Avoiding APD
Mar 22, 2007 | 5:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,581
Avoiding APD
Just wanted to clarify something before i made a reward booking. If i fly DUB-LHR-LAX in BD/NZ C will i avoid the Ł80 UK APD charge?
I would normally fly BHD-LHR-LAX but as the 'taxes and charges' on reward flights keep spiralling i want to cut it down where i can.
Anyone any experience of what the price difference should be, between ex-DUB and ex-BHD?
I would normally fly BHD-LHR-LAX but as the 'taxes and charges' on reward flights keep spiralling i want to cut it down where i can.
Anyone any experience of what the price difference should be, between ex-DUB and ex-BHD?
Mar 22, 2007 | 2:43 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London
Programs: FB Plat, BA Gold, Accor Plat, IHG Gold, BW
Posts: 1,111
People flying from British airports outside London can also cut down the APD for long-haul journeys by connecting via continental gateways rather than LHR. Lots of people do this anyway (especially via AMS) to avoid LHR, but the recent increases in the tax make it even more worthwhile. The APD for a long-haul flight in C or F is now a significant extra charge.
Mar 22, 2007 | 4:35 pm
#7
Join Date: May 2003
Location: BHX
Posts: 664
As long as you were on a single, connecting itinerary for DUB-LHR-LAX, you would indeed avoid APD.
Full rules here.
Full rules here.
Mar 22, 2007 | 4:46 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: London, UK and Southern France
Posts: 18,881
People flying from British airports outside London can also cut down the APD for long-haul journeys by connecting via continental gateways rather than LHR. Lots of people do this anyway (especially via AMS) to avoid LHR, but the recent increases in the tax make it even more worthwhile. The APD for a long-haul flight in C or F is now a significant extra charge.
Moreover, as flights from hubs are usually more expensive, it remains to be seen whether you actually save that much, if at all, by doing that.
Mar 23, 2007 | 1:45 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR, BKK
Programs: BD diamond club, LH Miles & More, CX Asia Miles
Posts: 95
Risky strategy as you have to do it on separate tickets (otherwise long-haul APD still due) and you therefore bear the risk of misconnects (and also have to plan on additional times to pick up luggage and reconnect, if they refuse to through-check luggage on separate tickets).
Moreover, as flights from hubs are usually more expensive, it remains to be seen whether you actually save that much, if at all, by doing that.
Moreover, as flights from hubs are usually more expensive, it remains to be seen whether you actually save that much, if at all, by doing that.
Last edited by chinnie; Mar 23, 2007 at 2:03 am
Mar 23, 2007 | 7:55 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SIN 5 days out of 7
Programs: BD*G, A3*G, BA-S, Accor Gold, IHG Amb
Posts: 5,505
How would I know if my baggage can be checked through, supposing I fly BA to FRA to connect to LH? All I worry is that I am a visa national so would not be able to get out of immigration (to recheck my baggage, etc.) without Schengen visa. Isn't it that when you obtain the second BP at LH Frankfurt transfer desk before immigration then the baggage is all sorted for you?
If you buy a ticket from A to B and another ticket from B to C, each carrier is only obliged to get you from and to those points. There is nothing to require the first carrier to get you onto the second carrier without entering B.
Mar 23, 2007 | 9:25 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR, BKK
Programs: BD diamond club, LH Miles & More, CX Asia Miles
Posts: 95
That's when you buy one ticket for the whole journey...(defeating the purpose).
If you buy a ticket from A to B and another ticket from B to C, each carrier is only obliged to get you from and to those points. There is nothing to require the first carrier to get you onto the second carrier without entering B.
If you buy a ticket from A to B and another ticket from B to C, each carrier is only obliged to get you from and to those points. There is nothing to require the first carrier to get you onto the second carrier without entering B.
Thanks jbfield for verification. In case I do have to recheck baggage, is there such an option that allows you to do so without passing immigration? I can think about a case where some visa nationals may get stranded at the airport immigration for the need to get through to baggage claim area before anything.
While baggage check-through is not something sending airlines is obliged to do, has anyone experienced this with BA flying from LHR to Europe in particular?
Sorry for being a bit OT.
Mar 23, 2007 | 10:17 am
#12
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SEA
Programs: AS Titanium, Marriott Titanium, ICH Diamond, HH Gold
Posts: 4,823
Thanks jbfield for verification. In case I do have to recheck baggage, is there such an option that allows you to do so without passing immigration? I can think about a case where some visa nationals may get stranded at the airport immigration for the need to get through to baggage claim area before anything.