Gone are the days of simply turning up at the airport and with minimal time and fuss, simply boarding the plane and waiting for take off. As with any journey, a little research and planning can go a long way to easing the stress of the trip to the airport and enhancing the enjoyment of your holiday or business trip.

Rather than dreading the pre destination part of the journey between front door and the aircraft seat, why not make it an enjoyable part of the overall experience so that you arrive at your destination refreshed and relaxed. Start your holiday from the moment you leave home with the help of these simple tips.

Picking the best airlines

Especially important if you’re embarking on a long haul flight, the varying differences in legroom and standards of service can make all the difference. With a little research on websites like www.airlinequality.com you can read extensive customer reviews that can help you decide on which airline is best for you.

Online Check-In

Some airlines now offer this service that allows you to check-in online and in some instances, enable you to pick your own seat. Online check-in facilities do vary between airlines and are normally on a first come, first served basis. Check-in is usually available up to 24 hours in advance but rules and terms can vary so it’s always best to double check when booking your trip.

Flight Upgrades

Although high end upgrades can be expensive, some standard and last minute upgrades can be had for a much more palatable surcharge of around £15.00*. Upgrades are well worth looking into especially on Long haul flights as a relatively small surcharge can bring about a big difference in the standards of comfort and enjoyment of your flight.

Booking a seat with a view

Enjoyed by most first time or seasoned travellers, a window seat truly does give you a window to the world. Operated by Trip Advisor, www.seatguru.com provides a guide to the best seating on all of the main airlines. Simply select an airline and aircraft type for a detailed seating plan and a handy guide on the seat position.

Getting to and from the airport

Probably one of those things that people leave to the last minute. For those who intend to drive to the airport, this is rarely a problem with the extensive range of cheap and affordable airport car parking deals either at or near to the airport. Alternatives include either getting a friend or relative to pick you up and drop you off although this can be inconvenient with early morning or late night flights. Using public transport such as buses and trains can be a viable means of getting to the airport. Service operating times and the cost of some journeys however may exceed the cost and benifits of travelling by car. Whatever means of transport to the airport you decide on, it’s always best to plan well in advance and allow extra time for potential delays.

A good time to fly

Not always an option for all but if possible, try to avoid booking flights that are on school and bank holidays. Statistically, mid-week flights are usually less crowded than weekend flights with Mondays actually being the busiest flying day of the week. With a little research and planning, £££’s can be saved on flights if booked on less popular dates and times.

Local and regional airports

Many airlines now operate services from some of the smaller local and regional airports. Although there may not always be a flight to your destination within the required time frame, it’s always worth checking. Why travel potentially hundreds of miles to one of the major national airports like Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Luton or Manchester when there maybe a suitable flight from one of the smaller regional airports potentially saving time, hassle and money.

Start your holiday early

No one enjoys the prospect of a long drive to the airport late at night or in the early ours of the morning followed by hours of waiting at the airport terminal. Chances are that by the time you arrive at your destination, you’ll be tired and harassed and looking forward to a rest. An easy and affordable way of avoiding this scenario might be to book an overnight stay at one of the many airport hotels at or near to the airport. With prices starting from as little £30.00* with full access to a range of hotel facilities, you can add a whole new dimension to your holiday by waking up refreshed, relaxed and usually just a matter of minutes from the airport terminal.

Airport Lounges

Often thought of as something that only executives or celebrities use, airport lounges are in fact a facility that is available to anyone. Usually costing in the region of £15 to £20* per person, the airport lounge admission price usually includes access to a range of complimentary snacks, soft drinks, newspapers, magazines and more. Facilities on offer can vary from lounge to lounge but some also include free alcoholic beverages and internet access in the price. Airport lounges provide an opportunity for you to relax and unwind in a less stressful environment with some great home comforts like sofas and TV.

Travelling light

Turning up at the airport with excess luggage can cause no end of problems for you, your travelling partners, family or friends. To avoid potentially expensive excess luggage charges or the prospect of emptying everyones cases in an attempt to re-distribute the load, pack carefully. Only take what is really necessary, you’ll be surprised at the amount of things that people will pack that they don’t really need. Check the luggage weight restrictions of the airline well in advance and prior to departure just incase they have changed. Weigh your cases prior to leaving for the airport and make sure that the scales you use are accurate. Never go right up to the maximum weight allowance on your own scales and allow for a margin of error, if your scales are understated by just a couple of pounds you’re likely to face an excess luggage charge at the airport.

