Travel Desk

From electronics to food, what you think is a harmless addition to your hand luggage could actually lead to frustration, delays, or even further checks

From gadgets to grub, what you perceive as a harmless addition to your carry-on could actually lead to unnecessary hassle, delays, or even additional checks. As holidaymakers gear up for their winter escapes, experts at Fulton Umbrellas have compiled a list of typical items that should be avoided in hand luggage, reports the Express.

While hand luggage is often the go-to spot for valuables or items needed during the flight, the company urges caution when deciding what to take on board. The first crucial piece of advice from the experts pertains to packing electronic devices powered by lithium-ion batteries.

Although rules can differ among airlines, passengers are generally advised to only stow electronics with batteries between 100Wh and 160Wh in their carry-ons. It’s also vital to ensure all devices are fully charged before packing them and that they are switched off, as this can help avoid any hiccups at security.

The company also underscored the importance of being mindful about the types of food items you choose to stash in your hand luggage. While it’s common for travellers to pack nibbles or souvenirs, foods like jams, soft cheeses, and chutneys fall under the 100ml liquid limit and could be seized.

Different countries enforce their own specific regulations regarding food, and some may impose extra restrictions on certain items. That’s why it’s highly recommended to research what’s allowed and what’s prohibited in advance, to avoid disappointment or issues with airport security.

Fulton Umbrellas also highlights that, although umbrellas generally pose no issue in hand luggage, larger styles-such as golf umbrellas-could be problematic. These larger umbrellas may be better suited for holding luggage, as they could present a safety hazard if they cause accidents while being handled in the confined space of your carry-on.

Plus, packing a large umbrella in the hold luggage frees up more space in your carry-on bag for other essential items, making your overall packing experience more efficient.

Lastly, the company cautioned fitness-conscious travellers about the potential downsides of packing protein powders in their carry-on. While these powders are not typically prohibited by airlines, they have the tendency to obstruct the view on X-ray machines, which can lead to delays during security screening.

As a result, those who pack protein powders in their hand luggage may find themselves facing more extensive checks, as security personnel will likely need to manually inspect the contents of their bags.

With so many rules, it’s always worth double-checking each airline’s guidance on luggage, as well as each country’s specific restrictions, before embarking on a trip.

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Since 1963, people have taken the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on a 10-minute, 2.5-mile ride from its Valley Station, about 2,650 feet elevation, to its Mountain Station, at just over 8,500 feet elevation where passengers can continue their adventure in Mt. San Jacinto State Park.

My friends and I have experienced the kind of contradictory adventure this route allows: playing in the snow in the same weekend we visited an oasis shaded by hulking palm trees.

That’s always been the goal. As a 1937 Times story about the plan to build the tram explained, “the desert dwellers then would be able to whisk from one-piece bathing suit swimming under the ultraviolet ray sun at the Desert Inn pool to woolen undies and snowshoe land in an hour.” (Although the Desert Inn has since closed, you can find plenty of other Palm Springs hotels.)

The only hitch for anyone wanting to visit now is that the winter holidays mark one of the busier seasons for the tram, especially since it snowed at Mt. San Jacinto around Thanksgiving. Spots fill up quickly online and in-person lines can be long. Here’s what you need to know about snagging a ticket and planning a trip.

A day on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

(David Fouts / For The Times)

How do I get tickets for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway?

A limited number of each day’s tickets are available to prepurchase on the tramway’s website. Most tickets are sold in person, said Rachel Anderson, public relations manager at the tramway.

To avoid long lines on the weekends, Anderson said guests should arrive at 7 a.m., an hour before the first tram goes up at 8 a.m. The ticket booth opens at 7:30 a.m. “Otherwise, wait times can be several hours long during the holiday season,” she said.

Wait times are especially long closer to Christmas, when children are out of school and out-of-town guests are visiting Southern California.

The line’s length does ebb and flow throughout the day, she said, reaching its longest on the days around Christmas and New Year’s, and on weekends when children are out of school for their winter breaks. Weekdays are less busy, but can still see lines, she said.

