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Nicky

Stealing the thunder of London City Airport (LCY), which had been primed to land the honour, the Darlington-based hub has pipped its bigger rival thanks to the arrival of state-of-the-art C3 scanners.

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In line with new rules from the CAA, it’s part of a nationwide rollout of these CT scanners (similar to what you’d find in leading hospitals) which are so precise that they eliminate the need to separate liquids from bags and suitcases.

Purveyors of miniature shampoo bottles be damned: passengers can now leave liquids of up to two litres in their bags while clearing security, as well as laptops — which will be music to the ear of weary business travellers accustomed to conveyer belt rummaging.

It will also minimise the chances of your small suitcase being diverted onto a separate conveyer belt and watching on as a stranger rifles through your delicates to recover a rogue bottle of miniature tanning lotion.

It’s been a long time coming, too. The previous guidelines had been implemented almost two decades ago, all the way back in 2006, following a thwarted terror plot involving explosives hidden inside drinks bottles.

As well as speeding up passenger journeys through security, the new rules are a huge aviation milestone, and even more impressive when you factor in that it’s first been implemented by a regional hub, well before the big boys.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen has called the early implementation of the scanners a real win for the region: “Some airports have announced they’re looking to end the restriction in time for the Easter holidays, but we’re one step ahead in having already scrapped the limit – showing how local, regional airports are going further, faster for the people that they serve.

“Passenger safety and experience is front-and-centre of all we do at Teesside Airport, and these scanners play a massive part in both.”

London City, which has already tested the new scanners with passengers, is still on track to drop the old liquid rules by Easter.  Bosses at the airport have said they plan to have this next-gen hardware installed throughout its security areas by the end of this month.

Related: London City Airport to scrap 100ml liquid rule by Easter

And if the rule scrapping has an instant impact this Easter, we might see more airports take the leap as early as they look to ease congestion in their terminals this summer and avoid a repeat of the queues that went hand-in-hand with the Great Holiday Rush of 2022.

As it stands, however, Teesside, which operates international flights to Iceland, Greece, Turkey, Spain, The Netherlands and more, continues to punch well above its weight.

Featured image by SOLSTOCK/GETTY

Instead, governor Wayan Koster said that tourists would only be allowed to rent cars from a travel agency or local tourism service.

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It comes amid a backlash against motorbike-riding tourists on the Indonesian island, where police say more than 171 foreign nationals violated traffic orders in the first two weeks of March alone (from late February to early March). Some tourists also use fake licence plates, police said.

“If you are a tourist, then act like a tourist,” said the governor in a press conference this week.

He added that tourists are “disorderly and they misbehave” and claimed the ban would help meet standards to “ensure quality and dignified tourism”.

“[Tourists should] use the vehicles prepared by travel agents, instead of roaming around with motorbikes, without wearing T-shirts and clothes, with no helmets, violating [traffic rules], and even without a licence,” he said.

Related: How to Get to Bali With One Stop Using Points and Miles

Head of Bali regional police, inspector general of police, Putu Jayan Danu Putra, emphasised the need to ensure tourists also follow the rules when renting cars.

“We provide education to rental vehicles that will be rented out to foreigners to always comply with existing traffic rules,” he explained.

News and videos have been widely shared on social media in recent years of foreign tourists flouting road rules in Bali. They include a clip of a Russian Instagrammer who flew his motorbike off a dock as part of a stunt in 2020. An Australian woman was also filmed — and widely shared — shouting at police after they stopped her for riding a motorbike without a helmet.

There have also been fatalities. In April, Englishman Michael Andrew, 36, was found dead in a swamp with his scooter after reportedly visiting a nightclub in the Legian area, South Kuta, Badun. There is no evidence, however, that he broke any laws before his death and is believed to have been the victim of a road accident.

More recently, a Ukrainian man died after losing control of his motorbike in January 2023, before a Russian man was killed in a moto-collision with a local person while drunk.

Time will tell if the new rule will deter tourists from visiting the island, which is banking on tourism aiding its bounceback after a bruising pandemic. Tourism traditionally contributes to around 80% of Bali’s economy.

Related: 27 Stunning Indonesian Islands You Should Visit That Aren’t Bali

“Further study is needed; we will then correct the wrongs,” Bali’s deputy governor, Tjok Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, told local media. “All this time, seeing the riders that I have observed on the ground, they can rent without having a licence, which then leads to troubles.”

Last year, more than 2.1 million tourists arrived through the island’s international, compared to 6.2 million 2019, according to Ngurah Rai Immigration Office. But while that may seem a fraction of pre-pandemic times, it reflects a significant jump from the 34 people who arrived on the island in 2021.

