New Tax

[shagster330]

We are due to fly out with Virgin in a little under 2 weeks and we have heard nothing about this new tax? Nothing on the website, nothing by post???

Has anyone else due to fly soon heard anything from them

 

[wildwood]

we also fly out very soon 12 Feb and we have not heard anything either I think we should just be prepared to be asked for payment at the airport or we may be lucky and Richard Branson is being kind to us lets hope for the latter

 

[PChef]

We're flying out on the 1st Feb and we haven't heard anything either. Seems a bit odd.
Michelle

 

[SimonV]

The latest word seems to be that Virgin will actually try to collect the additional tax at check-in from anyone who booked and paid in full before the announcement of the new rates of APD (unless you have already heard in advance and paid the extra to your TA). That is far from the ideal situation and could well mean longer queues at check-in, so please be prepared

 

[gismo1554]

Ok just out of interest where did you hear this from? Was it actually about Virgin specifically or about the airline industries? I'm just wondering because I know that BA have vowed to cover the charges but some other airlines have said that they will be collecting charges at the check-in. Virgin has made no such announcement as far as I'm aware either way which is why I'm trying to find out whether this is true. I would have thought that Virgin would have made the announcement on their website if this was the case and as they haven't then I don't think they can actually ask for the money at the counter without warning you in advance because you may not have the money to give etc. Anyway curious to know whether this announcement was made by Virgin recently or if this is just hear say.

 

[Cochise]

I would say being Simon he will be hearing the talk in the travel trade and possibly people he knows in Virgin who contributed to the book. I would say they are maybe holding off to guage how strong opinion gets about this before making an official announcement. Stinks though imho.

 

[spencem]

We are also due to fly on the 1st and have not been able to get a straight answer, I am not happy.

I think simon is right, we will be the first people to experience the chaos of check-in staff trying to get money off of us. I could be wrong, but Idont think those check-in computers can take credit cards, so expect to get sent to the 4 person ticket desk

Look out for me ranting on the 6 o'clock news that night.

 

[abbylou6]

We fy out too on the 8th i have contacted virgin today by email ill let you know what they say.

mandy x

 

[PChef]

Hi, just phoned Virgin and they said they would not be applying the extra duty in our case. He muttered about because we had booked in June 06 and paid 4 lots of Fuel Duty......not sure what this has got to do with it but fingers crossed. I won't be surprised if we are still asked to pay at the gate but am somewhat reassured. Interesting to see if anyone else gets the same answer?!!!

Michelle

 

[spencem]

PChef, what flight are you on Thursday? The 11:30 or the 12:45, we're on the 12:45.

I have been told the same by our TA who phoned them, but then someone else in the branch phoned them 5 minutes later and got told they would be collecting £20 at check-in.

 

[PChef]

Hi! We're on the VS27 at 11.15. Unless they decide to amalgamate the flights of course!

 

[lorapinky]

Hi everyone,

We haven’t been contacted by our travel agent regarding additional flight tax on our holiday so we assumed that they were going to pay it on our behalf or something.

Basically we thought we had gotten away without paying for it.

However I have just been speaking with a work friend who travels a lot for business and he said that the airports are demanding cash for the rise in taxes when you check in and may have to pay it then?

Does anyone know if this is true?

We are flying in September with Virgin though have booked through Thomas Cook Signature

 

[spencem]

I've just phoned Flying Club to give them my advanced passenger info (because we booked though TCS we cannot do this or check-in on line). I asked the guy I spoke to what they were doing about this and was told no decision has been made.

 

[Manatee]

The latest word seems to be that Virgin will actually try to collect the additional tax at check-in from anyone who booked and paid in full before the announcement of the new rates of APD (unless you have already heard in advance and paid the extra to your TA). That is far from the ideal situation and could well mean longer queues at check-in, so please be prepared

How does that work if you use the online check in????

 

[TraceyL]

Official info now on VA website here

You can pay online (paypal/card) with a £20 discount voucher off your next flight if you pay >48 hours before you fly. Or at check in

 

[wayneg]

I got email from BMIbaby yesterday telling me they are taking money from my account to cover extra tax I owe.
This new tax is going to cost me around £400/year extra for the 3 of us which I would not mind if it was going to do anything for the environment but it wont. We will still all fly just as much, £20 extra on a flight will not make us think about flying just get more annoyed with them taxing us so much.
For what good it will do I sent email telling them my thoughts yesterday.