The tram’s winter hours, which run from Sept. 2 to May 21, are: Monday through Friday with the first tram up at 10 a.m., last tram up at 8 p.m. and the last tram down at 9:30 p.m. On weekends and holidays, the last tram up is 8 p.m. and the last tram down is 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are $20.95 for children ages 3 to 10, $36.95 for older kids and adults, and $33.95 for adults 65 and older.

A balcony where guests can take in the breathtaking views of the desert below.

(David Fouts / For The Times)

What can I do once at the top?

Yodel, dance, eat snacks — the possibilities are endless!

OK, in all seriousness, you have a snack or enjoy fine dining on dishes like vegetarian lasagna or filet mignon, hike any part of the 50-plus miles of trails, snowshoe, cross-country ski or just vibe out among the Jeffrey pines.

The tram offers hikers who don’t feel like taking the strenuous Cactus to Clouds route: From the tram’s Mountain Station, you can hike 10 miles out and back, which shaves off about 10 arduous miles.

Can I bring my sled and dog?

Many visitors take the tram to go sledding. Anderson said small plastic sleds are allowed while inflatable rafts or sleds, and those sleds with metal, aren’t. (Rolling down hills on your own accord is just fine, though!)

Unfortunately, unless Fido is a registered service dog, you’ll need to leave your pup at home. Dogs are not allowed on the tram and generally are prohibited from trails in the park.

Other banned items include drones and outside alcohol (but can buy booze on site).

What’s the parking situation?

Parking is $15 for most vehicles, and lots open at 9 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on weekends and holidays. A free shuttle bus takes visitors to the Valley Station, where they can buy tram tickets.

What else do I need to know?

I am personally a sucker for California trivia, so allow me to tell you more about the tram’s history and why it remains a unique opportunity to this day.

I wanted to understand how rare of an experience it is to ride the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, so I spoke to Peter Landsman, editor for LiftBlog, where he’s been compiling data on trams and ski lifts for about 10 years.

Landsman said the Palm Springs tram is special for multiple reasons, but in particular because the car rotates as it travels up and down the mountain, an experience found only on a few tramways across the globe.

Overall, there are only about a dozen tramways of similar builds in the U.S. — and not many are being constructed today. The recently completed tram in Big Sky, Mont., was the first new tram built at a North American ski area since 2008, according to Landsman’s blog.

The tram’s original construction cost, per a Times article on its opening day in 1963, was $7.7 million. That’s about $81.5 million in today’s money, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics inflation calculator.

“I would say $7.7 million wouldn’t get you much these days,” Landsman, who works in the ski industry, said. “That’s pretty remarkable.”

THERE’S a theme park in Europe named the word’s best – but it isn’t Disneyland Paris.

The huge Europa-Park in Germany was named Best Theme Park in the World at the Golden Ticket Awards.

It is the 10th time it has won the award – and with 100 attractions, I wasn’t surprised.

I visited the mega theme park last year, and was left seriously impressed by the scale of it.

Stretching across 230 acres, across the park are 15 country-themed lands placed on different destination around the world.

The area of Greece feels like you are in Mykonos, while the Switzerland area is like being in the heart of the Alps.

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There is a St Marks Square in Italy, as well as a pizzieria, while there are lands based on Norway, the Netherlands and Spain as well.

There is an England themed land too, which yes, has a British pub.

The extravagance of the park reminds me of a family-friendly Las Vegas, without the casinos and neon lights or course.

Among the 100 attractions are 13 rollercoasters, my favourite being new Voltron Nevera in the Croatia section.

Created by Mack Rides – behing Thorpe Park’s Hyperia – it has a record-breaking 105-degree beyond-vertical launch, the steepest in the world.

It is easily one of the most innovative roller­coasters I’ve experienced, not to mention the most terrifying.

The park also has Rulantica, a huge waterpark with 50 slides and attractions.

Heated to 32C, it even opened a new outdoor pool this year, which has a massive swim up bar with 150 seats.

And if that wasn’t enough, there are a whopping 50 restaurants and bars at Europa-Park – my favourite being the mad Eatrenalin.

