That's according to an Ipsos MORI poll commissioned by the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA).
The online poll asked 1,000 adults to imagine they were travelling to Australia from a regional airport such as Birmingham, Manchester or Edinburgh, with the journey involving a transfer at a big international hub.
They were advised that they would pay £85 less in air passenger tax by transferring via Amsterdam rather than Heathrow, but that all other factors, such as journey time, would remain the same.
The survey found 76% of respondents would prefer to fly via Amsterdam, with just 9% preferring Heathrow and the remainder having no preference.
Furthermore, of the 856 who expressed a preference, 90% opted for Amsterdam and 10% for Heathrow.
'The results of our poll are extremely worrying,' said Jim McAuslan, BALPA general secretary.
'At a time when the worldwide aviation industry is suffering the UK Chancellor is going to suffocate his very own industry.
‘This could only be dreamt up in the UK; the Dutch have recently scrapped their tax on passenger flights to try to attract more business from neighbouring countries and good old Britain is happy to oblige. This is economic madness.'
From November, APD will be charged under a four-band system, depending on the length of flight and class of travel, ranging from £11-£110.
According to BALPA, this means that a family of four travelling economy class to Disneyland in Florida for half term week 2011 will pay £240 in taxes; to the Caribbean for Christmas 2010 £300; or to Australia that Christmas £340.
McAuslan added: ‘The increases in APD will hurt hard working families who have toiled for a holiday and it will hurt them irrespective of their income. This flat rate regressive tax is a poll tax of the skies.
‘It will hit our airlines who have to pay their way and unlike other forms of transport don't draw on any public funds.
'And it will hurt British jobs and the staff who are already facing a very difficult time. This is a blow for the UK's economy when it needs a boost.'
BALPA is calling on all parts of the industry to work together to draw the public's attention to this ‘stealth tax’ and to persuade the Government to scrap the planned increases due in November.
See also:
APD reform ‘will not happen’ (12/05/2009)
APD and visa costs deter inbound visitors (24/04/2009)
Operators warn APD will hurt Caribbean tourism (23/04/2009)
ELFAA urges APD action (20/04/2009)
Big two wade into APD debate (25/11/2008)