Price fixing accusations at BA

Shares in British Airways have fallen sharply after allegations over passenger ticket prices and fuel surcharges.
Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/5104946.stm

Record fines for motorists

It has been reported that the poor motorist has been well and truly hammered this past year by parking charges and fines reaching an unbelievable £1.2 billion reflecting an 82 per cent increase over the past nine years.
Read more at… http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/22/npark22.xml

Lounge Around this Summer with Parking4less

Going on holiday this Summer and dreading the commotion at the busy airport? Book an airport lounge with Parking4less and start your Summer holiday relaxed and ready to fly.
Parking4less offer airport lounges from £13.50 per person at over 15 UK airports including Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Heathrow.
Entry to an airport lounge guarantees a comfortable haven in which to escape the hustle and bustle of the teeming airport. Most airport lounges provide high speed internet access, magazines and up to date newspapers, fax and telephone facilities for customer use and all drinks and snacks (excluding champagne) are complimentary. You can use an airport lounge for up to three hours prior to your flight - so put your feet up and enjoy a magazine or newspaper whilst waiting for your flight to board.
This Summer treat yourself and add an airport lounge to your holiday package on 0870 844 4204.

Day Rooms at Gatwick Hilton

Are you flying through the night and getting into Gatwick in the morning? Do you really need to rest before you start your holiday in the UK? – The Hilton at Gatwick are offering day rooms at really cheap rates - you can rest up between 0900 and 1800 for just £81.08.Day rooms at the Gatwick Hilton are bookable throughout the week for single, double and twin rooms. A day room is ideal if you have flown in long haul and need to rest before your journey home. Business travellers find our cheap hilton day rooms invaluable - prepare for you meeting in the comfort of a Hilton room and arrive refreshed and lively!
Day rooms are much in demand so plan your journey in advance - Don't brave it out... Book a day Room at the Hilton.The Hilton is the only Gatwick hotel offering Day rooms bookable with Parking4less at:
http://www.parking4less.co.uk/gatwick_hilton_hotel.htm

Exclusive Deal for un-named hotels at Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester Airports

Top class airport hotels are offering us an exclusive deal - The rates are so cheap that the name of the hotel is withheld until after your booking is made. The offer applies to selected 3 and 4 star hotels at the airports mentioned above.

If you are looking for a cheap UK airport hotel search for hotel on line as usual - on the first page you will see the named hotels and then, if there is availability, you will see "Luxury 4 Star Hotel', '4 Star Hotel' or '3 star Hotel.

Rest assured that you will be booking one of the top hotels close to the Airport and will receive a guaranteed saving on the normal selling price.

Hotel packages include those with leisure facilities, hotel stay with parking for 8 or 15 days and room only deal - all are subject to availability. Visit Parking4less to get a quote.

More Monarch flights to Tenerife

Monarch Airlines has doubled its Luton to Tenerife South service to eight flights per week for the summer. If you could do with a Tenerife tonic visit http://www.flymonarch.com

Airparks Winter Offer - just £19.50 for 1, 2 or even 3 weeks parking!

This Winter Parking4less are offering a fantastic deal on parking at Airparks' Birmingham, Cardiff, East Midlands, Luton and Manchester Airparks airport parking sites.

You can book Park Mark recognised, secured parking with friendly, professional service at Airparks Services from just £19.50 for 1, 2 or 3 weeks parking for the period between November 2006 and March 2007.

This unbeatable Parking4less offer is only available at Airparks brand parking sites at Birmingham Airparks, Cardiff Airparks, East Midlands Airparks, Luton Airparks and Manchester Airparksw where value for money secured Airparks airport parking and professional service can be found.

Airparks serve their customers with courtesy and respect, ensuring your visit to Airparks is as easy and reassuring as possible. Airparks' transfers run regularly from the Airparks' parking sites, getting you and your luggage to the airport quickly and efficiently. The Airparks staff are keen to help in any way possible, from battery recharges to jump starts.

The security measures at Airparks sites include security fencing and floodlighting, with 24 hour patrols and CCTV coverage. So when you leave your car with Airparks you can be sure it is in very safe hands.

New Salzburg route from BA with great introductory offer

To celebrate their new route to Salzburg BA are offering a great deal: book before 19 July and you can fly from Gatwick to Salzburg from just £29 one way, including all taxes, fees and charges.
This offer has no restricted travel dates so when you go is up to you. Flights will run 5 times a week and the route opens on 1 December.
This introductory offer is for a limited time only, so don't delay, book your flights now at http://www.ba.com

Exclusive Deal for un-named hotels at Heathrow, Gatwick, Glasgow and Manchester Airports

Top class airport hotels are offering us an exclusive deal - The rates are so cheap that the name of the hotel is withheld until after your booking is made. The offer applies to selected 3 and 4 star hotels at the airports mentioned above.
If you are looking for a cheap UK airport hotel search our site for a hotel on line as usual - on the first page you will see the named hotels and then, if there is availability, you will see "Luxury 4 Star Hotel', '4 Star Hotel' or '3 star Hotel.
Rest assured that you will be booking one of the top hotels close to the Airport and will receive a guaranteed saving on the normal selling price.
Hotel packages include those with leisure facilities, hotel stay with parking for 8 or 15 days and room only deal - all are subject to availability.
Check it out at http://www.parking4less.co.uk/airport_hotels.htm

World Cup affects travel bookings

My Travel along with other travel companies have reported summer bookings are considerably down on last year as people have opted to stay at home for the World Cup in favour of holidaying abroad. Hopefully this means the opportunity of a bargain cheap flight or holiday for those wishing to get away from football fever. Booking online also offers up to a further 10% discount. Why not take a look at http://www.mytravel.com