Sat at a “floating chair” I was transported to different rooms for different dishes while surrounded by immersive displays.

It combines gourmet cuisine with modern technology – and I was sold.

Europa-Park is constantly expanding too – back in June, the new Wild West themed land Silver Lake City opened.

Along with four themed diners, there is even a 630-bed Tipi Town accommodation village.

Next year will see the opening of the Riverside Western Lodge, with another 120 rooms.

It might not have the recognition of Disneyland, but with so much for all ages, Europa Park should top any theme park-lover’s list.

It’s not just me who was impressed, with one money-saving mum saying it was perfect even in half term holidays.

Content creator TheTravelMum said: “The theming is incredible, and the queue times are absolutely amazing.

“A lot of the smaller rides only have one minute queues.

“The park is fantastic for thrillseekers but at the same time it caters to the little ones,

“This place is fantastic value.”

Entry to the park costs £52 for adults and £44 for children (4–11) and seniors.

Despite being in Germany, the park is near the border of France and Switzerland, so the nearest airport for Brits is Basel.

Return fares in November start from £39pp.

A POPULAR seaside resort has secured a massive £20million in funding ahead of a decade-long transformation.

The coastal resort, which has been ranked the “best for a short break” in the UK, will undergo a series of upgrades, including the revamping of community spaces.

The Victorian town of Hastings, which was previously praised as an overlooked holiday hotspot, confirmed the ambitious plans this week.

As part of the government’s Pride in Place programme, the project will “spark civic pride and breathe new life into the town”.

Planned works

Safer streets and revamped public areas are prioritised in the new works, as well as improvements to sports, leisure, and play facilities.

And heritage sites across the town will also be set for restoration as part of the plan to create “a Hastings for everyone”.

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Deputy leader of Hastings Borough Council Julia Hilton said the upgrades will be shaped “in collaboration with local people”, while Local MP Helena Dollimore praised the project for making Hastings “an even better place to live”.

Toursim

Hastings has received mixed reviews over the years, once vote the worst seaside town for a weekend to stay by Which?, it is now widely regarded as an underrated treasure.

While visitors have marked it down on value for money, and ease of getting around, artists and writers continue to flock to the town, turning it into one of the UK’s most exciting up-and-coming holiday destinations.

And from the old town to the stunning scenery, there’s something for everyone in this historic area.

The old town itself is rated number one on TripAdvisor, scoring 4/5 from more than 2,700 reviews, with visitors praising its independent shops, cafés, and buzzing character.

Tourists can walk the cobbled streets, enjoying vintage shops, a Tudor-looking pub, and five-star chippies and restaurants.

Hastings also boasts a number of music events, including the annual Hastings Beer and Music Festival, as well as playing host to well-known restaurants such as Yaaze Cafe Bistro & Meze Bar.

Music fans will also want to visit the Jenny Lind, which offers live performances and flamboyant local characters.

And Hastings Contemporary gallery is just around the corner – a nod to the town’s burgeoning art scene, with many tipping it to be the next Margate.

There are also pagan vibes in the area, with Jack on the Green festival ushering in the summer with incredible costumes, dancing, and music paraded through the streets.

To top off the unique experience, a huge puppet is then set alight on the West Hill.

The Prime Minister says catching a bus ‘shouldn’t cost the earth’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a fresh message on public transport costs this morning, stressing that taking the bus ‘shouldn’t cost the earth’. His thoughts come after bus fares on thousands of routes in England were previously capped at £3 until 2027.

“Catching the bus shouldn’t cost the earth,” Sir Keir said on X, formerly Twitter, this morning. “That’s why we are capping bus fares at £3 and investing in new buses and stops.”

Earlier this year, the Government’s Spending Review revealed that its £3 bus fare cap would remain in effect until at least March 2027. This measure, which applies to most bus routes in England, was first introduced in January 2023. While the cap was initially £2, this was subsequently increased to £3 on single bus fares outside London from January 2025.

