Avoiding the hidden costs of budget holidays

Today's fast-paced travel industry has never been more competitive, and with many carriers offering year-round sales it's tempting to buy into the hype about holidaying for pennies. Before you signed on the dotted line, though, there's a raft of hidden expenses that you need to watch out for.

The worst offenders for slipping in extra charges are none other than the airlines themselves. We've all been bowled over by fares advertising 1p flights, but by the time you get to the booking stage things often seem less rosy. Check-in desks, extra baggage allowances, in-flight meals and even pillows: they all come at a price when you're flying with a low-cost carrier.

Decide beforehand how many frills you can really do without, therefore, and ignore any fares that omit the crucial phrase "all taxes and surcharges included". Some extra fees – such as credit card booking charges – are simply unavoidable, so make sure you factor them into your budget. And don't for a second think that only the airlines are up to it.

Ryanair adds new Norway connection

Ryanair is to begin operating a brand new summer connection between Edinburgh Airport and the Norwegian city of Haugesund, the BBC reports.

The low-cost carrier will start the new service this July, boosting its overall number of links from the Scottish capital to 29 – up from seven a year ago.

BA offers free flights to small firms

British Airways has unveiled details of a multi-million pound package intended to help Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) attract overseas business.

The flag carrier is giving away 5,000 return flights from the UK – worth the equivalent of £15 million – in order to encourage firms to expand beyond the British Isles.

Flybe rolls out early winter deals

Flybe is giving cash-strapped Brits the chance to enjoy a bargain holiday this winter, releasing part of its 2009/10 schedule several months in advance.

The earlybird winter timetable features 29 routes across the UK and Europe, including 390 flights per week from London Gatwick Airport. Fares start from just £24.99 one-way.

Swine Flu: Airlines offer alternative arrangements

British Airways (BA) is among seven airlines allowing passengers to reschedule their flights to Mexico in the wake of the worsening Swine Flu outbreak.

The flag carrier is still operating four weekly flights to the country, unlike Thomson, Thomas Cook and First Choice, which have cancelled their services until May 8.

Mixed reaction to proposed ATOL price hike

There has been a mixed reaction to plans by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to triple the fee that passengers pay towards the ATOL Protection scheme.

Everyone travelling on a package holiday currently contributes to the programme, paying a £1 levy in return for the guarantee of compensation if their operator goes bust.

But with a combination of "exceptional factors" plunging the scheme into deficit, the CAA has now proposed a dramatic threefold increase in the levy.

The £3 charge is among a series of recommendations made in a new government consultation.

Officials within the Department for Transport are considering the overhaul in response to the "lessons learned" by the failure of XL Airways, which cost the fund £37 million.

Swine Flu - latest news from across the web

Cheapflights' experts have rounded up a selection of the best resources for travellers, found on the web today:

How to spot the symptoms of Swine Flu
This helpful Q&A from The Telegraph gives an overview of the symptoms to look out for, as well as profiling how the virus mutated to become a threat to humans.

What can you do to protect your family?
Britons abroad and at home can take measures to protect themselves, assures The Times. It questions the value of facemasks, but identifies some of the best flu medications.

Holidaymakers head home as Mexico flights axed
The Daily Mail reports that travel firms have started pulling services to the popular resort of Cancun, situated some 800 miles from the suspected source of the outbreak.

Mexico flights halted as FCO issues travel warning

Several flights to Mexico have been cancelled after the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) today advised against all non-essential travel to the country.

The FCO updated its advice in the wake of a decision by the World Health Organisation to raise its alert threat level for Swine Flu to Phase 4 – two steps short of a full pandemic.

At least 152 deaths have so far been attributed to the virus, which is now capable of human-to-human transmission. All the fatalities have occurred in Mexico.

Flights to Mexico advised by FCO, Abta depsite flu outbreak

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) (website: www.fco.gov.uk) and the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) (website: www.abta.com) are advising Mexico-bound travellers to continue with their holiday plans despite the recent outbreak of swine flu.

A spokesperson for Abta, quoted in the Daily Mail, said: "The Foreign Office have not changed their advice and we have made no change to date.

"For people intending to travel to Mexico normal booking conditions apply.

"Anyone who is concerned about travelling to the country should speak to their travel agents. Anyone concerned about contracting the illness should also speak to their GP."

easyJet discounts its cheap flights by up to 25%

Book by midnight on Tuesday, April 28: easyJet's summer sale features discounts of up to 25 per cent on every route to and from the UK.

Popular destinations for British holidaymakers include Majorca, the biggest of the Balearic Islands and Tenerife and Gran Canaria, both part of the Canary Island chain.

