Quick Points: Here’s why you shouldn’t end your European trip in the UK
Editor's Note
Let's assume you're planning a trip to Europe and want to include a visit to the United Kingdom. Should you plan to visit London at the start, in the middle or at the end of your trip? Does it even matter?
Well, you could save hundreds of dollars if you strategically plan the order of stops.
Suppose you want to visit five of the most popular cities in Europe. Here are the taxes and fees you'd need to pay on a United Airlines business-class award ticket departing from the following airports to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR):
- Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN): $40
- Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci Airport (FCO): $61
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS): $85
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG): $143
- London's Heathrow Airport (LHR): $325
As you can see, flying out of the U.K. is significantly more expensive than departing from the other countries on the list — its taxes and fees are more than double those of any other country. The U.K. has the highest departure taxes of any country in the world.
This is because of the U.K.'s Air Passenger Duty, or APD, which varies based on two factors:
- The length of your flight
- The class of service
For example, a flight from the U.K. to Spain would result in a lower APD than one from the U.K. to South America. Similarly, a first-class award ticket has a much higher APD than an economy ticket on the same flight.
Currently, the APD in premium cabins is 13 British pounds (about $17) for short-haul flights and 200 pounds (about $255) for long-haul flights. This tax will increase starting in April, when the APD on premium-cabin tickets for the 2024-25 financial year will be 14 pounds (about $18) for short-haul flights and 202 pounds (about $259) for long-haul flights.
This tax will increase again in April 2025 for the 2025-26 financial year to 16 pounds (about $21) for short-haul flights and 224 pounds (about $287) for long-haul flights, a 12% increase on long-haul flights and a 23% increase on short-haul flights from current amounts.
Related: Flying from the UK is about to get even more expensive for premium-cabin passengers
The APD doesn't apply to connections of less than 24 hours through the U.K. when traveling on a single ticket. That means you wouldn't have to pay the tax on an award ticket from Vienna, Austria, to New York with a three-hour layover in London.
The European countries charging the highest taxes include the U.K., Germany, France, the Netherlands and Italy. Conversely, flying out of countries like Ireland, Spain, Greece, Turkey and Portugal is cheaper.
Note that these taxes are only imposed on flights that depart from these countries; inbound flights from the U.S. to the U.K. aren't subject to APD.
Finally, it's worth noting that two of the U.K.'s largest airlines — British Airways and Virgin Atlantic — impose notoriously high carrier-imposed surcharges on their flights in addition to the APD. As a result, award flights on these carriers (even if only connecting through London) will still have high out-of-pocket costs. British Airways now allows you to pay more Avios in exchange for reducing the surcharges required.
So when planning your next trip to Europe, visit the countries with the highest taxes first or in the middle of your trip. Finish your vacation in one of the cheaper countries. That way, you can save your dollars for more espressos, croissants and sangria.
Read more: The complete guide to flying to London on points and miles
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees