CD Traveller » British Airways

Kew Gardens: Britain’s top visitor attraction?

Editor — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:15:21 +0000

Kew Gardens have been voted the top visitor attraction in Britain at the British Airways magazine travel awards.

The Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which attract some two million visitors each year, beat attractions like the Tate Modern and London Eye, as well as iconic sights such as Buckingham Palace, to take the top spot.

Kew is beautiful but (gloved) hands up if you, like me, are surprised to see the gardens win the best visitor attraction category. What about Windsor Castle? Stonehenge and the Seven Sisters? The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland?

Without wishing to knock Kew (aka London’s natural paradise), the verdict reached by the judges (including Janet Street Porter and travel and tourism experts) wasn’t one I could or would have predicted.

But what do you think? Are the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew a worthy winner? Share your thoughts and opinions with CD-Traveller readers by posting a comment below…

It’s the Willie and Mikey show!

adrian — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:30:30 +0000

Michael O'Leary and Willie Walsh

I thought I was dreaming a whle ago. On BBC’s Breakfast, Michael O’Leary from Ryanair and Willie Walsh of the holding company that owns British Airways and Iberia were standing side-by-side having a go at the government about APD.
I don’t think I have ever seen them together before. And in agreement! In the old days when Walsh was boss of Aer Lingus in Ireland he and O’Leary regularly had verbal bouts of fisticuffs and it still happens today.
But just about every part of the travel industry has united in the face of increasing air passenger duty (APD) and what effect it will have. Of course, I could be cynical and say that the people worse hit by the tax and any more increases will be the trade itself as people cut back. So naturally, they are going to scream. But will people cut back?
The evidence from the Netherlands is that the tax did have a major effect and the government there quickly saw the writing on the wall and removed the tax. Not that the government was concerned with their own nationals leaving the country. It was the downturn in incoming visitors that lost them revenue and persuaded the change of mind. In Ireland, O’Leary was one of the strongest attackers of that country’s tax. Now it is set to disappear as we mentioned in CD-Traveller recently and the tax in Northern Ireland is to reduce.
Walsh called APD a tax on families and that 7.4 million fewer people flew out of the UK. That couldn’t have something to do with the economic climate could it or increases in charges for using credit cards to book and things like that? O’Leary said that airline profits wouldn’t be affected one way or the other. Hogwash, but the truth doesn’t make a great soundbite. All airlines will make more money if more people fly and more people probably will if APD is reduced or disappeared. Both evaded some of the questions posed to them and stuck to the family theme and the tax on holidays.
The only thing that will change the government’s mind is when it sees revenue from incoming visitors drop below that raised by the tax.
Both airlines have been joined by Virgin Atlantic (another old BA sparring partner) and easyJet which has provided an unlikely alliance. But there is some evidence beginning to come forth (we’ll let you have more soon) that regular holidaymakers – those that take at least one overseas holiday per year- are not so put off by APD. Yet. It seems to be affecting those that travel less often.

image copyright BBC 2011

What’s hot: September 2011, part two

Editor — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 05:08:19 +0000

CD Traveller tells you what’s hot and what’s not in the travel world

HOT
Boutique Beijing
Grace Beijing, part of the expanding boutique hotel group Grace Hotels, has opened its doors in China’s dynamic capital. Situated in Beijing’s hip 798 Art district, the 30 room boutique hotel is becoming known for its Bauhaus influenced warehouses contain studios, galleries and bookshops – as well as its onsite restaurant, Yi House, which serves both Asian and Mediterranean food. More Grace Hotels are scheduled next year in the US, Panama and Argentina.

Madame Tussauds to open in Sydney
Fancy being photographed with Aussie actors such as Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, when you’re down under? As of May 2012 – when Merlin Entertainments opens Madame Tussauds, Sydney – you can. The Sydney museum of wax figures is the company’s 13^th to open worldwide and fourth in Asia Pacific and will be home to wax figure celebs such as Lady Gaga and Johnny Depp.

Seeing a show on Broadway
Heading to the Big Apple this autumn? Don’t miss Broadway week. The event (which is actually a generous 13 days) sees 16 of the biggest shows (step forward Sister Act, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Jersey Boys et al) offer theatregoers two-for-one tickets from September 18-30. Off-Broadway week will take place from September 26-October 9 and encompasses shows such as the long running Stomp, Avenue Q and Million Dollar Quartet. Now that’s something to sing about…

British Airways
The British national carrier has been voted one of the 10 safest commercial airlines, according to a study by the Geneva based Air Transport Rating Agency. The study took into account criteria including the number of accidents that have occurred in the past 10 years, pilot training and fleet age. KLM, Japan Airlines, Lufthansa and six US carriers also had the honour of making the list.

