Travel Tips

After months of speculation, the European Parliament and the Council have given the go ahead for passengers travelling by sea and inland waterways to be afforded similar rights as air and rail passengers.

The regulations are due to be published on 9 December 2010 and come into force at the end of 2012.

The new rights include:

• guarantee of reimbursement or rerouting in situations of cancellation or of delay at departure of more than 90 minutes;
• adequate assistance (such as snacks, meals, refreshments and, where necessary, accommodation up to three nights, with a financial coverage up to €80 per night) in situations of cancellation or delay at departure of more than 90 minutes;
• compensation, between 25% and 50% of the ticket price, in situations of delay in arrival or cancellation of journeys;
• non-discriminatory treatment and specific assistance free of charge for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility both at port terminals and on board ships, as well financial compensation for loss or damage of their mobility equipment;
• minimum rules on information for all passengers before and during their journey, as well as general information about their rights in terminals and on board ships;
• establishment by carriers and terminal operators of complaint handling mechanism available to passengers;
• establishment of independent national bodies for the enforcement of the regulation, through, where appropriate, the application of penalties.

If the recent snow has got you thinking about escaping the worst of the weather, or if you’re taking a domestic flight to visit family and friends this Christmas, here are some tips that will help you reduce the hassle of flying this festive season.

If you haven’t booked your flight yet, get on and do it. If you can avoid the busiest days – traditionally just before Christmas and 27 and 28 December, this will reduce your queuing times and the airport terminals will be less busy.

Whatever day you’re flying, expect queues and be prepared. Do as much as possible before you set off for the airport:

Check-in online

Most airlines allow you to check-in online by printing off your own boarding passes, or having your boarding pass sent to your mobile phone. Printing on your own boarding pass will save you queuing at the terminal – you only have to drop off your baggage, if you are travelling with checked-in luggage.

Travel with hand luggage only

Travelling with hand luggage only will help you breeze through the airport when you’re plane lands, no queuing at the baggage carousel wondering if your suitcase made it on the plane.

Arrive early

Because there’s going to be more people flying, you should expect to encounter queues at check-in and also passing through security. To ensure you have plenty of time, arrive early – not too early – but do allow extra time for queuing.

Hand luggage

Don’t forget the liquids in hand luggage rules – no liquids in containers larger than 100ml. If you are carrying presents in your hand luggage, carry them unwrapped as they could be subjected to checks at security.

Don’t carry party poppers, either in your hand luggage or checked-in luggage. These fun, seemingly harmless party accessories are actually explosive items and as such are banned from aircraft.

There are also restrictions on the carriage of Christmas crackers – so if you plan to carry some check with your airline and airport before travel.

Travelling to the airport

Plan your journey to the airport in advance allowing extra time – not only will the airports be busier at this time of year, so will the roads. For a list of route planners and further tips check here.

If you’re planning to travel by taxi, book it in advance; don’t wait until the morning of travel to book it.

Public transport timetables change over the festive period, sometimes a limited service is operated at weekends and bank holidays so check in advance.

Weather disruptions

Heavy snow is currently affecting the whole of the UK. If this continues over the Christmas period, there will likely be disruption to flights and transportation to the airports. Should your area be affected you should check with your airline in prior to travelling to the airport.

While the airport operators are responsible for the day-to-day running of the airports, ultimate responsibility for your flight rests with your airline so you should contact your airline for an up-to-date status of your flight. Check your airline’s website for details – you could try phoning, but lines are likely to be very busy. Alternatively, try twitter, many of the airlines, and airports, are on twitter – follow them and send them a direct message for up-to-date information.

Everyone like to buy new things for their holidays and we all have our favourite travel products, but have you ever stopped to think what items are regarded as ‘must haves’ for travel?

If you’re travelling through Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 this month you can see the winners of the 2010 Heathrow Travel Product Awards displayed in a newly installed giant suitcase.

The suitcase is the same size as Big Ben’s Great Bell, nearly 3 metres tall and over 2 metres wide – it can hold over 21,000 pairs of knickers, 10,000 bottles of sun cream (150ml) and 83,000 UK passports.

