Why You Shouldn't Fly....Take The Train Instead....Part One

Why you should Take The Train....Not The Plane...

1. The pilot could terrify you

The following statements were all heard by Telegraph readers on board flights: 

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress." 

"There is rather more snow on the runway than we'd been led to believe." 

"Ladies and gentlemen the storm is very bad. I will do my best to land the plane." 

"As soon as we take off, I am going to ask cabin crew to serve any drinks and snacks within 30 minutes. After that, I want all passengers and cabin crew to be belted up and no-one is to walk around for any reason. There is a big storm ahead. Please be prepared." 

"Ladies and gentlemen we shall be making an unscheduled landing and steep approach to Tampere airport, the plane is on fire. Thank you". 

2. The other passengers might clap when the plane lands 

Surely the most irritating habit of air passengers. Unless both the pilot and co-pilot are taken ill and a passenger lands the plane, this is unacceptable. 

3. Or take their shoes and socks off during a flight 

Shoe removal is (just about) permissable, but no-one should go barefoot on a plane and subject other passengers to the sight of their yellowing toenails. Yet it happens. 

4. You'll be stung getting to the airport 

With single fares from Paddington priced at £21 in economy class, the Heathrow Express is, pound-for-pound, Britain's most expensive rail journey, clocking in at around £1.40 per mile. A return journey costs £34 - slightly cheaper, but still more than £1 for each of the 15 miles travelled. 

The Gatwick Express from London Victoria is just as costly, particularly given that First Capital Connect and Southern services from London Bridge actually get to the airport in less time - and cost half as much. 

And special mention must go to the so-called "Stansted Express". The service - from London Liverpool Street - is the ONLY TRAIN that goes to Stansted. To call something "express" would suggest that there is an alternative, slower, service. This isn't the Stansted Express, it's just "the train to Stansted". 

5. Even if you drive

- Parking: a couple of years ago, it was discovered that parking a plane at many of Britain's airports is cheaper than parking a car. The most expensive was found to be Heathrow - with charges of up to £51.80 for 24 hours. 

- 'Kiss and drop' charges: even if you're able to persuade a loved one to ferry you to and from the airport, it could cost you. Just six of Britain’s 24 airports allow drivers to drop off and pick up passengers directlyin front of the main terminal building free of charge. 

6. The airports will fleece you

The Ikea-style entrance to Gatwick, where you're forced to meander your way through a maze of duty-free shops, sums up the airport experience. You may as well ask a stranger to spend two hours frisking you for cash. There are airports that charge passengers for the plastic bags we must use to take liquids through security (step forward Luton), and others, such as Blackpool, Norwich and Newquay, that charge a "development fee" - because the money they already get from airlines and retail firms just isn't enough. 

Furthermore, bottled water costs a fortune and currency exchange rates are a joke. 

7. Then there's the airport security experience 

Long queues ought to end in something fun, like a fairground ride, or an ice cream. Not the removal of your belt and a pat down from a burly man. 

8. Especially in America 

Just be grateful that those "full body scanners" have been phased out. Earlier this year, a former US airport security worker confirmed the suspicions of many fliers by admitting that staff would often laugh and gawk at the images of naked passengers. “The [full-body scanners] were good at detecting just about everything besides cleverly hidden explosives and guns,” he said. “Many of the images we gawked at were of overweight people, their every fold and dimple on full awful display. Piercings of every kind were visible. Women who’d had mastectomies were easy to discern — their chests showed up on our screens as dull, pixellated regions. 

“Hernias appeared as bulging, blistery growths in the crotch area. Passengers were often caught off-guard by the X-Ray scan and so materialized on-screen in ridiculous, blurred poses—mouths agape, à la Edvard Munch. One of us in the I.O. room would occasionally identify a passenger as female, only to have the officers out on the checkpoint floor radio back that it was actually a man. All the old, crass stereotypes about race and genitalia size thrived on our secure government radio channels.” 

Top Ten Airlines

The prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards has hailed the best in the industry - but not one European carrier makes the top 10

In this modern era when air travel is as regular a part of our existence as coffee franchises and social media, an airline’s reputation with its customers is a crucial part of its success. 

