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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think we need to increase taxes on flights. If you fly more you pay more.

435 replies

ThereWillBeAdequateFood · 30/12/2019 09:18

Just that really. I think something like 70% of all flights are taken by 30% of people.

I think we need to move to a system where the tax increases the more you fly. Something like (per year)

10% tax for the first 1000 miles
20% tax for the next 1000 miles
30% tax for the next 1000 miles
40% tax for the next 1000 miles (etc).

AIBU? Should we tax flights more?

OP posts:
soembarrassing19 · 30/12/2019 11:43

@Binkybix I get what you're saying but I need my holidays. I look forward to them. They help with my mental health and our family time.

Don't say holiday in this country. We tried that last year it was shit.

Lake District at Easter-rained
Leisure park may-rained
Camping in Cornwall in August-had to come home early due to a storm
City break October-rained!

Completely miserable it was.

SachaStark · 30/12/2019 11:45

Well, of course there was a storm in Cornwall in August. You elected to holiday here in one of our rainiest months, that’s fairly well known!

You’d have a lovely holiday here if you came in spring or early summer. Don’t come in the rainy season!

Sushiroller · 30/12/2019 11:45

Okay I'll play.

1000 miles is an odd choice as NYC return to London in 7000.

I have to fly for work. my first holiday will be in september by that point in time my first "1000" personal miles will probably be 101,000 total miles as I will have clocked up about 100,000 on work trips. (To illustrate I did 20,000 in December alone).

How does the tax work then?
Why should people who have to travel for work pay additional tax because of their employers actions/decisions???

Hollyhead · 30/12/2019 11:46

@ohprettybaby yes I know that’s why I said it depends how much town driving you do - churning out nitrous oxide in a city is a bad idea but clean diesels are still a good option for rural dwellers travelling long distances and not stuck in traffic (which is when the worst pollution is emitted).

soembarrassing19 · 30/12/2019 11:47

I'm not holidaying when it's cold. I want sun and relaxation.

Cornwall is beautiful. Perranporth is one of my favourites places but I don't want to spend my holiday walking around I want to sit on the beach or around a pool. You have to go in school holidays now whixh is even more crap.

Original poster
ThereWillBeAdequateFood · 30/12/2019 11:50

And this is the problem. Humans almost have to die out to save the planet. The planet is of infinitesimal importance compared to humans

So taxing flights more is wrong but the human race dying out is fine. (To be fair the planet would do more than fine without humans).

OP posts:
SachaStark · 30/12/2019 11:50

You wouldn’t be holidaying here when it’s cold if you came in the spring or early summer, that’s when it’s hottest here! We have had fantastic sun the last few years through May and June, you could have spent half term here. If you don’t research how to properly holiday in the UK, then what do you expect?

Binkybix · 30/12/2019 11:51

I get what you're saying but I need my holidays. I look forward to them. They help with my mental health and our family time

Me too. I try to have one a year and limit flights beyond that. I had two short haul this year for which I feel bad. You could see your sister if she came to you and have a separate holiday.

It’s not really hair shirt, and the consequences if we don’t do this will likely be worse for mental health than one less holiday a year.

I’m not optimistic we will do it though, and think the only real way will be technological leaps.

nakedavengeragain · 30/12/2019 11:52

@ThereWillBeAdequateFood tax all you like but my point is it doesn't change behaviour and flights are a drop in the ocean compared to population increase.

Oblomov20 · 30/12/2019 11:53

Op :

"70% of all flights are taken by 30% of people."

Is that true? Then flights isn't the main cause of global warming.

Or is one of the lower tier things affecting it, by only a few people?

Do businesses need to send people over to the states for business meetings? Can't they just Skype?

I've yet to see a comprehensive study which shows what % of the problem each sector is.

Yes, going vegan helps. But is it that 'material'?

Isn't the main culprit industry, businesses, industries producing heat and light? Other countries on the other side of the world? China etc?

I think the focus is all wrong. And Greta couldn't even get the latest European meeting to agree targets, could she? Bless her.

soembarrassing19 · 30/12/2019 11:53

@SachaStark I have done thank you. My parents went down every summer. May half term in Britain is something you cannot take a gamble on. And the other problem is the tourist attractions are ridiculously expensive.

Next May I'm going to Italy. We have a caravan holiday with flights. It's Cost 2/3 of the price of a haven holiday in Cornwall and I get a discount at that.

chopc · 30/12/2019 11:54

Most people who would agree probably don't fly much because they can't afford to or are so rich that any extra won't affect them. As with all taxes, the people this affects are high earners who are not necessarily rich eg lives off their monthly salary as opposed to having so much money that working is a choice

helpneedshoes · 30/12/2019 11:55

The trouble with tackling climate change is similar to the argument regarding who pays higher taxes. Everyone agrees something needs to be done but it's up to someone else to pay more.

Juliette20 · 30/12/2019 11:55

Don't say holiday in this country. We tried that last year it was shit

You can get a train to Europe. Much lower emissions.

FishCanFly · 30/12/2019 11:55

Yeah. Money will surely fix the climate.

Lippy1234 · 30/12/2019 11:55

I’m fortunate to go on 4 holidays abroad each year, I’d still go if prices went up.

Confrontayshunme · 30/12/2019 11:57

I fly to see my family who are unable to fly here. It is already 30% more in school holidays for my daughters to see half their grandparents. We definitely would have to stop if they were taxed at 40%, but it would do nothing to curb people who make two-three times the money we do (like my BIL and SIL who go to Australia or Europe for holidays and work every month).

helpneedshoes · 30/12/2019 11:57

There is an argument to be made re the burden of paying extra taxes for more flights will fall on the middle classes as it will be pocket change to the rich however I know some people who fly every 6 weeks & they could pay more.

nakedavengeragain · 30/12/2019 11:57

Just realised I used the wrong bloody word to mean very important. When I said the planet was of infinitesimal importance over humans I meant it was very important... not tiny. I've literally used an antonym...Blush

Oblomov20 · 30/12/2019 11:57

Is flying to .... Corfu/Crete/BenidormWink for an annual holiday the main culprit?
Me thinks not.

Binkybix · 30/12/2019 11:57

Most people who would agree probably don't fly much because they can't afford to or are so rich that any extra won't affect them

I could afford to fly more than I do and love holidays. I don’t because of the environmental impact. I am exactly in the middle you describe and I would support it.

Oblomov20 · 30/12/2019 11:58

Train to Europe is so incredibly expensive and time consuming, that it's not attractive to most.

Binkybix · 30/12/2019 11:59

Is flying to .... Corfu/Crete/Benidormwink for an annual holiday the main culprit?
Me thinks not

Which is exactly why this sort of system would not penalise that.

Binkybix · 30/12/2019 11:59

FFS why can’t I hold anymore?

Notenoughbookshelves · 30/12/2019 11:59

I think we should all have an air miles limit and private jets banned.Every single one of us, even the rich and businesses. Those that want more than their allocation could then buy them off others if they can. Businesses would go more towards working from home or measures to stop staff flying round the world.The rich would be limited to a certain extent.The rich are the worse re air miles.