Plane Talking: green holidays, US travel, luggage

With the summer season almost in full swing, we’re answering our readers’ most pressing travel questions: can I take a summer holiday and remain “green”, can I fly to America on my soon-to-expire passport and how can I make a claim for a damaged walker? If you have a question you'd like answered in our next Plane Talking just leave a comment at the bottom of this piece. We'd love to hear from you.

Q: With the price of fuel going up and higher flight prices, are there ways of lessening my carbon footprint while travelling?

Seema: It may sound like an oxymoron: going on holiday (by plane presumably) while proclaiming to be eco-conscious, but there are many ways to stay green and still enjoy your trip without feeling guilty.

The first step is to use an online carbon calculator which determines the approximate amount of carbon dioxide produced when you fly or drive. A good website is carbonresponsible.com which has flight calculators and tips on how to reduce your carbon footprint. Most airlines offer travellers the chance to offset their emissions by paying a small fee during the booking process. British Airways, for example, uses the money to help fund projects around the world that reduce carbon emitted.

Finding green accommodation is another sensible way to travel green. While most people may have the misconception that this means having to rough it and compromise on comfort, there are in fact many luxurious and high-end eco-friendly hotels to choose from. The website itsagreengreenworld.com provides travellers with green accommodation around the world through their online database.

Once you arrive at your destination why not go around by bicycle instead of hiring a car or taking taxis, and remember to reuse towels and sheets at your hotel instead of getting them changed daily.

Q: Does my passport need to be valid for more than six months to visit the United States?

Oonagh: Not under the terms of the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). Under this programme if you hold a British passport or a passport from one of the other participating countries you do not need a visa to visit the US. Your passport must be valid for at least 90 days from the date on which you enter the US. If not, you will be admitted until the expiry date on your passport.

The 27 countries in the VWP are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Andorra, Iceland, Norway, Australia, Portugal, Austria, Italy, San Marino, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Slovenia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Spain, Finland, Monaco, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand.

There is an exception to this. If you hold a passport from Andorra, Brunei or San Marino your passport must be valid for at least six months after you are due to leave the US.

Q: I am looking for the address for easyJet's damaged goods head office as I wish to make a claim for a walker that was broken on a recent flight.

Oonagh: Did you tell a member of easyJet’s ground handling staff at the airport when you discovered the damage to your walker? Damage to baggage and other checked-in items can sometimes be difficult to prove so it is vital that a member of staff is informed as soon as possible. Although easyJet’s website does not list the address of a damaged goods head office per se, it states that passengers should write to the address provided by the handling agent at the arrival airport. The airline’s liability is usually limited to a maximum of about £820 (1,000 Special Drawing Rights in airline speak) per passenger.

Have a pressing question you'd like us to answer? Post a comment below to submit your question for the next column. We look forward to hearing from you...

Sabrina Wolfe, Seema Salaam and Oonagh Shiel, editors Cheap Flight News

© Cheapflights Ltd

Recent columns:
Summer holidays
Column one

Comments

[Jan Okasinski]

I read about some changes to travel to the US that will happen shortly. Usually I fill in the green form during the flight. Will I not need to do that in the future?

[Hayden Bale]

Dream holidays can be rather pricey these days. Is it worth haggling while booking my holiday?

[Sophie Rice]

After reading stories in the papers about crime against tourists in certain countries, are there certain destinations or cities that travellers should be extra careful while visiting, or any that should be avoided all together?

[Jason Becker]

I’m planning my honeymoon in December and really want to go somewhere sunny but don’t want to travel too far away. Can you recommend somewhere closer to home?