kicked

The UK’s Foreign Office has explained why

With warmer weather finally on the horizon, many Brits are turning their attention to the summer months and making holiday plans.

Spain continues to be the top choice for British tourists, with millions flocking to the European country each year, keen to bask in the sun, relax on its shores and enjoy the cuisine. When travelling overseas, it’s essential to get clued up on any local laws or rules you’ll be expected to follow while you’re there. And if Spain is in your sights this year, there’s one rule you may not know about.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) regularly provides travel advice for Brits visiting more than 220 countries and territories around the world. In its comprehensive guidance for Spain, the FCDO specifically highlights balconies.

While balconies are ideal for providing a vista and giving guests somewhere to relax outdoors, holidaymakers are required to behave responsibly. FCDO guidance for Spain warns: “Hotels and other establishments will evict you if you behave dangerously on balconies. You could also get a fine.”

Those travelling to Spain are also cautioned that they must present ID if asked by a police officer. The FCDO adds: “This includes the Guardia Civil and national, regional and local police forces.

“The police have the right to hold you at a police station until they have confirmed your identity. Ignoring direct requests of a police officer can be considered as ‘disobedience’, which is a criminal offence.”

British Airways has enforced stricter rules for passengers, including a habit that is now banned, and if failed to comply, the airline may take ‘any measures’ necessary to stop it

British Airways has enforced stricter rules for passengers about a behaviour that could see them removed from the aircraft.

In a world of influencers and content creators, using smartphones on planes has become increasingly popular, with many opting to capture every moment of their journey in photos or videos. Even holidaymakers without a mega social media following often snap their experience on board.

While it might seem like a relatively harmless act, it can actually land travellers in serious trouble, whether they’re a content creator or not. British Airways has updated its terms for passengers on board, introducing stricter guidelines on taking photos and videos.

In an update under section 11a on its ‘behaviour on the aircraft’ conditions, the airline stated: “If, while you are on board the aircraft, we reasonably believe that you have filmed, live-streamed or photographed our crew or other colleagues without their consent, we may take any measures we think reasonable to prevent you continuing your behaviour.”

They further outlined that if passengers fail to comply with these rules, they could be asked to leave the aircraft, upon landing, or be refused carriage on the remaining sectors of the journey shown on their ticket. Additionally, it could also result in the incident on board being reported to relevant authorities “with a view to them prosecuting” the passenger for any criminal offences that might have been committed.

BA also noted that if diversion costs are a result of unacceptable behaviour, and they divert the plane to an “unscheduled place of destination” and make a passenger leave the aircraft, the traveller will have to pay the “reasonable and proper costs of the diversion”.

However, this doesn’t mean that passengers are completely banned from taking photos while on board. They can still grab a snap of their seat, view out of the window, cabin features, meals, drinks and any other personal highlights – as long as they don’t directly film a member of cabin crew without their consent.

This is the same rule for taking photos or videos of other passengers while on board without their consent. So as long as holidaymakers are wary of their surroundings and what they’re capturing, they can still document their journey, be it for social media or a personal travel album.

BA isn’t the only airline to enforce these rules, banning photos of cabin crew without consent. Ryanair states in its terms and conditions: “Recording or photographing our personnel, whether at the airport or onboard the plane, without their consent is strictly prohibited. Only recordings or photographs personal to you may be permitted.”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Christian Magnuson paid extra for his preferred seat on a Scandinavian Airlines flight, only to find it had been reassigned – moments later, he spotted who was sitting in it

Whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or preparing to board a plane for the first time in ages, most of us have our tried-and-tested routines for making the journey as pleasant as possible. This might include wearing a particular outfit, grabbing some food or a drink at the terminal, or pre-selecting your favourite seat on the flight. But when these arrangements fall through or take an unexpected turn, it can throw your entire day off.

This was precisely what happened to one passenger named Christian Magnuson, who, despite being a regular flyer who frequently posts snapshots of his journeys on social media, was left utterly bewildered when his seat was abruptly switched without any warning.