During October it will be home to the 12 winning travel products of 2010 including the Harrods Paddington Bear, an Apple MacBook Pro 15″ and a pair of Ray-Ban Black Suspended Lens sunglasses.

In its second year, the Heathrow Travel Product Awards launched to recognise the best UK travel items asked a panel of experts to shortlist 12 travel categories, which were then made available to the general public for voting via the Heathrow Travel Product Awards microsite.

Brian Woodhead, Retail Concessions Director at Heathrow, said: “The Heathrow Travel Product Awards were launched to showcase the many brands and products sold at the airport. It’s great to see what our passengers really value when they travel – and the luxuries and essentials they just can’t live without.

“We hope the awards will not only raise awareness of the offering at Heathrow – and the substantial savings that can be made – but also our commitment to making every journey better than the last one.”

If you can’t make it to Terminal 5 or want to know in advance of travelling, here’s the top 12 Travel Products of 2010

1. Top Travel Must-Have – Trunki Children’s Tipu Ladybird Case
2. Top Technology – Apple MacBook Pro 15″
3. Best Travel Entertainment – Nintendo DS – Brain Training game
4. Best Camera – Canon 500D
5. Best Handbag – Smythson Nancy Tote
6. Best Sunglasses – Ray-Ban Black Suspended Lens
7. Best Travel Beauty Product – Prevage anti-age serum
8. Best Men’s Fragrance – Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme
9. Best Women’s Fragrance – Marc Jacobs Lola Velvet EDP
10. Best Watch & Jewellery – Omega Speedmaster Professional
11. Top Travel Gift – Harrods Paddington Bear
12. Top Travel Read – ‘At Home’ by Bill Bryson

The cost of Air Passenger Duty (APD) is set to rise again on 1 November 2010.

This extremely unpopular tax on air travel was introduced in 1994 and currently generates in the region of £2 billion for the Government.

Two years’ ago, the tax had two rates: Reduced Rates (for economy seats) and Standard Rates (premium seats including business class) and was levied according to destination, European or the rest of the world. The reduced rate was £10 for European destinations and £40 for all other destinations, Standard rate was £20 and £80.

In November 2009, four geographical bands were introduced based on the distance from London with rates starting at £11 for flights to Europe – Premium seats are charged at double the reduced rates.

Now, these rates are set to increase again on 1 November – the new fees are set out below:

• Band A – flights to Europe £12
• Band B – flights of up to 4,000 miles £60
• Band C – flights to the Caribbean £75
• Band D – flights to Australia and New Zealand £85

For Premium seats the charges are double at:

• Band A – flights to Europe £24
• Band B – flights of up to 4,000 miles £120
• Band C – flights to the Caribbean £150
• Band D – flights to Australia and New Zealand £170

How many people do you know that can travel light? You know, friends and family members that can take proper advantage of cheap flights because they don’t need checked-in luggage; they can quite easily limit their items to hand-luggage only.

Now, I must say that I’m not one of those people, occasionally, for short breaks, I have managed to fly with hand luggage only, but not often. I’d love to be able to pack lightly, but I just don’t seem to be able to do it, and it seems that I’m not alone as the results of research carried out by Expedia show.

When it comes to packing, us Brits do go over-the-top, to such an extent that it may well have cost us, as a whole, up to £270 million this summer – how many extra holidays could we have had with that amount?

In fact, one in six admitted paying excess baggage charges, while one in ten (5.4 million passengers) paid an average £50 in excess baggage fees in the last 12 months.

From their research, almost one third (58%) find city breaks the hardest to pack for – the wide range of activities offered by a city break, such as site-seeing, shows, dinners etc mean that we pack for every eventuality.

If you’re one of the highly-skilled travellers who can pack lightly, get along to Expedia’s website (game.expedia.com) from 1 October and take part in their packing challenge: “Case Closed”. The game will challenge participants to pit their packing skills against other players through the viral game and also against their friends through a Facebook application to find the champion packers. Sounds like fun, but I don’t think I’ll be winning the packing game, neither Expedia’s nor the airlines’ excess baggage charges one, anytime soon ☺.

Beach thongs have been named the top modern holiday fashion faux pas of 2010 beating off stiff competition from summer horrors, including bum bags, mesh tops and ankle socks with heels.

