V-Flyer

Just pricing flights next year from BFS to MCO. APD might be axed from BFS but VA's stealth tax hidden behind the title of Carrier Imposed Charges really sticks the two fingers up.

Fares are ok price but its the surcharges that get you.
From BFS Carrier imposed charges are £852 for 2 Adults and 2 Infants. Change the departure airport to LGW and its only £470

Total cost flying from BFS is £2145.80
Total Cost flying from LGW is £1683.46

So even with APD axed on the BFS route VA shafts us with their own Tax. How can their own charges be £382 more?

Result is I can fly to LGW and stay at a hotel and fly out on whatever day is convenient. Maybe I am missing something but VA really need to be more competitive than this

Allymc316

I was pricing UC MCO flights for June next year and they were coming in at 1.5k per adult flying from DUB. That was BACE the night before out of DUB into LHR and then LGW to MCO UC the next day.

Have you tried pricing from DUB?

allymc316 wrote:?........ Maybe I am missing something but VA really need to be more competitive than this........

There have been many, many threads on this horrible rip off charge since it was introduced several years ago now.

The bottom line as far as VS are concerned is that they are being competitive - to the penny with BA's surcharge

When BA jump - VS will no doubt follow, as always.

Nick

I'm wondering if it is because they are charging the fully flexible fare on the ex-BFS leg? When I have priced fares on VS from Cork the price has gone up by about £400 because of that

Yes I have considered Dublin, thanks for the heads up.

It is a restricted economy fare at £410 outbound and £378 inbound. Taxes and charges amount to the rest.

I contacted VS online chat and well things got even more complicated, the advisor said she doesn't know why it's showing like that online. On her system she is seeing the same overall price but the taxes and charges are £805.56 leaving from both Belfast or Gatwick and only the fare is higher leaving BFS. I immediately queried how the taxes can possibly be the same due to APD not being chargeable leaving Belfast. The response was that she couldn't see a breakdown and that VS are not responsible for the carrier imposed surcharge.

I then asked why is it called carrier imposed when the carrier doesn't know what the charges are for! The response was send an email and it will be looked into.

All I am looking for from VS is an explanation as to why when APD has been axed to make Belfast a more attractive option for long haul travel how does VS think it is fair to add on so much in charges.

I have took the agents advice and emailed Craig Kreeger and SRB to get some sort of response and explanation.

I will keep you posted with any updates.

Thanks for your responses so far.

The first person/ firm to fight and win the case over the miss use of the definition "surcharge " by uk airlines deserves a knighthood...

northernhenry wrote:The first person/ firm to fight and win the case over the miss use of the definition "surcharge " by uk airlines deserves a knighthood...

Arise Sir Charge

It's simple: the Belfast route is highly seasonal with little other non stop competition. The pricing structure will reflect that.

They are there to make money.

Virgin Atlantic have just contacted me and basically its a system error and the Surcharge is now changed to £470 from BFS.

So its worth checking should anyone already have made a booking. If you paid more than £470 for the carrier imposed surcharge you are due a refund. She told me that had I booked yesterday that the team would have noticed the error made contact with me and refunded me the difference, I am rather sceptical of that statement but there you go.

I have checked and the prices are now the same

I was never questioning VS fare prices or their right as a business to make a profit but rather why the difference between BFS and LGW surcharge. Just because its seasonal does not mean they can rip off customers when applying Carrier Surcharges.

Anyway, promptly resolved now.

APD was only abolished in Northern Ireland for direct flights to an APD Band B,C or D destination - essential to anywhere other than Europe, Fly via e.g. LGW or LHR and APD still applies.

It was to 'protect' the old continental airlines service to EWR that they threatened to withdraw because they said APD was reducing demand.

The direct VS service to MCO next year will benefit from this.

allymc316 wrote:Virgin Atlantic have just contacted me and basically its a system error and the Surcharge is now changed to £470 from BFS.

So its worth checking should anyone already have made a booking. If you paid more than £470 for the carrier imposed surcharge you are due a refund. She told me that had I booked yesterday that the team would have noticed the error made contact with me and refunded me the difference, I am rather sceptical of that statement but there you go.

I have checked and the prices are now the same

I was never questioning VS fare prices or their right as a business to make a profit but rather why the difference between BFS and LGW surcharge. Just because its seasonal does not mean they can rip off customers when applying Carrier Surcharges.

Anyway, promptly resolved now.

The thread title should have alerted me that your post was about the surcharge and not the fare itself.

Well done on the refund!