Chris went on to show evidence that he’d reserved seat 17C on his Scandinavian Airlines flight, explaining he had paid extra to secure a seat towards the rear of the aircraft on the route from Stockholm Arlanda airport to Kalmar, a city in southern Sweden.

However, when boarding time arrived, Christian discovered his seat had been unexpectedly switched to 5D. The confusion deepened as he stepped onto the aircraft, only to spot his original seat remaining vacant.

Nevertheless, he proceeded to make his way through the plane to his reassigned seat. It was at that moment something wholly unexpected happened.

“Then a convoy of cars pulled up and the King of Sweden boarded the airplane and sat in my seat,” he revealed in the caption of the post.

The footage captured King Carl XVI Gustav standing on the tarmac as Christian made his way down the aircraft steps after landing. A silver vehicle could be spotted in the distance, presumably waiting to collect the monarch from his journey.

Later that day, the royal family’s official Instagram account, ‘Kungahuset’, posted a photograph of the King alongside his eldest daughter, Crown Princess Victoria, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, clarifying the reason behind the King’s travels.

“Was it fair of them to kick me out of my seat with no compensation? I will say it was cool that he flew on a regular airplane but he took my seat!” Christian added in the caption of the post.

Viewers quickly flocked to the comments section to voice their opinions, with many praising the Swedish King for choosing to fly commercially. “Happened to me too and I’m just proud to have a monarchy not wasting our resources with a private jet,” one person said.

A second user wrote: “I think it’s awesome that the King flies commercial. Also, you have a cool story.”

Others also questioned why Christian should have received compensation, given he still secured a seat on the flight. “Well, the king is… the king,” one person argued. Someone else added: “Airline employee here, yes its fair since they need security personnel onboard. ARN – KLR is also a really short route.

“I would be happy and proud to give him my seat! It’s for his safety. He did not decide himself,” another user chipped in.

Scandinavian Airlines has been approached for comment.

SHERIDAN Smith has today revealed how she was once kicked off a plane for being “too drunk”.

The I Fought The Law actress, 43, also revealed how she annoyed the cabin crew so much, they “left her behind” in Florida.

Talking on Alan Carr‘s Life’s a Beach podcast, the host asked the much-loved star: “Have you missed flights before and all that?”

Replying, Sheridan, who is currently starring in BBC One’s The Cage, said: “Yeah. I went to Florida to watch my mate boxing.

“And they wouldn’t let me on the flight Alan.”

The Chatty Man star then asked her: “Why? Too drunk. Oh, God.”

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A mortified Sheridan then admitted: “I was too drunk. But I don’t drink now, so I can say this now.

“I can say it now and I can look back and laugh.

“But at the time, it was a nightmare because everyone else got on the flight.

“Oh, my God. I was left there!”

Meanwhile, in the same chat with Alan, Sheridan also made a saucy confession.

The star revealed she had a fling with a hunky stuntman when she filmed the drama The Castaways.

The actress played Erin, a woman who goes to Fiji to investigate the disappearance of her sister Lori, in the 2023 drama that aired on Paramount+ and was filmed in Greece.

Now she has confessed that she had a romance with Alex Anlos while filming, and it came after she split with the father of her child, Jamie Horn.

Spilling the tea, she told host Alan: “I did have a holiday romance actually. I was filming in Greece and the stuntman – I’m giving so much away – he taught me to swim, so he was holding me.

“And the next thing we did have a bit of a romance – it’s an exclusive!

“It’s so romantic and it’s the heat and the bodies are all out!”

At the time of filming, Sheridan posted a picture with Alex, which she shared on her Instagram stories.

In the cosy snap, the pair were all smiles as they posed for the behind the scenes picture.

She had penned over it: “Hanging out after stunt rehearsals with @that_stunt_dude Greece. This guy has made me look bad ass.”

Sheridan also shared another photo of them both on her feed as she captioned it: “Love filming here in Greece. With my set bff @that_stunt_dude. I was a non-swimmer till we met!”

The Gavin and Stacey star split from fiancé Jamie in 2021 after three years together.

The pair had welcomed their son Billy in May 2020 and had got engaged back in 2018, shortly after meeting on dating app Tinder.