The Airline news and travel blog service
The age-old question….where shall we park?
 | You have booked that fantastic holiday and then you suddenly realise…parking! |
Charges - a matter of perception?
 Comments (2) | It is not the £1 but the sheer lack of choice. You are stuck in the queue and need a bag and just have to pay. |
The many obstacles of travelling with a wheelchair
 | Getting around the airport in a wheelchair is simply a minefield from start to finish. |
| The many obstacles of travelling with a wheelchair | |
| The pitfalls of disabled travel | |
| Wheelchair information |
Baggage carousels and bad behaviour
 Comments (5) | In my world, one person gets the bags and the rest of the hoard stand out of everyone’s way. |
British Airways and the iPhone
 Comments (7) | BA have launched a check-in App for the iPhone to cut out the paper. |
Oberammergau, Passion Play 2010
 Comments (2) | The Oberammergau Passion Play is taking place through to October 3rd. Do not miss it. |
EU clear BA-Iberia for take-off
 | British Airways to be based in Madrid ? |
| EU clear BA-Iberia for take-off | |
| Iberia lands BA with new aircraft | |
| Iberia push BA to pension deal |
Where will Virgin Atlantic be in five years?
 Comments (9) | Where will Virgin Atlantic be in five years? How damaging will the BA-AA dominance of Heathrow actually be? |
Reclaiming passenger taxes
 Comments (3) | The budget airlines made it difficult and wore this wimp down. |
Ryanair in the news
Ryanair and Aer Lingus
 Comments (3) | Competition law is generally a good idea as it acts against monopolies and protects the public. |
Ryanair -Vertical Seating
 Comments (13) | Can it be true that Ryanair are about introduce ‘Vertical Seating’ on flights as of next year? |
| Ryanair -Vertical Seating | |
| Ryanair - What price standing? |
Premium quality business-only airlines
 Comments (11) | A bad idea or simply the right idea at the wrong time? |
Modern travel problems
 | I do worry that the time is coming where it will simply be too damn difficult to travel anywhere. |
| Modern travel problems | |
| Worst in the world? |
Airport security madness
 | It is pretty tough these days getting even close to the once legendary enjoyment of flying. Even getting close to the departure lounge is a challege for me. |
| Airport security madness | |
| e-Borders cause more confusion | |
| Monitoring - a step too far? | |
| Full body scanners | |
| Skin cancer risk ? |
Missing the in-flight meal?
 | Am I alone in missing the in flight meal as a feature of flying? |
| Missing the in-flight meal? | |
| Special in-flight meals |
Wi-Fi on a 'plane near you
 Comments (2) | Virgin America offered free Wi-Fi last Christmas, apparently with enthusiastic response. |
 | Eugene Gold |
| Sir Stellios ahead by a nose | |
| Carolyn McCall and Sir Stellios | |
| APD upsets BA | |
| Stuff your pockets and stuff security |
 | Catriona Wells |
| Baggage carousels and bad behaviour | |
| Oberammergau, Passion Play 2010 | |
| Thomas Cook and Which? | |
| Premium quality business-only airlines |
 | Kayte Platts |
| The age-old question….where shall we park? | |
| The many obstacles of travelling with a wheelchair | |
| Ryanair -Vertical Seating | |
| Are we there yet Mum? |
Too big for his seat
 Comments (33) | It is probably not PC to comment upon overweight people these days but if you sit next to one on an economy flight, it is hard not to say something. |
Women's lib or plain damn rudeness
 Comments (15) | An own goal for anyone who might just need a bit of common courtesy or help in the future? |
Cabin crew on business-class jolly
 Comments (5) | I think the passengers deserved better and the flight services director deserved the sack. |
Easyjet in the news
 | Pinocchio abuse costs Ryanair in their liar claim court case. |
| Sir Stellios ahead by a nose | |
| Easyjet: Easy come - Easy go | |
| Carolyn McCall and Sir Stellios | |
| Pinocchio - dreaming of being real. | |
| Bust-up at Easyjet | |
| Overtime for the overrated? | |
| Baggage - core or non-core |
Travel insurance and road delays
 | Oh Dear, here am I, a staff writer on an airline passenger website, and I missed my flight. The M25 stopped, time did not, and the aeroplane went without me. |
| Travel insurance and road delays | |
| Travel insurance luggage cover | |
| Travel Insurance and disasters |
Frequent flyer rewards
 | I do like things for nothing - it is probably my Roman Catholic upbringing in a predominantly Jewish area of town. |
| Frequent flyer rewards | |
| When it is good to be old | |
| uSwitch and prepaid debit cards |
Articles | |
| Wi-Fi on a 'plane near you | |
| Charges - a matter of perception? | |
| The age-old question….where shall we park? | |
| Baggage carousels and bad behaviour | |
| The many obstacles of travelling with a wheelchair | |
Mobile phones on planes
 Comments (24) | How long before we end up with people using their pesky mobile telephones from the seat next to you saying the same stupid things that they say on the train? |
DVT from flying
 Comments (19) | Now and again, I have been reminded about the need to move about on long flights. |
And so to Sleep ...
