Credit cards

Flying with a red, blue or green suitcase could be a bad idea

Planning and setting off on a getaway is among life’s finest pleasures, but sometimes, events outside your control can occur. Flights might get axed, accommodation double-booked, or in the most serious cases, you could become a target for criminals.

Whilst remaining vigilant is crucial, there are several steps you can take prior to departure to guarantee your possessions and personal items stay safe at the airport and during your travels. Shahzad Ali, security specialist and CEO of Get Licensed, revealed his key tips for safeguarding your luggage while on holiday.

He urged passengers to steer clear of brightly coloured luggage at all costs, as it could draw unwanted attention.

The travel specialist cautioned passengers flying with major carriers this summer, including Jet2, Ryanair, easyJet and TUI, and recommended they choose a black suitcase instead.

He said: “Although a new and colourful suitcase may look more fashionable, it won’t only be attractive to you. It’s best to choose a more common-looking suitcase, and if possible, a worn-out one – as to not stand out from the crowd – and with it, a high-quality padlock,” reports the Express.

“This can make a big difference in keeping your items safe. You can add an identifier, such as a ribbon or sticker, to avoid getting your luggage mistaken for someone else’s whilst still remaining subtle.”

He offered another handy security recommendation: “When packing, organise your items in three categories: extremely valuable (such as documents, credit cards, mobile phones and larger sums of cash), valuable (such as jewellery and other expensive items) and less valuable (such as clothes and self-care products).

“The extremely valuable items that don’t need to be used often at the airport should be placed in a money belt that will stay close to your body at all times until you reach your destination.

“The ones that need to be used at the airport should be placed in a small handbag or fanny pack that will stay in front of you at all times. When they’re not needed any longer, these items should be placed in the money belt. Larger valuables, such as laptops or tablets, can be placed in your carry-on luggage.

“Valuables such as jewellery should be strategically hidden among less valuable items, such as clothes, in your checked luggage.”

Seven extra groups now qualify for a Disabled Person’s Railcard including blue badge holders

More people will now qualify for reduced-price rail journeys across the UK. Seven additional categories are now eligible for a Disabled Person’s Railcard after the scheme was broadened on March 1.

This railcard grants the holder and an accompanying adult a one-third discount on most train tickets throughout England, Scotland and Wales. It presently costs £20 for one year or £54 for three. Until this month, the Disabled Person’s Railcard had exclusively been available to those claiming particular benefits or living with certain medical conditions. From March 1, it continues to be available to those individuals, but the criteria has been widened.

It now encompasses a wider spectrum of visible and non-visible disabilities. Individuals who now qualify include those who:

• Have a blue badge
• Have a disabled person’s bus pass (England, Scotland and Wales)
• Have a disabled person’s Freedom Pass (London only)
• Can’t drive on medical grounds
• Receive Armed Forces Compensation Scheme benefits
• Receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit for 20 per cent degree of disablement or higher
• Are without speech

Other people who still qualify

The existing qualifying criteria for a Disabled Person’s Railcard remains valid, which means you can hold a railcard if you:

• Receive Personal Independence Payments or Adult Disability Payment
• Receive Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment at either the higher or lower rate for the mobility component, or the higher or middle rate for the care component
• Have a visual impairment
• Are registered as deaf or use a hearing aid
• Have epilepsy and receive drug treatment for it
• Receive Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment
• Receive war pensioner’s mobility supplement
• Receive war or service disablement pension for 80 per cent or more disability
• Buy or lease a vehicle through the Motability scheme

From September 2026 it is intended that the scheme will broaden further allowing even more people to apply for a card. On the Disabled Persons Railcard website, it states: “Phase 2, launching in September 2026, will further extend eligibility to disabilities and conditions that require professional health evidence and more detailed assessment, including some long-term or degenerative medical conditions, and neurodiversity where it has a substantial impact on a person’s ability to travel by train.

“More detailed evidentiary requirements will be made available for this phase closer to implementation in September 2026.”

It is worth noting that if you already hold one of these railcards, the changes won’t affect you. The website states: “These upcoming changes to the eligibility criteria won’t affect your current Railcard or your eligibility. You can continue using your Railcard as usual without any disruption.”

How to apply

You can submit an application online here. You can select a digital card accessible via your mobile, which becomes available within five working days.

Alternatively, you can choose a physical card, which may take up to 15 days to reach you by post. The application process should require no longer than 10 minutes to finish.

