OMG....it all adds up in the end, but hey so well worth it and soon forgotten about when you finally arrive, I guess?

(BTW Things could get worse, they could start charging VAT on flights!!)

I have booked and paid for in full a package holiday to Goa, and flights to Turkey. Neither carrier has asked me for extra tax money so far.

Surely it will be difficult to enforce retrospectively?

I'll be miffed if they do haymans74, as far as i'm concerned we have paid in full and that is the contract we have entered into. If we are required to pay this new tax retrospectively it's a bit like buying a new TV this week, the price going up next week and the shop wanting me to pay the difference after I have already paid. If I have paid this tax already when I booked in September then that is rather cheeky too, same analogy - buy TV, shop knows the price is going up the following week so they have pre-emptively charged me the higher price - which ever way you look at it, in my mind it's
Fizz

If the rest of us did business like this we would be out of business - but of course, its a government tax - so they can get away with it.

Fizz

I paid the full outstanding amount for my forthcoming package holiday in January to the Gambia.
Two days later I got a letter from Monarch telling me that from November 1st we will be charged by the Gambian government 20 euros per person to be allowed to leave the country.
That's a new angle

I did'nt realise Gambia was part of the Euro Zone.......

My friend is going to Gambia too in Jan and has been told about this Dave. Just when you think you have paid for your holiday.

I did'nt realise Gambia was part of the Euro Zone....... :think

They obviously think that the £ isn't the best currency to invest in !

I think this increase was decided back in 2008 so the U.K changes should have been incorporated when you booked (& paid) for your flights/ holidays. The increases were staged (I think) over 12 months so the first increase was 1/11/2009 and then this one for 2010.

And even if not it's only the difference you have to pay, not for example £ 75 more for an india flight, just £ 25 more as it was previously £ 50.

The real gutter is that it's not just to do with distance, the Us is rated the same no matter where you go, even Hawaii. Also, despite airlines forcing you to pay in advance the tax isn't due until you leave so they are sitting on all our money for many many months before they have to pass it on.

It's supposed to be in respect of climate change blahblah blah but I don't know of a single penny that has been ploughed back into solving climate change or even back into the airline business. Probably goes towards clearing your local MP's moat each year.

Incidentally I can remember paying departure tax from India many years ago. Think it was about 500 rupees but it's all rolled up in the price now

We paid a departure tax as well the first few times we went to Goa, I had forgotten about that.

just spoke to thomsons,we have booked flight only with them and all paid up at time of booking,have been assured that there will be no further charges,even got the girl to re-check and she came back with the same answer

just got an e mail from thomsons
Dear Customer,

There has been a great deal of press over the weekend regarding rises in Air Passenger Duty (APD) affecting holiday prices.

We would like to reassure you that we are not increasing our prices as a consequence, so you can rest assured that we will still be sending you great value offers with savings across early and late bookings.

hope that it reasures some off you
Pat

just got an e mail from thomsons
Dear Customer,

There has been a great deal of press over the weekend regarding rises in Air Passenger Duty (APD) affecting holiday prices.

We would like to reassure you that we are not increasing our prices as a consequence, so you can rest assured that we will still be sending you great value offers with savings across early and late bookings.

hope that it reasures some off you
Pat :sun2

They make it sound like they are absorbing the cost, I wonder if they are or have they already charged it !!!!

Don't be fooled by Thompson pretending to do us a favour by not adding the tax in. I have a holiday booked with them to Orlando for next year having just spoken to my travel agent I will not have to pay the added tax because guess what? they have know about the increase for over 12 months now and holidays after booked for 31st October 2010 already include the extra charge so I have already paid it!! Sneaky

I booked 3 weeks ago with Thomsons flight only and just looked at the website and the flight price has dropped £200 !!!

why did i look

Sickening though it is, it's best not to look as you suggested Jane.
I particularly dislike folk who go out of their way to tell you what a brilliant deal they have got when you arrive at the holiday destination. Fair enough on a web site like this, it gives others the chance to take advantage, but poolside they are just being smart ar****. I usually tell them they have been robbed as my deal was better.
I always think you should be happy with the price you paid as you were happy then so why not now.
After all, prices might have gone up or there might be no availabilty. You pays your money and you takes your chance as they say !

yep dave you are right!!

i wil just keep thinking of 3 weeks bliss in March !!