 Comments (15) | You open up the tiny bag that the airline has been good enough to leave on your seat and there is the blanket ... ... |
Thomas Cook and Which?
 Comments (12) | I hope that Which are not being too unfair on Thomas Cook. |
Recent comments
29 July 2010, 03:29PM
We too have used this service and have always found it to be stress free.
The age-old question….where shall we park?
29 July 2010, 08:09AM
I do so agree with you. I hate being ripped off. I would so happily give the money to charity rather than feel that I have been conned.
I would like to say that had I known, I would have brought a plastic bag with me but I probably would not have bothered if I knew that I could get one at the airport. It is probably worth a £1 but it is the feeling that they lead you to the front of the security queue and then give you no choice.
Charges - a matter of perception?
29 July 2010, 08:04AM
We have used the same kind of service at Birmingham and found it was really good.
My husband was worried about where they would park the car and whether they might even use it whilst we were away. You do hear such awful stories.
It all turned out very well and we will certainly use the firm again next year.
The age-old question….where shall we park?
29 July 2010, 03:31PM
Having Wi-Fi on all flights would be really fantastic, even better too if it were free or built into the cost of the ticket.
Wi-Fi on a 'plane near you
29 July 2010, 03:35PM
This would be a great idea, and a perfect opportunity to catch up with e-mails and tweets as suggested in the article. Great being able to use your blackberry or I phone. I realise cost is an issue for airlines, but I think it would be a very welcome addition to flying.
Wi-Fi on a 'plane near you
29 July 2010, 03:42PM
Its not as if a clear bag would cost £1 is it? I wonder if they would actually accept a bag bought in by a passenger anyway? One more way of being ripped off it would seem.
Charges - a matter of perception?
29 July 2010, 03:39PM
That's a bit strong, it must be impossible to keep a child occupied on a flight, especially long haul, ok, there are parents that seem to be oblivious to what is going on, but a good majority are probably trying their hardest I would imagine.
Are we there yet Mum?
29 July 2010, 03:37PM
Yes, the idea of running out of change is a scary one! Something would go wrong with this idea and tempers would be short I would imagine!
Ryanair -Vertical Seating
28 July 2010, 01:06AM
Oh for goodness sake when are we going to stop being so accepting? I pay for my seat on a plane. It's small enough in cattle class already without having to share it with some overweight person who is too large to fit into their own seat. Please explain to me why I should have to be inconvenienced in this way?
You want to be fat, good for you, but I don't want to have to put up with the consequences of your actions. In fact I don't, I always insist that the armrests are down!
Too big for his seat
26 July 2010, 07:59AM
I agree with the argument to the lift situation, far too many people use the lifts, when they are more than able to go up the escalator or walk up some stairs, it must be a huge struggle for disabled people to get around in an airport and battling the lifts must be awful for them.
The many obstacles of travelling with a wheelchair
26 July 2010, 07:56AM
The queues are ever increasing at the airports and I agree with a lot of the comments above, it is going to slow things down even more, Ryan Air are overstepping the mark on this one I feel.
Stuff your pockets and stuff security
26 July 2010, 08:03AM
I once offered my seat to a lady who I presumed was pregnant, unfortunately for me she wasn't and she also wasn't best pleased, that I had thought her to be pregnant, so never again!
Women's lib or plain damn rudeness
23 July 2010, 01:41PM
Baggage carousels are often running too fast to comfortably remove heavy luggage without bumping someone with it! I can understand airports need a quick turnaround, but slowing them down a bit might make the process a bit easier for travellers.