Of the 2.1 million foreign visitors in 2022, almost a third were Australian (626,783 people), followed by tourists from India (184,702), Singapore (137,470), the U.K. (130,312) and the U.S. (111,495).

Bali has also fast become a haven for displaced Russians and Ukrainians fleeing the war their countries are fighting at home. Russians now make up one of the biggest groups of foreign visitors to Indonesia — about ten times the number of Ukrainians — many of whom sought refuge from the economic fallout of the war and the threat of conscription.

According to figures compiled by Bali’s international airport, roughly 20,000 Russians have been arriving in Bali each month since the Kremlin declared a partial mobilisation of military reservists in September.

As a result, the governor has announced a plan to revoke visa-on-arrival permits for tourists from Russia and Ukraine because of misconduct. People from the two countries have “flocked to Bali” but are not abiding by local regulations, he said.

“Why these two countries? These two are at war, so it is unsafe in their country, and they flock to Bali. Many of them come to Bali, not for leisure, but to find comfort, including for work,” Koster was quoted as saying in local media.

FEATURED IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES.

The short answer is that there isn’t one — but speculation abounds. Here, we’ll look at some of the theories, ranging from the origins of language to plain ol’ superstition.

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Why are ships female?

Search this question on Google, and all the results restate the same two probable explanations. One is that ships were originally dedicated to and protected by goddesses. The other is that “navis,” the Latin word for “ship,” is female.

What isn’t directly expressed is that in the early maritime days, ships were commanded and crewed by men who spent months at sea without a woman in sight. So, the ship served as a motherly figure or companion.

I wanted a more definitive explanation, so I contacted Peter Knego, a journalist and ocean liner historian who runs the YouTube channel Peter Knego’s MidShipCinema. If anyone knew the answer, it would be him.

“I can confirm that there is no set reason for this, other than it being a longstanding tradition,” Knego said. “The most common explanation is that [it] has its roots in the Latin name for ships, but the irony is that in some Latin languages like French, Italian and Spanish … ships are actually [male].

“Another theory is that ships are named for female entities but many … were clearly named for men. There is also a superstition that the ‘she’ designation is protective, but then how does that hold for ships named for males, like many warships, which are named for military leaders?”

Breaking with tradition

Not everyone upholds this tradition and refers to ships as female. Lloyd’s Register — the world’s first marine classification society, which has been around for more than 260 years — now officially refers to vessels as “it” instead of “she.” Many cruise writers take this approach, including the ones at TPG.

The industry has already broken with other gender-based traditions. Historically, women were asked to serve as godmothers and bless new cruise ships, harkening back to the idea of goddesses watching over vessels at sea. However, in 2015, rapper Armando Christian Perez (known as Pitbull) served as the cruise industry’s first-ever godfather when he took on the role for the debut of Norwegian Cruise Line‘s Norwegian Escape.

In 2017, the line asked popular New York City radio personality Elvis Duran to do the honours for Norwegian Bliss.

If the maritime community at large can break with tradition and have godfathers, it can certainly be equally progressive and start referring to ships with the gender-neutral pronoun “it.”

Is it offensive to call a cruise ship ‘she’?

For years, I assumed that calling cruise ships “she” insinuated that women are merely vessels to be controlled by men.

The terminology takes on a new meaning with the rise of female captains and bridge officers, such as Celebrity Cruises’ Captain Kate McCue. Captain Kate and her all-female bridge crew told me on a 2020 cruise during International Women’s Day that they think it’s fitting for ships to be female. Ships are strong and protective, they pointed out. They’re formidable and can weather even the toughest storms.

Perhaps I need to reframe my thinking.

Bottom line

Although one or two theories are strong contenders, there’s no official reason why the maritime sector considers cruise ships female. While some major official entities use nongendered language (“it” versus “she”), it’s still largely acceptable to refer to ships in feminine terms.

Remember: No matter which gender you assign it, don’t ever refer to a ship as a boat.

Featured image by STEVE DUNLOP/CELEBRITY CRUISES

As of 9 June, the low-cost colossus will operate to Istanbul Airport twice a week across the year, bolstering its Turkish-bound services from MAN alongside flights to Antalya and Dalaman.

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It will be the first time easyJet has flown to Istanbul Airport — having previously operated to Sabiha Gökçen from Luton and Basel in 2006, and Gatwick in 2008. The airline ended the routes from Luton and Basel in 2014, and from Gatwick in 2011. The new Istanbul addition will take the airline’s short-haul number of possible short-haul destinations to an impressive 156.

Hitting those long-weekend sweet spots, Easyjet will fly from Manchester to Istanbul on Mondays and Fridays and has fares from as low as £100 return in mid-June.

You can find some wonderful deals through June throughout the peak of summer.

