user: Problem: You don't have to show your boarding card in UK airport shops

LONDON — You know all those times you showed your boarding card so you could buy some crisps or a magazine at the airport? You didn't need to. And it turns out some retailers have been using your info to claim VAT relief without passing on the savings.

Travellers are up in the arms this week at the news that shops have been making people show their boarding passes so they can determine which passengers are flying to non-EU countries and avoid paying 20% VAT on the purchases.

Stores can claim back the money on certain items when customers are travelling outside the EU, but many charge the same price for the products as they do on the high street, and keep the difference they're refunded. Big retailers, including Boots, WH Smith and Dixons were found to be among those not sharing the love with their customers.

The UK's Treasury minister, David Gauke, joined the chorus of outrage at the revelations, saying that "VAT relief at airports is intended to reduce prices for travellers not as a windfall gain for shops.”

The UK's favourite penny pinching sage, Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis, meanwhile, urged passengers to refuse to show their boarding passes. Speaking to BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine, he said:

“What we need to do, if we want to get them to change their policy, is quite simple: Those of you who are going away this summer outside the EU, when they ask for your boarding pass, say, ‘No, sorry, I’m not going to give it to you: It only gives you a reduction. Unless you pass that on to me I’m not going to give it to you. Please tell your bosses.’”

Travellers across the country have heeded his call to arms and are telling cashiers where they can stick their boarding cards.

I had no idea airport shops needed our boarding card just so they can save money! I'll be saying no in the future. #sayno

— Christopher Abbott (@bcabbott) August 12, 2015

I’m certainly not showing my boarding pass to airport retailers. What message must this send to tourists? Rip-off Britain?

— Chris Bryant MP (@RhonddaBryant) August 12, 2015

Well I'm never showing my #boardingcard again to buy in shops.

— Chris Beck (@cwbeck) August 12, 2015

I'm desperate to shop in an airport so I don't have to give them my boarding card.

— scot crane (@scotboss) August 12, 2015

@HeathrowAirport I'm not showing my boarding card any more. Cheeky gits.

— jason_a69 (@jason_a69) August 12, 2015

@WHSmith passing through Heathrow next week. Here's my boarding card! #boarding #heathrow pic.twitter.com/MenpiBZcvF

— Adrian Flude (@adrianflude) August 12, 2015

@TwopTwips STICK it to the man by refusing to show your boarding card when buying the Guardian in WH Smiiths at Heathrow.

— Chuck B (@CBellUK) August 12, 2015

I'll be at the airport this Monday and I'm going to enjoy my small subversive moment of refusing to show my boarding card in the shops!!

— Dr Fiona Whelan (@FionaEWhelan) August 12, 2015

Not everyone found their subversive ways were appreciated though.

Airport shops have refused to serve me unless boarding card was shown.. One told me it was for 'security reasons'

— Shannon Kyle (@ShannonDotKyle) August 12, 2015

Boots have since said they don't require people to show their boarding cards.

@RobLaneBooks Showing a boarding card is not compulsory and any of our customers that do not wish to share this information 1/2

— Boots Help (@BootsHelp) August 12, 2015

@RobLaneBooks can shop with us without the boarding card being scanned. Thanks, Helen 2/2

— Boots Help (@BootsHelp) August 12, 2015

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Write a one or two sentence summary.

Summary: UK air passengers have started staging a quiet rebellion against showing their boarding passes in airport shops.


Problem: Joseph Addai Topics Page

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Summary:

assistant: Collection of all USATODAY.com coverage of Joseph Addai., including articles, videos, photos, and quotes.