By following some or all of these simple tips, you can help to make your travel experience that little more enjoyable and a little less stressful. For further information, the latest deals and to compare airport parking, hotels and airport lounges visit www.simplyextras.co.uk. Further advice and information on BAA operated airports such as Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports, can be found at www.baa.com or alternatively by phone on 0870 8502825.

Your views and travel experiences

If you have any interesting stories or helpful travel tips, why not let us know?

* Prices shown and marked give an approximation of the costs involved. Prices of airport services are based on date and time of travel, airport concerned, car park, hotel or lounge operator and service availability at the time of booking.

There has been a marked increase in the number of international travellers returning to the UK with malaria. Health officials are encouraging travellers to ensure that they take appropriate anti-malaria precautions.

There are four main types of malaria, all spread by mosquitoes, present in around 90 countries. Malaria infects around 1 in 10 of the worlds population and a child dies of the disease every 30 seconds.

Symptoms
The first symptoms of malaria can easily be mistaken for a bout of flu. They can often include:

• Headache;
• Nausea;
• High Fever;
• Upset Stomach;
• Vomiting.

These can vary depending upon the specific type of malaria. Most forms will present symptoms within 7 to 14 days but Plasmodium malariae can take up to 30 days.

These early symptoms are often dismissed as unimportant, which is a mistake. Malaria symptoms tend to follow a cycle as the lifecycle of the blood borne parasite progresses. If untreated, further serious complications can arise including kidney failure, anaemia, paralysis and coma.

Increase in Number of Malaria Cases
The increase in malaria cases is due to a variety of factors including:

• The disease is developing a resistance to traditional treatments
• Mosquitoes are becoming resistant to insecticides
• Constraints on health care spending in some countries has led to malaria control activities being curtailed or reduced.

The increase in the number of people returning to the UK with malaria is on the increase because travellers are not taking adequate precautions.

Gap Year Travellers
One group who appear to be particularly at risk are young gap year students. There is a tendency amongst this group to think of themselves as impervious to disease and infection. They tend to embark upon adventurous trips, sometimes lasting many months, into regions of the world that have a high level of malaria infection and they do so with minimal preparation.

Preventing Malaria
The best prevention is avoidance. In particular, avoiding mosquito bites. In conjunction with repelling mosquitoes anyone travelling to a malarial region should take appropriate anti-malarial drugs. Here are just a few basic precautions:

• Wear Protective Clothing
• Use an effective insect repellent
• Use a repellent treated mosquito net
• Use the correct anti-malarial drugs for the region you are visiting (consult your doctor).

Further information and advice can be found on the Department of Health website: UK Department of Health on Malaria.

Monarch airlines have condemned the high aircraft parking fees that are being charged at Luton Airport. Luton Airport currently charges £7,000 a day for each aircraft that is parked at the airport for more than 48 hours in comparison to the £1,000 per day charged at Manchester airport.

Monarch’s managing director Tim Jeans said that Luton Borough Council, the owners of Luton Airport were not investing the money made back into the development of the airport. Mr Jeans went on to claim that the agreement between the airport operators and the council did not give a provision or commitment for the development of the infrastructure at the airport.

Mr Jeans went on to say that “The lack of vision on the part of the council is a crying shame” and that “the terms of the franchise make it more advantageous for it to sweat the assets than to invest in the airport. “The council should recognise its position as part of the London airport system and stop looking at creaming off £2 per plane that takes off.”

Monarch airlines said that they are currently looking at other airports to use as a fifth base for when it takes delivery of a new Airbus A321 that is due for delivery in August.

A spokeswoman for Luton Airport said that high aircraft parking charges had been set by the airport authority to discourage airlines from keeping aircraft at the airport. It’s claimed that this was necessary to prevent airlines from parking aircraft for long periods when not in operation which in turn could cause congestion at the airport during peak times. Travellers will undoubtedly be relieved that the airport authority doesn’t charge the same rates for Luton Airport car parking.

