries. The first one was BA saver J from lhr - mad on 12/29 and then the other was on 12/30 IB saver J from mad-ord-dfw. The first leg award fees were $60 and the second leg the award fees (taxes) were $140 so $200. This itinerary also meant that I had a night stay at the MAD hilton and that was $130.
I found AA lhr-phl-dfw on 12/29 today. I booked it and canceled the BA/IB flights. The taxes were $303 and I know that's the luxury tax or whatever LHR calls it for a J ticket departing LHR. So the bottom line is it's a wash and I save one extra segment I don't need to fly. Just wanted to make sure people know the departure tax on J tickets.
I found AA lhr-phl-dfw on 12/29 today. I booked it and canceled the BA/IB flights. The taxes were $303 and I know that's the luxury tax or whatever LHR calls it for a J ticket departing LHR. So the bottom line is it's a wash and I save one extra segment I don't need to fly. Just wanted to make sure people know the departure tax on J tickets.
May 8, 2019, 9:23 pm
#273
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
The highest of the taxes is nothing to do with LHR , but is the UK Air Passenger Duty
Other than just the total of taxes and charges being similar due to the original itinerary having carrier surcharges, wasn't there also a saving of 22,500 miles from the business class BA flight to Madrid
Other than just the total of taxes and charges being similar due to the original itinerary having carrier surcharges, wasn't there also a saving of 22,500 miles from the business class BA flight to Madrid
May 8, 2019, 9:28 pm
#274
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Wesley Chapel, FL
Programs: American Airlines
Posts: 30,005
The highest of the taxes is nothing to do with LHR , but is the UK Air Passenger Duty
Other than just the total of taxes and charges being similar due to the original itinerary having carrier surcharges, wasn't there also a saving of 22,500 miles from the business class BA flight to Madrid
Other than just the total of taxes and charges being similar due to the original itinerary having carrier surcharges, wasn't there also a saving of 22,500 miles from the business class BA flight to Madrid
Yes 22,500 savings too so it's really not a wash.
May 8, 2019, 10:10 pm
#275
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
There is a passenger service charge that does pertain to LHR
If travelling within Europe to somwehere like Madrid, economy seats sold as business class at 22500 is , imo, really poor value vs 12,500 points for economy (plus the GBP13 saving on taxes for eonomy for adults and GBP26 for those under 18 )
May 21, 2019, 11:59 am
#276
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
AA reimburses APD for canceled reward ticket through voucher
Getting the taxes back on canceled reward tickets became a pain since I joined, and I imagine since AA closed their UK call center. When I first became an AA frequent flier a few years ago, you had to save your canceled tickets and bring them to the LHR ticket office for the refund to be processed (very grudgingly). Then they became able to do it via the EXP phone line, but always with a lengthy hold, as the taxes had been converted from £ to $ and (for unknown reasons) also reconverted into £ before being recredited to my credit card. However, for my latest cancelled reward ticket, I've just received my "refund" — as a TRANSPORTATION VOUCHER valid for one year. I have absolutely no use for this, as all my AA-coded tickets are business trips. Is this just a freak occurrence, or a new policy? Can they legally get away with this? Being UK Air Passenger Duty, it is a sum large enough to be worth fighting for.
Incidentally, the voucher is not even in my name, but in the name of the passenger of the canceled ticket.
And it can't even be redeemed on AA.com.
Incidentally, the voucher is not even in my name, but in the name of the passenger of the canceled ticket.
And it can't even be redeemed on AA.com.
Last edited by Passmethesickbag; May 21, 2019 at 12:28 pm
May 21, 2019, 2:59 pm
#277
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Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
If travelling on an award ticket, then you should be able to redeposit the miles subject to a $150 fee and get the taxes back
( I assume you mean an award flight based on referring to a reqard flight )
If this was a revenue ticket, then it depends on whether this was a US origination or a UK origination and the fare rules
If this is a non-refundable ticket but the value can be held for another trip, then a transportation voucher would be correct and indeed would be in name of passenger
( I assume you mean an award flight based on referring to a reqard flight )
If this was a revenue ticket, then it depends on whether this was a US origination or a UK origination and the fare rules
If this is a non-refundable ticket but the value can be held for another trip, then a transportation voucher would be correct and indeed would be in name of passenger
May 21, 2019, 3:03 pm
#278
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
If travelling on an award ticket, then you should be able to redeposit the miles subject to a $150 fee and get the taxes back
( I assume you mean an award flight based on referring to a reqard flight )
If this was a revenue ticket, then it depends on whether this was a US origination or a UK origination and the fare rules
( I assume you mean an award flight based on referring to a reqard flight )
If this was a revenue ticket, then it depends on whether this was a US origination or a UK origination and the fare rules
May 21, 2019, 3:05 pm
#279
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,595
Was it an award flight and did you ask to cancel and for mileage to be redeposited? if so, then all the taxes paid ( not just APD) should have been refunded to original form of payment. - there is nothing special about APD over any of the other taxes
May 21, 2019, 3:07 pm
#280
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: NCL
Programs: UA 1MM/*G. DL Gold for one more year.
