Today Heathrow celebrates the 2010 Heathrow Travel Product Award winners with the installation of a giant suitcase at Terminal 5 Departures.

The suitcase is the same size as Big Ben’s Great Bell, nearly 3 metres tall and over 2 metres wide – it can hold over 21,000 pairs of knickers, 10,000 bottles of sun cream (150ml) and 83,000 UK passports.

During October it will be home to the 12 winning travel products of 2010 including the Harrods Paddington Bear, an Apple MacBook Pro 15″ and a pair of Ray-Ban Black Suspended Lens sunglasses.

In its second year, the Heathrow Travel Product Awards launched to recognise the best UK travel items asked a panel of experts to shortlist 12 travel categories, which were then made available to the general public for voting via the Heathrow Travel Product Awards microsite.

Brian Woodhead, Retail Concessions Director at Heathrow, said: “The Heathrow Travel Product Awards were launched to showcase the many brands and products sold at the airport. It’s great to see what our passengers really value when they travel – and the luxuries and essentials they just can’t live without.

“We hope the awards will not only raise awareness of the offering at Heathrow – and the substantial savings that can be made – but also our commitment to making every journey better than the last one.”

The Top 12 Travel Products of 2010

1. Top Travel Must-Have – Trunki Children’s Tipu Ladybird Case
2. Top Technology – Apple MacBook Pro 15″
3. Best Travel Entertainment – Nintendo DS – Brain Training game
4. Best Camera – Canon 500D
5. Best Handbag – Smythson Nancy Tote
6. Best Sunglasses – Ray-Ban Black Suspended Lens
7. Best Travel Beauty Product – Prevage anti-age serum
8. Best Men’s Fragrance – Gucci by Gucci Pour Homme
9. Best Women’s Fragrance – Marc Jacobs Lola Velvet EDP
10. Best Watch & Jewellery – Omega Speedmaster Professional
11. Top Travel Gift – Harrods Paddington Bear
12. Top Travel Read – ‘At Home’ by Bill Bryson

To search for and compare Heathrow airport parking and Heathrow airport hotels click on the links.

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

Last Friday saw the introduction of easyJet’s latest offering from Liverpool airport, flights to the Isle of Man.

The new daily service will operate every day except Tuesdays, however, passengers travelling out-bound from the Isle of Man need to be aware of a change to the minimum check-in time compared to other carriers – easyJet’s minimum check-in time will be 40 minutes rather than the usual 30 minutes.

Check-in staff will be monitored to ensure that the strict 40-minute check-in time will be adhered to.

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A crises meeting of the Government’s emergency committee Cobra has resulted in the announcement that three Royal Navy ships will be deployed to repatriate British holiday makers stranded abroad by the closure of UK airspace.

HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean have been deployed to the English channel to help with the relief effort while HMS Albion is heading towards Spain.

A special advice line for callers in the UK who are concerned about the well-being of relatives stranded overseas has been set up on 020 7008 0000.

For more information on the repatriation plans click here www.number10.gov.uk/Page23108

Heathrow’s second largest airline bmi will be flying its full schedule during the forthcoming BA strike periods.

Routes that bmi will be operating normally out of London Heathrow, that look likely to be affected by BA’s strike action include: Aberdeen, Amsterdam*, Belfast, Cairo, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Jeddah, Manchester, Moscow and Riyadh.

bmi will do all it can to assist BA customers who are caught up in the dispute. bmi is currently upgrading flights to larger aircraft and looking at adding additional frequencies. BA Silver and Gold Executive card holders flying with bmi will be offered access to the bmi lounges including The Great British lounge, bmi’s flagship international lounge at London Heathrow.

* until 28 March 2010

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Aer Arann has just celebrated the first anniversary of it flights to London City Airport from the Isle of Man.

The service has provided an important business and leisure link between the Island and London, and has seen the airline carry 60,000 passengers in its first year – 30% of the London to Isle of Man market.

The airline made history a year ago by becoming the first airline to become certified to operate the ATR 72-500 series aircraft into London City Airport having worked with the CAA, ATR and London City airport to obtain the required steep approach certification for the modern, quiet and environmentally friendly turbo prop.

In addition to its London City service, Aer Arann also operates a daily service from the Isle of Man to Dublin and recently introduced Isle of Man to Paris flights which will operate weekly throughout February 2010.

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

Flybe has announced plans to operate Humberside Airport’s first scheduled service to Malaga.

Commencing 29 May, the airline will operate weekly flights to Malaga using a 118-seat Embraer 195 jet aircraft.

Flights will operate between 29 May and 11 September 2010.

Click on the following links for information on Humberside airport, Humberside airport parking and Humberside airport hotels.

Gatwick Airport is still closed due to the snow and is expected to remain closed until 16:00.

Passengers should contact their airline for details of the status of their flight.

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Flybe is laying on a one-off day return flight to Exeter Airport from Newcastle Airport to assist Newcastle United fans travelling to Home Park for the FA Cup Tie with Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 2 January 2010.

The ‘King Kev Toon flight’ schedule will be operated by Flybe’s Kevin Keegan aircraft, which was unveiled in 2008 by the club’s legendary former manager.

Flight times:
Departs Newcastle 0900 Arrives Exeter 1015
Departs Exeter 2000 Arrives Newcastle 2115

The Flybe special flight offers fans an alternative to the 820-mile round trip by road or a 27-hour return train journey – I know what I would choose!

Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mike Rutter, says: “From the moment the balls came out of the hat for this important tie, we knew that Newcastle fans faced a hugely challenging journey just to reach the game. Flybe is delighted to be able to arrange this special convenient and cost effective alternative. This service will allow Newcastle fans to enjoy both the pre and post match atmosphere all without the dread of having to drive several hundred miles or endure the stress of an extended and possibly delayed train journey at this time of the year coupled with an overnight stay in Plymouth.”

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Figures just released by Birmingham airport show that the airport handled 1,014,612 passengers in August – a reduction of 6% when compared with the previous year’s figures.

Despite of the drop in numbers, this was still the airport’s busiest month this year.

To book Birmingham airport hotels and Birmingham airport parking using an online parking price checker click on the links.