Holiday money

Martin Lewis set out some of his top picks

Consumer expert Martin Lewis has shared some tips for your holiday spending while you are abroad. He shared the key advice during his BBC podcast.

During a question and answer edition of the podcast, a query came in from a mum whose 18-year-old son is heading off on a lads’ holiday. She asked what the best spending card would be for him to take along, or whether she should simply give him cash instead. She explained that she was reluctant to give him a credit card as she wasn’t confident he would use it responsibly. However, the accommodation where he was staying required a £300 credit card deposit.

Top recommendation

In response, Mr Lewis said his top recommendation for cards she could consider was Chase. He explained: “Technically you have to open a bank account to get it, but you don’t need to switch bank account.

“The Chase bank account is available for anyone aged 18 or older. It’s openable via an app. So effectively you can open this up, you put money in it that you want to spend and it gives you the same near-perfect rate that the bank gets when you spend, because it doesn’t add a non-sterling exchange rate fee.

“So I think that’s a really simple option. It’s a debit card, it doesn’t have an overdraft facility. It doesn’t do a hard credit check, it just does an ID check and it doesn’t affect his credit-worthiness.”

Another card he recommended was the Revolut pre-payment card, where you load the card with the amount you wish to spend. Regarding the credit card deposit for accommodation, Mr Lewis said this is a common requirement, frequently being necessary when hiring a car abroad too.

He explained that if a deposit needs to be paid on a credit card, this could prove tricky for an 18 year old as they may not pass the credit check. Mr Lewis suggested that perhaps the mum could contact the company and pay the deposit on her son’s behalf.

Big danger

Mr Lewis issued an additional warning for young holidaymakers. He said: “One of the biggest dangers for finances and young people is drinking. The problem when we drink is we lose all our sense of control.

“So it’s very difficult what you advise young people. Do you tell them take cash out so you’ve only got the amount you can spend on that day. That keeps you to a budget.

“But then it does wrong, they haven’t got any money left and they can’t get back to where they need to go, which can be dangerous.

“Or do you have a card that has an unlimited spending facility on it. It’s quite a difficult one at that age. The best thing is to be sensible and not drink too much.”

Passengers were told to bring their own food and drinks on board after a fire caused a supply disruption

Jet2 has released a fresh update for passengers after many were informed that certain services would be unavailable on their flights. Earlier this week, it emerged that Jet2 had suspended food and drink services and in-flight retail for passengers on selected routes.

At the time, the airline stated it was dealing with an ‘operational issue’ that was ‘outside its control’. The disruption was reportedly triggered by a major supply chain disruption following a fire at Jet2‘s Retail Operations Centre in Middlewich.

The warehouse is reportedly responsible for stocking all catering carts. Consequently, the airline was forced to suspend all food, drink, and Jet2shop retail services on the affected flights.

This meant some passengers were unable to purchase snacks, soft drinks, alcohol, hot beverages, or duty-free items from the cabin trolley. Pre-booked meals were scrapped, and those who had paid in advance for a hot meal or snack deal did not receive their order.

In a fresh update, sent to the Liverpool Echo today (May 15), a Jet2 spokesperson said: “Due to an operational issue outside of our control, there was limited food and drink available to buy on board on Sunday, May 10. We are pleased to say that, since then, customers have been continuing to enjoy our award-winning flights and can choose from a wide selection of food and drink onboard.”

They added: “Our full in-flight retail and food and drink offering will be completely back to normal in the coming days.” Jet2 has also confirmed it is automatically processing refunds for all pre-booked catering back to the original payment method.

While the problem persisted, travellers were advised to bring their own food, drinks and snacks on board, after clearing airport security. However, passengers are prohibited from bringing hot coffee, tea, or hot food from the airport terminal onto the plane. A statement on the Jet2 website states: “You can’t bring hot food or hot drinks onboard our planes for safety reasons.”

At the time, many people turned to social media to find out more about the ‘operational issue’ and to alert fellow passengers. On X, one passenger with the username @BigDogStaff wrote: “@Jet2tweets just had an email and a text message to say there will be no food or drinks available for our five hour flight.”

Jet2 responded: “Hi there, we sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused by our food and drink services and in-flight retail by unavailable on your flight. Sadly, this is due to an operational issue outside our control. (1/2).”

The airline went on to say: “You are welcome to bring snacks and soft drinks purchased in the terminal onboard with you, but for safety reasons, hot drinks cannot be brought on board. If you have any further questions, feel free to let us know. ^Ellie (2/2).” On the Facebook group, Jet2.Com and Jet2holidays Customer Service and Support, a user asked: “What is happening with no food or drink on Jet2 planes? Just had an email about no food or drink on the planes tomorrow, any idea what happening?”

In the comments, one person wrote: “Been on lots of posts – supply issues due to a fire in a warehouse apparently- just get something in the airport to take on board with you.” Another added: “Just arrived in Greece via Jet2, we pre-ordered hot food but got an email saying it was limited. There was no food, drinks, snacks, and no duty-free trolley, all we got was water.”