Ryanair have announced plans for a multi-million pound expansion into Scotland that could bring about a significant boost to tourism in the area. With the planned 19 routes that will operate to and from Edinburgh Airport, Ryanair predicts that the new services will attract more than 1.2 million extra passengers a year to Scotland.

With Glasgow Prestwick Airport being their first, Edinburgh airport will be Ryanair’s second base of operation in Scotland and their 27th in Europe.

The airline claims that the expansion of operations in the Scottish sector will indirectly create up to 1,200 jobs in Edinburgh and the East Scotland areas. Inevitably, with the creation of new routes and services comes a greater demand for additional ground based operations such as Airport car parking and Hotels at or near to Edinburgh Airport. This demand for additional services is likely to bring an economic boost and jobs to the local and surrounding areas.

Sean Coyle, Ryanair’s director of finance, said “Our 19 routes will deliver significant economic benefits for Edinburgh by capitalising on Scotland’s huge tourism potential and making it cheaper and easier than ever before to get here.”

From November 5th, the German carrier Air Berlin will start a twice daily service from Stansted airport to Munich with a one flight service on each day at the weekend.

Air Berlins country manager for the UK and Ireland, Titus Johnson, stated that the new route was formed after demand for the route from customers.

With fares starting from £24 one-way, including taxes, Stansted departures will be at 08:20 and 19:15 hours daily with one flight departing on Saturdays at 08:20 and another flight on Sunday departing at 19:15 hours.

In a recent article, the Times Online has named what it considers to be the top ten travel websites.

Rather than focusing purely on website statistics alone, sites with high visitor numbers which can also be low on thrills, the Times has opted to select websites that they feel are more interesting and offer ease of use plus extensive information on products and services for visitors.

As with any top ten list, it’s often found that some less well known companies are found to offer as much or sometimes more than the bigger well recognized organisations in the market reinforcing the advice to shop around.

Travelsupermarket.com

An online comparison website that allows visitors to compare travel related products and services from thousands of service providers. Although one of the biggest players in the price comparison field, the service is limited to companies that pay to be included within its listings so alternative comparison sites shouldn’t be ruled out when searching for the best online deals.

Timesonline.co.uk/travel

Ok, so it may be blowing their own trumpet but for good reason. The Times Online is world renowned for the quality of its travel articles plus its feeds and links to other great quality sites, deals and travel blogs.

Simplyparking.co.uk

Another great comparison website that’s quick and easy to use, instantly returning availability and pricing details from the leading parking providers allowing users to quickly compare and book from a simple search. Covering over 120 car parks at 24 airports across the country, as well as central London parking and Dover port parking for ferry and cruise services, the site saves both time and hassle when looking for the best deals online. The sites ability of providing instant access to the best deals isn’t limited to airport parking alone as airport hotels; airport lounges and car hire are also catered for and work on the same basis as the airport parking service.

Easyjet.com

With around 98% of its bookings now made online, the no frills airline claims that with it’s easy to use online search and booking facility, bookings can be made in around 3 minutes. The review concludes that although airport parking, airport hotels and car hire can also be booked via the site, better deals can be found elsewhere with other major comparison sites.

Laterooms.com

Does exactly what the name suggests. With a large range of availability for last minute bookings, discounts of upto 70% can be made on the published room rates if booked upto 7 days in advance. If you draw a blank on your search with laterooms .com, alternatives such as Wotif.com could provide the answer with a booking window of 28 days.

Wayn.com

Maybe one of the lesser known sites but this great travel-networking site puts you in touch with the worlds travel community. The name which is short for “Where are you now?” currently has over 8 million members. Based in the UK, the site is great for getting and keeping in touch with other travellers around the world.

Worldweather.wmo.int

When booking a last minute departure, it’s now more important than ever to check the weather at your destination with ever increasing occurrences of flooding and storms. Although sunshine and rainfall figures can sometimes be found at travel agents, these can appear optimistic when compared with official meteorological statistics. The World Weather Information Service is run by the World Meteorological Organization and uses official data to create forecasts at more than 1,200 locations worlwide.

