UK holidaymakers could be due a staggering £44.7 million in refunds for Air Passenger Duty (APD), new research suggests. The study indicates that approximately one in 10 Brits may be eligible, yet over three-quarters are oblivious to the potential refund.

The data is courtesy of Go. Compare, which surveyed Brits about their travel experiences in the past year to determine how many might be owed a refund.

This figure was then multiplied by the average APD paid per passenger to reveal the potential sum flyers could claim.

APD, occasionally dubbed airport tax, is an excise duty on flights departing from the UK, intended to generate revenue for the government and promote more eco-friendly transport alternatives. While airlines are obliged to pay this tax, it’s typically passed onto the customer within the ticket price.

However, this tax is only applicable once the traveller has flown, implying that anyone who purchased a ticket but didn’t travel should be able to reclaim the tax even on a non-refundable ticket, reports Bristol Live.

The insurance comparison website reveals that merely a third of Brits are aware of APD. Consequently, an estimated 3.6 million UK adults could be due a refund without their knowledge.

It’s now encouraging travellers to verify if they’re eligible to reclaim their money.

Holidaymakers who have faced travel disruptions might be in for a financial reprieve as they could get a refund on the Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax if they missed their flight and had to purchase another ticket, cancelled a non-refundable booking, or were unable to fly due to a cancellation. Depending on the destination and class of their original journey, eligible passengers could reclaim as much as £224 by reaching out to their airline with details of their trip.

Rhys Jones, the travel insurance guru at Go. Compare, commented: “Very few travellers know what Air Passenger Duty is and understand how it works. This means millions could be entitled to some money from their airline without even realising it. Your eligibility for the refund and how much you can claim depends on the circumstances of your trip, so you will need to check if you’re entitled to anything first. Keep in mind that you’ll likely only be refunded if you didn’t travel, so if you were placed on another flight as a result of a cancellation, for instance, you probably won’t be eligible, since you still flew.”

“But, if for example you missed your flight and had to buy another ticket for a later departure, you could claim back the tax on the original ticket, as you paid the APD twice but only flew once. Some airlines do impose a deadline and an admin fee to claim, which can mean it isn’t worthwhile for some trips, but not all of them do this, so it’s worth looking into for your journey.”

“You won’t be able to claim for any knock-on expenses as a result of an incomplete journey here either, that’s what your travel insurance is for. But, it’s a great way to take the sting out of a disappointing day at the airport.”

More information on how to claim an APD refund can be found on Go.Compare’s website.