It’s certainly a more affordable alternative to Turkish Airlines, which also operates from Manchester to Istanbul but will cost double that in mid-June, coming in at a sizeable £235 for return tickets in economy lite.

Even normally low-cost Pegasus Airlines, which flies from Manchester to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), will set you back £235 for a pair of tickets in mid-June.

Related: Millions of pounds worth of COVID-19 travel vouchers will expire this year if they’re not claimed

There are, however, more days of operation with Turkish Airlines, which offers triple-daily flights. Naturally, if you’re travelling for business or not as flexible with your holiday dates, you may struggle to make it work, but even if you want to mix and match, the one-way easyJet fares from £55 are well worth the trouble.

Likely to operate with an A320neo, the new MAN-IST route is a great way for U.K. travellers to connect with one of the most beguiling cities on earth that’s a historical gateway brimming with hectic markets, outstanding cuisine and first-class hospitality.

Grab tickets at easyJet while they’re hot.

Featured image by ANTON PETRUS/GETTY IMAGES

In a bid to buck the trend of soaring train fares and coax passengers back from coaches, the rail operator is offering “Superfare” tickets between Euston and Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Preston for between £12 and £22 one-way.

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But there is one catch: you must be flexible about the time you wish to travel.

How does it work?

It’s essentially about filling empty seats that may not otherwise be sold — seats Avanti now puts on “standby”.

“We match you to an empty seat,” Avanti promises. “You get a bargain Superfare ticket on a fast and comfy Avanti West Coast train.”

You’ll need to book your seat at least seven days in advance and up to 21 days before travel.

Related: Here’s when European airports and trains are set to go on strike this month

To qualify for the deal, you cannot choose the exact time at which you want to travel. Rather, you must select a morning, afternoon or evening travel window.

Then, 24 hours before you depart, Avanti will let you know which train you’ve been assigned to and send you your ticket.

Where can I go, and how much is it?

There are four routes available with the scheme, at varying costs*:

• London Euston to/from Birmingham: £12
• London Euston to/from Liverpool: £15
• London Euston to/from Manchester: £20
• London Euston to/from Preston: £22

*all prices are for single tickets, in either direction.

Related: 5 new train journeys we’re excited about in 2023

Normally, a standard advance single from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly costs £40, while one to Liverpool Lime Street is £39 and one to Preston is £37.

However, while a standard advance single From Euston to Birmingham with Avanti costs £16, passengers who choose to travel with West Midlands Trains can pay as little as £8 for the hour-and-a-half trip — £4 less than Avanti’s Superfare (West Midlands Trains only run as far as Birmingham from London).

How are the ‘departure windows’ worked out?

If you pick a morning, the earliest you may have to travel is 7 a.m., while the latest evening train would depart at 11 p.m. and arrive in the early hours.

The windows are classed as follows:

• Morning: 7 a.m. to 11.59 a.m.
• Afternoon: Midday to 4.59 p.m.
• Evening: 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Are there any dates I cannot use a Superfare?

Yes. Avanti has reserved a number of so-called “blackout dates” on which the special fares will not be valid.

This includes the Easter weekend (6-11 April) and the three days leading up to the early May bank holiday (28-30 April).

For a full list of “blackout days”, see the full T&Cs on Avanti’s website.

Any more strings attached?

Yes. There are several caveats in the small print, chiefly:

• The trial lasts until 30 April 2023, so prices are set only until that date.
• All tickets are subject to availability.
• You must travel on the train on which you’re booked for the entire route (no getting off early to change trains, for example).
• You can buy up to nine tickets per booking, but Avanti says it cannot guarantee that all seats will be together.
• You cannot use railcards or child discounts to bring the price down further.
• Superfare tickets do not count towards Club Avanti rewards.

How do I book?

You cannot book Superfare tickets by the usual means. Instead, you must visit the scheme’s dedicated website: www.avantisuperfare.co.uk.

Then, follow the steps as described above.

Why is Avanti offering this ticket now?

The deal comes at a time when the conversation around train ticket prices intensifies, with critics claiming that many ordinary travellers are beginning to be priced out of rail travel by soaring fares.

Train chiefs fear a customer exodus towards more affordable modes of transport, like coaches. While coaches typically take twice as long as trains to reach their destinations, they also tend to be half the price or less — a tradeoff many travellers are increasingly willing to take.

As mentioned above, a standard advance ticket from London Euston to Manchester Piccadilly costs £40 (subject to availability), and takes two hours. On the other hand, a National Express coach from London Victoria to Manchester coach station starts at £8.90 and takes around four and a half hours.

This, then, is being viewed as an attempt to lure those travellers back to the railway while avoiding losing the people still willing to pay for a specific train under the current Advance ticket system.