Emirates offers discounts on selected fares

Book by April 30: Emirates is offering discounted fares on several of its most popular routes to the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Anyone wishing to travel with the airline can take advantage of the sale until next Thursday, with flights departing from several major UK airports.

Ryanair threatens to axe Dusseldorf route

Ryanair is threatening to pull one of its key German links from Manchester, citing concerns about plans to curb operating hours at Dusseldorf-Weeze Airport.

The low-cost carrier has stopped accepting bookings on the route, and says it may shut down the German base altogether if officials don't overturn their decision.

EU slashes 'rip-off' overseas texting charges

British holidaymakers will not have to pay more than 10p when sending an SMS text from Europe this summer, thanks to a long-overdue ruling by the EU.

The move forces UK mobile operators to slash roaming charges for Brits on the continent, with calling rates also plummeting by up to 50 per cent.

Manchester Airport hosts climate change summit

Manchester Airport is to host a climate change summit next month, bringing together 200 of the region's top business leaders in a bid to encourage greener practices.

The third annual North West Prince's Summit on Climate Change takes place on May 1, and is part of a national day of events to promote environmental sustainability.

Cheap Jet2 flights from £2.99

Book by Monday, April 27: Jet2.com has launched its biggest ever seat sale, with one-way fares starting from as little as £2.99, including taxes.

Aptly dubbed the Mega Flight Sale, the special promotion sees prices slashed on more than 10,000 seats to key destinations such as Paris, Milan, Malaga and Ibiza.

Air Southwest launches new London City links

Regional carrier Air Southwest is celebrating the launch of two new twice-daily services from Newquay and Plymouth to London City Airport.

Fares on the routes start from as little as £29 one-way, with more than 5,000 seats being snapped up since they were announced just a few weeks ago.

Govt ignores pleas to curb APD tax hikes

Alistair Darling has ignored intense lobbying from the airline industry, and will press ahead with his unpopular plans to increase Air Passenger Duty (APD).

The chancellor made no reference to the tax in his budget announcement today, meaning proposals for staggered price hikes throughout 2009 and 2010 will go ahead.

Bmibaby charters Six Nations flights

Rugby fans who want to support their team at next year's RBS Six Nations tournament can now fly to the games on one of several specially chartered bmibaby flights.

The low-cost carrier has added 14 additional services to its 2010 spring schedule, opening up links to Cardiff, Dublin, Edinburgh and Rome to coincide with key matches.

LOT slashes all Heathrow fares by 15%

Book by April 28: Flag carrier LOT Polish Airlines is running a 15 per cent sale on all its direct and connecting services from London Heathrow Airport.

The airline currently operates three to five flights per day between the UK hub and the Polish capital Warsaw, from where it offers dozens on onwards connections.

BA joins chorus against Air Passenger Duty

British Airways has urged the Chancellor to scrap proposed tax increases on UK flights, warning they would "pile yet more misery" on airlines and passengers.

Speaking on the eve of the Budget, BA chief executive Willie Walsh said plans to hike Air Passenger Duty (APD) by up to 112 per cent would have a disastrous economic impact.

His sentiments echoed comments made earlier this week by Cheapflights General Manager Francesca Ecsery, who has called for APD to be axed altogether.

Flybe sale - just pay taxes and charges

Book by midnight on Wednesday, April 22: Flybe is giving away free seats on several of its most popular routes, with travellers only paying taxes and charges.

The no-frills airline has done away with the standard airfare on selected flights from the British mainland, provided bookings are placed before midnight tomorrow (April 22).

New Emirates lounge for Manchester Airport

It has been confirmed that Emirates will open a brand new business-class lounge at Manchester Airport this summer, offering seats for up to 180 passengers.

Featuring floor-to-ceiling glass walls and panoramic views of the runway, the 8,500 square foot facility will finalise the carrier's relocation from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1.

Poll: Your dream plane

 This poll has now closed

Ever dream of playing slot machines in-flight? Or watching movies on the big screen equipped with popcorn and the trimmings? Or perhaps you’d prefer a spa experience complete with on-board massage and beauty treatments?

Whatever facilities your dream plane consists of, share your thoughts and Vote Now.

Spring travellers 'opt for sunnier climes'

Half of all British holidaymakers rate sunny weather as their top priority when selecting where to go for their spring break, new research has revealed.

The UK may be basking in unseasonably warm temperatures this week, but according to Holiday Extras few of us place any faith in the notorious British weather.

EasyJet readies in-flight Starbucks service

Low-cost carrier easyJet has announced a deal with Starbucks that will see it serving the coffee retailer’s drinks onboard flights from several of its UK bases.

