News Archive

Buying airline tickets online.

The EU has found that a third of consumers are being ripped off, misled or confused when they try to buy airline tickets online.

The EU surveyed 386 websites in 13 EU countries plus Norway selling airline tickets and penalised 137 of them. But only half of these websites have made any improvements.

The focus of the EU investigation was unfair contract terms, and its findings are alarming. No less than one third of the websites were found to be breaching consumer law. Many of the sites were found to have more than one error, including misleading pricing, advertised offers that were unavailable, and irregular contract terms.

Heathrow airport third best in world.

Much maligned Heathrow airport and British Airways have been honoured in the latest Business Traveller magazine awards.

Voted for by readers of Business Traveller magazine, the Business Traveller Awards for the Middle East were presented this week in Dubai.

Heathrow airport, which has suffered so much bad publicity following the catastrophic opening of Terminal 5, was recognised as third best airport in the world behind Dubai International airport in second place and Singapore Changi airport in first place.

Clubbers flights to Ibiza.

Budget airline Monarch is expanding its partnership with lifestyle brand Hed Kandi to offer more party destinations, including Puerto Banus, Barcelona, Tenerife and Mallorca.

The airline is also launching a new retro inspired plane designed by iconic illustrator Jason Brooks. The design by Brooks will adorn the tail fin of one of Monarch’s Boeing 757 aircraft.

From 10th May FlyKandi and Monarch will be hosting a series of events at clubs around the UK. The FlyKandi captain and crew will jet in to share insider secrets on Monarch’s destinations and offer massages and other treats to lucky clubbers.

It's Chelsea v Man Utd in the final.

Chelsea booked their place in the final last night after a 4-3 aggregate win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge. The London club's fans now join the struggle to find flights and hotels, with remaining flights to Moscow for the May 21 match costing more than £1,500, and only two hotels in the city known to have beds available.

While no final decision has been taken, it is understood that a plan to offer all fans travelling to the match visa exemptions is now off the table, although an exception may be made for those on official charter flights.

Russia is also considering waiving the usual requirement if fans produce a letter of invitation and a hotel booking.

What's the cheapest way to get to Moscow?

With two Premiership teams meeting in this month's Champions League final (21/05/08), an estimated 40,000 British fans will try to travel to Moscow for the match at Luzhniki Stadium, if they can afford it.

Yesterday morning, the cheapest flights to Moscow leaving on the 20th and returning on the 22nd - none of them direct - were just over £500 return, and by afternoon they were mostly gone.

You'll now be looking at spending between £700 and £1,600 for a seat on a scheduled flight, and about £600+ for a chartered flight.

Don't forget to add at least £45 for your Russian visa. The television could be the answer!