Sarah Copley, Executive Director for Commercial at Avanti, said: “We want to give our customers more cost-effective ticketing options in an innovative way when travelling with us, as well as encouraging more people to take the train.”

FEATURED IMAGE COURTESY OF AVANTI WEST COAST.

I love travelling alone and have had some fantastic experiences abroad all alone. In fact, sometimes I actually prefer travelling alone to travelling with others.

Here are reasons I love travelling alone, as well as tips to help you plan your first solo trip.

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Why you should consider a solo trip

If you haven’t yet considered taking a trip alone, there are several reasons to think about it.

First of all, you can have complete freedom and control to do whatever you want, whenever you want on the trip.

Want to sleep in until noon and then order room service and binge-watch “Real Housewives” to relax? No problem. Want to be up at 6 a.m. to watch the sunrise during a peaceful run to a scenic lookout? You can do that, too. Love museums? Spend all day in one. Hate museums? Skip them completely. Want to take 100 selfies? You can.

You don’t have to do anything you don’t want just because someone you would travel with wants to do it.

Also, there’s a greater chance you will meet new people when travelling alone as you’re more open to talking to strangers rather than being closed off by only talking to the people you are travelling with. I’ve also found that being the lone foreigner at a bar or cafe quickly leads to conversation.

On the practical side, solo trips cost less. Sure, you’re not splitting expenses, but you also have half the expenses in many cases. You may score amazing airfare rates or other travel deals if you only book for one person and have flexible dates. If you’re using points for your flight — especially in a premium cabin — it’s significantly easier to find one award seat than two or more.

Additionally, you may be surprised at your own capabilities after planning and navigating your first solo trip. You’ll naturally become a better decision-maker as you decide what to do each day, rather than relying on a travel companion to make choices for you.

Related: 6 tips for meeting people when travelling solo

There will be challenges

It won’t always be easy.

Travelling on your own isn’t perfect. You may become lonely if you are travelling for an extended period of time, especially at mealtimes. If you enjoy your own company, it may be easier. However, it might be difficult for someone who likes constantly being around others.

Dinnertime can be the hardest as that is when people are most likely to sit down for a meal rather than grab something on the run. Don’t feel self-conscious if you want to take a book or tablet to entertain you — remember, for business travellers eating dinner alone is a pretty normal part of the job and they manage fine.

It can also become exhausting having to make every single decision yourself and solve every problem from as simple as “Where can I get a coffee from?” through to “My flight is cancelled and no one speaks English, how on earth do I get home?” If you are an indecisive person, you may struggle with this.

Another downside might be if you have an amazing, unique experience, it may not feel so special if you have no one to share it and remember it with. For example, that terrifying theme park roller coaster that made you almost faint may not make as good a story if no one else was there.

Finally, even if you keep busy as a traveller, there’s plenty of downtime while travelling. You may find you have even more free time than you can fill without the natural conversations of travelling with others.

Related: The 6 best cruise lines for solo travellers

Best places for solo travel

For starters, if you can join a group tour, just about any destination can be suitable for solo travel.

I’m not talking about booking a half-day tour online for the next day and hoping the group will be friendly (or will have other solo travellers). These are multi-day tours where you travel together. I’ve made lifelong friends doing these tours where you are thrown together with complete strangers in an unusual setting.

Related: 9 destinations you can only visit on a tour

If you aren’t joining a tour, there are quite a few destinations suited to travelling alone.

Big cities that are easy to navigate with plenty to do

You’ll want to keep yourself busy if travelling alone in a city, so pick one with plenty to do. At the same time, if you have to do all the navigating yourself, aim for those cities where it’s relatively easy to get around. London, Hong Kong, Dubai and New York? Yes.

Relaxing beach destinations to switch off and unwind

If you’re feeling burnt out at home, perhaps been pulling monster hours at work and just want to flop down somewhere sunny and recharge, you might be struggling to find someone that can come with you, especially if it is at short notice. Don’t be afraid to relax alone. You can lose yourself in a book, top up your tan and take an afternoon nap every day if you wish. I love going to Mallorca in Spain in summer to do exactly that. You can return home recharged and ready to dive back into normal life. Even if there’s no beach where you’re looking, if there’s great weather and a fancy resort you can lie by the pool, order a cocktail, fire up a podcast you’ve been meaning to get to and just chill.

Let’s be real: We all need a good self-care trip from time to time.

Destinations with great hostel and backpacker scenes

I feel a bit too old to sleep in a dorm with strangers at my age (late 30s). But many hostels will have private rooms with ensuite bathrooms like a basic hotel room. The benefit is that they will likely be filled with people like you — fun, social travellers who are up for a chat and a laugh. There may be other solo travellers like you, looking to hang out with someone like you. Somewhere like Bali or Berlin is filled with hostels, while somewhere like Kuwait or Canberra is not.