Rio’s on a roll
There has never been a better time to visit Brazil, as it gears up for the World Cup. BA has increased its services to Rio de Janeiro from three to six flights a week. Flights now depart for Rio every day, except Mondays. “We are experiencing a real increase in demand for Rio and by doubling the number of frequency, we are able to offer our customers more choice and greater availability,” says Neil Cottrell – BA’s head of network planning.

To boldly go
Trekkies rejoice! A Star Trek theme park is being built by Jordan’s King Abdullah who is a huge fan of the sci-fi show. In addition to a virtual reality space flight adventure, the £1 billion Red Sea Astrarium will include hotels, theatres, dining and shopping. Work on the park will start next year in Aqaba.

Sleeping in a ship
A one room hotel in the shape of a ship is being built. The unique hotel which will be situated on top of the Southbank Centre, has an en-suite double bedroom, kitchenette, library and viewing deck looking across London town from Big Ben to St Paul’s. Prices will start at £120 a night, with only one night a person permitted. The project is the inspiration of arts body Artangel, and is aimed to giving ordinary folk a chance to stay in extraordinary buildings. Work on the hotel began earlier this month and the hotel should be ship shape (sorry!) by January 1.

British Midlands International
We’re loving British Midlands International right now. Not only does BMI currently have a cracking sale but the airline has also announced the reintroduction of free hot meals and freshly baked cakes on its European short haul services. Expect to be served “handmade cakes including Victoria sponge, lemon drizzle and carrot cake” for “elevenses and afternoon tea” on all flights departing from the UK, Ireland and Hanover and hot food on all European services.

NOT
Moscow
A 50 city survey by the Hogg Robinson Group has exposed hotels in Moscow as the most expensive in the world, with a double room costing approximately £261 on average. The survey also showed that prices in two thirds of cities have risen since last year.

Olympic accommodation
It’s under a year until the Olympic Games in London. If you have managed to secure a ticket, congratulations. If you have booked a London hotel room, an even bigger congratulations. Rooms at the likes of the Lanesborough, Park Lane, W, Meriden are already booked out, while the Hilton has “as part of [its] commitment to the winning bid” allocated most of its rooms and suites to Olympic organisers. Grrrrr.

To keep up-to-date with what’s hot and what’s not in the travel world,CD Traveller tells you what’s hot and what’s not in the travel world, don’t forget to read What’s hot: October, which will go live exclusively on the CD traveller website on October 1.

What’s hot: September 2011

Editor — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 09:35:49 +0000

CD Traveller tells you what’s hot and what’s not in the travel world. This month, Burma and British Airways’ two new initiatives get the thumbs up but the futureisn’t quite so rosy for Trip Advisor and the Travel Bookshop.

Hot
Fun and games in the square
With the London 2012 Paralympic Games less than a year away, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (Locog) is hosting international Paralympic Day on September 8. Head to Trafalgar Square for the chance to meet UK and international Paralympic athletes. Find out more about International Paralympic Day, the Paralympic Games and Paralympic sports at London2012.com

Burma
Tourists are booking breaks to Burma in their droves, following an announcement by opposition leader (and Nobel peace prize winner) Aung San Suu Kyi that the country’s 15 year tourism boycott is officially over. Tour company Explore says that Burma is now its fastest selling destination while Exodus and Imaginative Traveller have both unveiled new tours to the troubled country.

Lady Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is to close for a year on October 29 – the day after her 125^th anniversary – to allow for £16.8m of further safety improvements to be made. Fancy getting up-close and personal with Lady Liberty before she closes? Forget it. Tickets to get inside her crown have already sold out. However while the work will affect the interior of the New York monument, Liberty Island will remain open. For more, see statuecruise.com

Becoming a pilot
Ever dreamed of becoming a pilot? Well now your dreams, could become a reality. British Airways is offering £100,000 loans to those who want to fly, but have no experience. Britain’s national carrier needs 800 new recruits by 2016 and is hoping that the scheme – Future Pilot Programme – will encourage wannabe pilots put off by the £90,000-£100,000 cost of private training, to apply. Interested? You need five GCSEs (A*-C grades) including maths and science. If successful, you’ll begin paying back the loan once you’re working in the cockpit (approximately 18 months after the start of the training).

