Fill your bags with Emirates

SHOPPERS can fly higher with this year’s Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) thanks to a special offer from Emirates, the world’s largest international airline. Economy class ticket holders can enjoy additional baggage allowance on return flights during the biggest shopping festival of the year, running until 2 February. 

Emirates passengers booked on an Economy class round-trip ticket to #Dubai can shop without limits, and return home with the latest fashion bargains at no extra costs incurred, affirming Dubai #Shopping Festival as the city’s most generous mega sale.

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Concierge luggage service

HOLD My Luggage, Inc. is a new luggage concierge service located in #Orlando, #Florida. MCO Airport does not have luggage lockers or a luggage service for travelers to store their luggage. 

A solution with a concierge luggage service, the service encompasses picking up, storing, and returning luggage to customers at the airport. This service is for travelers who would like to see more of the city without having to lug their luggage around. 

HML, Inc.'s luggage concierge service will be available in 23 port cities in the United States, as well as tourist hubs domestically and internationally.
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Surfboards fly free

AIRASIA, Australia’s Official Airline of Surfing, has announced changes to its baggage policy as part of its partnership with Surfing Australia and state surfing bodies. From May 1, surfers from across Australia will be able to travel with their surfboard to and from surfing hot spots such as Indonesia, Thailand, the Maldives, Japan and the Philippines, at no additional cost.

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Up in the air . . .

IT is tradition for Overseas Filipinos to bring food or gifts, known as ‘pasalubongs’, from their destinations to their families and friends back home. Many Filipinos ship a ‘balikabayan’ box filled with gifts several days ahead of special occasions or ahead of their travel to the Philippines and wait for 30 to 60 days for the box to arrive.

Philippines’ largest carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB), once again offers 25 kilograms of additional free baggage allowance to UAE residents travelling from Dubai to Manila. Starting March 1 until Nov 30, 2018, all passengers originating from Dubai travelling to Manila with pre-purchased baggage allowance of 40 kilograms will be receiving additional 25 kilograms baggage allowance, free-of-charge at check in.

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100% baggage tracking at Istanbul New Airport

SITA is to provide 100 percent baggage tracking at Istanbul New Airport, its innovative baggage tracking solution at what will be one of the world’s largest airports, will allow airlines to meet IATA Resolution 753’s baggage tracking requirements from day one. 

The airport, due to open in 2018, will have capacity to accommodate 90 million passengers a year. Upon completion of all four phases, the passenger capacity will reach over 200 million passengers annually and will be required to track more than 75,000 bags an hour. 

The potential for bags to be mishandled in such a busy environment will be significantly reduced with SITA’s baggage solution by providing information on where every single bag is on its route through the airport.

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Self-service bag drop first in Stuttgart Airport

STUTTGART Airport announced the launch of smooth and fast self-service bag drop. 

Passengers of the German low-cost airline Eurowings will be the first to enjoy the service, SITA Scan&Fly, which allows them to check-in and drop their bags quickly. Now passengers can check in their baggage in less than a minute which will result in fewer queues and a better passenger experience. 

The first units are in Terminal 1 with plans to roll out in Terminal 3 over the coming months so that more airlines, and more of the 10.5 million passengers who use the airport each year, will enjoy the convenience.

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Take the pain out of packing

TRAVELLERS who find holiday packing a serious headache might be interested in Lonely Planet’s How to Pack for Any Trip.

On sale for £5.95, it has:

• Comprehensive packing lists 
• Tried-and-tested packing methods 
• Advice for choosing luggage 
• How-to illustrations 

http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/world/how-to-pack-for-any-trip

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Ryanair overhauls check-in bag fees

RYANAIR has cut its fees for checked-in bags as part of its 'Always Getting Better' programme. It has also simplified its bag fees structure, reducing the number of options from 108 to six. 

Passengers on domestic flights under two hours will see fees for 15kg bags cut by half from £30 to £15 and 20kg bags reduced from £40 to £25. Fees on all other flights under three hours will drop from £30 to £25 for 15kg bags and £40 to £35 for 20kg bags.

Checked bag fees will not change for flights longer than three hours, staying at £40 for 15kg bags and £50 for 20kg bags.

Chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said the changes would cut bag fees for 92% of Ryanair's 116 million passengers.