Do your research on the scene before booking the flight and don’t be afraid to book a boujee private room in a hostel in the hope of meeting other travellers.

Consider cruising solo

I asked Gene Sloan, TPG’s senior cruise and travel reporter, who has sailed on more than 150 ships about cruising alone. He said:

“A cruise is a wonderful option for a solo traveller. A hallmark of cruising is that it is a very social type of travel, and solo travellers on cruises generally have no trouble mixing and mingling. Cruisers, in general, are very social people. In fact, many people cruise specifically to meet other people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been sitting alone in a corner of a cruise ship lounge, minding my own business, when another passenger (or two, or five) stopped by and struck up a conversation”.

However, Gene notes that solo cruising can be expensive. He shares that the price for most cabins is based on two people occupying a cabin, so solo cruisers will often pay more on a per-person basis than two people occupying that same cabin. A growing number of lines have been adding cabins for one. Also, some higher-end lines offer special deals for solo travellers that bring down this extra cost, according to Gene.

If you can find a good deal, consider taking a solo cruise. Chances are you’ll make new friends and get some much-needed time away from life’s many stressors.

Related: Another major cruise line adds solo cabins for the first time — and they have balconies

What destinations aren’t suited to solo travellers?

• Super romantic destinations like Paris, the City of Love, or the Maldives, where you are likely to be surrounded by loved-up honeymooners.
• Family-friendly destinations and activities like theme parks and water parks where you’ll likely be standing in line most of the day with no one to talk to. Although not a theme park, Las Vegas isn’t really designed for solo travellers.
• Cities that are difficult to navigate on your own. If you don’t have a great grasp of Spanish, you might find Havana, Cuba, frustratingly difficult on your own. Moscow, Beijing and Cairo are wonderful on an organised tour but may not be easy to do alone.
• A remote resort you can’t leave if you find it difficult to relax alone for extended periods. If you enjoy your own company and love relaxing by doing nothing, then this will be great to do!

Solo travel tips

Once you have picked a destination that is suited to both your preferred travel style and is suitable for solo travel, here are some tips for making your trip alone memorable.

Firstly, try and be more social and approachable. Avoid the temptation of putting on your headphones and glueing your eyes to your phone whenever you have a free moment. If you see someone else on their own, whether it’s while dining, at your accommodation or at an attraction don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with them. They may be in exactly the same situation as you — hoping to talk to someone but not wanting to make the first move.

You can also use apps to meet up with other like-minded people, whether they are travellers or not. You may wish to consider dating apps but specify you are just looking for friends to hang out with while you travel solo, so there are no expectations from either side. Dating app Bumble actually has a friends-finding app option called Bumble BFF to allow you to match up with others in a non-romantic way.

I won’t lie; mealtimes can be difficult when travelling alone, especially dinner/evening meals. You might feel a bit self-conscious rocking up to a fancy degustation restaurant you’ve read rave reviews about online and asking for a table for one. I’ve found I become the most bored when travelling alone during dinner because I have nothing to do. Don’t be afraid to take a book or an iPad with you for company. Alternatively, ask if you can be seated at the bar — bartenders love a good chat especially if the venue isn’t busy — they may be even more bored than you are.

I have enjoyed hotel breakfasts alone, as it’s a good chance to catch up on the daily news and social media from back home and plan the day ahead. For lunch, I usually grab something to take away that is easy to eat alone. Try not to hide away during dinner time and know this is likely to be by far the hardest part of your solo day.

Push yourself outside your comfort zone. If you’ve ever wanted to do an unusual activity but your family or friends didn’t want to do it with you, then here’s your chance. Ever wanted to go to a risque burlesque show? Here’s your chance. Wanted to bungee jump but everyone else is too scared of heights? Go for it alone.

Bottom line

I’ve had some fantastic solo holidays. For me, the freedom and flexibility to do whatever I want, whenever I want, cannot be underestimated. It’s a true holiday when I wake up when I like and think, “What do I feel like doing today?”

If you want to travel but the only thing holding you back is someone to do it with, I would seriously consider going it alone. If you do, recognise there may be some times when you feel a little alone or bored and devoid of conversation.

Treasure the benefits of travelling alone to compensate for the difficulties. Only do what you want to do and don’t worry about what anyone else is going to think. They’re not there to pass judgement. It’s your trip, and you can do and be anything you want.

Now that is a holiday!

Additional reporting by Becky Blaine

Featured photo by INLIGHTOUT / TWENTY20

Amsterdam Schiphol airport (AMS) is trialling a state-of-the-art technology that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to check passengers’ bags in a scheme that could one day replace old-fashioned human security guards.

