Gordon Brown, the man who has forgotten that he is a Fifer, last week doubled the air passenger duty as an "environmental" measure. Maybe I am just thick, but I just don't see how this will help save the planet. It is just yet another not so stealthy task, so that he does not have to raise income tax, which he knows is a vote loser. Using the environment as an excuse at this point in time is an easy option, as so many people are falling for the climate change hoodwinking.
Doubling the rate of tax on flights is not going to help the environment, because he has set it at a level where it is not quite enough to put many people off flying, although there will no doubt be some people who stretched themselves before who will be unable to fly as much now. So, we may end up with the crazy situation of planes flying with less passengers, therefore making them less fuel-efficient (passengers carried per gallon of fuel). Unless the money from APD is ring-fenced for some new trees or cleaning up rivers (aye right) then I will just not swallow the line that this is for the environment.
From a personal point of view, this APD thing stinks because he has based it on when you fly, and not when you booked. I have had flights booked to fly to the US for seven months now, yet I will have to pay this tax. The airlines are currently saying that this situation could mean that people who have pre-booked like me will have to pay the extra tax when we arrive at the airport, and since check-in staff cannot accept money, then we will have to pay by credit card at the check-in desk (£160 in my case, bollox). What on earth is that going to do to the already nightmarish British airport queues and experience? You couldn't make it up!!
