Flights abroad - question

Literally. Unless it Should Go Elsewhere
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22166
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 17:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Flights abroad - question

Post by grim_tales »

Hey,

Soon I may book some flights for my dad/me to go to Holland, if we manage to get tickets for the England-Holland friendly game in November :)
Anyway, I logged onto the BMI website (they seem cheaper than Easyjet) and got 2 return flights from London to Amsterdam, going out on 14 November and coming back on 17th (I think) for £60 total which I thought was OK TBH (some flights are stupidly cheap, like £3 or something.

Unfortunately that price doesnt include tax, fare surcharges etc, taxes came out at £116 (!) making a total of £176 - WTF? I was just wondering why the tax/surcharge was so high.
EvaUnit02
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 9150
Joined: 08 Feb 2005, 14:39
Location: Wellywood, Kiwiland

Re: Flights abroad - question

Post by EvaUnit02 »

grim_tales wrote:Unfortunately that price doesnt include tax, fare surcharges etc, taxes came out at £116 (!) making a total of £176 - WTF? I was just wondering why the tax/surcharge was so high.
Travel agents always only advertise the base cost of the ticket, to get people in the door. Over here a lot people tried to get Air New Zealand charged by the Commerce Commission under the Consumer Guarantees Act of 1993 for these under-handed business practices but the case was thrown out. It's well within the bounds of the law unfortunately.
bradavon
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 24430
Joined: 27 Oct 2004, 19:30

Post by bradavon »

There are lots of reasons for such high taxes but AFAIK it's not the travel agent fleasing us.

There are something like 25 different charges. A big one is the charge the airport put on baggage allowance. I can't remember all of them but there are flipping loads.

p.s - As for your flight too Holland all I can suggest is keep looking around. You won't be able to do anything about the tax so lower the ticket.
User avatar
grim_tales
Bruce Lee's Fist
Posts: 22166
Joined: 25 Oct 2004, 17:34
Location: St. Albans, UK

Post by grim_tales »

What do you suggest?
BMI seem the cheapest so far