Before starting, you must ensure you have the following prepared:

• A valid debit or credit card
• Documentary evidence of the Railcard holder’s disability that can be scanned and uploaded as a file
• A passport-style photograph (it can even be captured with your phone)

You cannot submit an application in person at a railway station but you can apply by post. To do this, you can download a Disabled Persons Railcard application form online or obtain an application form from any staffed station ticket office.

You will then need to fill in and return this application, together with the required evidence of disability and payment to:

National Railcards

PO box 8626

SWADLINCOTE

DE11 1JA

A complete list of what is recognised as documentary evidence of the disability can be located online here.

HM Passport Office has issued an urgent warning to all passport holders

Anyone holding a passport has been cautioned not to “risk it” as part of a warning from HM Passport Office. In a message posted to X, the Government agency urged Brits to “think before you share”.

This comes amid concerns over identity theft and fraud. On X, HM Passport Office stated: “Think before you share. Your passport includes important details personal to you – don’t risk it.

“Secure your passport. Protect your identity. #ProtectYourPassport.”

In an accompanying video, the office explained: “Your passport is an important document. Here are some simple steps to help keep your identity secure.”

These steps are:

• Never publicly share personal details online
• Only share details with trusted sources
• Keep a secure copy of your passport details page
• Report loss or theft online immediately on GOV.UK

Replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport

If your passport has been lost or stolen, you must cancel it before applying for a replacement. GOV.UK states: “If your passport is damaged you must replace it. You may not be able to travel with it.”

HM Passport Office will consider your passport damaged if:

• You cannot read any of your details
• Any of the pages are ripped, cut or missing
• There are holes, cuts or rips in the cover
• The cover is coming away
• There are stains on the pages (for example, ink or water damage)

Replace online

You can replace your passport online for a fee of £94.50. To do this you’ll need:

• A digital photo
• A credit or debit card

If you’re replacing a lost or stolen passport, you’ll need someone to verify your identity online. You can apply for a replacement online here.

Replace using a paper application

You can obtain a paper application form by either:

• Visiting the Post Office
• Phoning the Passport Adviceline

The cost is £107. Payment methods include:

• Debit or credit card – complete the form in the application pack
• Cheque – made payable to ‘HM Passport Office’

You’ll require two new and identical printed photos of yourself. If you’re using a paper form, you can utilise the Post Office Check and Send service.

The address to post it to is provided on the form. For additional information, visit GOV.UK here.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

A TikTok money expert has revealed how a travel credit card could save you thousands on holiday — but there’s a catch you need to know before you go abroad

Many holidaymakers think they’ve got their trip finances sorted but one money expert says a simple tool could save you thousands and protect you from scams. Mat The Money Man, known as @thequidsquid on TikTok, revealed the £3,000 holiday hack that many people completely overlook.

“If you go on holiday and don’t bring one of these, you could be in serious trouble,” he warns in the viral video. Over 9.4 million tourists have fallen victim to holiday scams over the past five years, making financial protection a must.

Mat explains that travel credit cards are often safer than using a debit card because they offer Section 75 protection under UK law. Any purchase between £100 and £30,000 is covered, meaning you can claim your money back if something goes wrong — a safety net debit cards rarely provide.

READ MORE: Aviation expert Alex Macheras predicts when Emirates, BA, and Qatar Airways flights might resumeREAD MORE: Travel expert Simon Calder explains when Dubai, Emirates and Qatar flights could resume

He also points to other perks, such as better exchange rates and cashback on overseas spending. “So if you get scammed, you can claim that money straight back,” he says, highlighting how the average person spends around £1,320 on two long holidays each year.

According to Compare the Market, a typical European holiday costs £1,000 to £2,000 per person, while longer-haul trips can exceed £2,000 per person depending on flights and accommodation. For many, the combination of fraud protection, exchange rate benefits, and potential cashback makes travel credit cards a valuable tool. Mat claims the total holiday savings could reach £3,633.

Experts, however, stress that not all travel credit cards are created equal. MoneyHelper notes that while these cards often provide no foreign transaction fees and built-in insurance, consumers should compare annual fees, interest rates, and exchange rate policies before signing up.

The “catch” is simple but critical: you must have the right card and actually use it during your trip to unlock the savings and protections. Without it, you risk missing out on thousands of pounds and the extra security a travel credit card can provide.

For holidaymakers who want peace of mind and the chance to save big, a travel credit card could make all the difference — but only if you bring it along and use it correctly.

Ensure our latest headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as your Preferred Source in your Google search settings