Posted Sunday, April 20, 2008, 6:44 PM by Lonely Planet
The explosion of chip-cheap flights has changed the way we travel. Suddenly, a weekender in Riga is as affordable as a trip to the countryside. On short hops, the lack of frills doesn't matter much - but what about longer haul? Airlines like Singapore's Tiger Air offer alluringly low fares, and most of us would be willing to forfeit leg room and first-release movies for those kind of prices, but travellers are beginning to swap horror stories - delayed or cancelled flights, hidden costs for food and baggage, crap customer service. Are budget flights worth the hassle?
Labels: Airports, budget flights, cheap, Tiger Air
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Posted Tuesday, April 01, 2008, 4:32 AM by Lonely Planet
A new era has dawned: welcome to the age of open skies. What does this much-trumpeted transatlantic air agreement mean for travellers? Not that much, it seems.
Open skies has long been a dream of airlines. Until this week, only four airlines have been able to operate from London's Heathrow airport to US destinations. From today any EU or US-based airline can do just that - provided it's got a landing slot, that is. Indeed, these airlines can operate a route from between any two airports in the EU or US. The idea is simple: open skies means more choice and more competition.
So far, so nice for travellers who aren't very well served by existing routes. Air France has launched a London to Los Angeles service, while Northwest and Continental are serving more US destinations direct from the UK. Travellers between London and New York will benefit from 7000 extra seats a week.
You'd think all this would mean cheaper flights, but it seems that this is unlikely. Economy fares have come down a lot over the past few years, and fuel prices look set to keep costs steady. All these airlines are going after the lucrative business market, and fares here could well come down. There's still a long way to go before these fares get within splurge range of most of us.
In summary: open skies means more routes, more seats but not cheaper flights. In the absence of the latter, an open-jawed yawn is likely to be most travellers' reaction.
- Tom Hall
Labels: Airports, Europe, Travelsnitch
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Posted Wednesday, March 05, 2008, 1:03 AM by Lonely Planet
Terminal Five at London's Heathrow Airport opens for business on March 27 and we were jolly chuffed to be invited along for a sneak preview yesterday. After all, the next best thing after going travelling is going on a day out of the office to an airport for a behind-the-scenes nose around.
Terminal Five has been designed by Richard Rodgers and will be used exclusively by British Airways, though a small percentage of their flights will depart from T3.
Travellers using T5 are in for a few treats. As well as a Gordon Ramsay restaurant (cunningly named Plane Food) and views of Windsor Castle, Heathrow promises a ten-minute 'journey' through check in, bag drop and security. Regular users of the airport will know what a welcome change this will be if they can make it work. And like any airport worth it's salt, a monorail is being constructed to add some futuristic zip.
T5 may not be the answer to all of Heathrow's problems - after all, last week a group of protesters scaled a British Airways jet to air their opposition to a third runway at the airport - but it is a leap forward from anything else London's airports have to offer. It also, along with St Pancras International, provides first moments in Britain to be proud of.
Take a look for yourself at Terminal Five here.
Tom Hall
Labels: Airports, Britain, London
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Posted Thursday, January 17, 2008, 2:21 PM by Lonely Planet
Anyone travelling to or from London's Heathrow Airport would do well to check the status of their flight following Thursday's dramatic emergency landing of a British Airways Boeing 777.
It's unclear what the cause of the incident was at this early stage but it seems that the pilot who got the plane down after some kind of power or equipment failure performed heroics to get the plane onto the ground in one piece. There were no fatalities among the 136 passengers - and only a handful suffered minor injuries. The plane is still lying where it came to rest at the end of Heathrow's south runway and some short-haul flights out of Terminal 4 have been cancelled.
This incident happens in a month where figures released for 2007, suggesting that flying is safer than it's ever been, apart from in a handful of countries where planes are old and maintenance standards remain poor. Getting on a plane remains by far the safest way to travel. The passengers on board BA038 from Beijing to London will testify that pilot skill, plus well-built aircraft are ensuring things stay that way.
- Tom Hall
Labels: "Europe", Airports, Breaking travel news, Europe
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Posted Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 4:33 PM by Lonely Planet
Inspired by our recent travel stories on surfing remote locations and are now ready to pack your board for Liberia or Yemen? Well don't think about booking with British Airways. The airline has declared surfboards too bulky and has banned them from all flights along with kayaks and windsurfs. Most other airlines charge between 15 and 27 pounds each way to carry surfboards.
Surfers are outraged that British Airways will still allow snowboards and skis on flights. The British Surfing Association (BSA) says surfers would face huge costs and delays if forced to use freight companies. BSA has started an online petition which has been signed by over 8000 people including world no.1 surfer (and British Airways Platinum member) Mick Fanning and there is also a Facebook campaign with around 10,000 members.
What do you think of the surfboard ban? Do you think other airlines will follow suit?
Labels: Airports, Breaking travel news, Britain
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Posted Tuesday, August 21, 2007, 6:44 AM by Lonely Planet
London's Heathrow Airport isn't having the best of summers. Packed with Brits seeking getaways from the non-existent 'summer', the Grand Old Dame of UK airports is bursting at the seams. But while frequent travellers, harassed by long security queues and record numbers, can't wait for Terminal Five to open to relieve some pressure, crowds of a different type have been making plenty of headlines over the past couple of weeks.
Ear-bashed local residents at the Europe's biggest airport teamed up with eco-campaigners to set up a two week camp on the edge of Heathrow. The Camp for Climate Action promised "Eight days of low-impact living, debates, learning skills, and high-impact direct action tackling the root causes of climate change" as well as protests against further expansion of Heathrow. This included occupying a field near the airport as a demonstration in sustainable living and staging sit-down protests at the offices of Heathrow's owner, BAA. Protestors blockaded airfrieghted cargo warehouses and scuffled with police who prevented them taking their protests further. Generally, they made a right old nuisance of themselves.
While The Camp didn't affect passengers, it worked the UK media into a right old rumpus during the summer 'silly season' - which was arguably the protests main aim. Whether it makes anyone reconsider their flying habits remains to be seen. More than anything else, it appears to have focussed attention on the crumbling infrastructure at Europe's most important air travel gateway. And the long-term impact of passengers taking their custom elsewhere will hurt the UK travel industry more than any eco-protestors hogging the headlines.
Keep an eye on lonelyplanet.com for a more in-depth analysis of Heathrow in a few weeks time.
Tom Hall
Labels: Airports, Britain, Europe, Sustainable and responsible tourism
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