|
|
Heathrow airport is reporting that a computer problem is affecting the baggage handling system at Terminal three. The problem is having a knock on effect at check-in causing slower check-in times, flight delays and some cancellations. The airport is advising passengers to contact their airlines prior to travelling to Heathrow. Jet2.com has launched another summer route from Leeds Bradford Airport to the Greek island of Rhodes. The Leeds flights will operate once a week from 27 May 2009 and add to the airline’s other summer destinations from the airport of:
For an instant online price comparison to book Leeds airport parking and Leeds airport hotels click on the links. Bristol International Flyer, the express coach service operating between Bristol airport and Bristol city centre, has reported that the service has carried more than half a million people in the past twelve months - the first time ever in a rolling 12 month period. The Flyer is the only express link between Bristol Railway Station (Temple Meads), Bristol Bus Station, Clifton and Bristol International Airport. Journey times to the City Centre are roughly 30 minutes, with services operating daily between 0230 and 0045 – except Christmas Day and with limited service on Boxing Day and New Years Day. From Bristol airport the service operates two alternating routes, the ‘330′ linking Temple Meads, City Centre, Key Hotels and Clifton and the ‘331′ which also serves Temple Meads before continuing onwards to the Bus Station. For more information on public transport to Bristol airport and to book Bristol airport hotels click on the links. Virgin Atlantic has received another award for its Heathrow Clubhouse. For the second year in a row the airline has won the Best Business Class Lounge Award in the SkyTrax World Airline Awards 2008 for its flagship Clubhouse at Heathrow Airport. The £11m lounge offers 2,500 square metres of space and was created by the Virgin Atlantic design team and the London based architectural practice Softroom, who created the interior design to feel like a private members’ club. Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of Virgin Atlantic said, “We’re thrilled that our Heathrow Clubhouse has been chosen as the world’s best haven for business travellers for the second year running. This confirms that our Clubhouse is a real winner with our Upper Class passengers and with our new private security corridor they can now get through to it in record time! Thank you to everyone who voted for us.” Virgin Atlantic has Clubhouses in the following destinations worldwide: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Newark, JFK New York, Washington, San Francisco, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Johannesburg. For an instant online price checker for Heathrow airport parking and Heathrow airport hotels click on the links. Jet2.com and Jet2holidays are offering flights from Leeds Airport to New York for the Joe Calzaghe fight on 8 November. The Leeds flights depart on 6 November and were originally offered as one of the airline’s four-day Christmas shopping breaks to New York. However, the timing of the first flight coincides with the re-arranged super fight between British boxer Joe Calzaghe, current WBO and WBA world super middle weight champion, and Roy Jones Jr at the city’s Madison Square Garden two days later on 8 November. Flight departure dates from Leeds Bradford airport (all flights depart LBA 09.00, arriving midday; return flights depart Newark 21.00, arriving the following day at 08.00):
For up-to-date Leeds airport information and to book Leeds airport parking using an instant online parking price comparison click on the links. Despite the credit crunch, Flybe has reported that advance booking for this year’s August Bank Holiday are well up on last year. With nearly two weeks still to go, the airline’s sales appear to be up nearly 10% on the four-day holiday weekend alone. Flybe’s top 10 routes for the August Bank Holiday weekend are to and from:
Star Alliance has announced the launch of a new product designed to simplify the verification of travel document requirements, particularly for itineraries that cover several countries. The “Auto Doc Check” is designed to evaluate the travel documents held by a passenger against an extensive database containing travel rules for every country in the passenger’s travel plans and verify whether the documents fulfill the countries’ requirements by returning a “Yes”, “No” or “Conditional” response at check-in. “Up to now it has often been a challenge for check-in personnel and passengers to keep current about what documents are needed for travelling abroad,” said Lee Hock Lye, Vice President, Products and Services, Star Alliance. For example, a Singapore resident travelling to Australia and then to South Africa with a British passport: does he need a visa for any part of the journey? “With ‘state-of-the-art technology’ now evaluating the passenger’s travel documents and deciding if the passenger is allowed to travel, Auto Doc Check is taking the guess work out this decision,” Lee continued. Auto Doc Check also helps expand the scope of off-airport check-in initiatives, especially for international travel. Passengers checking in via the Internet or at Self-Service Units can use the same service. “Once a passenger indicates the documents he plans to carry with him, Auto Doc Check immediately lets him know if he has sufficient and valid documents or not,” explained Lee. This can reduce the number of touch points at the airport, since document checks have already been performed at the first point of check-in. Singapore Airlines will be the first Star Alliance carrier to implement Auto Doc Check, with further carriers planning to make use of this product in the future. London Mayor, Boris Johnson, has launched a scathing attack on Gatwick baggage handling services. Writing in the Independent, Mr Johnson slated the ‘chimpanzee-like control’ of Servisair’s baggage handling after being forced to wait more than an hour for his luggage. In his article he comments that: ‘to call this service “Third World” is an insult to the many gleaming and efficient airports of developing nations.’ ‘It is a measure of the extreme cowardliness and cynicism of the airport authorities that there was no one from BAA in that baggage hall. There was no one from Servisair, the baggage handlers whose entirely foreseeable “staff shortages” had caused the problem.’ Mr Johnson was offered was a photocopied letter from Servisair, in the name of Mr Mark Poynton, the Service Delivery Controller. ‘It must be one of the most snivelling and insincere letters I have ever read’, writes Mr Johnson, ‘Mr Poynton apologises to passengers for the delayed arrival of their baggage and the inconvenience caused, and regrets that an airline or handling representative “may be unable to attend the arrivals hall” to explain what is going on.’ He continues: ‘What Mr Poynton does not point out is that hundreds of copies of this pseudo-apology have been distributed night after night for the past six nights. In other words, Servisair has known perfectly well that it has too few handlers to handle the baggage. It could quite easily have recruited more handlers, or made some provision for the extra holiday workload - but evidently decided to save money by sodding the public.’ ‘The sheer volume of passengers coming to London airports is a testimony to the attractions of the city and the dynamism of the British economy. But in four years, we are due to welcome the world to the London Olympics, and we need to sort this chaos out now.’ Specialist tour operator, Sportoptions.com is operating a direct flight from Leeds Bradford International Airport to Zagreb, giving Yorkshire football supporters the chance to see England play Croatia in the World Cup 2010 qualifying game on 10 September. Established in 1995, Sport Options operates trips to British football club games in European competitions. The day trip from Leeds airport will depart early in the morning, arriving in Croatia before lunch and offer leisure time before the game. Return transfers will take supporters back to the airport for the return flight after the final whistle. For up-to-date Leeds airport information and to book Leeds airport parking and Leeds airport hotels click on the links. London City Airport has announced that from the 18 August it will cease tannoy announcements in the departure lounge. The new silent terminal policy will mean no flight and gate announcements will be made – all flight information will be displayed on information screens in the lounge and restaurants. For up-to-date London City airport information and to book London airport hotels click on the links. |
