Change your travel plans to cut air passenger duty

06 June 2012 17:08:50

Many Brits are looking for ways to slash APD costs.

If you're looking for ways to cut the cost of your summer holiday this year, you may want to rethink your destination or the way you intend to reach it. This is because passengers departing the UK now face much higher air passenger duty (APD) rates following an increase in April. Research suggests many Brits are using avoidance measures to reduce the amount of duty they pay - and you could save a significant amount of money by doing likewise.

Brits face high taxes for overseas flights
New research by Sainsbury's Travel Money suggests that Brits pay hundreds of pounds more to fly abroad than their European counterparts. For instance, an economy passenger travelling from London to Sydney would pay around £190 more in taxes and fees than a similar person flying to the same destination from Amsterdam. Meanwhile, those visiting Cape Town can expect to pay around £460 in taxes and fees if they depart from London, compared with just £318 if they fly from Paris.

Nearly half of Brits keen to avoid APD rise
Unsurprisingly, many holidaymakers are keen to avoid paying more tax than necessary, according to a survey conducted by research firm ICM on behalf of Sainsbury's Travel Money. The company's poll of 2,001 adults found that 46% of Brits would consider taking 'APD avoidance' measures in order to reduce overall costs.

For instance, 13% would choose a holiday location in a cheaper APD band and 16% would deliberately visit a short-haul destination. Approximately 14% said they would make a short-haul trip to a non-UK airport with a low APD rate, before taking a separate long-haul flight to reduce the overall cost. And a further 12% of respondents admitted they would avoid air travel altogether to get around paying the tax.

Research could save you money
David Barrett, a spokesman for Sainsbury's Travel Money, said: "Our research suggests that some families are rethinking their holiday plans because of the increased level of tax placed on some flights through Air Passenger Duty. At a time when household budgets are being squeezed, we would encourage families to spend more time researching ways to ensure they still enjoy their family holiday and, at the same time, reduce their holiday bills."

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