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The Dutch hub — which has come under fire in recent months for its failure to get a handle on long security queues — has joined forces with security-tech firm Pangiam to investigate ways of screening hand baggage more quickly and safely.

The collaboration is the latest phase in Pangiam’s “Project DARTMOUTH“, a joint-venture with Google Cloud to bring artificial intelligence and big-data analytics into the airport security sphere.

According to Pangiam, Project DARTMOUTH uses “AI and pattern analysis technologies to digest and analyze vast amounts of data in real-time and identify potential prohibited items in carry-on baggage, checked baggage, airline cargo and shipments.”

Pangiam, which also sells facial-recognition technology to governments, says the technology will allow “powerful data mining and aggregation of data to identify threats not previously detectable to individual security officers.”

Related: Amsterdam Schiphol to extend passenger cap this May due to staff shortages

However, Schiphol airport insisted the aim was not to replace human security guards completely, rather to “support” them in speeding up the security process.

“We are fully committed to recruiting security colleagues and have been increasing the productivity of our security equipment recently, of course without compromising on the quality of security,” said Shiphol’s security chief Philip van Noort. “In the future, this collaboration can contribute to more comfort for travellers thanks to secure and faster hand baggage screening.”

Alexis Long, Head of Project DARTMOUTH at Pangiam, added: “This collaboration allows us to bring the benefits of artificial intelligence to the security checkpoint and improve the process.”

The trial makes Schiphol the first airport in Europe to support Project DARTMOUTH, and said it will be testing its technology on a small scale at first. Then, if it proves successful, it will implement it at scale.

It comes nine months after Schiphol became the first airport in Europe to replace its ageing X-ray machines with CT scanners. The sophisticated next-generation scanners allow security staff to zoom in on items inside travellers’ luggage and rotate the images for close inspection.

But Pangiam says its technology can be fed seamlessly into any existing hardware and equipment, including CT scanners.

The news may relieve regular users of The Netherlands’ busiest airport, where enormous queues, including security lines snaking outside, ongoing staffing struggles, and other operational issues have continued to wreak havoc since last year.

It is one of the last major airports in Europe to still have a cap on the number of passengers allowed through its gates after the surge in post-pandemic travel demand wreaked havoc on operations last year.

FEATURED IMAGE BY SOLSTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES

Now that airlines and airports claim the issues that plagued travellers in 2022 — from post-pandemic staff shortages to flight caps — have at last been sorted, there remains one hurdle that looms large over the travel sector: strikes.

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Why? As the cost of living soars, workers across Europe are demanding pay rises in line with growing inflation. As result, there is currently a wave of industrial disputes across the travel industry, which could mean we’re set for a bumpy few months of strikes, delays and cancellations.

Here’s a rundown of when and where.

NOTE: This page will be updated as new information emerges.

Heathrow strikes / BA cancellations

When: from 31 March to 9 April

From Friday, some 3,000 employees working at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 — including security guards, engineers and firefighters — will walk out in a long-running squabble with Heathrow Airports Ltd (HAL) over pay.

As a result, British Airways, the terminal’s primary occupant, has been forced to cancel some 300 flights — about 32 per day.

Heathrow told passengers that, while the airport will remain open on strike days, “the strikes may affect the journeys of some passengers planning to travel during this period.”

“You can check the status of your flight with your airline for the latest information,” it said, adding: “On strike days, passengers will only be allowed to travel through security with two items of hand baggage. Handbags and laptop bags count as a piece of hand baggage. Your allowances for checked-in luggage remain as advertised by your airline.”

U.K. Border Force strikes

When: Friday 28 April

On Friday 28 April, Border Force staff at airports across Britain will walk out in the latest in a chain of strike action by around 130,000 civil service workers. If the last strike on 15 March is anything to go by, up to 2,000 flights could be affected.

And although the U.K. government aims to minimise disruption, it warns that those travelling on 28 April and early the next day should be prepared to face longer wait times at customs.

The latest strike action comes after members from 186 different employers from across the civil service were balloted last week, the PCS union said. “Our members are not backing down in this dispute,” said PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka. “We know our strikes have already caused serious disruption. The new strikes and another national day of action will pile the pressure on a government that refuses to listen.”

U.K. passport office

When: From 3 April to 5 May

From 3 April, 1,000 Passport Office staff members will down tools for five weeks in an action that could bring up to one million passport applications to a halt.

The PCS union says the walkout will have a “significant impact” on the delivery of passports as the summer approaches.

Nevertheless, HM Passport Office still insists travellers allow 10 weeks for passport applications, even if they are straightforward renewals which normally take around 12 days to process, according to the National Audit Office.

