TRAVELLING across the country for Christmas? Then there are some delays you need to look out for.
Each year hundreds of thousands of Brits will travel across the UK from A to B, to be somewhere for Christmas, battling busy roads, trains and airports.
Here’s everything you should know about travel over the Christmas period.
Air
According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), data shows that Friday December 19, will be the busiest travel day, with around 460,000 people expected to head off on a flight.
The CAA also revealed that travel on Christmas Day itself is becoming popular, with 160,000 passengers due to fly – 13 per cent more than last year.
The regulator recommended that travellers check their route to the airport and their flight status before leaving home, as winter weather can cause delays.
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In addition, the CAA commented that it is important for passengers to understand their rights, including for when a flight is delayed or cancelled.
Alvaro Iturmendi, travel expert at Confused.com, said: “With record numbers of people expected to fly this Christmas, passengers should be prepared for a higher chance of disruption.”
“Busy airports combined with winter weather risks mean delays and cancellations are more likely.”
Heathrow, in particular, is expecting the busiest Christmas on record.
Heathrow CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “We are fully prepared to deliver an exceptional Christmas experience, ensuring passengers enjoy the festive atmosphere across our terminals.
“Millions of passengers have enjoyed exceptional levels of service across the airport this year and those travelling through Heathrow this December can look forward to the best possible start to their journeys this holiday season.”
Flight compensation rules
A look at your rights if a flight is delayed or cancelled, when your entitled to compensation and if your travel insurance can cover the costs.
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you’re flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven’t used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn’t have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can’t claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you’re unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
Road
The AA is predicting that this year will be the busiest Christmas on record for Britain’s roads.
According to the AA forecast, Friday December 19, is set to be the busiest with around 24.4 million cars hitting the roads.
Shaun Jones, AA expert patrol, said: “Our advice is simple: plan ahead, check your route and allow extra time.
“The AA Routeplanner will help you avoid the queues.
“Pack essentials, keep your tank or EV charge topped up, and don’t let congestion steal your Christmas sparkle.
“If you’re leaving your car parked over the festive period, start it for a few minutes every couple of days to ensure it’s ready for January.
“The M27 closure adds an extra twist to the seasonal story, so if you’re travelling in Hampshire, think about alternative routes. Our patrols will be out in force to keep Britain moving, but the best way to avoid a Christmas cracker of a breakdown is to prepare before you set off.”
Colin Stevenson, road safety information lead at National Highways, said: “Christmas is all about spending time with family and friends, and the last thing anyone wants is a breakdown getting in the way of festive plans. Spending a few minutes checking tyres, lights, screenwash, fuel and keeping an eye on the weather, can make a real difference.
“With so many people travelling, our teams are working around the clock to keep the country moving.
“We’ve got 530 gritters on standby and over 250,000 tonnes of salt in reserve and ready to use. We also plan to remove as many roadworks as possible, but some work will still need to continue.
“Drivers should check their route before they travel.”
How many cars will be on the roads over Christmas?
HERE are how many cars will be on the roads each day over the Christmas period, according to the AA.
Friday, December 19:
24,408,000
Saturday, December 20:
23,730,000
Sunday, December 21:
22,374,000
Monday, December 22:
24,069,000
Tuesday, December 23:
24,069,000
Wednesday, December 24:
22,713,000
Thursday, December 25:
18,306,000
Regarding car hire, Stewart Cahill, assistant vice president, rental, UK and Ireland at Enterprise Mobility, said: “Driving home for Christmas is a key part of the festive season for many – and we’re definitely seeing demand rise across our rental branches.
“Our research shows that the average round trip this Christmas will be more than 500 miles – the equivalent of driving from London to Middlesbrough and back – with nearly half of all holiday journeys happening by road.
“Car hire is especially popular with younger travellers this year, with almost a third of Gen Z and Millennials planning to rent for their Christmas trip.
“If you’re looking to hire a car, we’d recommend booking early to avoid limited availability closer to the holidays, especially for larger vehicles or one-way rentals. Planning ahead can also help lock in the best price and beat the last-minute rush.”
Coach
A spokesperson for National Express told Sun Travel: “The Christmas period is one of our busiest and our customers know they can count on us to get them to where they need to be, with the highest passenger numbers expected on 20th, 23rd, 26th and 27th December.
“Routes from London, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, as well as major airports such as Stansted and Heathrow, are particularly busy as people travel to see family and friends.
“On Christmas Day itself we are operating the nation’s largest festive coach network, with 355 services from 96 locations.
“Given the planned rail disruption over the festive period we’re expecting our coaches to be busy and have increased capacity to meet demand.
“Customers are strongly advised to book early to guarantee a seat and allow extra time for their journeys, especially when travelling to airports.”
Rail
According to The Independent, December 20 and December 22 will be the busiest days for rail.
Network Rail has listed a number of services that will be disrupted online.
These include no trains running on Christmas Day across the UK and on Boxing Day, there will be a reduced service.
There will be a number of engineering works taking place over the festive period as well.
Works include no trains to or from London Liverpool Street Station from December 27 to January 1.
There will also be no trains to or from London Waterloo Station or Vauxhall on December 27 and 28, with services starting and terminating at Clapham Junction.
A limited service will also run to and from London Waterloo from December 29 to January 2.
Buses will replace trains between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby/Northampton from December 27 to January 4 and journeys on the West Coast Main Line between London Euston and the Midlands/North West England/Scotland will be disrupted.
Buses will replace trains between Carlisle and Lockerbie from January 1 to 7, as well as between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh from December 27 to 31.
And no trains will run between Cambridge and Cambridge North, Bury St Edmunds and Stansted Airport from December 27 to January 4.
Ferry
For those travelling via ferry from the Port of Dover, there are also some dates where lots of people are expected to be travelling.
Doug Bannister, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said: “The weekend before Christmas is expected to be particularly busy, with peak traffic anticipated between 6am and 1pm from Friday, December 19, to Sunday, December 21.
“To help ensure a smooth departure, we kindly ask all customers travelling with our ferry partners not to arrive any earlier than two hours before their scheduled sailing, just as you would if departing from a UK airport, and greatly appreciate everyone’s patience should there be any additional waiting time due to the high volumes of traffic.”
Irish Ferries, in particular, is expecting lots of traffic from this weekend.
From December 19 onwards, sailings are expected to be busy on both Dover-Calais to the Continent and on Irish Sea routes from Holyhead and Pembroke, Irish Ferries told Sun Travel.
The operator added that there are still some sailings that are dealing with the aftermath of Storm Bram and advised passengers to have confirmed booking, as well as checking the status of their sailing via the Sailing Updates pages online.
In addition, Irish Ferries also suggest that travellers need to make preparations if they intend to travel with their pet, by booking a space in the Pets Den.
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