To find the fashion monstrosities that should be banned from your travels this year, Heathrow commissioned TV presenter and fashion journalist Louise Roe to create a definitive list of modern holiday fashion faux pas to face a public vote.

One in five Brits (20 per cent) voted beach thongs as the top item that’s less runway and more run-away this summer with celebrities such as Britney Spears and film character Borat putting them on the scare list. 

Ankle socks with heels, the modern twist on the socks and sandals combo, were second in the ditch list (19 per cent) and, despite designer Marc Jacobs turning the bum bag into this season’s fashion must-have, the 1980s functional throwback took third place (17 per cent).

Crocs, which have proved to be as controversial as they are comfortable, came fourth (ten per cent) just ahead of mesh tops, as modelled by Amy Winehouse, in fifth place (nine per cent).

The top ten 2010 British holiday fashion faux pas are:

1. Beach thongs (20%)
2. Ankle socks and heels (19%)
3. Bum bags (17%)
4. Crocs (10%)
5. Mesh tops (9%)
6. Oversize logo or slogan T-shirts (6%)
7. Neon (4%)
8. Micro mini shorts (3%)
9. Mismatched bikinis (2%)
10. Cut out dresses (1%)

* Other = 9%

According to the research, more than half of Brits (55 per cent) have spent over £100 on new clothes and beauty buys for their holiday, with one in 20 (5 per cent) forking out more than a whopping £350.  A quarter of Brits (27 per cent) have dressed smartly for their flight in the hope that they might be upgraded despite more than half (50 per cent) of those polled saying they always choose comfort over style for their holiday attire.

TV presenter and fashion writer Louise Roe comments: “As the top ten goes to show, there are plenty of trends that may dazzle on the catwalk, but sadly just don’t translate so well into real life. 

“The secret to looking and feeling great on your summer holiday is to keep it simple.  Make sure you pack clothes that work together not against each other and can be dressed up or down – think pared down glamour.  A non-crease dress on a bright colour is a must.  Boho chic is big on the catwalks this year so a long, printed maxi dress is ideal. Safari is also a huge trend and can easily be made to work for nights out by adding a belt to cinch in your waist or with a piece of statement jewellery such as a cocktail ring or chunky bangle. ”

Malcolm Robertson, Director of Communications, Heathrow said:  “Planning your holiday wardrobe can be a real headache and one that sends panic into even the most seasoned traveller.  We hope Louise’s top tips will not only address passengers’ packing dilemmas but leave them feeling inspired about their holiday purchases. It’s never too late to bag a holiday bargain, Heathrow offers a range of fashion brands at airport prices and if your suitcase is already brimming, passengers can use our Shop and Collect service which allows travellers to pick up airport purchases on the return journey.”

Gender Divide

One in five men (21 per cent) identified bum bags as the worst holiday fashion faux pas, beating beach thongs into second place with 16 per cent. Women ensured beach thongs took top spot overall with almost a quarter (23 per cent) identifying them as the worst offender.

More than a quarter of men (27 per cent) have never spent more than £50 on new clothes and beauty buys for a holiday, while women spend up to £150.28 on average.

More men (30 per cent) than women (25 per cent) always dress smartly for the plane on the off-chance that they get upgraded.

Regional Variation

Results for the worst holiday fashion faux pas was far from uniform across the country. Beach thongs were the least popular in Aberystwyth where half the respondents (50 per cent) voted them the worst, but in Wolverhampton they only came joint fourth (11 per cent).

The biggest spenders on their holiday fashion were from Gloucester where respondents say they’ve spent up to £242.13 on average.

Passengers travelling to the USA under the Visa Waiver Program must have a valid ESTA to gain entry to the USA, and now there’s just seven days left before the USA introduces a charge to obtain an ESTA.

Currently, it is free to obtain an ESTA, however, from 8 September a charge of $14 per person will be levied – a family of four travelling to the USA will have to pay $56 for the privilege of entering the country.

ESTAs are valid for two years, so anyone thinking about travelling to the USA within the next two years can save the fee by applying online now.

For more information and to apply for an ESTA online go to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/esta.html

It looks as though ferry passengers are to be afforded the same rights as air passengers following a vote by the European Parliament.

