APD to rise by 113% - campaign by VS / SRB

[fozzyo]

Virgin Atlantic aren't happy and are encouraging people to show they aren't happy by writing to the MP's.

The Unjust Tax

Mat

Well, I would dispute the statement 'has been quietly increasing ...' when its announced in Parliament during the pre Budget report and the Budget Speech and I recall it received quite a bit of media interest and comment at the time. !

And the statement

'Now the UK Government wants to again hike the ridiculously high tax on your holiday or business trip - in November this year and next - by up to 113%.'

Is also diningenuous as these increases have already been announced and implemented by airlines. SRB is giving the impression that there will be another increase this November over and above the previously announced rates and that is clearly not the case.

There is a nice table here on wiki that show the rates up until 2010

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Passenger_Duty

If SRB wants a debate on APD thats fine, if he wants to complain about the rates thats fine too but to insinuate that its all been done secretly and that there will be an 'extra' increase does him no credit at all.


Rant over !

Perhaps VS might be better placed to look closer to home i.e. at THEIR 'unjust' credit card charges for booking a flight with THEM !

I am sure most PAX would like to see that scrapped.

[Nottingham Nick]

Well said HG - [y] Add to that their fuel and other surcharges.

Not a lot of sympathy here either, for yet another bad bit of attempted spin from VS.

I can remember when they were very good at the spin game, too. [8D][;)][:w]

Nick

quote:Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
I can remember when they were very good at the spin game, too. [8D][;)][:w]


The same could be said of the government...

It's a bit belated for SRB and VS to start yacking about this one ... perhaps at the time of the pre-budget report ... [:w] ... let alone casting the same mirror on themselves as Nick and HG say.

Despite this, air travel is still very tax efficient compared to other forms of travel - no VAT, no fuel duty on airline kerosene etc. Let no one ask for parity [B)].

But, yet another tax to add to the huge burden, a hellishly it's going to get much worse for me next year.

[mitchja]

Re the credit card charges, I noticed when I booked a recent BMI flight, they now charge the same fee for using their own Amex/M Card. Do BA charge to use their own cards yet? If not, I think it's only a matter of time before they do.

Regards

quote:Originally posted by mitchja
Do BA charge to use their own cards yet? If not, I think it's only a matter of time before they do.

Regards


Yes they charge for using their own Amex.

quote:Originally posted by mitchja
Re the credit card charges, I noticed when I booked a recent BMI flight, they now charge the same fee for using their own Amex/M Card. Do BA charge to use their own cards yet? If not, I think it's only a matter of time before they do.

Regards


They maybe do but I think that is irrelevant to this argument as I have not heard them bleet on about 'unfair' taxes and write to the govt ! Doing that may increase the call being heard in the corridors of Whitehall to add VAT to flights . . . .[:(!]