By John Fitzsimons If you want to take luggage onto your flight, it will now set you back an extra £5 each way.  Budget airline Ryanair has ramped up the charges passengers face for carrying a piece of checked luggage onto the aircraft by £5 – but only for the summer. You’ll now be charged £20 each way for taking on luggage lighter than 15kg, up from £15, while bags weighing between 15kg and 20kg will set you back £30 each way, up from £25. In a brazen display of profiteering, the charges will only apply from June until September 21st – in other words, the peak travel times for summer holidays. The airline has justified this, saying that it will encourage passengers to travel without hold baggage, highlighting that three quarters of passengers do so already. That’s all well and good, but personally I don’t fancy my chances of getting enough clothing for a fortnight in Spain into my hand luggage. Let’s see how these charges compare to a few other airlines, EasyJet, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. British Airways All flights on British Airways have a free baggage allowance, though how much you can take on depends on which class of travel you book. There are then charges for any additional bags you take on board. Here are the allowances for all flights except those to Brazil, Kenya, Nigeria and connecting journeys between India and USA/Bermuda/Canada.
Virgin Atlantic As with British Airways, passengers with Virgin enjoy a free checked baggage allowance, and again this varies depending on the class of your ticket. There are only three adult categories of ticket to consider thankfully.
EasyJet Ryanair’s budget airline rival EasyJet sadly does not have such a simple process when it comes to baggage. If you want to check luggage into the hold, you will have to pay a fee. However, this fee varies depending on where you are planning to fly to. What’s more, it’s only after you’ve gone through the rigmarole of finding a flight and begun the application process that you can find out what that charge will be. To give you an idea of the sort of charges you may face, I’ve put together the table below based on a range of return flights to various destinations from London.
The rising cost of flying Ryanair’s defence of this increase is that its fares are much cheaper than its main rivals, so even if you pay for the baggage, you’ll still be better off than if you had gone with one of the firms’ rivals. That’s all well and good, but Ryanair has also increased its fares! Alongside its increase in baggage charges, Ryanair also announced a 12% increase in fares. Budget rival EasyJet has also warned the public to expect higher fares in the coming months, while The International Air Transport Association has predicted that airfares will rise by around 8% on average It’s all down to the rising cost of fuel – it’s not just motorists who are suffering from the increase in the price of oil, but airlines too. And the fact that the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has opted against increasing its production levels (which would have curbed the price rises) means that airlines have some tough choices to make. Clearly we are all going to have to get used to paying a bit more for our breaks in the sun. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Airport Taxi and London Chauffeur Traveling by taxi from Heathrow offers the flexible way of getting into London or beyond. At Heathrow Airport we endorse three distinct fully licensed Taxi and Chauffeur services. Computer and CCTv Security System |
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Thursday, 9 June 2011
Ryanair ramps up baggage charges
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
9 ways to relax during long flights
- By:Tamara HinsonThu 19 May, 2011 09:30 AM UTC
Whether you’re a nervous flyer or simply someone that struggles to sleep at the best of times, long flights can be tough on both the body and mind. To help you get to your destination feeling on top of the world, we’ve put together our top tips to help you relax once you’re airborne.
1. Roll with it
Invest in an aromatherapy based roll-on travel balm to rub onto your pulse points during the flight. Look for one containing lavender to help you relax, or try a balm with mood-boosting frankincense or stimulating rosemary to clear your mind.
2. Breathe...
Okay, an obvious one, but we’re talking about deep breathing exercises here. When we’re stressed, we tend to hold our breath or take short, shallow breaths which can increase feelings of anxiety. First, exhale completely through your mouth and then breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose. Imagine your body slowly filling up with air from the bottom upwards. Hold your breath for around five seconds and then slowly breathe out. Repeat this around ten times, making sure that exhalation takes a little longer than inhalation.
3. … and stretch
If you’re struggling to sleep, exercise might be the last thing on your mind, but a quick stretch might be just the thing to help you relax, whilst helping to avoid cramp or other potentially more serious health complications. Take a brisk walk up and down the aisle, or failing that, carry out a few stretches from the comfort of your seat. The majority of airlines will provide information relating to exercises that can be done sitting down.
4. Silence is golden
Nothing is worse than finding you’re sat next to an incessant chatterbox, especially when all you want to do is go to sleep. A pair of earplugs won’t just help shut out noise, but will hopefully send out a subtle hint to your chattering travel companion, too. Also, if you’re taking a portable music player, opt for noise cancelling headphones.
5. Be a book worm
If you’re a nervous flyer, a good book won’t just take your mind off your worries, but it will ease your passage to the Land of Nod, too. A long flight is the perfect environment to finally plough your way through that long book you’ve been tackling for the past few months. If you can’t decide what to read, opt for a book about the destination you’re heading to.
