The CAA has announced a special arrangement designed to give as many Goldtrail customers as possible the opportunity to have a replacement holiday arranged or a refund provided more quickly than usual.

Since the collapse of the company on 16 July, the CAA has repatriated around 20,500 Goldtrail customers, although there are nearly 112,000 people who face the prospect of missing out on a summer holiday unless refunds can be made quickly.

Details of this arrangement are as follows:

• Customers who booked a package holiday with Goldtrail will get a full refund from the CAA/ATT and should submit a fully completed claim form, which can be downloaded here. All claims will be acknowledged within 28 days of receipt. The CAA/ATT intention is to make refunds as quickly as possible, but incomplete forms may delay.
• Customers whose paperwork shows they booked a flight with Goldtrail (whether or not part of other holiday arrangements) will be contacted by the ATOL holder who sold it. These customers should be contacted shortly in order to have a replacement holiday booked or to arrange a refund.

Customers who may have already submitted a claim form to the CAA do not need to take any action, as this will be forwarded directly to the ATOL holder where required.

Richard Jackson, Director of Consumer Protection for the CAA said, “An ATOL holder failing in the school summer holidays poses particular problems and disappointment to customers. This collaborative approach is designed to give a large number of Goldtrail customers the opportunity to have a holiday rebooked for them or for a refund to be paid more quickly.

“If customers are in any doubt as to whether or not the travel company they booked with is an ATOL holder or not, please complete the ATOL claim form and we will ensure that these are either processed by the CAA or directed on to your ATOL holder.”

Goldtrail Travel Customer Enquiries

1. CAA helpline for Goldtrail customers: 0844 856 2585
2. CAA helpline for Goldtrail customer abroad: 0044 203 441 0846

British Airways has announced it is to launch a new service to Cancun from Gatwick Airport.

The new Gatwick flights will commence on 3 November 2010 and operate twice a week – Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Cardiff Airport has been shortlisted for the Airport of the Year title in the Travel Trade Gazette Travel Awards to be held later in the year.

Entries for the prestigious award are rated by travel agents and then judged by a panel of industry experts including leading travel companies and trade bodies such as Thomas Cook, Sandals and the Institute of Travel and Tourism, as well as leading figures from the worlds of commerce and retail.

This year’s winners will be announced at the awards ceremony to be held at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on 23 September.

To search for and book Cardiff airport parking and Cardiff airport hotels click on the links.

The London Triathlon, the world’s largest triathlon, is taking place over the weekend of 7 and 8 August 2010.

The event will result in several road closures and passengers travelling to London City Airport are advised to allow extra time for their journey.

A full list of road closures can be found here: www.thelondontriathlon.co.uk/LTRoadclosures.html

To book London City airport parking and London City airport hotels click on the links.

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have received unconditional clearance from the European Commission on the airlines’ proposed merger. The Commission noted its investigation found the proposed transaction would not raise any specific concerns in Europe or the trans-Atlantic market.

“We are pleased to have received this clearance from the European Union, a significant market for our combined new company, and we continue to work cooperatively with the U.S. Department of Justice toward an expeditious completion of our merger, which will benefit our customers, our people, our shareholders and the communities we serve,” said Glenn Tilton, UAL Corporation chairman, president and CEO.

“Approval from the European Commission is another important step toward completing our merger with United,” said Jeff Smisek, Continental’s chairman, president and CEO. “The combination of United and Continental brings together the two most complementary networks of any U.S. carriers, with minimal domestic and no international route overlaps. Together we will offer customers unparalleled global access.”

The companies announced their plans for an all-stock merger of equals in May and expect the transaction to close in the fourth quarter of 2010.

To book Heathrow meet and greet airport parking and Heathrow airport hotels click on the links.

Begbies Traynor, the administrators of failed travel company Goldtrail, has set up a website to give customers and travel agents an update on Goldtrail’s insolvency.

For more information check out http://begbiestraynor.insolvencypoint.com/goldtrail

Guests staying at the Comfort Hotel at Heathrow airport are advised to take note of new directions to the hotel as detailed below:

By car from M4
Exit the M4 motorway at junction 4 – signposted Heathrow. Follow the signs to Hayes across the main intersection into Shepiston Lane (this road runs parallel to the M4). Continue for approx 1 mile and hotel is on the right just after the fire station.

By car from M25
Exit the M25 at junction 15 and follow signs for the M4 London. Exit at junction 4 and follow directions above.

Whether passengers want to call it table tennis, ping-pong or wiff-waff, they’ll have an opportunity to pick up a bat and play the classic British sport at Heathrow this summer.

A ping-pong table was installed in the departures area of Heathrow’s Terminal 3 on 20 July and is to remain there for a month as part of the airport’s on-going efforts to promote the best of British sport and culture.

The table will be marked ‘Stop and Play’ and bats and balls will be on hand for passengers to join in the fun.

The table is one of 100 to be installed in key locations across the capital, including the London Eye, Tate Britain and the British Library, this summer.

Created by Sing London, the participatory arts organization that produced last year’s Street Pianos Project, Ping! aims to encourage a million more people to take up sport by the time London hosts the Olympics in 2012.

After the four-week period, the table will be donated to a local organisation nominated by the staff at Heathrow.

To book Heathrow meet and greet airport parking and Heathrow airport hotelsclick on the links.

Thomas Cook Airlines has added three new routes to its summer 2011 schedule from East Midlands Airport.

Those looking for sun, sea and sand will be able to fly to Hurghada in Egypt every Tuesday from 3 May to 25 October 2011, to Funchal in Madeira every Monday from 2 May to 31 October 2011 and to Izmir in Turkey every Wednesday from 4 May to 26 October 2011.

If summer is too long to wait for flights to Hurghada, don’t worry, as flights are also available on their winter timetable – every Tuesday from 15 February until 26 April 2011.

Ian Derbyshire, Chief Executive Officer of Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, said: “Egypt, Madeira and Turkey are fantastic holiday destinations for families, couples and groups. We’re committed to our flying programme from the region, so with these extra options, we’re really pleased to be able to offer even more choice to travellers from East Midlands Airport.”

Next summer, as well as Hurghada, Izmir and Funchal, flights will also be operated to the Canary Islands, Turkey, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, Madeira, Egypt, Malta, Italy, Balearic Islands and Cyprus from East Midlands Airport.

To book East Midlands airport parking and Nottingham hotels click on the links.

Details have changed for Heathrow Airport’s Official Valet Parking T5

New directions are detailed below:

From M4 at junction 4 follow signs to terminal 5.
Turn right onto Northern Perimeter Road and follow signs for terminal 5, continuing along the Western Perimeter Road.
Follow signs for departures to the upper forecourt sign posted Valet Parking.
Follow the concourse to the end where there are 10 allocated parking bays to your left.
Park and report to reception.

Exit the M25 at Junction 14 and follow signs for terminal 5.
Turn left into Western Perimeter Road.
Follow signs for departures to the upper forecourt, sign posted Valet Parking.
Follow the concourse to the end where there are 10 allocated parking bays to your left.
Park and report to reception.

To check prices and book valet parking at Heathrow airport click on the link.