Posts: 5,305
Thanks, yes they always have been in the past. Not necessarily painlessly, but without AA disputing whether a cash refund was due.
Jun 25, 2019, 9:27 am
#281
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Brighton. UK
Programs: BA Gold / VS /IHG Diamond & Ambassador
Posts: 14,195
Scotland
Aberdeen airport has called for an end to the Inverness exemption re APD. Though calling INV a 'tax haven' is a tad exaggerated.
And via that link I have found that the Scottish Government has dropped plans to scrap APD . I've updated the wiki to reflect this.
And via that link I have found that the Scottish Government has dropped plans to scrap APD . I've updated the wiki to reflect this.
Jul 31, 2019, 1:03 pm
#282
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: ORD
Programs: AA ExPlat (2MM), Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 291
Another data point
The United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty, an excise tax, isn’t required on U.K.connections of 23:59 or less. I’ve avoided it on separate ticketing (e.g. FI to AA) when purchasing, but I’ve not tried to get it refunded. Nonetheless, I believe AA should refund it with proof of your UK connection, as it was incorrectly charged.
You were charged the difference between the £78 reduced rate you’d already paid and the £156 full rate due for C or F. That’s about USD $98.74. For that money, I’d certainly give it a go.
You were charged the difference between the £78 reduced rate you’d already paid and the £156 full rate due for C or F. That’s about USD $98.74. For that money, I’d certainly give it a go.
I have a paid BA flight booked from LIS-LHR arriving 930pm on 9/14 (part of a RTW ticket - AA ticketed). I put an economy award on hold departing LHR-ORD 745am on 9/15; the award priced out including APD of $95 per person (78 GBP). I called AA ExPlat line and asked that they remove the UK APD before I book the award ticket and provided the RTW AA record-locator.
1st Agent: What? Ok, give me locators for both and I will check. After 5 minute hold, "pricing" says the tax is still due. I pushed back a bit but agent didn't seem to want to try anything else. HUCA.
2nd Agent: Ok, please give me both locators. Reads through the RTW ticket and finds the LIS-LHR flight, confirms it arrives within 24HR of award. Puts me on hold. Somehow redirected to RTW desk, who then connect me back to ExPlat.
3rd Agent: "I see what you are trying to do", let me talk to tariffs. On hold for 5 minutes. Agent comes back and asks "why" should the APD be removed. I explain that I'll be in UK less than 24 hrs via the two flights, so the tax should not be charged. A few more minutes on hold and she comes back and let's me know the reservation has been updated. When i pull it up on AA.com I see the reduced taxes and I can now book/pay for the reservation online without the APD.
Took 15-20 minutes but saves $95 per passenger; in my case 2 - so $190 savings.
Oct 9, 2019, 10:12 am
#283
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DFW, NYC, SIN, KUL, CGK, LON
Programs: AA EXP, AA5MM
Posts: 391
VS to AA on separate tickets
Has anyone had success getting AA to properly calculate UK APD or lack thereof when the inbound flight to London is on a non-oneworld carrier? I'm considering flying inbound to LHR on VS (purchased from VS) and connecting to an AA flight in J. Since my connection is within 24 hours, this would be exempt from the APD.
Will AA be able to see the VS flight via the VS ticket number on VS ticket stock?
Thank you.
Will AA be able to see the VS flight via the VS ticket number on VS ticket stock?
Thank you.
Oct 9, 2019, 10:26 am
#284
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
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Posts: 12,470
Has anyone had success getting AA to properly calculate UK APD or lack thereof when the inbound flight to London is on a non-oneworld carrier? I'm considering flying inbound to LHR on VS (purchased from VS) and connecting to an AA flight in J. Since my connection is within 24 hours, this would be exempt from the APD.
Will AA be able to see the VS flight via the VS ticket number on VS ticket stock?
Thank you.
Will AA be able to see the VS flight via the VS ticket number on VS ticket stock?
Thank you.
Oct 9, 2019, 1:47 pm
#285
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I do note the UK gov website says
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/air-pass...nected-flights
"The connected flights must be detailed on the same ticket or conjunction tickets to qualify for the exemption. Tickets are only conjunction tickets if either:
they’re in one booklet
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/air-pass...nected-flights
"The connected flights must be detailed on the same ticket or conjunction tickets to qualify for the exemption. Tickets are only conjunction tickets if either:
they’re in one booklet
- in separate booklets where each:
- refers to the other and states that they’re to be read together
- includes a summary of the flights that make up the passenger’s journey