Croatia’s making a comeback

With fabulous beaches, countless bays, natural harbours, ports and marinas Croatia is once again attracting British holidaymakers. Easyjet are now offering cheap flights to both Rijeka and Split.
Details and booking at http://www.easyjet.com/en/book/new_to_croatia.html

Holiday spends and how you can help to make your money go further

It has been reported that British holidaymakers will pay a whopping £607m in "hidden" charges for using their credit and debit cards abroad this year. These charges includes loading fees (use your credit card or debit card to make a purchase and you will pay a foreign currency or loading fee, typically £2.75 for every £100), transaction fees, cash machine withdrawal fees and "dynamic currency conversion" charges – instead of billing you in local currency, retailers, restaurateurs and hoteliers convert your bill into sterling often applying extremely unfavourable currency exchange and commission rates in the process. It’s perfectly legitimate and happens mostly in France, Italy and Spain. Before signing your credit card slip or entering your PIN check if it is marked sterling or GBP and ask to pay in local currency instead.

It's worth knowing that Nationwide Building Society don’t charge when using their credit card abroad.

Check the currency cover on your travel insurance policy before you buy. Most companies limit cover for cash to £250 if it is lost or stolen so don’t take more than the limit in currency.

If you exchange currency abroad keep the receipts in case you need to make an insurance claim. Also by hanging onto the receipt you may be able to change back any unused money with no charge.

There are many high street banks who offer commission free deals with currency delivered to you at home. Also look for deals on the internet. Don’t forget to get your cash organised as leaving it until you get to the airport will cost.

Mobile call rates from abroad set to fall

At long last the cost of making mobile calls from abroad is set to fall. Vodafone, T-mobile and Orange have launched a price war over their ‘roaming charges’.
Vodafone’s International CallSaver scheme saves upto 60% off calls made when abroad. T-mobile have announced a new flat rate of 55p per minute in 29 European countries and North America from 1st June.
Orange are due to cut their costs by 25% and O2 is also expected to announce new charges in the next few weeks.
These changes are due to a recent damning report from the European Commission which accuses the mobile phone industry of charging travellers exorbitant rates. The EC is planning new rules that will scrap international roaming charges.

Current roaming charges:

Vodafone:

Vodafone charges users at least 75p a minute to make calls to the UK from most European Union countries. Calls from Ireland to the UK cost at least 60p a minute.

O2:

Mobile phone users are charged 85p a minute for calls between most EU destinations, including the UK. Calls from Ireland to the UK cost 50p a minute. O2 also offers bolt-on packages enabling regular users to pay less per minute.

Orange:

Calls made abroad to other European countries cost between 70p and £1.10 a minute.
Receiving a call costs between 30p and 55p a minute. Making a call from Ireland to the UK costs 40p a minute.

T-Mobile:

Users are charged 75p a minute for calls made from outside the UK but inside Europe to other EU destinations. Calls between Ireland and the UK are charged at 50p a minute. The company also offers packages for regular users.T-Mobile will now charge 55p per minute for mobile phone users calling home, whether in Europe or North America.

All charges based on ‘pay monthly’ contracts

Have you got your new European Health Insurance Card?

On 31 December 2005, your E111 ceased to be valid. From 1 January 2006, you will need a European Health Insurance Card to receive healthcare that becomes necessary during your visit to an EEA country or Switzerland.
For details and to apply for an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) please visit www.ehic.org.uk
You can apply for the EHI Card online and should receive it in around 7 days.
Unlike the E111 the EHIC is valid for 5 years.

Travelling to the airport by car?

Don't be stressed before you've even got to the airport. Here are some simple hints and tips for before you set off and on planning your airport journey to help avoid trouble and delays.
http://www.parking4less.co.uk/articles/travelling_to_the_airport_by_car.html

New Ryanair Special Cheap Flight Deals

Ryanair have just announced new special deals on certain routes. Fly from 99p (one way) excluding taxes, fees and charges for travel from Monday 3rd July to Wednesday 25th October.

Check it out at http://www.ryanair.co.uk

Parking for Disabled Badge Holders

It's not easy to find information online about UK airport parking facilities for diabled badge holders. I've put together an article to help people. I hope you find it useful and let me know if any of the information has changed since being published. Click here for article on disabled parking

Do you know your rights on delayed flights?

Unfortunately flight delays along with overbooking and cancellations are all too common. New EU regulations from February give passengers the opportunity to demand greater compensation. The new rules will apply to all scheduled and charter flights, including budget airlines.

Here is a brief outline of what you are entitled to should you find yourself in one of these frustrating situations:-

Cancellations

Short flights (under 930 miles) £178
Medium flights (930-2,175 miles) £285
Long flights (more than 2,175 miles) £428

The above figures are halved if you are offered an alternative flight within two hours (for short flights), three hours (medium) and four hours (long).
Along with the above passengers are also entitled to a full refund of their fare and a free flight back to where their journey started or alternative transport to their destination.

Delays

Passengers with a delay of more than two hours on short flights are entitled to complimentary drinks or meals, three hour delay on medium and four hour delay on long-haul.
If your delay is for more than five hours you are entitled to meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation with transfer or alternative transport to your destination.

Please note however, airlines do not have to offer compensation if flights are cancelled or delayed due to problems beyond their control e.g. strike action, bad weather or air traffic control problems.

For full details go to http://ec.europa.eu/transport/air/rules/rights/index_en.htm