The Government has explained that participation in the fare cap initiative is voluntary, meaning some firms have chosen not to take part. Instead, local companies may offer ‘other types of tickets that are suitable’ for similar needs.

“Some types of routes are not covered by this scheme so they are not included, for example, coach services, school-only services or airport services,” the Government further advises online. “Fares are capped locally in London, so it is not included in this scheme. Routes listed as ‘not included’ in the national £3 fare cap may still offer a discounted fare as part of a locally run initiative.”

Despite this, residents of England who are considered ‘eligible disabled’ may obtain a bus pass for completely free off-peak local travel, thanks to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). Similarly, residents of England and Wales can obtain free bus passes upon reaching State Pension Age, or at the age of 60 in London specifically.

The regional disparity between London and the rest of England has recently taken centre stage in public debate, following a parliamentary petition that collected over 100,000 signatures. This campaign argued that the current situation is ‘unjust’ and free bus travel should be extended to all people over 60 in England.

The Department for Transport (DfT) responded to these complaints in February this year, stating that ‘any changes to the statutory scheme must be carefully considered for their impact on its financial sustainability’. However, the subject will soon be debated in Parliament on January 5, 2026.

The DfT response continued: “The ENCTS provides free off-peak bus travel to those with eligible disabilities and those of state pension age, currently sixty-six. The ENCTS costs around £700 million annually and any changes to the statutory obligations, such as lowering the age of eligibility, would therefore need to be carefully considered for its impact on the scheme’s financial sustainability.

“Local authorities in England do have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, by extending the age of eligibility for the older persons’ bus pass. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources, depending on the needs and priorities of each area.”

At the time, it also added: “Concessionary travel is a devolved policy area and as such, the eligibility age for the bus pass differs between the devolved nations of the United Kingdom. This means, in effect, that there are different schemes in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so the administrative arrangements are entirely separate.”

If you are reaching State Pension age or are considered ‘eligible disabled’ and are interested in applying for a bus pass, refer to the Government’s website for further information. You can also read the now-closed bus pass petition at Parliament’s website here.

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JOJO Siwa fans will soon be able to experience a holiday with the star as she is launching a cruise next year.

The American singer and dancer who rose to fame after appearing on the popular reality TV show Dance Moms, has created a cruise which will set sail from June 12 to June 15, 2026.

Fans will board Royal Caribbean‘s Utopia of the Seas and across three days be able to enjoy meet and greets, q&a’s, dance parties, Build-a-Bow sessions and even a dance class with JoJo herself.

For the first time, there will also be an Infinity Heart Concert at sea, as part of her tour.

Fans must book through the JoJoSiwaCruise.com website to access all the JoJo Siwa events, activities, concerts and exclusives.

JoJo said: “This is the most immersive fan event I’ve ever created, and I cannot wait to share it with you!”

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Other activities in the JoJo Siwa programme include a welcome party, a trivia session, Name That Tune with prizes, a photography and autograph session and finally, a farewell party.

Anyone who books directly through Royal Caribbean or another website will not get access to any of the JoJo Siwa programming.

Of course, the cruise also includes everything that Utopia of the Seas usually has to offer including pools, waterslides, sports courts and a day at CocoCay.

On day one of the cruise, guests will have half a day exploring the ship, where they can head off on a zip line over the boardwalk, play mini golf, rock climb, ice skate or explore the arcade.

For little kids there is also a Splashaway Bay children’s splash zone.

And if you get hungry, there are more than 20 dining options onboard the ship, with complimentary spots including the main dining room, buffet, pizza, cafes and quick-serve spots.

There is also the opportunity for some retail therapy with the Promenade shops.

Then on day two, the cruise will head to Nassau, in the Bahamas.

Day three will then be spent at Royal Caribbean‘s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, where there is Daredevil’s Peak waterslide, high speed waterslides, a wave pool and an adventure pool with obstacles.

The island also features several more chilled areas such as Oasis Lagoon – the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean.

From the island, guests can also participate in a number of other activities including snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding.

Sailings start at $1,050 (£786.08) for an Interior Stateroom based on two people sharing.

