New rise in Airport Taxes

[Interpol Shrimper]

BBC News linky

This has been all over the news all weekend, what are people's thoughts?  I personally think it's another example of rip-off Britain.  Why should I be penalised as I have 3 flights booked months in advance and now be told unless you cough up the extra tax, you can't fly?

Surely they are breaking a number of contract laws here?  Such as, offer & acceptance as well as taking extra payment off card details that you paid with in the first place (such as how Jet2 are dealing with it).  Any legal-minded people (MtS I'm thinking maybe you) care to comment on this?

I feel so strongly about this, if I do have to pay, I'd rather pay them the extra by cheque, get a receipt to say I've paid then cancel my cheque with the bank (& then pay the banks exhorbitant cancellation fee).

 

[MK Shrimper]

I saw this on the news. I think there is small print on your ticket which covers their arses legally. As for the cheque cancellation thingy, I'd be very wary...you could be banned from flying with these companies again, chased by bailiffs etc....

Rip of Britain indeed, one tax after another....but I didn't vote for these thieving ****s....

 

[Mad Cyril]

You could try and marry into the Royal family.

Then you would get free flights at the taxpayers expense.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

There is small-print in their contract which probably gives them the right to claim the taxes off you. You could try to argue that it's an unfair term (under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations) and have the clause in question struck out... but for the sake of a fiver, no one is going to fight them over it.

Blame Gordon Brown, if you're going to blame anyone.

Matt

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 15 2007,10:19)]There is small-print in their contract which probably gives them the right to claim the taxes off you.  You could try to argue that it's an unfair term (under the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations) and have the clause in question struck out... but for the sake of a fiver, no one is going to fight them over it.

Blame Gordon Brown, if you're going to blame anyone.

Matt

UCTA is one I was going to quote at them.
I checked sleazyJet's terms & conditions and it looks as if they updated these post the tax-hike in early December.
If I was to argue their clause stated they can retro-charge (or refund) tax charges to passengers was not on the T's & C's I agreed to way back when, will I get anywhere?

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

If you can prove the clause was not in your contract at the time it was formed (i.e. when you purchased the tickets) then they can't impose the condition on you now. They cannot retrospectively alter your contract; they can, however, activate a clause which provides for a subsequent eventuality.

You need to find the Ts&Cs of the contract at the date you formed it.

Matt

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 15 2007,10:47)]You need to find the Ts&Cs of the contract at the date you formed it.

That alas is how they are going to rip off the flying public!
Not everybody reads their T's & C's at the time they book (I tend to skim mine) but never thought to print them off.

Despite being able to find the current ones, I bet there's no way easyJet or their peers will let anyone have access to their out of date Terms & Conditions.

 

[loz]

i'd think it'd be covered somewhere.. you might have a flight booked 3 months in advance, but this is an airport tax, and you're not using the airport until the day you fly surely? am guessing that's why when you book flights online, it normally says the calculation for taxes + fees is an estimation.

that said, i'm glad i booked to fly out on Jan 31

 

[SARF]

Cheer up.. Think of all the good your carbon taxes will be doing the enviroment..

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (SARF @ Jan. 15 2007,11:22)]Cheer up.. Think of all the good your carbon taxes will be doing the enviroment..

But it won't though!
This is just a back-door way of trying to minimse domestic flights & force people for economic reasons back onto the trains.

However, with such a poor rail system from here to the south-east, I'd far rather drive it, which isn't going to help the environment at all!

 

[Mad Cyril]

Quote[/b] (glasgowsufc @ Jan. 15 2007,11:25)]

Quote[/b] (SARF @ Jan. 15 2007,11:22)]Cheer up.. Think of all the good your carbon taxes will be doing the enviroment..

But it won't though!
This is just a back-door way of trying to minimse domestic flights & force people for economic reasons back onto the trains.

However, with such a poor rail system from here to the south-east, I'd far rather drive it, which isn't going to help the environment at all!