Multimap.com

A great alternative to the various software options available, Multimap.com provides access to maps that are packed with useful details and driving directions in a clear and easy to follow format that can be printed. The site remembers your previous searches and allows you to send maps direct to your mobile phone. The site covers much of the worlds road network although the level of detail can reduce dramatically when comparing say a major city to some of the farther flung locations.

Expedia.co.uk

Established for almost 10 years, Expedia has built a reputation of trust and reliability within the trade. With a huge inventory of deals on everything from car hire to flights, it’s a great resource for travellers looking for the latest travel information and deals online.

TripAdvisor.co.uk

Owned by Expedia, Tripadvisor is geared towards user-generated content. With over 10 million reviews, there has in the past been suspicion that a number of the reviews have been written by hoteliers and other individuals to falsely boost the rating of a service or venue. This said however, hotels with a large number of reviews tend to provide a good indicator of the overall standard; Tripadvisor is also getting better at spotting and weeding out false review submissions.

Sir Richard Branson, founder of the virgin group of companies, has been given the go ahead to launch a new Virgin America airline. The inaugural flight will take off from the operations home base in San Francisco to New Yorks JFK airport by mid-summer although no date has been yet confirmed.

The go ahead was finally confirmed after nearly 18 months of negotiations between Virgin and the US competition authorities, a further condition of approval was that Sir Branson limited his interest in the new venture to 25% with the remaining share being owned by US investment banks.

Within the first year of startup, Virgin America is aiming to offer flights to 10 cities within the US including Washington, Las Vegas and San Diego growing to 30 destinations by 2012. Further routes under consideration for future operations currently include Boston, Orlando, Atlanta and New Orleans.

Virgin America hopes to build on the reputation of the virgin group as well as providing a service that betters the conventional US carriers, part of the new operation will be the inclusion of first class cabins on the new services.

BMI has pledged to retain Manchester airport as a key part of its network of services. With eleven routes that include flights from Manchester to Barbados, Las Vegas, Chicago and Antigua, BMI says that it sees Manchester as a vital part of its ongoing expansion program.

With the signing of the open skies deal between the UK, Europe and the united states, BMI may now opt to fly from Heathrow to the US, BMI chairman Sir Michael Bishop went on to say that such a decision however would not effect the Manchester operation.

As a member of the Star Alliance, the Chicago route is of particular importance to BMI as the city is a major hub for fellow member United Airlines. Although BMI intends to continue providing long-haul service from Manchester in the future, it has admitted that the number of opportunities for long haul services from the airport are limited.

In addition to the existing services that operate to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, a new Lyon service that operates from London Heathrow airport has been added by BMI Regional.

BMI, the UK airline that operates cheap flights from the UK to Europe the Middle East and the USA is set to announce a reduction in the number of short-haul services that it operates from Heathrow airport.

Over the next two years, the company that currently operates 19 short-haul services plans to cut back on its short-haul services in favour of it’s medium and long-haul operations. The change has been attributed to intense competition on some of the routes from other London airports, the companies purchase of Bmed from BA and the introduction of the new open-skies agreement between the UK, Europe and the US.

BMI’s chief executive Nigel Turner said that the future reductions in short-haul services would likely affect domestic services as well as flights to Spain, these cuts would be in addition to the 25% cut in short-haul services that had already been made over the past 3 years.

The airline is said to be conducting a review of it’s position and considering it’s options following its £30 million purchase of Bmed from British Airways earlier in the year. The acquisition of Bmed gave BMI an additional 17 mid-haul destinations and several slots at Heathrow airport. Sir Michael Bishop, the BMI chairman said that the slots would be returned back to BA in 2009 meaning that BA would need to rethink its services to fit the medium-haul and proposed US routes into the  restricted space at Heathrow.

More than 1.2 million passengers took to the skies from the Highlands and Islands airport according to figures released by the Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. This figure represents an increase of 7% in the year to March 31, 2007 on the previous year with overall passenger numbers to the regions airports increasing by 57% since 2000 / 2001.

The increase in passenger numbers is said to be largely due to the introduction of the Scotish Executives Air Discount Scheme in May 2006 and the introduction of new routes.

With the better air connections supporting the population and economic growth in the Moray Firth area, the increase in flights and routes is also helping to support business growth and boost tourism in the more remote island communities.