But if travellers are looking to fly in style and comfort, they need to head in the direction of the Far or Middle East, according to the latest ranking of the planet’s top 100 carriers. 

The results of the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards - voted for by passengers - have been announced at the prestigious Paris Air Show. However, they make uncomfortable reading for airlines in Europe. 

The top 10 was a near-clean sweep for Asian carriers, with Qantas, at number ten, the only airline from outside the globe’s biggest continent to appear in the list’s elite section. 

Qatar Airways took the crown, seeing off close competition from Singapore Airlines (in second) and Cathay Pacific, last year’s champions (in third). In this modern era when air travel is as regular a part of our existence as coffee franchises and social media, an airline’s reputation with its customers is a crucial part of its success. 

But if travellers are looking to fly in style and comfort, they need to head in the direction of the Far or Middle East, according to the latest ranking of the planet’s top 100 carriers. 

The results of the annual Skytrax World Airline Awards - voted for by passengers - have been announced at the prestigious Paris Air Show. However, they make uncomfortable reading for airlines in Europe. 

The top 10 was a near-clean sweep for Asian carriers, with Qantas, at number ten, the only airline from outside the globe’s biggest continent to appear in the list’s elite section. 

Qatar Airways took the crown, seeing off close competition from Singapore Airlines (in second) and Cathay Pacific, last year’s champions (in third). 

Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Japan’s All Nippon Airways, Garuda Indonesia and Taiwan’s Eva Air also appear in the top 10 – but you have to scan down the list to 12th place before you find a European carrier, with Lufthansa ranked as the continent’s best. 

Even then, Germany’s flagship airline has slipped in performance – it was voted into 10th position in the 2014 poll. 

The results are compiled using what is deemed to be the world’s largest passenger satisfaction survey, with regular travellers voting for their favourite carriers based on factors such as the quality of food, the roominess of seats and the friendliness of staff. 

The awards have been running since 1999. 

However, while the top 10 gives a sunny picture of the airline industry in Asia, it does not offer many shocks. Eight of 2015’s top ten were in the same bracket last year, with only South Korea’s Asiana Airlines joining Lufthansa in dropping out of the upper tier. 

British Airways roughly maintained its position, dropping three slots from 17th to 20th. 

The big winner in Europe’s skies was Air France, which climbed 10 places from 25th to 15th. Virgin America was even more improved, leaping from 46th in 2014 to 26th in 2015. 

Malaysia Airlines provided a mild surprise. Despite enduring a turbulent 2014 which witnessed the dramatic loss of two aircraft, its ranking suffered only a minor decline, dropping from 18th in 2014 to 24th in the latest figures. 

Qatar Airways’ triumph is less unexpected. The Middle Eastern airline was also poll champion in 2011 and 2012, and was delighted to regain its title after three years. 

“It’s a very clear accolade on behalf of the staff. They are the real recipients,” its CEO Akbar Al Baker said in reaction to the news of his company’s victory. 

Thomson Airways was another winner at the event, climbing from 68th to 59th in the overall poll, and being named “World’s Best Leisure Airline” for the fifth year in six. 

“We are extremely proud to have won the [title of] World’s Best Leisure Airline again,” said John Murphy, the carrier’s Managing Director. 

“We remain committed to ensuring customers can fly from the airport closest to their doorstep to a great selection of destinations, so have focused on offering more long haul routes on our Dreamliner from regional airports.”

Travelling With Children

This post from Mumsnet may prove useful this summer....

A quick nosey at the travel talk boards shows that being stopped at passport control and asked to prove your children are your own is far from uncommon.

If your children have a different surname from you and you're travelling without their father (or vice versa) - or, indeed, you've sent them off for a week with Granny - there's every chance you may be asked to prove their identity. 

Why does this happen?

Child protection. The idea is to safe-guard against child abduction and smuggling. Controls are getting tighter, and checks more frequent.

What can I do?