A Boardwalk View Stateroom then costs from $1,212 (£907.36) for two people sharing and a Central Park View Stateroom costs from $1,282 (£959.77).

There is also a Oceanview Balcony Stateroom available from $1,337 (£1,000.95).

In other cruise news, there’s a new luxury cruise ship which you can live on forever – and it’s cheaper than a London flat.

Plus, the world’s best sports-themed cruises – with NFL games, F1 drivers and pickleball-at-sea.

Ahead of one of the busiest times to travel, the National Rail has issued a warning and outlined some of the changes that could impact your train journey during the festive season

Train travel changes to be aware of between Christmas and New Year

• Plan and check your journey before you travel
• There will be no National Rail services running on Christmas Day
• Most train operators will not be in service on Boxing Day. However, there will be very limited services on some train operators, including Chiltern Railways, London Overground, Merseyrail, ScotRail, Southern and Stansted Express
• Timetables could be subject to change during the festive period, including late-notice changes, which runs from Tuesday, 23 December, until Friday, 2 January
• No trains will run to or from London Liverpool Street station from Saturday, 27 December, to Thursday, 1 January
• No trains will run to or from London Waterloo Station or Vauxhall on Saturday, 27 December, and Sunday, 28 December
• Bus replacements will be in operation between Milton Keynes Central and Rugby/Northampton from Saturday, 27 December to Sunday, 4 January
• There will be an amended service between Preston and Carlisle from Wednesday, 31 December to Thursday, 15 January
• Bus replacements will be in operation between Carlisle and Lockerbie from Thursday, 1 January, to Wednesday, 7 January
• An amended service will be in place between Leeds and York from Saturday, 27 December, to Friday, 2 January
• No trains will run between Cambridge and Cambridge North, Bury St Edmunds, and Stansted Airport from Saturday, 27 December, to Sunday, 4 January
• Bus services will replace trains between Dalmuir and Balloch/Helensburgh from Saturday, 27 December, until Wednesday, 31 December

National Rail stated that there will be “lots of planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place as Network Rail works to improve the railway” over Christmas and the New Year. This may result in changes to train timetables, so it’s best to check your journey before setting off.

For further details or to check your journey, you can visit the National Rail website.

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When I first came to London from Yorkshire in the late 1980s, I found the tube replete with bizarre novelties. Among them was the way most trains required me to sit sideways to the direction of travel, as on a fairground waltzer. Directly opposite me was another person or an empty seat, and while I knew not to stare at people, I did stare at the seats – at their woollen coverings, called moquette. I have since written two books about them, the first nonfiction, Seats of London, and now a crime novel, The Moquette Mystery.

I was attracted to moquette firstly because it, like me, came from Yorkshire (most of it back then was woven in Halifax), and whereas many foreign metros have seats of plastic or steel, moquette made the tube cosy. Yet it seemed underappreciated. The index of the standard history of the tube, for instance, proceeds blithely from Moorgate to Morden.

A moquette might last a decade or more on a particular vehicle, coinciding with a Londoner’s formative years, the design evoking forever after those tube rides to triumphs and disasters. For generation Z, the resonant one is likely to be Barman, introduced in 2010 to replace a range of moquettes deemed too diffuse. Therefore, our two-hour moquette tour begins on one of the many lines to use Barman: the Northern line, from Leicester Square to Charing Cross.

Barman is named after Christian Barman, publicity officer to Frank Pick who, as vice-chair of London Transport in the 1930s, commissioned the roundel symbol, the tube map, Charles Holden’s subtly modernist station architecture and many posters and moquettes. Barman was designed by Wallace Sewell (Harriet Wallace-Jones and Emma Sewell) and, unusually for moquette, it’s figurative; but it’s also mysterious. The landmarks it depicts seem suffused in a haze of blue rain, and the harder you stare, the more the top of Big Ben becomes Battersea Power Station – and is that Southwark cathedral looming ghostly behind the dome of St Paul’s?

