Has anyone used the London-CDG/AMS bus to avoid APD on BA flights?
Aug 30, 2013, 5:30 am
#1
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Has anyone used the London-CDG/AMS bus to avoid APD on BA flights?
I was tempted by the idea.
I think it was Megabus or National Express operate bus services from London Victoria to CDG and AMS.
If I am ever in London and a CDG-LHR-XXX or AMS-LHR-XXX is cheaper than the LHR-XXX and has no APD when paying with miles it seems like a good idea.
Anybody done this?
I also know of someone who uses U2 from LTN to get to CDG and AMS and return to avoid APD. The cost of the U2 flight is about the same as saved APD but he says he gets an extra flight out of it. Good idea.
I think it was Megabus or National Express operate bus services from London Victoria to CDG and AMS.
If I am ever in London and a CDG-LHR-XXX or AMS-LHR-XXX is cheaper than the LHR-XXX and has no APD when paying with miles it seems like a good idea.
Anybody done this?
I also know of someone who uses U2 from LTN to get to CDG and AMS and return to avoid APD. The cost of the U2 flight is about the same as saved APD but he says he gets an extra flight out of it. Good idea.
Aug 30, 2013, 5:37 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 851
In my younger days I would have done it no doubt. When I was more time rich and cash poor. As I get older it seems to be moving the otherway.
Aug 30, 2013, 5:42 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2010
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LGW - AMS is about £300 in J which is pretty good for the tier points (£3.75).
Combine that with a 400-point TATL run and you're nearly into silver.
I'd not take the bus as you might as well spend the time on the bus in Y and save the cash, though I'd be perfectly happy to fly Y if not looking for tier points.
Combine that with a 400-point TATL run and you're nearly into silver.
I'd not take the bus as you might as well spend the time on the bus in Y and save the cash, though I'd be perfectly happy to fly Y if not looking for tier points.
Aug 30, 2013, 5:43 am
#7
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I think you misunderstood the question.
Aug 30, 2013, 5:44 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2008
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The real comparison I agree the cost of the bus v that of the train v that of the short haul flight
v the savng of flying from Europe v how much you value your time v how much you can afford!
Simple really
Aug 30, 2013, 5:44 am
#9
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LGW - AMS is about £300 in J which is pretty good for the tier points (£3.75).
Combine that with a 400-point TATL run and you're nearly into silver.
I'd not take the bus as you might as well spend the time on the bus in Y and save the cash, though I'd be perfectly happy to fly Y if not looking for tier points.
Combine that with a 400-point TATL run and you're nearly into silver.
I'd not take the bus as you might as well spend the time on the bus in Y and save the cash, though I'd be perfectly happy to fly Y if not looking for tier points.
A U2 LGW-AMS one way can be as low as £26 if you book at the right time.
Aug 30, 2013, 5:55 am
#10
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Just returned from LHR yesterday via BHD and then BFS. Cost @ 3000 Avios and 30 GBP RFS. APD savings by leaving BFS in J as opposed to LHR - about 100 GBP. Returned from the Open Championship in July via AMS. Hopped over on KL.
My friends and I often book our return from the UK from DUB. Flying to DUB with Avios and having another night plus round of golf is basically the same cost as the APD from LHR so why not.
My friends and I often book our return from the UK from DUB. Flying to DUB with Avios and having another night plus round of golf is basically the same cost as the APD from LHR so why not.
Aug 30, 2013, 5:58 am
#11
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Just returned from LHR yesterday via BHD and then BFS. Cost @ 3000 Avios and 30 GBP RFS. APD savings by leaving BFS in J as opposed to LHR - about 100 GBP. Returned from the Open Championship in July via AMS. Hopped over on KL.
My friends and I often book our return from the UK from DUB. Flying to DUB with Avios and having another night plus round of golf is basically the same cost as the APD from LHR so why not.
My friends and I often book our return from the UK from DUB. Flying to DUB with Avios and having another night plus round of golf is basically the same cost as the APD from LHR so why not.
How did you get from BHD to BFS? Is the transfer expensive cause its quite a distance?
Aug 30, 2013, 6:04 am
#12
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The question was whether one would take a bus to save APD
The cheapest fare from London to Amsterdam is GBP49 ; the saving by taking the bus would not make it close to worthwhile to me
Aug 30, 2013, 6:05 am
#13
Join Date: May 2012
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There's a triple-whammy to saving on fares originating from nearby continental cities:
- no APD, a big advantage on CW or F fares
- usually lower fuel surcharge, no explanation for this, but it is so
- lower base fares, especially in CW
However, do compare as the difference varies based on both destination and origin. Don't automatically assume it must be so or stay so.
Currently ex-BRU wins for most destinations. The best way there is the £69 Eurostar in under 2 hours from St.Pancras. Savings of £££, a nice dinner in Brussels before beginning your main journey as well as the extra tier points all help.
Of course, all these arguments are only valid if you have both time and the inclination.
- no APD, a big advantage on CW or F fares
- usually lower fuel surcharge, no explanation for this, but it is so
- lower base fares, especially in CW
However, do compare as the difference varies based on both destination and origin. Don't automatically assume it must be so or stay so.
Currently ex-BRU wins for most destinations. The best way there is the £69 Eurostar in under 2 hours from St.Pancras. Savings of £££, a nice dinner in Brussels before beginning your main journey as well as the extra tier points all help.
Of course, all these arguments are only valid if you have both time and the inclination.
Aug 30, 2013, 6:14 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2010
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But the saving is on the APD of the longer flight so can be many hundreds not £13.
The real comparison I agree the cost of the bus v that of the train v that of the short haul flight
v the savng of flying from Europe v how much you value your time v how much you can afford!
Simple really
The real comparison I agree the cost of the bus v that of the train v that of the short haul flight
v the savng of flying from Europe v how much you value your time v how much you can afford!
Simple really
Aug 30, 2013, 6:17 am
#15
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Not for BA - but i've flown from CDG to Thailand and back into LHR on Qatar. It had the double benefit of sometimes 'losing' YQ!
Last time I booked a seperate BA LHR-CDG one way for about £60 a head and got a cheap airport hotel (ended up with only 2 hours instead of planned 6 as CDG lost our stroller).
Over the 4 of us the savings vs QR to and from LHR inc. the o/w BA sector was about £800 - the difference between going and not going.
A future triple benefit is BA Miles on QR
However I did notice that CDG has a TGV station you can reach from St Pancras via Lille (so no need to traipse across Paris) for about £30 o/w. That I will try and do in future.
Last time I booked a seperate BA LHR-CDG one way for about £60 a head and got a cheap airport hotel (ended up with only 2 hours instead of planned 6 as CDG lost our stroller).
Over the 4 of us the savings vs QR to and from LHR inc. the o/w BA sector was about £800 - the difference between going and not going.
A future triple benefit is BA Miles on QR
However I did notice that CDG has a TGV station you can reach from St Pancras via Lille (so no need to traipse across Paris) for about £30 o/w. That I will try and do in future.