6. Feel at home
You might be thousands of miles away from your own bed, but a few home comforts can make all the difference. Pack your favourite cushion or pillow in your carry-on luggage, along with a throw or shawl to keep you warm and snug. Spritz it with your favourite perfume beforehand.
7. Avoid alcohol
Reaching for a gin and tonic might seem like the perfect fix for frayed nerves, but relying on the drinks trolley to relax you will only make matters worse – you’ll end up dehydrated and will find it harder to sleep too. Plus you’re hardly going to be the most popular travel companion if you’re clambering over your fellow passengers every five minutes to get to the toilet.
8. Dress for comfort
You may loathe the thought of being seen without your six-inch heels but when it comes to long flights, comfort wins over style every time. Opt for loose clothing – preferably man-made material – and go for comfortable shoes such as flip flops or ballet pumps. If you’ve got a favourite comfy tracksuit that’s looking a bit tired, simply pack it in your carry-on luggage and change once you’re on the aeroplane. Packing a spare pair of underwear will help you freshen up, too.
9. Go over to the dark side
If you’re the kind of person who struggles to sleep at home, sleeping on a plane is probably going to be twice as hard. Pack an eye mask to help block out the light – if possible, opt for one filled with lavender to soothe your nerves and help you sleep.
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6 Must-Have Items for Business Trips
There are many factors involved in a business trip planning; getting proper rest before you go, transporting and protecting your things, keeping in contact with your office, just to name a few. Getting prepared isn't always easy when you have all of that on your plate. On top of all that you have to make your business trip as productive and cost effective as possible. There are many items needed for business trips, but here are six that you must have to be able to do business properly.
1) Medication
Not just all of your personal prescription medications, which are obviously vital to pack, you will also need to compile a small first-aid kit and keep it with you at all times. They are a very common item and can be picked up at any drug store. This is especially true when visiting a foreign country where you do not speak the language. This way if you have a minor medical need, you will have everything to take care of it yourself.
2) Inflatable Travel Pillow
Let's face it, carrying around an actual pillow is cumbersome at best. Your best option for portability is using a lightweight travel pillow that inflates. Regardless of your mode of transportation, plane, train, or automobile, it will come in handy. Even if you are driving a car, you will be thankful you brought one. This is especially true if you need to pull over for a little catnap.
3) Plug Adapter
If your business trip is taking you to another country, you will have to have an electric plug adapter to be able to use any of your handy electronic gadgets. Without one you will look like a fool and probably not be able to even conduct much business due to the dependence most businesses have on technology.
4) Voltage Converter
You need a voltage converter for much of the same reasons you need a plug adapter. Voltage rates vary from country to country. So, having one device that lets you use electricity from them all will be very important. Currently there are many electronics, but not all, that allow for a range of voltages. Be very certain, otherwise you may permanently fry your devices.
5) Surge Protector
While we may have built in wiring in our homes to protect against power surges, this is not true everywhere. You need to be sure your electronics are protected from being damaged from an electrical surge.
6) Noise-canceling Headphones
These are an absolute must for those who need to rest or get work done in a noisy environment. Just be careful to reserve their use in relatively safe situations because they block all noise and you will not be able to hear if there is any danger.
Careful planning can ensure that your business trips go as smoothly as possible. With these six items that should not be a problem on your next business trip.
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Thursday, 2 June 2011
Six places to see before they disappear
By Nikki Bayley
Whether it's down to human-made pollution or the natural erosion of time and tides, some places in the world are facing a ticking clock when it comes to their future. According to the experts, the following places are due to disappear, so, here's a rather sad roll-call of some of the most spectacular places which are under threat.
Venice
One of the loveliest cities on earth, Venice is also said to be one of the most doomed. Thanks to an imperfect combination of the land sinking and the water levels rising. Venice has sunk by around 7cm a century for the past thousand years, but a report suggests that process has sped up and in the last 100 years, Venice has sunk by 24cm. Climatologists believe that Venice could be uninhabitable by 2100. The Italian government is committed to spending millions of schemes to help prop the city up and save it from the waves, however no scheme so far seems to have the answers.
The Great Barrier Reef
If you've ever watched 'Finding Nemo' and assumed that real life can't possibly be as bright as a cartoon, Australia's Great Barrier Reef will prove you wrong. It's simply astounding, the colours of the fish and the coral are hyper-real. However, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Great Barrier Reef, and the nearly $5 billion tourist industry built around it, could be “extinct” by 2050. This is due to climate change and pollution. A process called bleaching happens when the acidity of the ocean increases due to the absorption of carbon dioxide, which kills off the micro-organisms that make up the reef.