At Charing Cross, we change on to the Bakerloo, which has a darker version of Barman, the same landmarks at night, perhaps. The sombre black, grey and brown colour scheme suits the crepuscular mood of these elderly trains; it is also historically valid. In the early 1920s, the first moquette widely applied on the underground – called Lozenge – was the colour of dried mud, a capitulation to the dirtiness of clothes in those days before widespread dry-cleaning.

In the late 1930s, Frank Pick commissioned brighter moquettes from leading textile designers, including Enid Marx and Marion Dorn. He favoured red and green – red symbolising the town, green the country – and he considered green serene. My novel is set in this golden age of the underground, epitomised by the lambent glamour of Piccadilly Circus station concourse, which features a sort of shrine to Pick, showing his watchwords in brass on the marble wall. These range from “Utility” to “Beauty”, and moquette has usually been filed under the first word, but the second applies to the best of it.

We go from Picadilly Circus to Green Park on the Piccadilly line – Barman again, but with a richer blue than on the Northern line. It reflects the line colour and the dark blue of the Underground roundel bar, which a transport designer once described to me as “the reassuring colour of an old-fashioned police lamp”.

At Green Park, we take the Victoria line to Oxford Circus. This unnamed moquette uses multiple V-shapes, evoking she who was not amused. The Vs are white, which shows the dirt, but the radiated light suggests diamond facets and alleviates the claustrophobia of this line which never comes above ground.

At Oxford Circus, we observe some Central line trains, waiting for a lucky break. Most have Barman, but some refurbished trains have a new red, black and grey moquette called Tuppenny, the Central having once been “the Tuppenny Tube”. It is reminiscent of a Central line moquette of the late 80s, my “home” line back then, when the red and black seemed consoling, like a coal fire.

I suggested to Paul Marchant, head of product design at Transport for London, that Tuppenny was “retro”. “Yes,” he said, “I was on holiday when it was commissioned!” A joke (I think), but moquette is meant to keep pace with London; it is not supposed to be retro. Currently, only two Central line trains have Tuppenny, so the odds are against our sitting on it while heading west to our next stop, Bond Street.

Here, we board the Elizabeth line for Paddington. Most moquettes have four colours, but on the luxurious, hi-tech Lizzy line, it has about eight. The designers (Wallace Sewell) were briefed to incorporate royal purple, a strident shade unlikely to be “serene” if emphasised. So it’s subsumed here amid others, representing connecting lines and suggesting train movements digitally represented in some futuristic signal box.

At Paddington, we board a Circle or Hammersmith & City line train heading east. We are now on one of the “cut-and-cover” lines just below street level. If you don’t know which lines are sub-surface, the moquette on those trains tells you. The colours of the small rectangles set against a black background denote the Circle, H&C, District and Metropolitan lines.

Moquette has a pile – tufts – that can be left as loops or cut for a more vivid colour and a velvety texture, and this sub-surface one is entirely cut, so it is not as hard-wearing as others. The seats near the doors (the most popular ones) are badly worn, with the backing fabric “grinning through”, to use the technical term. I am assured there are “big plans” to address this.

At King’s Cross we head south on the Piccadilly line to Covent Garden and the London Transport Museum. In the cafe, we sip the museum’s excellent coffee while sitting on seats covered with their own special moquette, which is red and green in homage to Frank Pick. In the museum shop, moquettes past and present are for sale as bags, cushions, pouffes and so on. That Londoners are willing to pay to have a symbol of public transport in their homes is a tribute to the legacy of Pick. As the man himself said: “The quality of our surroundings contributes to the quality of our own lives.”

Andrew Martin’s novel, The Moquette Mystery, is published by Safe Haven. To support the Guardian, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply

The festive season is one of the busiest times for travel, and it’s handy to know your rights when it comes to getting a refund and compensation for any delays or cancellations you may encounter

The Christmas period is famously one of the most chaotic times for travel, with thousands of Brits hopping on planes or trains to reunite with family and friends, whether that’s within the UK or abroad. With travel disruption already anticipated in the run-up to Christmas, it’s essential to understand your entitlements regarding refunds and compensation should you face any delays or cancellations.

