Airport Passenger Duty

Have any of you (in the UK) booked and paid for flights recently - then, if you are flying after 1st February, you can expect a letter like this ....

Dear Flybe Customer,

Your Booking reference: ********

As you may have heard in the news over the past few weeks, the Chancellor announced Airport Passenger Duty (APD) for short haul flights has increased 100% from £5 to £10 for each departing passenger per flight. The UK Government is responsible for implementing and collecting APD tax. Flybe, along with other airlines, has lobbied strongly against this increase, but sadly to no avail. We are particularly disappointed that it is being applied to customers who already booked their flight prior to the Chancellor's announcement coming into effect on 11th December and are flying from the 1st of February onwards.

Regrettably, this means you are required to pay the additional APD.
Your additional APD Payment MUST be made no later than 7 days prior to your departure.

Quite frankly I do not see how they can legally charge customers for flights already paid for. Can't you just see it, if this was applied to all businesses, --

Dear Customer,

the groceries you purchased a month ago are going to cost you an extra £10 !!!!!!!

Never mind Nigerian Scams we now have The Westminster Scam.

Update via: chillzero - see The Daily Telegraph