Baggage carousels and bad behaviour
23 July 2010, 01:53PM
Ryanair’s pay for toilet system could be extremely clumsy. There will be echoes of 'have you got any change air hostess?' and 'the coin slot is jammed, what now!?' I cannot really see this one working.
Ryanair -Vertical Seating
23 July 2010, 01:35PM
This iPhone app is a great idea for frequent travellers who need to check into several flights and have no easy access to a printer. With mobile boarding passes there is no need to constantly wait in a line at the airport to deal with an agent.
British Airways and the iPhone
23 July 2010, 04:20PM
I hope that Ryanair retracts these baggage charges. I agree that travel bags are an essential part of travel. Consumers would not of batted an eyelid if Ryanair had just slightly increased the price of the standard ticket instead.
Stuff your pockets and stuff security
22 July 2010, 04:21PM
The worst experience I had from baggage carousels was at Tunis airport where I saw a woman (I believe American or a Canadian) allowing her daughter to ride the moving conveyor belt like a running machine, jumping over the odd bag as it came along, how inconsiderate can people be!?
Baggage carousels and bad behaviour
22 July 2010, 05:11PM
Paperless boarding passes are currently available for PDA's in many global airports. I believe the system works as an encrypted two-dimensional bar code along with passenger and flight information. Airport security officers use hand-held scanners to validate the authenticity of the boarding pass.
I would like to see the technology developed and available for any phone and mobile device.
British Airways and the iPhone
22 July 2010, 12:32PM
I guess airports just do not have the manpower to enforce these baggage carousel boundary lines, it would make the process a hell of a lot smoother if they did.
Baggage carousels and bad behaviour
21 July 2010, 09:12AM
I have friends in the USA that use this type of service when they travel within the USA. I gather that FedEx and the other US parcel services will simply deliver a suitcase to an hotel prior to their arrival. I think they take it into the local FedEx office and away it goes.
This idea is so remarkably simple that I wonder why it has not happened here. I appreciate that it would not suit everyone but the idea of the luggage being handled by a freight company and the passengers travelling light must have attractions.
Ryanair's new baggage charges
21 July 2010, 10:22AM
Shouldn't they be thinking about how to improve Economy class before they contemplate this?
Premium quality business-only airlines
21 July 2010, 07:56AM
Disability's come in all shapes and forms, and it is disgraceful how sometimes they get overlooked, I think we need to show more compassion in this country, something we seem to lack at times.
The pitfalls of disabled travel
21 July 2010, 07:47AM
I think this is a fantastic idea and let's hope it does become more 'mainstream' in the future, the I phone I feel is the future anyway, and adding this concept only has to be a good thing.
British Airways and the iPhone
21 July 2010, 10:25AM
Fire Fighters in general deserve our upmost respect at all times, I for one always feel reassure that they are a constant force at an airport and on hand ready to spring into action should the need arise.
Hats off to fire fighters
21 July 2010, 07:50AM
I really don't see the problem here, I for one do not want to be carrying lots of bags if I am travelling a short distance, what is the problem in carrying it on your person? Really cannot see what all the fuss is about!
Stuff your pockets and stuff security
21 July 2010, 07:53AM
I like the concept of carrymyluggage.com, I hate carrying my luggage, the £1.00 charge for use of the toilet is a ridiculous one though, I cannot see how this can work, there will be loads of people fumbling around trying to find a £1 coin, and for other passengers this could be truly annoying.
Ryanair's new baggage charges
21 July 2010, 10:27AM
I think the food on airlines is truly disgusting, all plastic, with no taste, nine times out of ten I end up with a dodgy tummy anyway!
Missing the in-flight meal?
21 July 2010, 05:24PM
I would be interested in hearing posts from frequent disabled travellers. How does the standard of care and facilities for the disabled in other countries compare with the UK?
The many obstacles of travelling with a wheelchair
21 July 2010, 04:50PM
It is sad that reclaiming your baggage from airport carousels is such an ordeal. Politeness seems to go out of the window for many tired and jet-lagged passengers wanting to get out of the airport and home.
Baggage carousels and bad behaviour
21 July 2010, 05:12PM
Electronic boarding passes seem the way forward, sadly high technology iPhone/Blackberry's are out of my price range.
British Airways and the iPhone
21 July 2010, 03:41PM
What a great idea. Helping the environment and one less thing to remember! I think this is a logical step - and another reason why I need an i-phone!
