Way around high redemption Avios Surcharges
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: hong kong
Posts: 25
Way around high redemption Avios Surcharges
Many of us are paying hundreds of pounds on Long-Haul Avios redemptions and a large portion is from Air Passenger Duty (APD). However, one does not have to pay this duty if they are transiting through the UK for less than 24hrs, even if it is on 2 tickets.
Would this be possible; ticket 1 is ex-UK thats flies into the UK (less than 24hrs), ticket 2 Avios long-haul redemption, fly both legs and claim it back from HM revenue and customs. It should work.
Would this be possible; ticket 1 is ex-UK thats flies into the UK (less than 24hrs), ticket 2 Avios long-haul redemption, fly both legs and claim it back from HM revenue and customs. It should work.
#2
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Leeds, UK
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it has been raised before in these threads
APD refund on separate tickets
Any way to avoid APD when transiting via LHR (two tickets)
not sure what the conclusion was but they may be worth a read
APD refund on separate tickets
Any way to avoid APD when transiting via LHR (two tickets)
not sure what the conclusion was but they may be worth a read
#3
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#4
Ambassador, British Airways; FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2012
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Before coming to that conclusion, you might want to read the most relevant bits of the HMRC guidance on APD.
4.4 Tickets
In addition to the time related criteria, the agreement for carriage must be evidenced by a ticket which must show the:- airport from which the passenger intends to depart
- date and time of his intended departure
- airport at which he intends to arrive
a. they’re in one booklet, or
b. where they’re in separate booklets:
- each refers to the other and states that they’re to be read in conjunction
- there is a summary of the flights constituting the passengers journey including the flights in question
#5
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If that is the case, it is of course easy to avoid APD without starting outside the UK.
But APD is only part of the total TFC, and other parts may be unavoidable. I haven't tried pricing a 2-4-1 starting in INV, but I suspect that someone who's really starting in London may find it cheaper to pay the APD than to avoid it in this way.
#6
Join Date: Mar 2016
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BA offer the Regional AddOns to Long Haul flight redemptions for free, so exINV can be very beneficial (depending on lcoation) I am in GLA so £8 on the train to save ~150 no brainer for me