Showing boarding cards at the shops has never been about a security issue and is entirely to do with VAT regulations. Shops are supposed to be able to show that the items purchased are not entering the UK. The scanning of boarding cards allows the airports to demonstrate the final destination of the buyer (based on the ticket) and also allows them to correctly deal with sales made to people who are simply working in the airport.
As for duty free shops selling stuff "duty free", their correct title should be "Duty free, assuming that the purchaser meets the criteria under the regulations but dont worry we make enough money on the ones which are duty free for us to foot the bill on the ones where duty is payable....as deternmined by your boarding pass scan"
------------- It'll work out in the end!!!!
I didn't do it !! Nobody saw me do it !! You can't prove anything !!
I heard this article on the radio the other day, and thought what a piece of none sense.
If the shop is in mainland UK, then all goods sold should attract VAT where applicable, even if the shop is in an airport.
Anyway that aside I appreciate the reasons, due to purchased goods going outside of Europe, but it's still plain silly, pun intended!
If the retailers have to comply to only charging VAT on goods sold to folk staying within the EEC, then in this modern age, there is no reason why the boarding pass can't have a bar code on it, that would adjust the price according at the point of sale, how hard can it be.
At the moment it would appear that the retailers are keeping the VAT to themselves, which is of course a scam.
I have no idea about the vat side of things, but at the airside restaurant I used to work at we recorded flight numbers so airport retail could figure out which flights spent the most money and that type of thing, they are pretty hot on reporting of them hour by hour sales etc.
My company simply didn't have the technology to record anything other than the flight number, as far as I am aware we only did this as the airport required it as part of our contract with them.
VAT and travel is a very complicated subject and never as straightforward as it could be, don't charge for travel in EEC, charge for UK, some items exempt, some items available from the bond...PITA in my opinion.
Maybe silly question
Why don't we have to show any personal details on the ferry or at the Chanel tunnel terminal surely if it's for vat reasons all companies can do this
------------- April Peak District Beech Croft Farm
May Peak District Duke of York
May Holland Delfse Hout
June Cotton Arms Nantwich
july/aug Cornwall Pentewan Sands
And quite a few local weekenders
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Showing boarding cards at airport shops p
