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Double air passenger duty begins Air tax increase comes into force
(20 minutes later)
Legislation doubling the amount of passenger duty that people must pay when taking flights from the UK has come into force. Laws doubling the amount of passenger duty people pay when taking flights from the UK has come into force.
Airlines said they were not expecting major problems in collecting the higher rates of air passenger duty.Airlines said they were not expecting major problems in collecting the higher rates of air passenger duty.
The increase was announced by the Chancellor Gordon Brown last December. The increase was announced by the Chancellor Gordon Brown last December who said airlines should pay more for damaging the environment.
Hundreds of thousands of people have been asked to pay the extra, despite buying tickets before the announcement.Hundreds of thousands of people have been asked to pay the extra, despite buying tickets before the announcement.
Those who have not paid will have to do so at airports before being flying.Those who have not paid will have to do so at airports before being flying.
The duty has doubled to:The duty has doubled to:
  • Economy class flights in Europe, including internal UK flights: £10
  • Business and first class flights in Europe: £20
  • Economy class long-haul flights: £40
  • Business and first class long-haul flights: £80
  • Economy class flights in Europe, including internal UK flights: £10
  • Business and first class flights in Europe: £20
  • Economy class long-haul flights: £40
  • Business and first class long-haul flights: £80
Despite some predictions of chaos, most airlines are - at least in public - expressing confidence that there will be few hold ups.Despite some predictions of chaos, most airlines are - at least in public - expressing confidence that there will be few hold ups.
We are all geared up with extra credit card terminals Virgin Atlantic spokesman How the airlines are reacting Is the new tax affecting you?We are all geared up with extra credit card terminals Virgin Atlantic spokesman How the airlines are reacting Is the new tax affecting you?
"The vast majority of passengers have now paid," said an Easyjet spokeswoman."The vast majority of passengers have now paid," said an Easyjet spokeswoman.
Tax collectingTax collecting
Collecting the money has been easier for some airlines than others.Collecting the money has been easier for some airlines than others.
Those who sell most or all of their tickets over the internet have been able to send e-mails to passengers, telling them that they will have to pay the extra tax - and then taking the money from their debit or credit cards.Those who sell most or all of their tickets over the internet have been able to send e-mails to passengers, telling them that they will have to pay the extra tax - and then taking the money from their debit or credit cards.
However British Airways decided that collecting the extra money from customers who bought before 6 December would be too difficult because many of its passengers book via travel agents and so the airline does not have their payment details.However British Airways decided that collecting the extra money from customers who bought before 6 December would be too difficult because many of its passengers book via travel agents and so the airline does not have their payment details.
BA decided that it would simply absorb the £11m cost of this extra tax to avoid trying to collect money from long queues of disgruntled customers at airports like Heathrow.BA decided that it would simply absorb the £11m cost of this extra tax to avoid trying to collect money from long queues of disgruntled customers at airports like Heathrow.
Virgin Atlantic has been urging passengers to pay up via its website, with the lure of a discount from future ticket sales, equivalent to the extra tax.Virgin Atlantic has been urging passengers to pay up via its website, with the lure of a discount from future ticket sales, equivalent to the extra tax.
The ultimate sanction in our terms and conditions is to refuse to carry them BMI spokesmanThe ultimate sanction in our terms and conditions is to refuse to carry them BMI spokesman
As it too sells many tickets via travel agents, it is expecting some passengers to turn up in the coming weeks and months who owe the tax.As it too sells many tickets via travel agents, it is expecting some passengers to turn up in the coming weeks and months who owe the tax.
It has plans to collect the cash and extra credit card payments at its check-in desks.It has plans to collect the cash and extra credit card payments at its check-in desks.
"We are all geared up with extra credit card terminals," said a spokesman."We are all geared up with extra credit card terminals," said a spokesman.
No payment, no flightNo payment, no flight
All airlines, whether UK based or not, are obliged to collect the tax for each passenger they fly out of the country.All airlines, whether UK based or not, are obliged to collect the tax for each passenger they fly out of the country.
Some have left things rather late.Some have left things rather late.
BMI has only decided in the past few days to collect the money directly, where it can, from customers' debit or credit cards.BMI has only decided in the past few days to collect the money directly, where it can, from customers' debit or credit cards.
If it cannot do this, "we have plans in place to collect at the airports," said a spokesman.If it cannot do this, "we have plans in place to collect at the airports," said a spokesman.
The big fear for the airlines is that some customers will turn up completely unaware that they have to pay more - and start objecting.The big fear for the airlines is that some customers will turn up completely unaware that they have to pay more - and start objecting.
BMI has a leaflet ready to explain the situation and also to blame the Chancellor.BMI has a leaflet ready to explain the situation and also to blame the Chancellor.
But the spokesman said: "The ultimate sanction in our terms and conditions is to refuse to carry them."But the spokesman said: "The ultimate sanction in our terms and conditions is to refuse to carry them."
That is the view of all the airlines which have decided to pass on the tax - no payment, no flight - but if you don't like it, blame Gordon Brown.That is the view of all the airlines which have decided to pass on the tax - no payment, no flight - but if you don't like it, blame Gordon Brown.
Some Easyjet staff at Luton and Belfast will be dressing up as tax collectors just to make sure the passengers get that message.Some Easyjet staff at Luton and Belfast will be dressing up as tax collectors just to make sure the passengers get that message.