A third commented: “Someone I know is flying tomorrow, and they were told this evening that there would be no food, including pre-booked. Maybe it depends on the airport or route.”

In a separate Facebook post, another user warned: “Just a heads up. A friend who is travelling from Leeds tonight has received this. So it may be the same on the return journey.” They shared a screenshot of what appears to be a text message from Jet2.

The message reads: “Due to an operational issue outside of our control, there will be no food, drink or Jet2shop available to buy on board your flight. Unfortunately, this also means that any pre-booked food or drink items will not be available, and we will automatically arrange any refunds for these.

“You are welcome to bring snacks and soft drinks purchased in the terminal (after security) on the flight with you, but for safety reasons, hot drinks cannot be brought on board. We are very sorry for any disappointment this may cause.”

A separate Facebook post by UK travel agency Camel Travel states: “Heads up for those flying with Jet2 at the moment. A fire at Jet2’s Retail Operations Centre in Middlewich on Wednesday has impacted the availability of food and drinks on some flights.”

What seems to be a screenshot of an email sent by Jet2 is also featured. It states: “We will process the refund right away to the payment card used when you booked – but like all refunds these days, it could take three to five working days for the funds to reach you. We’re sorry if you don’t receive any pre-booked items. Our friendly Cabin Crew are looking forward to welcoming you on board and will ensure you have a lovely flight.”

Travel insurance specialist has issued advice, as cancellations and delays may happen

As airlines continue to navigate fuel supply challenges caused by the Middle East conflict, some flights may be disrupted, or fares may increase. Some energy bosses have claimed Europe only has six weeks’ worth of jet fuel left. Tom Vaughan, a travel insurance specialist at Confused.com, has offered advice for passengers with summer holidays coming up.

He also warned that cancellations and delays may happen, and stressed the importance of preparing in advance and knowing what to do if a trip is axed. “For Brits planning to travel this summer, it’s worth being aware that flight cancellations and delays could happen as airlines respond to operational pressures,” he said.

“Disruptions like this can leave travellers unsure about their rights and what steps to take next if they are affected. The good news is that UK passengers have rights if their flight is cancelled.

“Airlines should offer a refund or an alternative flight, even if your ticket was non-refundable.” If passengers do experience disruption, Tom has shared some steps to follow.

Firstly, he says travellers should contact their airline as soon as possible to confirm their options, including rebooking or a refund. He also recommends: “Keep receipts for any essential costs like food, accommodation or transport, as these may be reimbursed”.

Tom said passengers may still be entitled to assistance (such as meals or a hotel stay) while waiting for a new flight. “If you booked a package holiday, check if it’s ATOL protected and contact your travel provider for support”, he added.

The travel insurance specialist went on to say that people who pay by credit card “may have additional protection if things don’t go to plan”. Lastly, he urged people to review their travel insurance policy and speak to their insurer to understand what extra costs they could claim back.

He also says it is “always sensible” to take out travel insurance before going away. “Even if you are able to claim directly via the airline, an insurer can guide you on how to make a claim,” he explained.

Tom continued: “With the right policy in place, you may also be able to claim back for other parts of your holiday that were affected as a result. If you’ve recently experienced flight cancellations, our flight compensation guide will help to break down your options.”

Inflation climbed higher last month as the knock-on effects from the Iran war started to hit the cost of living for UK households. The Office for National Statistics reported an annual rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation of 3.3% for March, increasing from 3% last month.

It meant inflation picked up to its highest level since December, with higher fuel prices a significant driver. The ONS indicated that fuel prices were the main area where the impact of the Iran conflict had already been reflected in their data.

While jet fuel costs have risen, the ONS said that air fares are based on previously booked flights, meaning that the March data was not yet impacted by inflation linked to the conflict. This means airfare inflation is likely to continue rising this year as higher jet fuel costs are passed on to passengers.

KLM has made several adjustments to its flight schedule for the coming month. The airline says: “This concerns a limited number of flights within Europe that, due to rising kerosene costs, are currently no longer financially viable to operate. There is no kerosene shortage. KLM will operate 80 fewer return flights to and from Schiphol, which is less than 1% of its European flights during that period.

“Passengers affected by these changes will be rebooked onto the next available flight. As these are destinations KLM serves multiple times a day — such as London and Düsseldorf — travellers can usually be accommodated quickly. KLM expects a busy May holiday period and is making sure passengers can travel to their holiday destinations as planned.”

In a new statement, Lufthansa has said: “The Lufthansa Group has secured (“hedged”) approximately 80 per cent of its kerosene requirements for 2026 and approximately 40 per cent for 2027 based, among other things, on the price of crude oil – both at pre-crisis price levels. With this level of hedging, we are in a better position than most competitors.”

Meanwhile, easyJet has said it is not currently seeing any disruption to flights and doesn’t plan to make any changes to its flight schedule.