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Airports face chaos over tax rise Airports face chaos over tax rise
(about 4 hours 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. Passengers are being warned of possible chaos at airports next month as some airlines seek to charge extra air tax for tickets bought 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 will go up by between £5 and £40.
Most airlines raised fares as soon as the Chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced the hike on 6 December. Most airlines raised fares as soon as 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. But some are demanding further payment for tickets booked before the rise. 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. The chancellor's critics say two months was too short notice for the duty increase and it is unfair to charge customers who booked months earlier but will fly after 1 February.
'No flight' Many airlines say they will make a loss if they do not charge passengers the extra duty.
Low-cost airline Easyjet has given passengers flying after 1 February until Monday to pay the new extra duty on their flights. But not all agree how they should charge, causing confusion for travellers.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said all passengers will be emailed and asked to pay. DUTIES FROM FEBRUARY Economy class in Europe £10Business and first class in Europe £20Economy class on long-haul flights £40Business and first class on long-haul flights £80 href="/1/hi/uk/6258327.stm" class="">Q&A: Air passenger tax rise
If they fail to pay by midnight on the night before they travel, they will not be able to fly, he said. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said all passengers will be emailed and if they fail to pay the day before their flight, they will not be able to fly.
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 says it will absorb the costs of duty on passengers who booked before the announcement.
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.
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." "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 paymentsCheck-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. Roger Wiltshire, of the British Air Transport Association, said plenty of notice would usually be given to duty changes.
"It's a mess because the chancellor brought this in at such short notice," he told BBC's Five Live Breakfast.
HAVE YOUR SAY I actually feel sorry for Ryanair this time John, Darlington Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY I actually feel sorry for Ryanair this time John, Darlington Send us your comments
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. "They have caught millions of passengers who had booked in advance and paid already."
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. But the Treasury says the aviation industry was not meeting its environmental responsibilities so a decision was taken to introduce the duty increase swiftly.
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. It says the extra £1bn in duty will go towards better public transport and the environment.
A spokesman said the Air Passenger Duty was a tax on airlines for the number of passengers they carry and it was up to the airline to decide whether they pass that levy on to passengers.
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 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, including internal UK flights, will double to £10 per passenger and to £80 per passenger on long haul business flights.
Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent, said that while the duty rise had been expected, 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.