Duty Free Destinations
#3
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: OSL
Posts: 311
OSL has duty free as well. Any Non-EU destination should fit the criteria. Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Switzerland would be the closest ones.
Here are the members of EU: http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/index_en.htm
Here are the members of EU: http://europa.eu/about-eu/countries/index_en.htm
#6
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Her Majesty's United Kingdom
Programs: BA Gold, BA Lounge Rats, BA Audit Survivors, CW Kitchen Defender, CX Noodle Connoisseurs Club
Posts: 5,955
Got some caviar on the way back from DXB last year from Caviar House, it was 1/3 of the UK price.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 26,870
If flying in the EU, the shop pays the VAT on your behalf.
If flying outside the EU, the shop keeps the VAT as extra profit, presumably paying a large slug to BAA.
In either case, except for buying cigarettes or certain booze items, the price you pay is the same.
In fact, if flying back to the UK with the item, then strictly speaking you WANT to be flying to an EU destination, because the VAT is then paid. Otherwise, flying back in from, say, Switzerland, Customs has the right to stop you and insist you pay the VAT and the additional fine on top.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2007
Programs: Just a lowly Blue ;(
Posts: 1,780
OK, so to get air side I need a ticket. Could I just buy a ticket to say Manchester, go through security, buy what I need, have a drink in the lounge and then leave without even taking the flight?
#14
Join Date: Jun 2011
Programs: Skywards, Kris, AA, Star
Posts: 26