One of the highlights of the airport is getting your hands on some bargains from the duty-free shop.
Many travellers stock up on an array of perfumes, sunglasses, alcohol and other goods from the airport-only store as they set to kick their holiday off to a good start. The shop has been a ray of sunshine in the clouds of airport chaos recently as airlines across the country have been plagued with issues around security and check-in delays, passengers queuing outside the departures building and hundreds of flights cancelled or delayed.
However, as disgruntled passengers at Bristol recently found out, if your flight is cancelled there is a little known consequence for users of duty-free. When passengers have their flights cancelled they must return their d uty-free purchases before leaving the airport.
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A spokesperson for Bristol Airport said: "Returning duty-free is normal procedure for a cancelled flight. Customers can purchase duty-free (and receive the duty-free discounted prices) [but] this allowance is only eligible for customers who are departing from the UK.
"When flights are cancelled, the customer is not leaving the UK, so it is a customs requirement that all duty-free purchases are returned, and a full refund provided. This is an HM Customs requirement."
A spokesperson from Liverpool John Lennon airport confirmed that it happens all over the country. They said it also happens in Liverpool as they added: "If you don’t leave the country because your flight is cancelled you have to return any duty-free purchases, receiving a full refund, because there are tax implications. It's standard practice and has been taking place for many years."
Travellers from Bristol airport took to Twitter to share their annoyance at having salt rubbed in their wounds. One user wrote: "#bristolairport finally opened roof vents & limited wifi. Appalling organisation. Easyjet just cancelled 2 more flights & expect anyone with #dutyfree to return it before they leave. Seriously!"
Bren said: "One of the airports announcements said 'Flight 2123 your flight has been cancelled please return all your duty-free items for a full refund'. No shame."
Meanwhile, Connor said: "They cancelled our flight going out. Even made us return our duty-free from the airport in Bristol. Utter scum."
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