However, at peak times, around 250,000 applications pass through the Passport Office per month. That means April may well see a workload of up to a million applications having to be handled by a skeleton staff. And that doesn’t include any potential surge in applications as prospective holidaymakers panic apply in response to the strike – an issue that sparked a meltdown after Brexit when the British government released confusing information about passport validity dates.

The advice to any British citizen who needs a new passport for the summer is to apply immediately to give yourself the best chance of getting it back on time.

Ground staff strikes in Spain

When: 13-14, 16, 20-21, 23, 27-28, 30 March; and 3-4, 6, 10-11, 13 April.

Ground staff working for Swissport Handling at 17 airports in Spain are in the thick of a coordinated strike action taking place every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday until 13 April.

The affected airports are:

• Madrid-Barajas
• Barcelona-El Prat
• Reus
• Alicante
• Valencia
• Murcia
• Málaga
• Almería
• Salamanca
• Valladolid
• Burgos
• Logroño
• Zaragoza
• Huesca
• Lanzarote
• Gran Canaria
• Tenerife Sur airports.

However, the leading low-cost airlines from the U.K. – easyJet, Jet2 and Ryanair – are not involved. Vueling and passengers on other carriers could be affected.

A spokesperson for Swissport said: “A comprehensive contingency plan is in place to limit disruptions to our airline customers and passengers travelling via Spanish airports.

“We remain fully committed to reaching an agreement with union representatives and our staff, that will be acceptable to our colleagues while also preserving the stability and health of the company and offering attractive jobs in the Spanish aviation sector.”

U.K. rail strike

When: 16, 18, 30 March; Saturday 1 April

On 22 March, the RMT union suspended the planned strike by its members at Network Rail for the above dates after reaching a pay deal with the operator.

However, while that offered some respite from the onslaught of action that’s hit the rail network over the past year, the strike will still go ahead for RMT members working at 14 other train companies.

They are:

• Chiltern Railways
• Cross Country Trains
• Greater Anglia,
• LNER,
• East Midlands Railway,
• c2c,
• Great Western Railway,
• Northern Trains,
• South Eastern
• South Western Railway
• Transpennine Express,
• Avanti West Coast,
• West Midlands Trains
• GTR (including Gatwick Express)

This means while the walkout may not “shut down” Britain’s entire train system as seen during previous strikes, large swathes of the network will grind to a halt on strike days.

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “We will continue our campaign for a negotiated settlement on all aspects of the railway dispute.”

German airport strikes

When: TBC

German airport workers have already unleashed a wave of walkouts this year, causing havoc to timetables and forcing the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

This happened most recently on Sunday and Monday (26/27 March). The result was the cancellation of hundreds of flights at eight major airports across the country, including Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg. The German airport association said the strike “went beyond any imaginable and justifiable measure”, estimating about 380,000 air travellers would be affected.

In response, Lufthansa decided to ground all of its flights until March 28. In a statement, the airline advised travellers to not go to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking for a flight.

Related: Hundreds of flights cancelled in Germany as European airport strikes continue to bite

“A labour struggle that has no impact is toothless,” the Verdi leader, Frank Werneke, told the public broadcaster Phoenix. He acknowledged it would inflict pain on many commuters and holidaymakers, “but better one day of strain with the prospect of reaching a wage agreement than weeks of industrial action”.

As negotiations trundle on in that dispute, no new strike dates have been set, but it remains a space to watch for anyone planning a trip to Germany in 2023.

French air traffic control strikes

When: TBC

These are potentially the actions that could affect more travellers than any other this year. That’s because air traffic control strikes don’t only affect planes landing in or departing in the country where they’re happening but planes using its airspace as well.

EasyJet last month revealed that 65% of its flights use French airspace to reach their final destination, meaning any of those could run into disruption if French air traffic controllers go on strike.

Indeed, the strikes reportedly led to 30% of flights being cancelled across the country when French ATC workers walked out from 6-9 March, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.

Related: Ryanair and easyJet pre-emptively cancel flights due to French ATC strikes 

And while no dates are set for the summer as yet, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said in January that the French ATC strikes risked “shutting everybody down” if the dispute over pay and recruitment levels bleeds into summer.

His comments came as Europe’s air traffic manager, Eurocontrol, warned of potentially “huge challenges” to the commercial aviation network this summer. Citing “a backdrop of supply chain issues, possible industrial action, airspace unavailability, sector bottlenecks, rising demand and system changes”, it said: “2023 is set to be the most challenging year of the last decade. Keeping summer delays down will be an immense task.”

Bottom line

The one thing worth remembering when it comes to strikes is that nothing is in stone until it happens. There is always the possibility that unions and employers will reach a deal.