As of May 1, the airline will offer Starbucks VIA Ready Brew and selected other drinks on services from London Gatwick, London Stansted and Newcastle airports.

Airline alliances face anti-trust EC probe

The European Commission (EC) is investigating seven international airlines, including five national carriers, for possible anti-competitive practices on transatlantic routes.

British Airways is among the airlines affected by the probe, which aims to establish whether co-operation between members of the Star and oneworld alliances stifles competition.

Cheapflights Welcomes The European Low Fares Airline Association’s Call For Chancellor Alastair Darling to axe Air Passenger Duty

London, April 21, 2009:  Cheapflights Ltd., a leading international flight price search site and consumer champion welcomes the European Low Fares Airline Association’s pre-budget call this week for the Chancellor to axe Air Passenger Duty (APD) or ‘at the very least’ to scrap the proposed increase due on November 1.

In November 2008 Chancellor Alastair Darling stated: "….. At a time when the economy slows down…….…trying to get more tax out of people that would make a difficult situation worse, so what you do is you support the economy by helping businesses, by helping people." 1

Cheap flights from AirAsia X - London to Kuala Lumpur from £149

Book by Thursday, April 23: to mark the launch of its new daily service from London to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, AirAsia X (website: www.airasia.com) is offering one-way flights from £149 (including all taxes).

The new low-cost airline has flown the London Stansted-Kuala Lumpur route since March. Due to passenger demand, the airline will add a flight on July 1.

The travel window is generous - July 3 until January 31, 2010.

easyJet: 3 new destinations from Luton Airport

easyJet is to fly three new routes from London Luton Airport this summer. The low-cost pioneer will start flying to Milan and Mahon on July 6 and to Montpellier on July 7.

The new routes will take the airline's tally of destinations served from Luton Airport to 34.

Flybe to fill void on London-Leeds Bradford route

© Flybe

Flights between London and Leeds-Bradford Airport are to resume.

Flybe, the regional airline, has announced that it will begin servicing the route that bmi decided to abandon earlier in the year.

As reported by Cheapflights on February 20, bmi said it would cease flying from London Heathrow to the north of England airport at the end of March. The airline said a decline in demand and higher-than-inflation cost increases at Heathrow meant the routes from Leeds-Bradford had become unsustainable.

Travel agent Freedom Direct Holidays collapses leaving holidaymakers in the lurch

Newcastle-based online tour operator and travel agent Freedom Direct Holidays collapsed late last week leaving thousands of British holidaymakers facing uncertainty over their holiday plans.

About 200 of the company's clients are currently overseas and as many as 10,000 more have advanced bookings with the outfit that specialised in trips to the Mediterranean, Turkey and the Canary Islands.

Freedom Direct is a member of Abta, the travel organisation that provided the company with financial cover. All bookings made until the end of March were also covered by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Cathay Pacific to fly fewer London-Hong Kong flights

Cathay Pacific is to reduce the number of services between London and Hong Kong. During May, the Hong Kong flag carrier will operate 17 fewer flights and plans further cuts for June. Currently, there are four daily flights between the cities.

Cathay will also reduce the number of flights to Frankfurt, Paris, Sydney and several cities in Asia. According to a report in The Times, the airline will cut the number of seats on offer by 8 per cent.

Weekend deal: save 25% on Czech Airlines flights

Book by Sunday, April 19, to snap up a cheap Czech Airlines' flight. The airline's special offer this weekend - its Weekendeal - is 25 per cent off the cost of flights from London to Budapest and Zagreb. Flights from Manchester to the Italian cities of Rome and Bologna are also discounted by 25 per cent.

Flights from London to Budapest cost from £132 and to Zagreb from £152 return with taxes as long as you use the promotional code 4QB3KO.

Fly from Manchester to Rome from £122 and Bologna from £130 return including taxes. Use the promotional code 2KTYVM.

Green light for Birmingham expansion

Solihull Council has given the go-ahead to extend the runway at Birmingham International Airport by 400 metres, The Birmingham Mail reports.

The decision will allow the airport to add new long-haul services to destinations in Asia and North America, significantly benefiting the local economy.

Heathrow installs free charging poles

Passengers at Heathrow Airport can now re-charge their mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices free of charge, thanks to 47 newly installed ‘power poles’.

The charging bases have been introduced at the departure lounges of terminals 1 and 3, with each pole being able to recharge up to eight devices simultaneously.

FCO says Bangkok now safe to visit

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) says Bangkok is once again safe to visit, following the apparent end of political demonstrations in the Thai capital.

British nationals were advised to steer clear of the city after violence erupted last week as protesters angrily demanded the resignation of prime minister Abhisit Vejjavija.