Fragrant flying
Word is that British Airways has launched a signature perfume, aimed at giving its planes a whiff of luxury! CD Traveller doesn’t know which notes the fragrance will contain (will it be a spicy, sweet or sensual scent?) but it is believed to be evocative of haute living.

Not
Phuket
A British tourist has died and another has been injured during Phuket’s heavy flooding. The popular Thai beach resort has experienced its worst flooding in eight years and after three days of torrential rain, emergency workers have revealed that they are struggling to cope.

TripAdvisor
TripAdvisor, the popular website which is owned by the giant internet travel agent Expedia, is not to be trusted. The Sunday Times recently revealed in its travel section, that many hoteliers were advertising for freelance writers to post fake favourable reviews while members of the CD Traveller team have been offered (and declined, we hasten to add) free meals by restaurants and restaurateurs in exchange for positive coverage.

Service stations
Britain’s motorway stations still have a long, long way to go says Visit England. The tourist organisation rated every service station in the country in criteria including cleanliness, service and range of food. The results were less than glowing or as Visit England put it: “There’s room for improvement.”

Holidays
Hands up who loves a good holiday? That’s all of us then. Unfortunately our much coveted vacations can reduce our intelligence, says Professor Siegfried Lehrl of the University of Erlangen Nuremberg. “Fourteen days of complete rest can bring your IQ down by 20 points,” said the German academic. “Vocabulary shrinks and we even detect personality change.” The good news? Our IQ typically returns to normal after four days back at work.

The Travel Bookshop
Opened in 1979, The Travel Bookshop – made famous by Hugh Grant in the film Notting Hill – is going into liquidation and is set to shut its doors in early September. However last week writer Olivia Cole launched a campaign to save the store, saying that she would work in the shop for free, if a buyer can be found. To date, no firm bids have been made but there has been a flood of support from celebrities including Alec Baldwin. The American actor, who starred in Notting Hill as Julia Roberts’ boyfriend, tweeted: “Sad news 4 everyone’s favourite bookshop from Notting Hill. Save the Travel Book Shop!!!”

Come to Brazil

Editor — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 03:54:17 +0000

The next football world cup is in Brazil in 2014. This winter Brazil will begin a three year campaign to encourage us to visit their country. Using the world cup as bait, they hope to build on the 167,000 of us that visited their country last year.
In November they plan to decorate about 200 London taxis as well as placing a giant advertisement on London’s IMAX. It’s not just about advertising though. Next year in Somerset House (in London’s Strand) there will be a three month exhibition. That of course will coincide with the Olympics so the exhibition will profile the attractions of Brazil whilst reminding people that that the 2016 Olympics will be held in Brazil – in Rio de Janeiro. The results of these efforts, if successful, is that they hope about another 33,000 people will be visiting the country by 2014.
Obviously if you travel to Brazil, it won’t be for a short break. It takes about twelve hours to fly there so you are unlikely to go for even just a week. Emrbratur, the Brazilian tourist board, is hoping you’ll stretch it to a fortnight at least. Most people will start with either a city stay in Rio de Janeiro or an eco-friendly holiday by heading to the Amazon. In the advertising that will be launched, different parts of the country will be highlighted. Probably most visitors will just stay in Rio as it offers a big city culture with spectacular beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema that are known the world over. Outside Rio is also one of the most widely known statues in the world, that of Christ the Redeemer which towers over the landscape from its base on the summit of Corcovado. Next year, the statue celebrates its 90th birthday so that will surely be strongly featured in the promotion.
At the moment TAM (the largest airline in Latin America) and British Airways offer a direct service but Iberia, (via Madrid) Air France, (via Paris) TAP, (via Lisbon) and KLM (via Amsterdam) offer other possibilities. Usually this adds at least another couple of hours onto your journey in each direction. Come 2014 though, there will probably be charter links for the football and later, the Olympics.