At present, passengers travelling by sea or inland waterways only have the right to a refund or a booking on a later sailing if their travel is disrupted, whereas air passengers are entitled to compensation if their flight is cancelled or delayed.

Under new rules, which could come into force in two years passengers could be given:

• guarantee of reimbursement or rerouting in situations of cancellation or of delay at departure of more than 90 minutes,
• adequate assistance (such as snacks, meals, refreshments and, where necessary, accommodation up to three nights, with a financial coverage up to € 80 per night) in situations of cancellation or delay at departure of more than 90 minutes,
• compensation, between 25% and 50% of the ticket price, in situations of delay in arrival or cancellation of journeys,
• non-discriminatory treatment and specific assistance free of charge for disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility both at port terminals and on board ships, as well financial compensation for loss or damage of their mobility equipment.

In addition, the new rights would ensure that new minimum rules on information for all passengers before and during their journey, as well as general information about their rights in terminals and on board ships.

The establishment by carriers and terminal operators of complaint handling mechanism that would be available to passengers, and the establishment of independent national bodies for the enforcement of the regulation, through, where appropriate, the application of penalties.

All that remains now is for the Council to confirm the agreement reached with the Parliament for this regulation to be formally adopted. The Regulation is due to enter into force two years after its adoption.

Virtually everyone has a mobile phone these days. Let’s face it, how many of us could survive without one? We all want instant contact: make a short call; send a quick text message, and we simply have to check our emails whenever we get the chance. But how many of us stop to think about what happens when we go on holiday? What are the roaming charges and what sort of bill are we going to face when we get home?

Apparently, most of us don’t bother checking, in fact, in a recent survey of 7000 people almost 60 per cent of UK travellers are not aware of the new EU roaming cap for Internet access within Europe. This is despite over half regularly accessing websites from their smartphones when on an overseas trip.

The research, carried out by budget accommodation portal budgetplaces.com, discovered that, despite over a quarter of people making between five and eight trips abroad per year, 74 per cent of travellers do not contact their network operator to get the best deal before hopping on a plane.

A further 90 per cent confessed to not having any idea what their operators charge for accessing the web when overseas, with 60 per cent saying they considered the £45 cap too high and would be upset if charged this amount.

“The roaming cap is a positive step to prevent enormous bills on returning home, but it’s clear travellers don’t know exactly what they are paying while abroad. This is leading to unexpected, yet avoidable, costs on top of their holiday,” said John Erceg, MD at budgetplaces.com.

Based on its experiences, budgetplaces.com has put together its top three tips for cash-conscious consumers:

1. Check before you travel – call your operator and find out what its pricing structure is. Quite often, they will have add-on ‘bundles’ available, meaning you’ll know what you’re paying before leaving the UK.
2. Use smart apps – find the quickest and easiest apps to use, such as those that allow you to complete actions without using additional sites, minimising time online and therefore cost.
3. Shop around – find areas that offer free Wi-Fi facilities, your hotel may have this (as do the majority of hotels bookable on www.budgetplaces.com), or cafes often allow customers access. Then you can surf to your heart’s content for the price of an espresso.

“By planning ahead and getting the best deal, travellers can ensure that more of their holiday budget goes on experiencing different cultures and exploring the sites rather than worrying about unexpected bills when you get home,” added Erceg.

Passengers travelling between the UK and the Isle of Man will be breathing a sigh of relief after the UK Government’s announcement that it is to extend its reciprocal health agreement with the Isle of Man.

The reciprocal health agreement, which has been in place for 60 years, was due to end on 31 March 2010, however, the UK Health Secretary Andy Burnham, has announced that the agreement will be extended for a further six months to allow for further negotiations.

Mr Burnham said: ‘After further discussions with Chief Minister Brown, I have given further consideration to the ending of the reciprocal health agreement.

‘Together we have agreed that from 31 March, we would adopt an interim position for a period of six months.

‘While we will cease the payment of any allocation to the Isle of Man, this will ensure arrangements for travellers on temporary visits remain the same as they are today.

‘The situation will remain under review and we will consider whether or not this could form the basis for a new agreement which we will discuss in the autumn.’

Related post:

UK reciprocal health agreement with the IOM ends 31 March 2010