But with calm now returning to the streets of the capital, tourists and business travellers are no longer being told to postpone all non-essential travel.

New executive lounge for Liverpool Airport

Passengers travelling through Liverpool John Lennon Airport now have the option of staying in a brand new 200 square metre executive lounge.

The Halewood International Lounge is operated by ground services specialist Servisair and offers a range of services including free Wifi access and complimentary drinks.

Inquiry looms for new Stansted runway

The government is close to announcing a date for its long-awaited inquiry into a second runway at London Stansted Airport, the Press Association reports.

Following the delay of a hearing scheduled for last month, officials have now said that a date for the public inquiry will be revealed before June.

'Tough year ahead' for regional airports

Some regional airports will struggle to survive the economic downturn, Elliot Summers, the Managing Director of Norwich Airport, has warned.

He told The Norwich Evening News that charges such as his facility’s own Airport Development Fee were the only thing keeping many smaller gateways operational.

Ryanair mulls over new 'hefty' tax

Ryanair is mulling over the idea of a ‘fat tax’ after inviting its passengers to take part in an online poll that could decide what its next discretionary charge will be.

Making light of its reputation for levying fees, the airline has asked customers to vote on its next surcharge - with a cash prize on offer for the best idea.

Iceland Express running 50% Gatwick sale

Book between April 20 and April 22: Iceland Express is celebrating the launch of its new Reykjavik link from London Gatwick by offering one-way fares for just £49.

The special offer will be available for a limited time only, with 3,000 seats going on sale from midday on April 20 until midnight on April 22. Travel dates are restricted to May.

75% off flights with Ryanair

Book by midnight on Thursday, April 16: Low-cost carrier Ryanair has slashed the cost of its air fares once again, this time discounting seats by 75 per cent.

The no-frills airline is giving passengers the chance to snap up seats from just £2.50, provided they fly in May or June ahead of the peak season.

New Bulgaria connection from Luton

Wizz Air has confirmed that it will begin operating a new service from London Luton Airport to the Bulgarian seaside resort of Varna.

The European low-cost carrier plans to begin the route this summer, with flights departing twice a week between June 27 and September 5.

Cheapflights launches new website for Australia and New Zealand

London, 14 April 2009: Cheapflights Ltd, the pioneer and an international leader in independent online flight price comparison announces the launch of its newest travel search website serving Australia and New Zealand, www.cheapflights.com.au.

The website is based on the popular search box navigation format that quickly provides users with deals from providers of flights, or packages of flights plus hotel deals by date. It also provides current “hot deals” hand-selected by Cheapflights’ travel experts which may include flights through to package deals. In addition, Cheapflights’ knowledgeable editorial team have developed more than 1,000 custom travel guides including helpful travel tips which are expanded regularly.

Foreign holidays 'still offer best value'

Holidays in many overseas destinations are still more affordable than in UK resorts, despite the relative weakness of the pound against foreign currencies.

That is according to the latest Holiday Cost of Living study by Thomas Cook, which compared average prices in 16 popular tourist destinations with those in Britain.

Topping the list of the most affordable getaways is Goa, where average daily expenditure runs to a mere £14.10 per person - against £48.51 in the UK.

Flyglobespan adds new Sharm El Sheikh link

Low-cost carrier Flyglobespan is to launch a new route from Glasgow Airport to the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh this winter.

The no-frills airline will operate Saturday flights to the popular holiday destination, with an additional Wednesday flight serving the port city of Hurghada.

Brits warned against travelling to Bangkok

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised Brits against travelling to Bangkok in the wake of this weekend’s troubling political violence.

Supports of ousted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra have been staging protests across the Thai capital, prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency.

Tensions flared on Saturday (April 11), when regional leaders attending a Bangkok summit had to be evacuated by helicopter after demonstrators stormed their meeting.

Lufthansa running global Easter sale

Book by Tuesday, April 14: Lufthansa has discounted fares on several of its most popular global routes.

The German national carrier is offering seats on services as far afield as Boston, Johannesburg and Singapore, with prices starting from as little as £319 return.

TAP passengers face Gatwick cancellations

Passengers flying to or from London Gatwick Airport with TAP, the Portuguese national airline, face the prospect of delays and cancellations next week, TravelMole reports.

The flag carrier is bracing itself for a series of one-day stoppages organised by pilots working for its subsidiary company, Portugalia.

Two million Brits gear up for Easter exodus

The recession may be biting, but according to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) some two million Britons will still be heading overseas this Easter.

Despite rising unemployment figures and tightened household budgets, the industry group revealed that demand for Easter holidays is up by 20 per cent on last year.