Multiple strikes have already been confirmed, threatening to cause significant disruption to holiday travel. Approximately 200 check-in and baggage handling workers employed by easyJet at London Luton Airport are set to strike during the final two weekends of December amid an ongoing pay row.

Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport is bracing itself to handle seven million passengers across its four terminals throughout the festive period. It has also emerged that Friday, 20 December, and Sunday, 28 December, are set to be the busiest days for UK airports.

Furthermore, National Rail has confirmed there will be “planned essential engineering works and upgrades taking place as Network Rail works to improve the railway” over the festive period. There may also be reduced services, with some train operators making alterations to their schedules.

So if you’re journeying during the hectic festive season and encounter delays or cancellations, here’s your complete guide to refunds and compensation entitlements.

Flight refunds

If your flight gets cancelled while you’re travelling to or from the UK, you’re legally entitled to either a refund or an alternative flight to your destination, according to MoneySavingExpert. However, there are a few key points that passengers should be aware of:

• The airline is responsible, even if your booking was made through an online travel agency
• If you booked a package holiday, the responsibility lies with the tour operator
• You’re entitled to an alternative flight at the earliest opportunity, and it doesn’t need to be with the same airline
• You can request a different flight, but don’t go ahead and book one yourself

Moreover, if your flight is significantly delayed, which could range from two to four hours, Citizens Advice states that the airline must provide you with:

• Food and drink
• Access to phone calls and emails
• Accommodation if you’re delayed overnight – along with transport between the airport and hotel

For more details, you can visit the Citizens’ Advice website. It’s also advisable to check directly with your airline to see if you qualify for a refund.

Flight compensation

When it comes to flight compensation for delays or cancellations on journeys to or from the UK, the rules can vary. It’s crucial to remember that even if an airline offers a credit note in lieu of a refund, you’re entirely within your rights to demand a cash reimbursement, potentially of up to £520.

As outlined by MoneySavingExpert, under the UK/EU flight delay compensation scheme, certain flights qualify for compensation at a fixed rate. For your flight to be eligible, it must satisfy the following conditions:

• Your flight arrived more than three hours late at its destination
• The flight was scheduled in the past six years
• The delay was the airline’s fault

You may also be eligible for compensation if you were unable to board your flight due to overbooking.

MoneySavingExpert highlights that compensation under EU/UK regulations concerns the “inconvenience of a delay”, rather than reimbursement of the ticket cost. The amount you could claim depends on how long your delay lasted and the distance of your journey.

Furthermore, what matters is your arrival time, not your departure time. Travellers become eligible for compensation when their flight lands more than three hours after the scheduled arrival time.

To determine if you qualify for compensation, you should check directly with your airline.

Rail refunds

National Rail states that if your train experiences delays or cancellations and you choose not to travel, you can secure a refund for your unused ticket without facing any fees from the original seller. If you purchased your ticket from a railway company, their contact information can be found on National Rail’s Find a Train Company page.

Furthermore, it’s worth noting that tickets purchased from self-service machines at stations often include instructions on how to request a refund.

Train compensation

Regarding compensation for rail journeys, National Rail confirms that passengers who arrive late at their destination due to cancelled or delayed services may be eligible to claim money back directly from the train operator.

National Rail states that eligibility depends on several factors:

• Train company you travelled with – different companies have different guidelines, but they all offer compensation
• Type of train ticket – compensation is calculated differently depending on the ticket purchased
• Length of the delay – each train company has its own “compensation threshold”

The most effective way to establish whether you qualify for train travel compensation is to check directly with the operator you booked through. Claims can usually be submitted online, and sometimes via post, or even through designated staff at stations.

For further details, you can visit the National Rail website.

BUDGET airlines are rarely charging their lowest advertised baggage fees, a new study has revealed.

Consumer group Which? analysed the cost of travelling with a cabin bag designed to fit in an overhead locker on a total of nearly 1,500 easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air flights.

These were spread across eight popular routes for each airline, and included peak and off-peak dates.

