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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Airports face chaos over tax rise | Airports face chaos over tax rise |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Air travellers are being warned of possible chaos at airports next month as some are told to pay a rise in tax despite buying tickets months ago. | Air travellers are being warned of possible chaos at airports next month as some are told to pay a rise in tax despite buying tickets months ago. |
| From 1 February, the Air Passenger Duty is set to go up by between £5 and £40. | From 1 February, the Air Passenger Duty is set to go up by between £5 and £40. |
| Most airlines raised fares as soon as the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced the hike on 6 December. | |
| But some are demanding payment even for tickets booked before the announcement. Ryanair said those who do not pay before flying, will be turned away. | |
| Many of the airlines say they would be making a loss if they did not charge passengers the extra duty. | Many of the airlines say they would be making a loss if they did not charge passengers the extra duty. |
| 'No flight' | 'No flight' |
| Low-cost airline Easyjet has given passengers flying after 1 February until Monday to pay the new extra duty on their flights. | Low-cost airline Easyjet has given passengers flying after 1 February until Monday to pay the new extra duty on their flights. |
| Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said all passengers will be emailed and asked to pay. | Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said all passengers will be emailed and asked to pay. |
| If they fail to pay by midnight on the night before they travel, they will not be able to fly, he said. | If they fail to pay by midnight on the night before they travel, they will not be able to fly, he said. |
| There will be an awful lot of airlines walking up and down check-in aisles in places like Luton Airport, with a bucket collecting the tax Toby Nichol, Easyjet | |
| Leeds-based Jet2 is automatically taking the increase from travellers, using their card details held on computer. | Leeds-based Jet2 is automatically taking the increase from travellers, using their card details held on computer. |
| Monarch airline is to email customers asking them to pay online and failing that, at an airport ticket desk. | |
| British Airways meanwhile says it will absorb the costs of duty on passengers who booked before the rise was announced. | British Airways meanwhile says it will absorb the costs of duty on passengers who booked before the rise was announced. |
| BMI Baby has still to decide how it will cover the costs. | BMI Baby has still to decide how it will cover the costs. |
| Toby Nichol, of Easyjet, said: "It's absolutely chaotic. Come 1 February, there is going to be a lot of uncertainty. | Toby Nichol, of Easyjet, said: "It's absolutely chaotic. Come 1 February, there is going to be a lot of uncertainty. |
| "It's not just Easyjet asking for money in advance. There will be an awful lot of airlines walking up and down check-in aisles in places like Luton Airport, with a bucket collecting the tax." | "It's not just Easyjet asking for money in advance. There will be an awful lot of airlines walking up and down check-in aisles in places like Luton Airport, with a bucket collecting the tax." |
| Check-in payments | |
| Sean Tipton, of the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta), said it would have preferred the duty rise to be postponed until the summer but airlines should be collecting the extra payment at check-in. | |
| He advised passengers who booked before 6 December 2006 - when the rise was announced - to check with their airline whether payment was due before travelling. | |
| The rise will mean for example that tax on a short-haul flight in Europe will double to £10 per passenger and to £80 per passenger on long haul business flights. | The rise will mean for example that tax on a short-haul flight in Europe will double to £10 per passenger and to £80 per passenger on long haul business flights. |
| Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent newspaper, said that while the duty rise had been anticipated, the liability of those who had already booked had not. | Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent newspaper, said that while the duty rise had been anticipated, the liability of those who had already booked had not. |
| For a family of four travelling between Leeds and Belfast that could mean an extra £40 which could make some people's account overdrawn, he said. | For a family of four travelling between Leeds and Belfast that could mean an extra £40 which could make some people's account overdrawn, he said. |