How To Avoid The UK Air Passenger Duty (Airport Departure Tax)

Updated September 7, 2026

At the time of this writing, the U.K. is perhaps the country with the most expensive departure taxes. Having visited the U.K. many times, before the taxes got so high and after, I came up with 8 ways to avoid the UK Air Passenger Duty (Airport Departure Tax).

I’ve even written a book, Alternate Airports in the U.K. which gives you a list of all the commercial airports in the U.K. and how to get to them. This will help you in case you want to escape the departure taxes or get bumped. It also gives all the airlines which serve the airport. Get your copy here if you’ve not already done so.

History Of The UK Airport Departure Tax (APD)

Before I give you the 8 Ways, maybe I should start at the beginning…

Some years ago, the U.K. imposed what is called an Air Passenger Duty (APD) on all flights leaving the U.K. Most countries do have a departure tax as an added source of revenue from tourism, but the reason why the U.K.’s is a big deal is that its the most expensive of any country.

As a result many people I know don’t go to the U.K. since its usually about £ just to leave the country and return to the U.S. in Economy Class. If you travel in Business or First Class its higher at £274.39. Instead they transit within 24 hours as the taxes are lower or figure out another way to exit that does not involve an airplane since the APD is on flights only.

Now, this is not the only tax that is charged, but its the one that’s the highest from the U.K. Here is a list of the other taxes you pay unless your airline waives them for you (compliments of ITA Software):

United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers (XA)	£3.00
United States Customs User Fee (YC)	£5.50
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge Departures (UB)	£48.89
United States Immigration User Fee (XY)	£5.50
US International Arrival Tax (US)	£17.50
United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty APD (GB)	£194.00
Total Business/First Class Taxes	£274.39

 

United States APHIS Passenger Fee Passengers (XA)	£3.00
United States Customs User Fee (YC)	£5.50
United Kingdom Passenger Service Charge Departures (UB)	£48.89
United States Immigration User Fee (XY)	£5.50
US International Arrival Tax (US)	£17.50
United Kingdom Air Passenger Duty APD (GB)	£88.00
Total Economy Class Taxes	£168.39

 

It’s the same reason why people don’t want to visit the countries that have high visa costs such as China. As an aside, the UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) works very hard with countries to show them that having a departure tax at all decreases the number of tourists visiting. This is an ongoing task.

Now that you have a background you hopefully understand why some passriders want to avoid shelling out this extra money. There are several ways to avoid this tax, although some comes close to the £168.39 for Economy Class. I know that some airlines have been able to negotiate the same APD rate for the Economy and Business class, but you’ll want to check with your airline to make sure. Otherwise it will be £274.39 for Business/First Class.

Also, here is a list of departure taxes for select airports in Europe.

How Much Is UK Air Passenger Duty Right Now?

These are the Air Passenger Duty rates in force from April 1, 2026. The rate you pay depends on how far you are going and what class you are sitting in.

• Domestic (within the UK): £8 economy, £16 premium or business.
• Band A (Ireland, most of Europe, up to 2,000 miles): £15 economy, £32 premium or business.
• Band B (2,001 to 5,500 miles, which covers all of the USA): £102 economy, £244 premium or business.
• Band C (over 5,500 miles): £106 economy, £253 premium or business.

Private jets and very large seats sit in a higher band again, at £1,097 for Band B and £1,141 for Band C.

The bands are set by the distance from London to the destination country’s capital city, not to the airport you are flying to. That is why Boston, Los Angeles and Honolulu all sit in the same band.

It goes up again on April 1, 2027. Band B economy moves to £105.33 and Band B premium to £251.95. Band C economy moves to £109.46.

Two exemptions worth knowing: children under 16 do not pay APD in the lowest class of travel, and under-twos without their own seat are exempt entirely.

Rates verified against HMRC guidance, September 2026.

8 Ways To Avoid The UK Departure Taxes

Here goes:

1). Depart from Belfast, Northern Ireland (BFS)

You can fly from Belfast to another European city as the APD is lower for Europe travel, so that drastically reduces the total tax you pay. However, you may require a hotel night stay if you can’t make the tight connection on Ryanair (FR) or easyjet (UK) from London to another city in Europe.

 

There are no nonstop service to the U.S. anymore, so you’d have to be creative getting to say Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Geneva or Paris for example.

2). Depart from the Scottish Highlands and Islands

Ah, a good one. These areas are exempt from the APD, but they are remote so you first have to get there either by bus, rail or airplane, then fly to another country and then fly back home. A great experience that you would do so you experience a different part of the U.K. The airports in question are more than likely Inverness (INV) as from here you can depart the U.K. to say Amsterdam (AMS) or Bergen, Norway depending on the season.

3). Take a ferry

I once took a combination of the train and the ferry from Reading to London to a place called Holyhead where I picked up the Irish Ferry to Dublin (DUB). I could have then taken another train up to Belfast or a bus to Shannon (SNN). The good thing is that you can buy all this on one ticket online at the National Rail Web site:-).

If you buy the different tickets separately, it will cost a lot more. Its a fantastic journey that takes you to some part of the U.K. you’d perhaps never visit. The best parts were the journey through Wales seeing places I can’t pronounce as well as passing the train station with the longest name “Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch” and taking the Irish Ferry.

