This weekend goes to be very busy (Picture: Pexels)
As hundreds of thousands of Brits gear up for a festive flight extravaganza, journey specialists subject a stark warning: the enjoyment of gifting might flip right into a monetary nightmare, with sudden baggage charges tipping the scales at a hefty £100 or extra. Navigating the labyrinthine guidelines of airline check-in, passengers could also be unaware that even wrapped Christmas presents fall prey to the stringent 10-item 100ml liquid and digital hand baggage restrictions.
Caught in these unwelcome snares might imply a dear checked-bag add-on, or worse, saying goodbye to treasured items that break the 100ml mark or cluster a number of gadgets right into a breach of the rules.
With final yr’s statistic of twenty-two.5 million British globetrotters winging their technique to distant family members, Hadleigh Diamond, the journey sage and business director of luxurious airport transit agency SCS Chauffeurs, delivers his journey commandments for crossing borders with Yuletide parcels.
Hadleigh mentioned: “Airways are cracking down on baggage allowances and checked-luggage charges can shortly add up – particularly when budgets are already stretched by the rising price of dwelling. When you’re travelling overseas with Christmas presents this yr, packing sensible is crucial.”
Travellers have been given a stark warning about potential pitfalls when packing Christmas items in hand baggage this yr. Priceless presents like alcohol bottles, perfumes over 100ml, and even present units of journey safe-sized gadgets may very well be seized by airport safety or incur a hefty check-in payment of £65 per particular person.
How a lot further baggage prices
- EasyJet – £40
- Ryanair – £65
- British Airways – £75 to £95
- Wizz – minimal £48
Worst Presents for hand baggage
- Magnificence present units
- Toy weapons
- Full-size bottles of alcohol
- Toys with batteries
- Kitchen knife units
Many will probably be heading off this weekend (Picture: PA)
Hadleigh suggested: “Don’t wrap presents beforehand. Safety might have to examine gadgets, and unwrapping items on the airport could be inconvenient for each you and people additionally ready to get their baggage checked.
“Use present luggage as an alternative of wrapping paper. Safety checks might require wrapped presents to be unwrapped, so go for present luggage to save lots of you any effort and time.
“Test prohibited gadgets lists. Sure items, like alcohol or aerosols, may have restrictions. Test the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s tips and the foundations for what gadgets are prohibited, relying in your vacation spot.
“Think about delivery items on to your vacation spot. Use Boots click on and gather service to gather gadgets after safety.”
Brits with a case of wanderlust are set to flock overseas in droves this festive season, with 37% planning abroad jaunts from mid-December to early January – a threefold improve from final yr’s mere 11%. The journey business is bracing for ‘Flyaway Friday’ on December 20, tipped because the busiest day for vacation departures, with airports gearing up for a surge in passengers and potential snarl-ups.
Spain, Italy, and France are topping the charts because the go-to locations for Christmas 2024, reveals a examine by luxurious journey agency Scott Dunn, which canvassed opinions from 2,000 UK adults and sifted by way of its personal reserving figures. With the anticipated spike in travellers, specialists advise meticulous planning to sidestep the approaching bedlam.
Matthew Corridor, from airport switch firm hoppa, suggests a number of methods to dodge the ‘inevitable chaos’ and avert flight mishaps.
Matthew advises: “At the start, it’s best to plan your path to the airport nicely prematurely and permit extra time than normal to get there. Whereas airports usually have unbelievable public transport hyperlinks, automotive parking services and even park-and-ride providers, you would face sudden delays and massive queues, particularly if you happen to haven’t pre-booked your tickets or area.
“If you’re taking maintain baggage, take into account making use of twilight baggage drop-offs, which lets you safely and conveniently drop your baggage off the evening earlier than in alternate for a small payment. For individuals who stay close to the airport, this might save numerous stress on the day, that means you’re higher in a position to sail by way of to safety as quickly as you arrive.
“If you’re notably aware of time or the consolation of any passengers you’re travelling with, you could wish to spend money on fast-track passes, which may also help make your expertise at airport safety faster. These aren’t often costly within the grand scheme of issues, and may provide a bit of additional peace of thoughts.”
Rights to compensation in case your flight is delayed
In case your flight is delayed or cancelled when you get to the airport, there are specific client compensation rights to pay attention to.
Matthew mentioned: “Though the foundations can appear quite long-winded and complicated, passengers ought to concentrate on their rights to assert compensation, bills and refunds for affected flights. Since leaving the EU, UK flights are nonetheless coated by a regulation that protects passenger’s rights for compensation when confronted with journey delays that aren’t their fault.
“The worth of the compensation will depend on issues just like the delay size, journey time, and authentic ticket price, however you’re coated for not less than some a reimbursement in case your flight is delayed for greater than three hours; your flight is cancelled lower than 14 days earlier than the date of departure; you’ve missed a connecting flight as a consequence of delay or cancellation otherwise you’re denied boarding as a consequence of overbooking.
“The regulation (UK261) applies in case you are departing from a UK airport or arriving at a UK airport, and non-UK connecting flights can nonetheless be coated in some circumstances too. If you’re affected, it’s best to file any claims immediately with the airline supplier, who may have a bit on their web site with a claims kind and any directions you could full it.”
Jonathan Nicholson, spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, mentioned: “To avoid wasting your self further trouble on the airport, be an ideal current packer. This Christmas concentrate on any lithium batteries going into your luggage, even when they’re gift-wrapped. To guard passenger security we’re reminding individuals what they need to know earlier than they go.”