EasyJet’s website states it charges “from £5.99” for a cabin bag, but Which? said it found no price that low among the 520 flights it checked.

The cheapest price found was £23.49, and the average was £30.

Analysis of Ryanair found its lowest advertised cabin bag rate of £12 was only available for two out of 634 flights.

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And Wizz Air’s lowest stated cabin bag price at the time of the research was €15 (£13.11), but that cost was only found twice across 338 flights.

The average fees found for Ryanair and Wizz Air were £20.50 and £28.93 respectively.

Which? said it handed its findings to regulator the Advertising Standards Authority as they “deserved to be called out”.

Travelling with a bag only in the overhead lockers is “likely to be considered an essential by many passengers,” they added.

It claimed airlines’ “failure to provide transparent fees” means consumers “don’t know what they are paying” until they have gone through multiple stages of the booking process.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: “Our research shows that the tens of millions of passengers who need to take a cabin bag will pay much more than the cheapest price advertised.

“Rather than a few pounds, prices for bags can often be more than the flight itself.

“The tactics used by these airlines deserve to be called out.

“That’s why we have shared our findings with the regulator.”

A spokesperson for easyJet said its bag options and pricing are “transparent and well understood by our customers”.

It added that they allow passengers to “pay for only what they want”.

Ryanair said in a statement that the number of flights analysed was “too small to be representative or accurate”, adding that its cabin bag prices are “transparent and optional”.

A Wizz Air spokesperson said its prices “vary by route, season and demand”, and insisted it is “fully compliant with consumer protection laws”.

In August, Ryanair said it planned to raise bonuses for staff who spot passengers attempting to take oversized bags on flights, from €1.50 (£1.31) to €2.50 (£2.18) per bag.

At the time, the airline’s chief executive Michael O’Leary said he made “absolutely no apology” for catching people “scamming the system”.

Airlines are now offering “bundled fees” to make extra money.

And here are some of our tip tricks to avoiding luggage fees as well as seat fees.

An investigation by consumer group Which? has raised questions about how available the cheapest claimed cabin bag fees advertising by budget airlines are in reality

Advertising watchdogs are investigating claims about easyJet’s cabin bag fees.

The budget airline says passengers can take a bag on board from just £5.99 each way. But researchers from consumer group Which? were unable to find the price when they searched 520 easyJet options. The cheapest it found was £23.49, and the average £30 – about five times more expensive than the lowest price claimed. And as the cabin bag fees are one way, for most passengers the cost would be doubled when returning home from their trip.

The finding prompted Which? to lodge a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority, and it is now being investigated.

A spokesperson for easyJet said: “EasyJet’s bag options and pricing is transparent and well understood by our customers, allows them to pay for only what they want and no more and enables us to keep fares low for everyone. This year 100 million passengers are choosing to fly with us and with our customer satisfaction scores up year on year, it’s clear that customers continue to value the choices that we offer.”

Which? also looked for Ryanair’s claimed lowest cabin bag price of £12 each way, and says it only found it available twice out of 634 flights – or just 0.3% of the time. The average fee for Ryanair was £20.50, it says.

It was a similar story for Wizz Air’s 15 euro claim, that Which? found was available just twice on the 338 flights checked.

Rory Boland, Editor of Which? Travel, said: “Our research shows that the tens of millions of passengers who need to take a cabin bag will pay much more than the cheapest price advertised – rather than a few pounds, prices for bags can often be more than the flight itself. “The tactics used by these airlines deserve to be called out, that’s why we have shared our findings with the regulator.”

Ryanair hit back strongly to the claims against it, branding the Which? research “total rubbish”. A spokesperson said: “Ryanair operates over 100,000 flights each month or over 1.2million flights annually so your ‘survey’ of just 600 flights is statistically too small to be representative or accurate.”

A Wizz Air spokesperson said: “Wizz Air flies over 75 million passengers each year, so a sample of 350 flights isn’t representative of cabin bag pricing across our full network. “Given the small sample and the fact we’ve had no visibility of the data, we believe it is potentially misleading.”