Don't panic. Making enquiries before you travel and bringing extra documents might seem a faff, but will ensure smooth passage. Before you leave you should:

• Check with your airline – they deal with this daily and will have their own specific requirements
• Check with your embassy - what applies for British children does not apply for other nationalities, regardless of whether they are travelling into/from the UK
• Check with the relevant embassy for the requirements of country/countries you'll be travelling to/through 
• Ensure you have relevant documents: passports (yes, double check), birth certificates and marriage certificates. If you're travelling under your maiden name with children of a different surname, a marriage certificate alongside your passport will 'prove' who you are
• Pack a consent letter (see below)
• Should your parenting arrangement have special terms regarding international travel, then double check with a solicitor to ensure you have the relevant supporting documents

Consent letters: everything you need to know

• Travel consent letters demonstrate that the child or children in question have permission to travel abroadfrom parents or guardians who aren't accompanying them. They're especially useful in situations in which the parents are divorced or separated, and one parent wishes to take the child on holiday. They can also be used by grandparents and other relatives
• They're not a legal requirement in the UK, but can simplify travel for UK nationals, as they may be requested by immigration authorities when entering or leaving a foreign country or when re-entering the UK
• The letter needs to be signed by whomever is NOT travelling
• Getting the letter notarised is recommended, as it's more likely to be accepted as a legal document. You can do this at a local solicitor's for a small charge.
• Remember, carrying a consent letter does not guarantee that children will be allowed to enter or leave a country; every country has its own entry and exit requirements. Double-check with the relevant embassies for specifics.
• Download a template consent letter here

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Emergency Evacuation Benefit

Today's topic is "Emergency Evacuation Benefit", which differs from "Emergency Transportation" you can find in most Travel Insurance products.

"Emergency Transportation" benefit in Travel Insurance is for emergencies from covered sickensss or injuries.  The insurer will pay the cost of transportation to the nearest appropriate medical facility or to a Canadian hospital, when medically necessary and pre-approved by the insurer.
The costs includes land/sea/air ambulance, stretcher, and/or medical attendant(benefits varies by insurer).

Meanwhile, "Emergency Evacuation Benefit" responds when the Government(*) issues a travel warning to your destination for natural disaster or civil emergency.  The cost of transportation to the nearest county of safety or to policy holder's Home Country will be on the insurer's shoulders. The most important thing here is this is only the case when the warning issued after your departure.  Moreover, pre-approval by the insurer is required, the amount paid is limited and determination of the country to be evacuated to be determined by the insurer.
(*) Please refer to your policy wording to clarify with whom the insurance company complies.  
 
On April 25, 2015, a strong magnitude earthquake shook Nepal.  Our partner Allianz Global Assistance(formerly TIC) organized the evacuation and repatriation of 55 travelers, including 14 Canadians, from Kathmandu.(1)  Although a lot of conditions apply to "Emergency Evacuation Benefit", it's worth to consider if you travel for a long period or to the area of safety concern.

Lastly, please note that not every travel insurance lists this kind of benefit. If you're interested in, please contact: info@biis.ca





(1) Travel Agent Central
http://www.travelagentcentral.com/nepal/allianz-global-assistance-sends-relief-team-nepal-51234

Child Passports

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1. Apply for your child's first passport
2. Renewing or replacing your child's passport

4. Adopted children
5. Foster children and children in care
6. Children born through assisted reproduction

1. Overview

To get a child passport, your child must be under 16 and one of the following:

• a British citizen
• a British overseas territories citizen
• a British overseas citizen

Who can apply

You can usually apply for a passport for your child if:

• they’re under 16 
• you legally have ‘parental responsibility’ for them

You automatically have parental responsibility if you:

• are the child’s mother
• are the child’s father and are married to the child’s mother
• were married to the child’s mother when the child was born (or, in Scotland, when the mother became pregnant)
• have adopted the child (alone, or jointly)

Children nearly or over 16 years old

Your child must apply for a 10-year adult passport if they’ll be 16 within the next few weeks or they’re already over 16. They can apply without getting parental consent.

Situation	Action
Your child had a British child passport	Follow the process for renewing an adult passport
Your child has been included on your passport	Apply for their first adult passport
Your child has never had a British child passport	Apply for their first adult passport

Cost

It costs £46 to get a child passport online or by post, or £55.75 using the Post Office Passport Check and Send service. 

Fostering, surrogacy and assisted reproduction

There are special rules if:

• you’ve adopted a child
• you’re fostering a child
• the child was born through assisted reproduction or surrogacy

•