What You Need To Know About The U.K.’s Air Passenger Duty

When planning their vacation, travelers should always be mindful of the policies of each country they will visit. The United Kingdom’s Air Passenger Duty is an excise law that requires the passengers on planes of 10 tons or more to be charged an additional fee. These fees range from €13 ($16) to €194 ($236) depending on seating class and distance traveled, adding an unsavory charge on top of already expensive travel fees.

Exceptions

If travelers stop in the U.K. to board a connecting flight, they are exempt from this fee. However, if there is more than 24 hours between the time of arrival in the U.K. and the time of departure, this exemption does not apply.

Alternate Airports 

Because the U.K. is situated on a series of islands, finding alternate routes can be tricky. If travelers are visiting Northern Ireland (part of the U.K.), they might consider beginning and ending their trip from an airport in the southern Republic of Ireland (not part of the U.K).

If you are not visiting the U.K., try to avoid Heathrow or other U.K. stops for connecting flights if at all possible. Other major airports in the region that work as substitutes for your connecting flight include Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, the Frankfurt Airport in Frankfurt and the Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in Amsterdam.