U.S. - Enhanced Airport Screening for Many Visitors

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse, it looks certain that flying to the U.S. will never be the same again. 
All airlines flying routes to the U.S. are under stricter security since the Christmas Day failed bomb attack on the Northwest flight from Schiphol to Detroit. 
The United States Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is [...]

Full-Body Scanners Being Installed at UK Airports

Despite doubt about the effectiveness of full-body scanners to detect certain types of liquid explosive devices, the UK government has given the green light for their installation at UK airports. 
The move is a result of the failed Christmas Day attempt to blow up a Northwest Airline plane over Detroit.  However, doubt has been expressed whether [...]

Wintry Weather Disrupts Christmas Travel

Feel like you’re caught in a snow globe? 
The snow may look pretty and provide plenty of fun for kids, but it is causing havoc with transportation as many roads are closed or in treacherous condition, and airports are cancelling flights or experiencing serious delays. 
If you have immediate plans to travel it would be wise to [...]

UK Allbury Travel Group Collapses

The Allbury Travel Group has ceased all trading as of 19 December 2009.  The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is currently handling customers affected by the collapse of the company. 
Allbury Travel Group also traded as:

JetLife
Libra Holidays
Argo Holidays

The Hertfordshire-based company was ATOL-licensed and operated flights and package holidays from Manchester, Newcastle, Gatwick, Birmingham and Leeds Bradford.  The holidays [...]

Airline Christmas Carry-on Rules - Lucky Santa!

Great news that the BA strike has been called off - for the sake of its customers, and BA itself.   However, travellers are facing yet another challenge - travel chaos due to the snowy and wintry weather.   
Lucky old Santa doesn’t have to worry about the weather or getting his sleigh through airport security, but the rest of us do.  [...]

BA CityFlyer Unaffected by Threatened Strike

According to the website, BA’s European and domestic CityFlyer service from London City Airport will not affected by the threatened industrial action.  CityFlyer is a subsidiary of British Airways and was not involved in the strike ballot. 
Note:  BA’s business-class only service from London City Airport to New York (JFK) is not part of CityFlyer and is [...]

BA Means Business from London City Airport to JFK

The new British Airways all-Business Class Club World flights from London City Airport (LCA) to New York JFK took off today, September 29, 2009. 
BA’s chief executive, Willy Walsh, has defied the naysayers by going ahead with the new service despite the recent demise of the likes of all-business-class airlines MaxJet, Eos and Silverjet.

The Airbus A318 was [...]

Gatwick Airport Rail Link Work - Allow Extra Time

Travellers using the train to travel to and from Gatwick Airport, or who need to transfer between the North and South Terminals to catch flights, are advised to allow additional time for the journey. 
Work began yesterday, September 28, on the installation of a new rail link between the Gatwick North and South Terminals.  The new [...]

Rental Car Shortage Still a Problem in Spain & Portugal

We posted a news piece in early June (as soon as reports began to surface) warning of a predicted shortage of rental cars in Spain, Portugal and other popular destinations in southern Europe for peak summer periods (July and August). 
Pre-booking rental cars well in advance was advised, but sad tales are emerging that despite booking months ago [...]

Ryanair Chaos, Airport Strikes and APD (Tax)

The strike by Immigration officers at UK airports was called off yesterday, August 5.  An interim agreement was apparently reached between the PCS union and UK Border Agency, so let’s hope that’s the end of it and there will be no major disruption to travellers at UK airports and other ports of entry.
Incidents like the [...]