If you feel guilty about your contribution to global warming why not take a leaf out of my book.

Whenever I do something that contributes to global warming such as taking a flight, driving my car or burning tyres in my back garden I leave my fridge door open so that I am also making a contribution to global cooling and the two contributions balance eachother out.

 

[GNH]

Unfortunately this tax is administrated the same as any other tax, ie. being due at the time the flight itself which means they can impose it regardless on when your flights were booked

Just another stealth tax dressed up as something to help the enviroment when it will all go towards the cost of bombing another country

 

[Mad Cyril]

Quote[/b] (GNH @ Jan. 15 2007,12:03)]Just another stealth tax dressed up as something to help the enviroment when it will all go towards the cost of bombing another country

If we bomb China or America that would certainly help the environment.

 

[Interpol Shrimper]

Quote[/b] (GNH @ Jan. 15 2007,12:03)]Unfortunately this tax is administrated the same as any other tax, ie. being due at the time the flight itself which means they can impose it regardless on when your flights were booked

Just another stealth tax dressed up as something to help the enviroment when it will all go towards the cost of bombing another country

Yeah but take the scenario of buying a £20 bottle of wine and leaving it for a year or so. Just because they put up the duty in that 12 months it was sat in your cupboard (or lying in your wine cellar if you are MtS

) they can't then knock on your door when you come to drink it & say "Oi, alcohol duty has risen by 5% therefore you owe us an extra £1.73"

Agree it's another stealth tax to try & balance the books though. How many endemic problems could this government have at least tried to solve in this country if the trillions that's been spent on the so-called "war on terror" had been channeled elsewhere? Transport infrastructure (as well as the ridiculous petrol prices), homelessness, prison overcrowding, council taxes, blah blah blah blah.

Jeez, I'll be buying the Daily Mail next.....

 

[SARF]

Quote[/b] (Mad Cyril @ Jan. 15 2007,11:43)]

Quote[/b] (glasgowsufc @ Jan. 15 2007,11:25)]

Quote[/b] (SARF @ Jan. 15 2007,11:22)]Cheer up.. Think of all the good your carbon taxes will be doing the enviroment..

But it won't though!
This is just a back-door way of trying to minimse domestic flights & force people for economic reasons back onto the trains.

However, with such a poor rail system from here to the south-east, I'd far rather drive it, which isn't going to help the environment at all!

If you feel guilty about your contribution to global warming why not take a leaf out of my book.

Whenever I do something that contributes to global warming such as taking a flight, driving my car or burning tyres in my back garden I leave my fridge door open so that I am also making a contribution to global cooling and the two contributions balance eachother out.

I cant see a problem with global warming or cooling or whatever climate change is called this week.. Having the U.K. a bit warmer is fine by me.. Greenland can take up the slack when all the glaciers in thr Alps melt..

 

[Hong Kong Blue]

Quote[/b] (Mad Cyril @ Jan. 15 2007,11:43)]

Quote[/b] (glasgowsufc @ Jan. 15 2007,11:25)]

Quote[/b] (SARF @ Jan. 15 2007,11:22)]Cheer up.. Think of all the good your carbon taxes will be doing the enviroment..

But it won't though!
This is just a back-door way of trying to minimse domestic flights & force people for economic reasons back onto the trains.

However, with such a poor rail system from here to the south-east, I'd far rather drive it, which isn't going to help the environment at all!

If you feel guilty about your contribution to global warming why not take a leaf out of my book.

Whenever I do something that contributes to global warming such as taking a flight, driving my car or burning tyres in my back garden I leave my fridge door open so that I am also making a contribution to global cooling and the two contributions balance eachother out.

It is irresponsible attitudes exactly like that which are causing all this hot air regarding climate change.

Shut your fridge door and allow the UK to warm up. That will mean people will no longer need to escape the cold by taking all those damaging flights to the Canary or Balearic Islands.