If you would like to write to the Chancellor to express your dissatisfaction at this, please address your letters to:

Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
Chancellor of the Exchequer
HM Treasury
1 Horse Guards Road
LONDON
SW1A 2HQ

Fax- 020 7270 4580
Tel – 020 7270 4558

E-mail - ministers@hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk

 

[PChef]

As we booked via Virgin Holidays, we won't have to pay. Glad Virgin have made a decision and put in place a facility to pay online for those who booked with Virgin Atlantic. Expect it will still be a bit chaotic that morning (1 Feb) but we are staying over the night before so will be there in good time.

Roll on next week!!!

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

There will be a press release from VS:

VSO/2007 26 January 2007



VIRGIN ATLANTIC'S PRICE DEAL HELPS PASSENGERS PAYING EXTRA APD TO GET MONEY OFF FUTURE FLIGHTS



Virgin Atlantic Airways today unveiled its own APD – Atlantic's Price Deal
- for those passengers stung by the UK Government's increased Air Passenger Duty after they booked their flights.

The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, announced last December that anyone flying
out of the UK on or after 1st February 2007 would have to pay double the
tax currently charged, including passengers who had booked their trips many
months before the announcement. The tax rises from £20 to £40 for Economy
passengers and from £40 to £80 for Premium Economy and Upper Class passengers for travel after 1 February.

With Virgin APD (Atlantic's Price Deal), those passengers who are liable
for additional Air Passenger Duty because they booked their trip on or
before 12th December 2006, will be given a voucher which can be exchanged
for £20 off a future economy booking or £40 off a future Premium Economy or
Upper Class booking. The voucher will be given to passengers when they
check in for their flight after 1 February 2007.

Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic, commented:

"Virgin Atlantic is really disappointed that Gordon Brown took the
extraordinary measure of charging additional APD to passengers who
had already booked their travel before the announcement was made.

Therefore we have decided to offer those passengers money off a
future flight with Virgin Atlantic. We at Virgin Atlantic, along with our passengers, will be very interested to see whether the additional taxes do indeed go into environmental initiatives as promised by the Government."


ADVICE TO PASSENGERS

Passengers who booked travel on or before 13 December and are travelling
after 1 February now owe additional taxes following the Chancellor, Gordon
Brown’s decision to increase the duty by £20 for each Economy passenger and £40 for every Premium Economy and Upper Class passenger. Virgin Atlantic will be collecting the additional compulsory taxes on behalf of the
Government. Passengers can pay the additional APD in the following ways:

1) Log onto www.virginatlantic.com/greenorbrown where by typing in flight
details the website will calculate how much tax is owed and allow the passenger to pay this in advance of checking in at the airport. The tax
can be paid online up to 48 hours prior to the time of travel and
passengers must remember to bring their receipt from this transaction to
the airport as proof of payment.

2) Pay at the airport

Any passengers who have been unable to pay the additional APD online prior
to passengers the date of travel can pay at the airport instead. Virgin
Atlantic staff at the airport will be able to inform passengers if they have outstanding taxes to pay at the airport before they check in.

All passengers who receive a discount voucher can use this for a future
flight until 31 December 2008 to any of Virgin Atlantic’s destinations worldwide.

 

[CustardTart]

As we booked via Virgin Holidays, we won't have to pay. Glad Virgin have made a decision and put in place a facility to pay online for those who booked with Virgin Atlantic. Expect it will still be a bit chaotic that morning (1 Feb) but we are staying over the night before so will be there in good time.

Roll on next week!!!

Is that true? I didn't see this post and just paid online!

 

[Cochise]

Can they actually take the extra amount without you authorising it? I am flying to the inlaws in July at Alicante and have to stump an extra £60 overall but surely as long as you pay before you fly then thats your choice when. I will be seriously miffed if they pull £60 from the account without enough notice or permission as it will unsettle the household accounts.

**Update**

I have just tried to phone BMI baby and they do not provide anyone apart from by letter to confirm when this payment will be taken. Good mind to ring my bank and complain if they authorise it.