The Dead Sea
It's the world's most salty body of water, famous for its healing properties and the fact that no matter how hard you try, you simply can't sink in its buoyant waves! However, the Dead Sea is under threat of draining dry. In 2006, according to the now ex-Jordanian Minister for Water and Agriculture, Hazem Nasser, "There is a declination in the level of the sea at about one metre every year." Jordan are lobbying for more water to be pumped into the Dead Sea from the Red Sea. The authorities say that unless nearly two billion cubic metres of water per year is pumped into the Dead Sea, it will disappear in 50 years time.
The Great Wall of China
Built around 2000 years ago to keep out the marauding hordes, the Great Wall of China is a dazzling man-made achievement. At its peak, the Great Wall reached 4,500 miles from South Korea to the Gobi desert. However, the World Monuments Fund has put the Great Wall on a list of the 100 most endangered structures and the Beijing Daily Newspaper reported that, "Around a third of the 2000-year-old structure is merely rubble and the same amount again has completely disappeared". Sandstorms are to blame for a more than 37-mile stretch of the wall being destroyed, although a great deal of the wall has been destroyed thanks to generations of farmers using the wall to build and repair their homes and farms.
The Amazon Rainforest
More than 20% of the world's oxygen is produced in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, which is why it's often described at the lungs of the planet. The Rainforest is one of the world's natural marvels, with more than half of the estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects on earth, living in its tropical forest. However, between May 2000 and August 2005, Brazil lost more than 132,000 square kilometers of forest—an area larger than Greece — and since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. With de-forestation running at such a rapid rate, experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.
Polar Bears in Canada
Canada's western Hudson Bay is famous for being the best place on earth to see Polar bears around the Churchill, Manitoba area. Sadly, those days could be numbered because of global warming. According to research from biologist Andrew Derocher and others from the University of Alberta, "the polar bears in western Hudson Bay have lost 25 percent of their population in the past three decades." Because of the loss of sea ice, the polar bears now spend three more weeks on land than they did three decades ago, during which time they are unable to hunt. According to calculations by experts, the western Hudson Bay polar bears could die out in 25 to 30 years.
Whether it's down to human-made pollution or the natural erosion of time and tides, some places in the world are facing a ticking clock when it comes to their future. According to the experts, the following places are due to disappear, so, here's a rather sad roll-call of some of the most spectacular places which are under threat.
One of the loveliest cities on earth, Venice is also said to be one of the most doomed. Thanks to an imperfect combination of the land sinking and the water levels rising. Venice has sunk by around 7cm a century for the past thousand years, but a report suggests that process has sped up and in the last 100 years, Venice has sunk by 24cm. Climatologists believe that Venice could be uninhabitable by 2100. The Italian government is committed to spending millions of schemes to help prop the city up and save it from the waves, however no scheme so far seems to have the answers.
The Great Barrier Reef
If you've ever watched 'Finding Nemo' and assumed that real life can't possibly be as bright as a cartoon, Australia's Great Barrier Reef will prove you wrong. It's simply astounding, the colours of the fish and the coral are hyper-real. However, according to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Great Barrier Reef, and the nearly $5 billion tourist industry built around it, could be “extinct” by 2050. This is due to climate change and pollution. A process called bleaching happens when the acidity of the ocean increases due to the absorption of carbon dioxide, which kills off the micro-organisms that make up the reef.
It's the world's most salty body of water, famous for its healing properties and the fact that no matter how hard you try, you simply can't sink in its buoyant waves! However, the Dead Sea is under threat of draining dry. In 2006, according to the now ex-Jordanian Minister for Water and Agriculture, Hazem Nasser, "There is a declination in the level of the sea at about one metre every year." Jordan are lobbying for more water to be pumped into the Dead Sea from the Red Sea. The authorities say that unless nearly two billion cubic metres of water per year is pumped into the Dead Sea, it will disappear in 50 years time.
The Great Wall of China
Built around 2000 years ago to keep out the marauding hordes, the Great Wall of China is a dazzling man-made achievement. At its peak, the Great Wall reached 4,500 miles from South Korea to the Gobi desert. However, the World Monuments Fund has put the Great Wall on a list of the 100 most endangered structures and the Beijing Daily Newspaper reported that, "Around a third of the 2000-year-old structure is merely rubble and the same amount again has completely disappeared". Sandstorms are to blame for a more than 37-mile stretch of the wall being destroyed, although a great deal of the wall has been destroyed thanks to generations of farmers using the wall to build and repair their homes and farms.
