Plane
Plan ahead for a smoother airport experience
We’ve all been there before – you’re looking forward to something for what feels like forever, and then it suddenly seems like everything starts to fall apart.
There will be thousands of people who have had their holidays delayed repeatedly over the previous two and a half years. With borders open, restrictions easier to manage and holidays permitted, things have been looking up for prospective travellers.
But will the summer of ‘22 be remembered as the summer where we reclaimed our freedom to travel, or as a summer of chaos where airports were rammed, flights cancelled and people stranded? More importantly, what can you be doing to ensure that your summer of ‘22 is remembered for all the right reasons?
Emma Baker of Holsworthy Travel warns not to be influenced too much by negative press.
“I’d definitely tell people not to be put off by the media. As tourists, as travellers, there have always been situations to manage. There will always be flights that need to be rescheduled for one reason or another; and as the travel industry gets back on its feet following the pandemic, the unprecedented number of travellers may well cause a few hiccoughs along the way.
“My advice, as always, is to be prepared. Ensure that you know exactly when you can check in for your particular flight, what you will need to have to hand, that you are ready for security checks etc. Being ready for the airport procedures will make things run much more smoothly for you.
“We work a lot with Jet2, which offers a twilight check-in for its flights departing the following morning from Bristol Airport. This is fabulous, as you can check-in your luggage between 4.30pm and 9pm the night before you fly, then just rock up in the morning for your security checks. Being aware of options such as this can make a huge difference to your experience. After all, the sooner you can relax, the quicker your break begins!”
The demand for holidays next year is also already surging.
“I had a couple ask me to look for a coach trip for them in New Zealand next year. January, February and most of March, which is of course part of their peak season, were pretty much fully booked,” says Emma. “The earliest I could get two seats together on that particular trip was 31 March 2023.
“My advice for anything like that, with restricted numbers, is to plan and book as early as you can in order to give you more choice. As with everything, do your research, plan properly and follow procedures so that your break goes as well as it possibly can.”
If you’d like further advice from Emma, who has over 30 years of experience in the travel industry and is well-placed to answer your questions, you can reach her on 01409 253962 or at sales@holsworthytravel.co.uk