I did this one properly. Full trip report with the fare, the schedules, the check-in process and what is on board: London to Dublin by Train and Ferry. 

4). Take a bus

There are several bus services from the U.K. to other parts of Europe. I’ve taken IDBUS, now BlaBlaCar Bus to Paris and it worked well. It’s a long overnight journey, but very interesting as the bus goes through the Chunnel inside a train, which is just a cool experience. You can see my review here. I’ve taken these guy three times and love it. I actually just needed to get to Paris from London back in June of 2019 and it worked well. I did the overnight bus so avoided a hotel in Paris at least for that first night.

There are also additional bus services such as Eurolines or Flixbus and National Express which has services throughout Europe. Just check the schedules and ensure you don’t cut it too close. As an example the journey time from London to Frankfurt is about 16 hours and cost about 54 EUR on FlixBus and about the 20 on National Express.

Of course the price varies based on when you are traveling and the amount of time between when you buy the ticket and when you travel. Some of the booking sites will charge an online booking fee, so beware of that.

5). Share a ride

You can take the adventure a little further and share a car ride with perfect strangers through a service called BlaBlaCar. Get on the site say where you are starting, then where you are going and the date and voila, it shows you a list of people who are going your way.

You settle up with whatever is being requested for payment.

6). Take a train

This is perhaps the most expensive way, although in the ferry example above, it was combined with trains and was not too bad a cost. You can use the National Rail Web site, Rail Europe or Eurail to do your searches.

Well, you can’t really use Eurail since it does not cover the U.K. But you can use Deutsche Bahn. The trains are quicker; only 5.5 to 7.5 for London to Frankfurt, but you pay more so this will defeat the purpose you are trying to accomplish.

You may also take the Eurostar from Central London to Paris, then take a local train or bus to the airport in Roissy (CDG).

The train and the ferry are sold as one through ticket called Sail Rail, and London to Dublin runs about £53.40. See London to Dublin by Train and Ferry for how to book it and what the ticket does and does not allow.

7). Transit for less than 24 hours

When the APD started it did not affect you if you were doing weekend turns, since you were in the country less than 24 hours. But then they changed it so say if you return to your country of origin you still have to pay.

But you can continue onto another country and then the departure tax will be less since the transit tax is less and also the APD is done by distance.

So if you were flying back from say Amsterdam and transiting London, you would not pay as much.

8). Don’t go

Yeah, this one is crazy, but this is the option some of my friends have chosen. I don’t agree with is as you are really missing out on a great country, but I get where you are coming from.

So what are your creative ways of avoiding the U.K. APD? Leave a comment below and tell me.

UK Air Passenger Duty: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is UK Air Passenger Duty in 2026?

From April 1, 2026 it is £102 in economy and £244 in premium or business for Band B, which covers the whole of the USA. Band C is £106 and £253. Europe and Ireland are Band A at £15 and £32, and UK domestic flights are £8 and £16.

Can you legally avoid UK Air Passenger Duty?

Yes. APD is charged only on passengers departing a UK airport by air. It is not a tax on visiting Britain. Leave the UK by ferry, train, bus or car and no APD is due, and you can then fly from wherever you land.

Do you pay Air Passenger Duty on a ferry or a train out of the UK?

No. A sea crossing or a rail journey out of the UK is not a chargeable departure, so no APD applies. That is why the Holyhead to Dublin ferry and the Eurostar are both APD-free ways out of the country.

Is Air Passenger Duty refundable if you do not fly?

Generally yes. APD is a government tax collected by the airline on your behalf, so if you never take the flight the tax was never owed. Most airlines will refund it even on a non-refundable fare, though they usually charge an administration fee to process it.

Do children pay Air Passenger Duty?

No, not in economy. Children under 16 are exempt from APD in the lowest class of travel on the aircraft, and children under two travelling without their own seat are exempt entirely. Children in premium cabins do pay.

Which UK airports do not charge Air Passenger Duty?

Nonstop long-haul flights departing airports in Northern Ireland, including Belfast, are set at a zero rate. Flights departing airports in the Scottish Highlands and Islands are also exempt. Note that short-haul flights out of Northern Ireland still pay the standard UK rates, so the Belfast route only helps on a nonstop long-haul departure.

Does connecting through a UK airport trigger Air Passenger Duty?

Usually not. A genuine connection through the UK is not treated as a chargeable UK departure, provided the flights count as connected under HMRC’s rules and your layover falls inside the connection window. If you break the journey and stay, the onward flight becomes liable.

Is it cheaper to fly out of Dublin than out of London?

On tax, always. Ireland’s own air travel tax has been set at zero since April 2014, so there is no Irish equivalent of APD to pay. On a Band B long-haul ticket that is £102 per adult in economy, or £244 up front, that simply is not charged. Dublin also has US preclearance, so you clear US immigration before you board.

What is the cheapest way to leave the UK without paying the departure tax?

A Sail Rail through ticket from London to Dublin, which runs about £53.40 and covers the train to Holyhead and the ferry across the Irish Sea on one fare. That is less than the APD you avoid on a single long-haul ticket. See the full trip report for how it works.

Do award tickets and airline staff tickets pay Air Passenger Duty?

Yes. APD is charged on the passenger, not on the fare, so it is collected on award redemptions and on ZED and ID90 staff tickets departing the UK just like any other ticket. A “free” flight out of Heathrow is not free.