However, the economic crisis is making things difficult for everyone, from workers struggling to survive the deepening cost of living crisis to travel companies desperate to appease shareholders after a ravaging pandemic. As we gear up for an even busier year than last, those pressures on either side of the fence seem unlikely to evaporate any time soon.

The chances of more strikes this year are high across the travel sector, a trend that could result in thousands of cancellations and lengthy delays.

The best advice is to keep an eye on these dates and plan accordingly.

Click here for tips on obtaining a refund from airlines sooner than later, and keep checking this page for new updates.

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Avios is the currency used by the British Airways Executive Club, Iberia Plus, Aer Lingus AerClub and Qatar Airways Privilege Club loyalty programs. So, if you have a frequent flyer account with any (or all) of these airlines, you’ll be earning and redeeming Avios.

You can transfer Avios between any of these programs at a rate of 1:1 in any direction, so 1 British Airways Avios is worth 1 Qatar Airways Avios and vice versa. The reason you may wish to transfer your Avios between the different programs is that Avios have slightly different values and uses in each program.

For example, Reward Flight Savers are available with Avios in British Airways Executive Club but not in Iberia Plus. Meanwhile, you can leverage Iberia Plus to get a great deal on off-peak business-class awards from the U.S. to Madrid.

Similarly, you may find lower prices, fees and taxes booking a long-haul Iberia-operated flight with Avios in your Iberia Plus account than your British Airways Executive Club account.

So, how exactly can you move your Avios around? Let’s take a closer look.

Combine your Avios via Avios.com (with your AerClub login)

The easiest way to transfer Avios between your British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus accounts is via Avios.com using your Aer Lingus AerClub login details.

While this may be a two-step process depending on where your Avios are and where you want them to be (i.e., from Iberia to AerClub and then to Executive Club), doing it this way does not have some of the frustrations and bugs that trying to transfer them outside of Avios.com can have.

Note, with Qatar Airways only relatively recently adopting Avios as its loyalty currency, you cannot yet use this functionality to move Avios into Qatar Airways Privilege Club. See below for a workaround via British Airways.

To do this, you’ll first need to ensure your personal details in each program match — your full name, date of birth and email address. Iberia Plus also has a requirement that the account must have been opened for at least 90 days to receive or transfer Avios, so you should open an account ASAP, even if you don’t have an immediate need to transfer.

Then, open an AerClub account here — this is the loyalty program of Aer Lingus.

Once you have an account, you must log in to Avios.com using your AerClub login details. The site may prompt you to create a new password.

Then click the “Manage my account” tab within your Avios.com account and select “Combine my Avios.”

Any Avios currently in your AerClub account will appear in your Avios.com account, as this is how AerClub Avios are stored. That’s why you need to use your AerClub login details.

Next, you will choose the other program you want to move Avios to or from (i.e., British Airways or Iberia).

Once logged in, you can transfer Avios to or from the selected program (in this case British Airways, but the same works for Iberia Plus if you have chosen to log in to that account instead).

The site will take you to a confirmation page to review your choice.

You can move any number of Avios you choose, so long as you have that number in your “from” account. Notice that Avios.com will allow me to transfer just 1 Avios if I confirm the transfer. There are no minimum transfer amounts.

If you want to move Avios from Iberia to British Airways, you will use this Avios.com feature to transfer Avios from Iberia to Avios.com and then from Avios.com to British Airways. While it involves an extra step, it’s the simplest and best method.

Transfers are free and instant.

How to transfer Avios in or out of Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Right now, Qatar’s Privilege Club is not an option for the Avios.com transfer option described above — but there is a way around this.

You can link your BA and Qatar accounts and transfer Avios between the two accounts at a 1:1 rate in either direction. This means if you want to transfer your Avios from, say, Qatar to Iberia or Aer Lingus to Qatar, you can do either by transferring them via British Airways.

If you hold frequent flyer memberships with Qatar and British Airways, you can link your accounts here.

When I logged in to my Qatar Privilege Club account, I was prompted to link my British Airways Executive Club account to my Qatar account.

After selecting “Link account with British Airways Executive Club,” I was asked to log in to my BA account.

With another click, I linked my British Airways and Qatar accounts and could see my balance in each.

Then, you can transfer your Avios between accounts by clicking the “Combine Avios” button. The next page will ask which account you’d like to transfer to and from, and how many Avios you’d like to transfer. You can confirm your transfer by clicking the “Move my Avios” button.

In our testing, transfers from British Airways to Qatar and vice versa were processed instantly.

Note that you can also link your British Airways and Qatar Airways account on the “Combine my Avios” tab on the British Airways website.

Additional reporting by Ryan Smith and Kyle Olsen.

Photo by Dennis Kartenkaemper/Shutterstock.