Do you pay reduced air passenger tax going through Amsterdam on a through flightfrom the UK to the Far East ?

Apparentaly so, the Dutch Govt scrapped plans to increase long haul duties so if you fly from the UK up to 2000 miles, basically out of Europe the tax is 12 gbp. Not sure what the tax charged my the Dutch but it will be less than the UK so if you are not doing a direct flight this might be a good stopover. Amazingly the UK did not see on the horizon, I will be interested next year to see if it comes up on options offered to me.

Apparentaly so, the Dutch Govt scrapped plans to increase long haul duties so if you fly from the UK up to 2000 miles, basically out of Europe the tax is 12 gbp. Not sure what the tax charged my the Dutch but it will be less than the UK so if you are not doing a direct flight this might be a good stopover. Amazingly the UK did not see on the horizon, I will be interested next year to see if it comes up on options offered to me.

But surely it costs more to get from anywhere in UK to Amsterdam than the 12 GBP you would save???

Apparentaly so, the Dutch Govt scrapped plans to increase long haul duties so if you fly from the UK up to 2000 miles, basically out of Europe the tax is 12 gbp. Not sure what the tax charged my the Dutch but it will be less than the UK so if you are not doing a direct flight this might be a good stopover. Amazingly the UK did not see on the horizon, I will be interested next year to see if it comes up on options offered to me.

But surely it costs more to get from anywhere in UK to Amsterdam than the 12 GBP you would save???

The tax from AMS is £12. From London it's in the hundreds. If you fly to AMS and connect, it can be cheaper. Just limits your choice of airline. Means you could fly from London City as well. LCY and AMS combined is less stressful than LHR..

It's a bit of a double edged sword, yes the Dutch have dropped their tax, it was apparently affecting their business, but I have often found that flights from Amsterdam to Thailand are slightly more expensive effectively wiping out any savings.

They are not always more expensive, you need to research the available deals, indeed friends of mine recently flew via Amsterdam stopping over as part of the holiday for about the same price.

If you do fly via Amsterdam make sure that it's a totally different ticket otherwise you are still liable for the full APD from the UK.

Edited November 9, 201015 yr by theoldgit

I think the UK Air Passenger Duty for a R/T ticket between LHR and BKK is 75 GBP, and the Passenger service charge is 22.97 GBP.

from a sample itin today:

Tax: United Kingdom Air Passengers Duty £75.00

Tax: United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge £22.97

Note that all other aiports have passenger service charges, (example: BKK - 700 THB)

For AMS-BKK you're looking at:

ax: The Netherlands Passenger Service Charge €14.59

Tax: The Netherlands Noise Isolation Charge €2.00

Tax: The Netherlands Security Service Charge €12.94

So you can do the math(s).

^^^^

Of course for those who choose to fly in premium cabins, including premium economy, the APD is doubled.

^^^^

Of course for those who choose to fly in premium cabins, including premium economy, the APD is doubled.

Correct: 150 GBP in business class or higher (not sure who offers PE on this route). Arguably the +75 GBP is not that much of a concern given the overall cost? I assumed anyone interested in avoiding the APD by traveling over-land/water to AMS would probably not be flying in J/P.

Apparentaly so, the Dutch Govt scrapped plans to increase long haul duties so if you fly from the UK up to 2000 miles, basically out of Europe the tax is 12 gbp. Not sure what the tax charged my the Dutch but it will be less than the UK so if you are not doing a direct flight this might be a good stopover. Amazingly the UK did not see on the horizon, I will be interested next year to see if it comes up on options offered to me.

But surely it costs more to get from anywhere in UK to Amsterdam than the 12 GBP you would save???

Eurolines bus costs £25 one way. I'm giving this serious consideration for future trips probably with a night stopover in Amsterdam each way. Yeah I like this city!

Thank you lomatopo for your good work & calculations .

I think that succintly puts KLM back in the game for next year's flights.

Thank you lomatopo for your good work & calculations .

I think that succintly puts KLM back in the game for next year's flights.

That's fine but do note:

- you'll have to travel over-land/water to AMS, or

- fly on a separate ticket, UK-AMS, APD is 12 GBP, PSC is 22.97 GBP

If you buy one ticket LHR-AMS-BKK, on say KLM then you will still get hit with the 75 GBP APD tax.

Probably best to look at the "all-in" prices (base fare + all taxes, fees and surcharges + local transpo., hotels etc.) before making a decision.

Apparentaly so, the Dutch Govt scrapped plans to increase long haul duties so if you fly from the UK up to 2000 miles, basically out of Europe the tax is 12 gbp. Not sure what the tax charged my the Dutch but it will be less than the UK so if you are not doing a direct flight this might be a good stopover. Amazingly the UK did not see on the horizon, I will be interested next year to see if it comes up on options offered to me.

But surely it costs more to get from anywhere in UK to Amsterdam than the 12 GBP you would save???

The 12gbp is the tax the UK levies for flights upto 2000 miles, it jumps up dramatically if you go further, I think 6000 miles is 80gbp

Thank you lomatopo for your good work & calculations .

I think that succintly puts KLM back in the game for next year's flights.

China Airlines codeshare with them and have cheap business class...

KLM are charging around 1400 rtrn economy for beginning December. This is from Norwich with stopover at Schipol. Does anyone else fly out of Amsterdam?

As tw25rw commented China Airlines,as code share with KL.

Eva Air also ,but they reluctant to offer a UK ADD on