British Airways and the iPhone
21 July 2010, 12:51PM
Yes, I also fume about the sheer ignorance of people and they way they stand completely on top of the carousels, I am only short, and get a few tall people in front and I don't stand a chance! It seems with have a problem with being polite in this country.
Baggage carousels and bad behaviour
20 July 2010, 01:22PM
I have to agree with Philip, O'Leary has gone one step to far and needs to grow up and realise that even bad publicity is not always worth having.
Sir Stellios ahead by a nose
20 July 2010, 01:29PM
On last years annual trip to Spain our excess baggage cost us an extra £120 so I will be travelling very light this year. The sending bags ahead sounds like a good idea but realistically I am not sure it would work, it depends how early the luggage had to be sent!
Ryanair's new baggage charges
20 July 2010, 02:24PM
I can see where Michael O'Leary is coming from. I have suffered delays on easyJet flights in the past year ranging from 1-2 hours. The advertising tactics are below the belt, but he has certainly highlighted his competitors poor punctuality.
Sir Stellios ahead by a nose
20 July 2010, 11:02AM
I think being able to 'text' is not a bad idea, although it would open the floodgates i suspect to people abusing the whole thing, and even if there were rules made for no one being able to have a conversation you can bet your bottom dollar people would find a way round it!!
Mobile phones on planes
20 July 2010, 01:54PM
Viator are offering some very reasonable last minute package deals from around £580 for a 3 day stay in Oberammergau for the Passion Play in August and September.
Oberammergau, Passion Play 2010
20 July 2010, 10:48AM
Could this just be a 'publicity' stunt, and a way of 'grabbing the headlines', I for one cannot imagine travelling like this on an aircraft, it looks completely uncivialised. Where will this end?
Ryanair -Vertical Seating
20 July 2010, 10:44AM
Chris, your comment is a good one, weighing passengers and luggage, and to charge I think is a fair concept, there are always going to be loopholes and people will always 'bend the rules as much as they can in order to avoid being charged.
Stuff your pockets and stuff security
20 July 2010, 03:43PM
What a fantastic idea, fewer bits of paper can only be a good thing as far as I am concerned. I think this could a very positive thing.
British Airways and the iPhone
20 July 2010, 10:52AM
I have been on several flights where my seat has been continually kicked and especially on long haul I dread it when I see parents approaching with young children and sit behind me, I do think sometimes parents are oblivious to their child's behaviour, but relent in saying that I feel its a difficult situation to be in, in such a restricted space for several hours.
Are we there yet Mum?
20 July 2010, 10:54AM
It is an uncomfortable experience being next to 'an overweight' person on a aircraft, for both actual person and the one sitting next to them, I do feel the airline needs to consider this aspect too.
Too big for his seat
20 July 2010, 04:53PM
This could get out of control and the amount passengers are taking on board aircrafts, surely there are weight restrictions? Ryan air seemed to have shot themselves in the foot of this one.
Stuff your pockets and stuff security
20 July 2010, 05:07PM
I find children really irritating on flights in general, the parents have no consideration for other passengers, all too many times I have been subjected to kids climbing over me continuously during the flight, and parents making half hearted attempts to retrieve them. Its not the children always, but the parents that are a problem.
Are we there yet Mum?
20 July 2010, 05:09PM
I hate long haul flights and I agree it would be fantastic if they could provide better 'in flight kits' but I do feel that is far down their list of priorities in the current economic climate.
And so to Sleep ...
20 July 2010, 01:18PM
I think this time Ryanair have really lost the plot. When looking at the vertical seats I can't believe that it would be a safe way to travel and I would definatley want to travel like that no matter how cheap it was!
Ryanair -Vertical Seating
20 July 2010, 04:51PM
This all sounds good, but surely they cannot discontinue paper boarding passes, there will be a lot of old people out there that would be very frightened of this technology.
British Airways and the iPhone
20 July 2010, 05:04PM
Virgin in my view would be the airline to do this, their service is second to none, I feel as those above me, that the economy has to stabilise before they even contemplate this however.
Premium quality business-only airlines
20 July 2010, 05:00PM
I for one love this idea, being able to travel at a much reduced cost is very appealing, bring it on Ryan Air!
Ryanair - What price standing?
20 July 2010, 04:56PM
I would be very concerned at letting a child travel like this, I think they would find it a very frightening experience in general, I expect there would be parents out there that would see it as a way of cheap travel and wouldn't take into account what their children's feelings were to this.
Ryanair -Vertical Seating