By using the Ryanair app, passengers can add a check-in bag up to three hours before departure at the same price as the initial booking. Passengers who add bags at the airport pay an extra £10 or €10 handling fee.

Even with the changes, Ryanair's bag fees are still generally higher than easyJet's, which range from £13 to £24 for check-in bags weighing up to 20kg.

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easyJet installs automated bag drop at Manchester Airport

EASYJET has become the first airline at Manchester Airport to install a fully automated bag drop facility for customers.

Customers are welcomed by easyJet ‘Welcome Hosts’ who guide them to the auto bag drop area where they place their bags on a scale. A luggage tag is automatically generated, passports are checked and cameras authenticate that tag information is correct. Bags are then dispatched on conveyor belt.

Ali Gayward, commercial manager at easyJet, said: ‘We recognize that our customer’s airport experience is a hugely important part of their overall journey, so we are delighted to have launched this service for our customers flying from Manchester Airport. 

‘The self-service kiosks provide a glimpse into the future of airport design and enable our customers to have unique use of the most innovative state-of-the-art facilities. As we approach the summer, our busiest time of the year, we want to ensure that customers have a seamless journey through the airport, enabling their summer holidays to get off to the best of starts.’

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Help … where’s my luggage?

AIRPORT PARKING & HOTELS (APH) has created a guide comparing airline policies for lost or delayed luggage. The research can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website: www.aph.com/lostluggage. 

The research compares the lost luggage policies of 18 airlines, including British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair and compares what to do if luggage, its contents, or any personal items on-board an aircraft go missing.

For all airlines, travellers must report lost luggage to an airline representative or airport customer service desk immediately and complete a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) prior to leaving the airport. Virgin Atlantic also recommends that travellers take a photograph of their luggage prior to travelling to help in the case of missing luggage.

Once reported missing, all 18 airlines provide online tracing services for luggage. British Airways will return lost luggage to any address in the world (with the exception of a few countries due to government restrictions) free of charge within 72 hours. For travellers flying with Air France, easyJet, Qantas, and Virgin Atlantic, travellers must complete a baggage claim form for compensation if their luggage is not located within 21 days. This time is reduced for travellers flying with Air Canada, who must file a claim if their luggage is not located within five days.

With regards to expenses for essential missing items during a trip, eight of the 18 airlines researched, including Delta Air Lines, easyJet, and Monarch, offer reimbursement for essential purchases such as toiletries and clothing, with the total reimbursement figure ranging from £50 for customers with Virgin Atlantic to up to £208 for customers travelling in First Class with SWISS Air.

For items lost on-board an aircraft, all airlines recommend that travellers contact the arrival airport's lost property department immediately. For items lost at London Heathrow's British Airways' lounges or on-board a British Airways flight arriving at Heathrow, travellers can search the online database, Bagport, for their lost items. Bagport can take between up to 48 hours to register lost items and once retrieved, the system will ensure the item is kept for three months. But travellers should bear in mind that Virgin Atlantic will destroy perishable items immediately, and charge £5-£20 for postage and delivery of lost property items. 

Regardless of which airline a passenger uses, it is recommended travellers keep valuables in their hand luggage or on their person at all times as airlines will not accept responsibility if valuable items are lost.

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Hand Luggage … the pros and cons

LUGGAGE restrictions seem to change all the time, says Claim Flights, which represents passenger rights with airlines in Britain and Europe. It urges travellers to be up-to-date with current regulations of the airline with which they’re flying. 

The regulations for check-in luggage are relatively straightforward, although passengers should ensure they are aware of the weight they can check-in and the number of luggage items allowed. Don't assume that all airlines are the same.

But the regulations for hand luggage are varied, and they change. While some airlines will allow you to carry a large bag as well as a handbag or laptop, many are far stricter than this.

Travelling with only hand luggage has its benefits. It’s quicker, since there is no need to join a check-in queue on departure or wait for it on arrival. It's also safer to keep high value items – laptops, tablets, jewellery – with you. But make sure you are aware of hand luggage restrictions on connecting flights. easyJet will allow you unlimited weight on your hand luggage, but if you're connecting flight is Thomas Cook, you would be allowed only 6kg with one accessory.

And it's not just the weight that's important. Remember to check the allowed sizes for hand luggage. It might be that you have to buy a new bag to accommodate the size restrictions.

