Thomas Cook it to your next holiday
Photo by Tony Scruton
In a similar move to Virgin's 'tax-free' flights offer to the Cancun, Thomas Cook will be running a three-week offer to cover the cost of Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax themselves on all long-haul packages. The promotion applies to all long-haul packages booked between 24 August and 13 September for holidays departing between 1 November this year and 31 October, 2013.
Thomas Cook and Virgin Atlantic are just two of a host of tour operators and airlines who have joined forces on a campaign for A Fair Tax on Flying. The campaign hopes the government will reconsider the level of APD - or at the very least, withdraw any plans for future increases. The government increased the amount of APD by 8% earlier this year and plan further increases next year. At the moment, a family of four travelling within Europe are required to pay £52 in tax and would be expected to pay a much higher amount (Florida for a family of four would be £268 in tax at this year's rate of APD) for travels further afield.
Sunning it up in Key Largo
Photo via gotoflorida. Thomas Cook fly to a range of destinations from including Turkey, Greece, the Caribbean and the USA too! Find a full list of destinations on www.thomascook.com. All you have to do then is choose where... And if you're looking for a great deal car hire to help you get more out of your holiday, CarJet has fantastic deals on car hire worldwide including popular destinations such as Florida.
Speaking about the promotion, Thomas Cook said: "We’re committed to offering our customers the very best value for money and strenuously voice our disappointment to the Government about the increases to flight tax". The spokesperson added that "The Government has steadfastly refused to listen to any of the arguments that the travel industry has presented on this tax and it is a great shame that at a time when they could – and should – be doing all they can to lessen the strain on hard working families, they are yet again making the consumer pay."
And just as Virgin Atlantic asked their passengers to support the campaign, Thomas Cook will also be suggesting customers email their MP through the website.