The Importance of Being Sept 20th

Editor — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 06:38:19 +0000

We are barely into the bank holiday and already the airline sales are starting. It’s a little early as they usually start about the middle of September. Is it because they are nervous about passenger numbers during the slow Autumn period?
One sale at BA began a little while ago and has now ended but, to be honest, it wasn’t the most appealing sale in the world. Called Big Sale, Small Crowds it was more like small savings, why bother. Using the normal BA screen I managed to find trips in September at below the sale prices. And using other search engines I found cheaper fares so you’ve missed nothing. Yesterday it launched a new one called, The Holidays Going Going Gone Sale which lasts until September 20th. It doesn’t cover all their destinations and only applies to flights from London City, Gatwick and Heathrow but does include flights, in some case, up to the end of June next year. In others, it is only for flights up to the middle of December. The small print runs into inches so check first before you start the booking process otherwise you might not have a deal.
I looked at flights to New York and Orlando and both were cheaper than the sale that recently ended. Not by much, just £20 or so, Boston is the best deal at £360 return. In Europe, the best fare was £98 return to Barcelona. Watch the prices though because BA combines one-way and return tickets in the same column. If you wanted to go to popular holiday airports such as Faro in the Algarve, its £69 one-way and Geneva is £10 cheaper.
Its oneworld alliance partner, American Airlines also has a sale that lasts, coincidentally, until September 20th. Their Boston fare is more expensive. BA’s sister airline, Iberia has no such sales but its fare to Barcelona is only marginally more expensive
The Virgin Atlantic Sales has begun and surprise, surprise. It ends on September 20th as well! Its Boston fare is more expensive but it is about the same to New York. But it offers flights to Orlando for £378 return which is a keen price!
The airlines must have thought we had nothing better to do than spend our last weeks of summer thinking where we will go next. Some might but probably most of it just gone with enjoying the time and our holidays. Or wondering why September 20th is a vital day.

Where Forward for APD?

Editor — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:43:56 +0000

Last Friday saw the end of the consultation period for APD, Air Passenger Duty. Airlines, airports, industry boffins have all put in their two pennyworth so is there any consensus?
You might remember that prior to last year’s election the Conservatives were talking of making the tax based on a per plane basis rather than the current per person basis. For those who can remember back to the nineties, you might also remember that it was a carbon based tax.
These days no one really disguises the fact that this is just another tax. A new, EU carbon emissions tax is due to be introduced next year so perhaps it is no wonder that the government and nearly all politicians of whatever persuasion don’t call APD that for it seems we may have both a tax and the emissions tax.
British Airways, in its submission, called for the four APD bands to be reduced to two and distance bands and that it should be based on whether you fly economy or first and business class. They also ask for it to be phased out by 2013 when revenue from the carbon tax would start to fuel the tax coffers.
Virgin Atlantic highlighted the iniquity between flying long-haul and shorter distances. But then Virgin only flies long-haul. It also suggests the current proposals would deter people from long-haul trips. It also follows BA in suggesting that economy and premium economy passengers should be carged the same tax, as, incidentally, do most other submissions.
ABTA noted the problem that would exist in Northern Ireland. On a trip to the US for a family of four, Britons would pay £240 whilst a family flying from the Republic of Ireland would pay just €12. So why wouldn’t those in Northern Ireland not just fly from Dublin and save themselves hundreds of pounds? The travel industry in the province could be severely hit. Sammy Wilson, the Northern Irish finance minister also submitted a view that the special situation in Northern Ireland should be addressed in the final outcome. ABTA also says that scrapping the tax could boost earnings by £1 billion (but the tax this year will bring in twice that!) and create 25,000 jobs.
easyJet has already said that family holidays will be hit and that it could cause the loss of 77,000 jobs.
The Scottish Passenger Agents Association wants the tax lifted for domestic flights, and like others, wants 12 months’ notice of the changes when they are decided upon.
Finally the Association of ATOL Companies (those who are bonded) wants to link the distance bands as well so that one band is short and medium-haul and the other is long. They also pointed out that demand would be hit meaning fewer flights taken.
So now, we await the governments’ proposals