The Amazon Rainforest
More than 20% of the world's oxygen is produced in Brazil's Amazon rainforest, which is why it's often described at the lungs of the planet. The Rainforest is one of the world's natural marvels, with more than half of the estimated 10 million species of plants, animals and insects on earth, living in its tropical forest. However, between May 2000 and August 2005, Brazil lost more than 132,000 square kilometers of forest—an area larger than Greece — and since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometres of Amazon rainforest have been destroyed. With de-forestation running at such a rapid rate, experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years.
Canada's western Hudson Bay is famous for being the best place on earth to see Polar bears around the Churchill, Manitoba area. Sadly, those days could be numbered because of global warming. According to research from biologist Andrew Derocher and others from the University of Alberta, "the polar bears in western Hudson Bay have lost 25 percent of their population in the past three decades." Because of the loss of sea ice, the polar bears now spend three more weeks on land than they did three decades ago, during which time they are unable to hunt. According to calculations by experts, the western Hudson Bay polar bears could die out in 25 to 30 years.
Baby rats ground plane
2 June 2011
By Orlando Parfitt
An Australian plane had to be grounded for more than a day after flight crew found a pack of rats in the cabin.
Staff on a Qantas jet discovered five baby rats in a cabinet holding a defibrillator minutes before passengers were due to board the Boeing 767, which was flying from Sidney to Brisbane.
The rodents had done no damage and passengers were put on another plane while the animals were removed.
A Qantas spokeswoman told AFP: “We don’t know how they got there. The aircraft was at the gate for some time before departure and we are investigating.”
She added that the incident "very unusual”.
However Scott Connolly, of the Transportation Workers Union, disagreed. He told an Australian radio station that their members “had concerns about hygiene and sanitation on Qantas flights".
It’s just the latest hiccup for the airline, which has experienced other mishaps and industrial action in recent months.
In November a Qantas superjumbo had to make an emergency landing in Singapore after experiencing engine trouble, which prompted the airline to ground their entire Airbus A380 fleet to carry out safety inspections.
Qantas pilots will also vote on whether to go on strike later this year over proposed plans to outsource some jobs overseas.
By Orlando Parfitt
An Australian plane had to be grounded for more than a day after flight crew found a pack of rats in the cabin.
Staff on a Qantas jet discovered five baby rats in a cabinet holding a defibrillator minutes before passengers were due to board the Boeing 767, which was flying from Sidney to Brisbane.
The rodents had done no damage and passengers were put on another plane while the animals were removed.
A Qantas spokeswoman told AFP: “We don’t know how they got there. The aircraft was at the gate for some time before departure and we are investigating.”
She added that the incident "very unusual”.
It’s just the latest hiccup for the airline, which has experienced other mishaps and industrial action in recent months.
In November a Qantas superjumbo had to make an emergency landing in Singapore after experiencing engine trouble, which prompted the airline to ground their entire Airbus A380 fleet to carry out safety inspections.
Qantas pilots will also vote on whether to go on strike later this year over proposed plans to outsource some jobs overseas.
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Wednesday, 1 June 2011
London Heathrow and Gawick Airport Flight
Monarch to compete with Ryanair and easyJet as it steers away from package holidays
, 10:15, Wednesday 1 June 2011
Monarch is to end nearly four decades as a charter airline and shift its focus to scheduled flights, as more tourists shy away from traditional package holidays towards cheaper internet deals.The brand revamp, labelled 'Fly your way. Every day', will see the British carrier compete directly with budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair, as well as British Airways (Other OTC: BABWF.PK - news) in the scheduled market.
By next summer, Monarch expects 80pc of its business to be scheduled, compared with just 20pc five years ago. The company will continue to offer package holidays, but this will only form a small part of its business.
In a bid to differentiate itself from other budget airlines, Monarch has also scrapped all debit card booking fees from today, while payments by credit card will incur a flat fee of £10 per booking.
Monarch said it was in negotiations with credit card companies to reduce fees further, and pledged to pass any savings on.
Conrad Clifford, chief executive of Monarch Group, said: “Obviously, we would prefer not have to charge customers for using any payment cards at all. But by abolishing debit card fees and introducing a flat fee for using credit cards, we are doing everything we can to be transparent and fair to our customers.”
Ryanair currently charges £12 per return flight for paying with a debit or credit card, while easyJet charges £8 per booking, plus extra fees for credit card payments.
Monarch travellers can also take advantage of services such as six inches of extra legroom for £9.99, and the option of booking in-flight meals in advance.
Mr Clifford added: “The refreshed brand is the visual manifestation of a strategic shift in the business that will give consumers the widest possible choice of services both on the ground and inflight.”
Monarch suffered heavy losses of £30.3m in 2009. It only just managed to turn this around in 2010, posting pre-tax profits of £1.4m, in the year to October 31.
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