So Sir Richard Banson’s airline, Virgin Atlantic, has announced that has announced that it will be the first British carrier to allow passengers to use their mobile phones on board.

The profits announced by Ryanair this morning clearly show that the airline’s policy of charging for every single thing they can think off is paying dividends. Or at least dividends to their shareholders!

So Boris is back. The blonde buffoon has been appointed Mayor of London for another term and as someone who positively galloped to the polling booth to vote for him – despite not being a Conservative – I am pretty pleased

I flew into Heathrow recently with a certain amount of fear and trepidation having read all the horror stories about immigration control

The writer and poet Gertrude Stein, who was born in Oakland, once remarked about her California birthplace: “Oakland? There’s no there, there.” Fast forward to today and few would agree with Gertrude

So Olympic organisers, Locog, have done a U turn and declared that babies and infants under 12 months will be allowed free entry into London Olympic venues – provided they are seated on their parent’s lap

It may only be Wednesday but here at CD-Traveller towers, we already have our quote of the week. Take a bow US actor, Zach Braff

Last Monday the new regulations for bonding came into force. Now a report from MP’s on the Transport Select Committee welcomes what has been introduced but says it doesn’t go far enough. In fact, in some places, the report is very critical of the government.

As I said yesterday, in all the discussions about the delays in border entry queues at airports very little has been suggested as a way of resolving the problem. The announcement yesterday of eighty more staff is not a solution merely a sticking plaster. As passenger numbers grow, an alternative method of screening and checking passengers is needed.

In the last couple of weeks or so, the spotlight has turned on the lengthening queues at passport control as you re-enter the UK. In particular it seems to have taken much longer at Heathrow and Gatwick. Indignation, whipped up in particular by The Daily Telegraph, has led to some MP’s saying that “something must be done.”

Thanks to shows such as the Real Housewives and MTV’s Laguna Beach which see skinny socialites and rich kids cruise up and down the Californian coast in their porsches, you don’t immediately think of California as a green destination

Some readers might have spotted that I have been travelling recently. For 12 days I have lived out of a small, carry-on wheelie case. But as I picked up things it grew fatter. So I checked it in as hold baggage something I rarely do. And guess what? It didn’t keep up with me so I have been shopping for the necessities.

Afternoon tea in establishments including The Ritz and London’s Lanesborough have been slated by Which?, who have declared they are among Britain’s most expensive for consumers

Want to start a conversation in California? Don’t bother discussing the weather. All you need to do is mention menus

I grew up with a Mother who used to plan her “travelling outfit” anytime she was going abroad, on an airplane. Watching her carefully construct her, always stylish, ensemble caused the rest of the family much amusement

Another weekend, another wedding… this one was in Cambridge – a bustling market town famous for its bicycles, choristers and one of the most respected universities in the world, if not its affordable accommodation

Apparently 25 per cent of Brits who have booked a break abroad this summer, have done so in order to escape the Olympics – according to a survey by Travelex

Cast aside that cappuccino. Leave the latte alone. Tea is brewing up a storm. Yes, the charming, relaxed ritual of afternoon tea is back in fashion: the UK Tea Guild estimates that there has been a 20 per cent increase in afternoon teas in the last year so much so that some London hotels have a waiting list of upto seven weeks!

Atout, the French tourism board, has been forced to apologise after using pictures of golden sands in the States (Clearwater Beach in Florida, if you want specifics) to advertise France’s northern coastline as part of its £600,000 ‘France: come and play campaign’.

Over the holiday weekend, there was media publicity given to how much of a drain public holidays were to the economy. For each one, it had been calculated by a firm of economic forecasters that each holiday “costs” £2.3 billion. How one-sided; how ill-considered and how meaningless was it by those that reported it.

Happy Easter from everyone at CD-Traveller

If you fly and have to change planes in a country and then fly out of it, you usually go into a transit lounge. You don’t need to go through border controls or customs. But you do if you transit in the US and what a hassle it can be.

My friend Ben popped down to London from Leeds yesterday. As his time in the capital drew to a close, he confessed that he was more than a little relieved to be leaving – and then laughed as he watched my draw drop to the floor

Looking for a show to see over the forthcoming Easter break? Look no further than Sweeney Todd

A few weeks back the government launched Britain’s first domestic advertising campaign – at the cost of £4million – which saw Stephen Fry and friends wax lyrical about the UK.

At the last election both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats said no to a third runway at Heathrow. Boris said that it would be built over his dead body. Justine Greening, the Transport Secretary, campaigned against it and her constituency sits under the flight path. Now stories in the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph suggest the government is having a rethink.

The Government has confirmed that Sunday opening hours will be extended during the London Olympics. For eight Sundays – starting July 22 – large stores will be able to trade for longer than six hours and, according to analysts, the move move could lead shoppers to spend almost £200 million

We are used to having to look at the small print in airline adverts and e-mails but an e-mail from easyJet caught my eye this morning. This was an offer for a flight to Belfast. The price was £26.49. Actually from £26.49 so you automatically think that there is a catch somewhere like its only applicable if there is an “x” in the month or there are just two seats at this rate.