Peace Breaks Out

Editor — Sat, 14 May 2011 05:47:27 +0000

The announcement by British Airways and Unite today that they had reached agreement about their long running dispute will please all travellers. One hurdle remains. The union members have to vote in favour of it in a secret ballot. The results of that won’t be announced till June so there is still a chance that the members, who always voted high numbers in favour of strike action, may not be as accommodating as the union. Let’s hope that’s not the case and that all travellers can look forward to a quiet, strike free summer.
With the ending of the long strike at Air India and the news that Qantas has settled a strike issue as well does this augur well for the summer? With luck there will only be the usual delays due to normal peak flights. One day they might disappear as well.
That the dispute at British Airways has probably ended may be down to weariness on both sides. Almost as long as CD-Traveller has been around there has seemed to be this dispute. Do many remember what it was about? Originally it was about costs. No-frills airlines have much lower cost bases, not that many would say that BA competes with them on many routes. But newer Middle Eastern and Far Eastern airlines also have lower cost bases and, if BA is to compete against them, then they do need to be more competitive. Look at the profits that Emirates announced this week, $1.6 billion. One issue that BA decided upon was to alter the working practices of its cabin crew. Then as the dispute escalated, BA management withdrew some travel privileges.
It seems only when management changed at both the union, Unite, and BA that a different mentality appeared. The new names managed to agree on things and the union has recommended acceptance to its members. Union members will get their travel privileges returned and BA seems to have got its cuts. You might be forgiven for thinking who has lost out. BA has taken a £150 million loss on the strike and members have lost wage But what of passengers about whom nothing has been said? They had to endure delays, cancellations and put up with the inconvenience of never quite knowing over a long 18 month period whether it was safe to book with BA.
How many of us will have deserted BA for ever won’t be known for a while. For both the sake of jobs and the company, BA staff and board will be hoping it isn’t many. As they know its passengers that keep the jobs and the airline going.

Here We Go Again at BA

Editor — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 16:40:48 +0000

British Airways

From tomorrow British Airways is increasing by £10 the fuel charge that it is levying on all economy class fares on medium and long haul flights. Domestic flights and short haul ones are unaffected this time. It means that if you’re flying to Australia you’ll pay a fuel surcharge of £98 on your ticket and a trip to the east coast of the US will incur £85 surcharge. And I suppose if BA is introducing this, then its stable mate, Iberia will follow as well. And other airlines will follow in one way or another.

I suppose those that can afford business class won’t object to forking out more but the rest of us might look elsewhere for our transport. The announcement quotes their finance director as saying motorists will have seen petrol prices rise, the assumption being that passengers will not be surprised at this action. He goes on to say that BA will shoulder most of the fuel increases the airline is facing themselves. The difference is that I, as a car driver, can only buy enough to put in my tank. An airline can forward buy its aviation fuel and thus hedge its costs. Is BA not doing this? If it has hedged up until now why is this the third increase in four months the last one only being in February? Or maybe BA is just taking advantage of the increased fuel price to help repair its battered balance sheet and give it some cash for when its cabin crew strikes in the coming month.

Passengers don’t have a bottomless supply of cash to spend on their holidays or travel. Sooner or later they say no. The problem is finding out when that point is reached. As has been seen over the last few years, we’ll still continue to travel and holiday but we’ll cut back. Instead of booking months ahead on BA to get a reasonable fare, we’ll look at other airlines. That is until they raise fuel surcharges (or hide the in the fares) as they undoubtedly will if this fare sticks.

I’m betting on a slump in sales now that the new government imposed tax increases on us all have just started. After Easter is over – and the strikes – it wouldn’t surprise me to see a sale in May. I’ll wait till then to get my next tickets. And if I’m wrong, no flying on BA till the Autumn.

Exit Spanish Strikes, Enter BA. Again.

adrian — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 11:14:04 +0000

Just after the news comes out that the proposed 22 day strike that would affect anyone flying to Spain or over Spanish airspace has been called off, up pops British Airways (BA) to remind us that life isn’t plain sailing. Or even plain flying! Once again there has been a strike ballot. Once again, the vote has overwhelmingly been for strike action.

So when do we, the poor passenger suffer from yet more disruption? The answer is that we don’t yet know as the union, Unite, has yet to make its mind up as to when the dates will be. Around the Easter holidays could be one guess or during May half term could be another. Given the approach taken by the union before now, a strike to cause maximum disruption seems most likely regardless of the platitudes and apologies that will be made to passengers.

Over the last year or so, this issue has rumbled on. We have had comment from the cabin crew in CD-Traveller putting their views and the contrary from management. Disgruntled passengers, me included, have thrown in their two-pennyworth. When it comes down to it, it is the passenger that matters. Without us you don’t have an airline and, if we have a choice, we will pick an airline likely not to cause us disruption. But in some cases there is no alternative. And then we are trapped. That this has lasted so long suggests pretty entrenched view on both sides. Previous public criticism has not swayed the union, the workers or management. Cozy chats at Number 10 over beer and sandwiches to resolve union disputes are a thing of the past. Arbitration doesn’t seem to work in this case so what can be done to resolve this? Do we need, in current parlance, regime change? Do we passengers march on the union and company headquarters, barricading doors so the members can’t get out until they sort it out? Well that’s not going to happen is it?

So the poor passengers are left, once again, in the wet and sticky, while two sides think only of themselves