Unfortunately, it's not just about the weight and size of your hand luggage anymore. According to www.gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions/overview, there are other restrictions to consider, especially concerning the amount of liquids that can be taken in hand luggage.

Liquids include:

• All drinks, including water 
• Liquid or semi-liquid foods (soup, jam, honey, and syrups) 
• cosmetics and toiletries, including creams, lotions, oils, perfumes, mascara, and lip gloss 
• Sprays, including shaving foam, hairspray, and spray deodorants 
• Pastes, including toothpaste 
• Gels, including hair and shower gel 
• Contact lens solution 

If you do take liquids in your hand luggage:

• Containers must hold no more than 100ml, and must be in a single, transparent re-sealable plastic bag, which holds no more than a litre and measures approximately 20cm x 20cm 
• Contents must fit comfortably inside the bag, so it can be sealed 
• The bag must not be knotted or tied at the top 
• One plastic bag per person 

Claim Flights CEO, Dr. Mirko Ulbrich, says: ‘Have a great holiday, but don't forget to check out the hand luggage restrictions for the airlines you are travelling with to avoid fees and frustrations. Also, if you plan on doing some shopping when abroad, do make sure your luggage is still within the weight allowances or you could be in for an unpleasant surprise at the airport.’

 www.claimflights.co.uk/blog

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Fly Away Bride

WITH many UK couples looking for reliable weather and lower wedding costs, the trend for getting #marriedabroad is increasing. Airport Parking & Hotels (APH) is hoping to assist Fly Away Brides to plan ahead with a comprehensive guide which compares airline policies for transporting wedding dresses and cakes abroad. 

The research compares guidelines across 15 major airlines including easyJet, Virgin Atlantic, and Thomson Airways, and highlights policies for carrying dresses as hand baggage and hold luggage. The guide also highlights the airline regulations relating to how the dress needs to be packed and whether any additional baggage options are available.

All of the 15 airlines in the study were found to allow wedding dresses to be transported as hand luggage, although 14 of the airlines offer no additional baggage allowance for the bride. Couples who have booked a wedding package through Thomas Cook are entitled to 11kgs hand luggage spread across two bags for each person travelling, instead of the usual policy of 6kgs in one bag.

When it comes to packing wedding dresses, airlines such as Air Canada, British Airways, Lufthansa, and US Airways recommend that it is packed in a foldable garment bag to reduce creases and damage during the flight. Virgin Atlantic require the dress to be packed in a separate suitcase marked 'fragile wedding garments' if it is to travel in the hold.

Brides travelling with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic can ask for their dress to be hung in a wardrobe storage area if space is available. Ryanair will go one step further, allowing passengers to book an additional seat for their dress for the duration of the flight. They must pay the full ticket price for the seat occupied.

Three of the 15 airlines compared in the survey, including Aer Lingus, easyJet, and Flybe allow passengers to bring their wedding cakes onboard. For those travelling with Aer Lingus, there is the option of checking the cake in or carrying it as hand luggage, while easyJet says they must be carried only as hand luggage.

Travellers flying with Flybe and opting for a traditional Scottish wedding abroad should be aware that the kilt pin and sgian gubh (sock knife) can be carried only as checked luggage … for obvious security reasons. 

The research can be found in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website … www.aph.com/weddingdresses

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Airlines reach agreement on standard carry-on bag size

AIRLINES have agreed an ‘optimum size’ guideline for carry-on bags designed to make the best use of cabin storage space.

A size of 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches (or 55 x 35 x 20 cm) means that ‘theoretically’ everyone should have a chance to store their carry-on bags on board aircraft of 120 seats or larger, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) .

An IATA Cabin OK logo to signify to airline staff that a bag meets the agreed size guidelines has been developed. A number of major international airlines will soon be introducing the guidelines into their operations, and bags carrying the identifying label are expected to be available to buy later this year.

Recognition of the logo is expected to grow with time as more airlines join the initiative, while several major baggage manufacturers have developed products in line with the optimum size guidelines.

IATA senior vice president for airport, passenger, cargo, and security, Tom Windmuller, said: ‘The development of an agreed optimal cabin bag size will bring common sense and order to the problem of differing sizes for carry-on bags. We know the current situation can be frustrating for passengers. This work will help to iron out inconsistencies.’


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