ble

There has been a departure tax when leaving NZ for years.
Can't remember if it is $20 or $25 for an adult.

I can remember lining up as a kid going on holiday to Australia, and Mum and Dad needing to find the extra $$$ for that tax.


Lots of agents across here automatically pay it for you when you book your ticket now, but I always have to remind our overseas visitors to make sure that they have remembered about it before they depart.

drrobert

Yep, every country has airline taxes, it's just the UK one has risen substantially. I wonder how long before travel agents find ways to book flights to e.g. Dubai first (attracting a lower departure tax), then book separate flights from Dubai to Aus or NZ. Effectively, Heathrow will stop being a 'hub' for international flights.

The NZ departure tax is $25. Usually, this is included in ticket prices, but from Wellington (for some reason I can't fathom), the ticket prices don't include the tax, so you have to pay it at the airport. A minor inconvenience, but quite unnecessary. There must be some historical reason why Wellington Airport does this but Auckland and ChCh don't.

Margaret Parkinson

When we first went to visit family 4 years ago we had to pay the departure tax at Auckland Airport we did this on 2 occasions I think.

Our travel agent has booked out trip in January in 3 stages. We are flying Manchester - Heathrow Economy then Heathrow - Sydney Premium Economy followed by Sidney - Auckland Economy again.

We will of course not see our luggage until we reach Auckland. It would be interesting to know how that would work out tax wise.

I tried to look at this myself but it would not let me do it in 3 stages the way Travel Agent had done.

The only way I could have done it was to book the Sydney to Auckland flight was to go on the Australian site which I did and the whole trip came out a lot more expensive.

I am glad we paid in full as well.

Thats another thing when we book our return trip from Tauranga to Auckland I go on the site as if I am in NZ and its a lot cheaper. They don't know I am sat in the UK do they.

June

louloumama

We recently booked flights for Jan (paid in full) but were given the impression that airlines have known about this rise for some time and have already included it in their prices for departures after the said date..... it is just that the average person on the street has taken a while to cotton on !!!!!

( mind you at the mo, I never know what or who to believe !!!)

Margaret Parkinson

Well I will soon find out about that my son booked to go to visit the family in July next year and the Travel Agent said he only needed to pay the deposit. I told him that we had always been told if we did not pay in full the fare could rise. He rang them and she said the only thing that could change was the tax. Watch this space.

June

mickey_d

It was big news 2 years ago!!! All over the news here

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10545097

Leither

An extra £45 on a trip to NZ? It's not really that significant is it?

I liked this quote from the artice:

He would not comment on whether Mr Brown had given any reassurance that the UK would address New Zealand's concern.


Like Gordon's first concern is how taxes in Britain affect New Zealand

Wooly_Cow

What a ridiculous fuss in New Zealand about another countries departure tax. The press here seem to think it’s some sort of deliberate move to scupper the number of tourists coming to see the Rugby World Cup. I’m pretty sure that the global economic crisis, the current balance of payments and God forbid the Carbon Tax, where slightly higher up the issues list for the UK government.

Instead of bleating about this maybe they should think about what damage the currently STUPIDLY high exchange rate is doing. The dollar is a good 15-20% higher than the median point. Assuming the average Rugger fan will spend about $7000 whilst staying here including the STUPIDLY inflated hotel rates (now there’s another far more valid reason people won’t come), this equates to over $1000 more due to the current strength of the Kiwi Peso!.....sort of puts the extra $62 departure tax into perspective!

Margaret Parkinson

Hear Hear. But for the fact that we go to visit family the exchange rate would put us off going.

June