8 days free airport parking when you stay at one of the Hilton Hotels at Heathrow, Stanstead or Gatwick Airports.

Although Hilton Hotels have just launched their 2 nights for 1 deal, it’s still worth bearing in mind that their free 8 days airport parking offer runs up until 31st December.

If you are going to start your holiday by travelling by air, what better way to beat the travel “rush” to the airport on the morning of your flight? Just travel down the night before and unwind and let your holiday start early.

As long as you book a one night stay at one of their participating airport hotels you get:

• Up to 8 days (7 nights) inclusive airport parking
• Kids stay and eat FREE
• Use of the LivingWell Health club

For full details visit Park and Fly or for details of other offer see Hilton Hotels Offers

A ban on the display of tobacco products in retail stores across Ireland enters force today and will also have a major impact on travellers transiting through Irish Airports.

Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) will face the removal of all products from public display, with no advertising or branding allowed at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

The government has given a commitment to permit the DAA and other travel retailers to display a pictorial list of tobacco products in their stores but the necessary legislation has yet to be passed.

The exemption to the Public Health Tobacco Act will apply to several key aspects of the new rules and will allow travel retailers to display a pictorial list of products up until 2013.

Ryanair have announced that it plans to end all passenger baggage check-in at the airports from which it operates next year.

From October the airline will still allow baggage to be checked in for the hold but will make significant charges for the “service”.

Ryanair have already introduced a totally online check-in system, where passengers print out boarding passes at home. If they forget, it costs £40 to have it reissued at the airport. They then check their baggage in for the hold at a “bag drop” at the airport.

Under the latest plan, passengers will be allowed to carry more bags through security (two or more, according to the respective airports’ rules) to the aircraft. They would then leave all but one bag at the aircraft steps, possibly paying £5 per bag for each placed in the hold.

“What it means is no more waiting at the carousel, no more losing your bags, no more wasting your life in over-priced airport terminals. You can bring unlimited bags as long as you can get them through security.” Mr O’Leary said.

Obviously this move also benefits the airline. Ryanair believes the move could save them £26 million a year, as they would need just one baggage handler per plane instead of five.

This will have a major impact on what passengers can actually pack in their baggage for their holiday, as all their travel size toiletries will now be subject to the airport security regulations for the carriage of liquids.

London Luton Airport (LLA), who saw their passenger numbers increase to over 10 million in 2008, are introducing a new range of charges for access and parking at the airport from July 1st 2009.

The most contentious of which is that they will begin charging drivers £1 to drop off passengers from July 1st. In order to use the Priority Set Down Area, you will have to pay a £1 charge for 10 minutes, although the vehicle cannot be left unattended at any time during this period.

However, there are still other options available for pick up and drop off parking for motorists from both the Mid Term and Short Term Airport Car Parks.

In the Airport’s Mid Term Car Park, you can park for free for up to 60 minutes and use the free bus service to and from the airport terminal. The buses depart every 10 minutes and the journey takes around 2 minutes.

In the Airport’s Short Term Car Park, you will be able to park for up to 15 minutes for £2.50 or up to 30 minutes for £4.50. Blue Badge holders will be able to use dedicated disabled parking bays free of charge for up to 60 minutes. The airport terminal is around a 4 minute walk from this car park.

Luton Airport already charges £1 for the use of luggage trolleys and if you need a clear plastic bag to take to take liquids through security that will cost you another £1.

Just to emphasise the case that “time is money” at Luton Airport, you can also pay £3 to use a “priority lane” to get “fast tracked” through security.

Whatever Airport you plan to depart from for this years summer holiday make sure you’ve got all your travel size toiletries and liquids in a clear plastic bag ready to go through security. It will save you time and hassle, as well as avoiding Luton Airport’s £1 charge for a plastic bag!

The new Clarins “Well-Being Stop-Over” kits focus on moisturising the skin, to counter the effects of jet lag, dehydration and fatigue that flying can cause. There is one set for women and one set for men.

Clarins has provided Air France with amenity kits for Air France First and Business Class travellers since 2004 but will now provide travel size kits for general in flight purchase.

Each set will retail at €29 and contains four travel size, security-friendly skincare products in a clear zip topped plastic bag which are said to provide all the moisture that your skin needs both during and after flying.

In addition, with the purchase of each set, travellers will receive a special 10% discount coupon valid for treatments and massages at selected Clarins outlets.

Clarins Travel Size Kits

The “Well-Being Stop-Over Women” set contains a 30ml HydraQuench Cream, a 50ml Hand and Nail Treatment Cream, a 15ml Colour Quench Lip Balm and a 100ml Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser.

The “Well-Being Stop-Over Men” set contains a 50ml Moisture Balm, a 20ml Active Hand Care, a Lip Guard and a 30ml Active Face Wash.

Before you fly you might want to check out our Travel Size Clarins range or bag an even better bargain with a Clarins Trousse for dry skin or Clarins Trousse for combination skin.

Get Rid Of The Old Folks And Party

Ryanair, Europe’s largest low fares airline, suggested that teenagers get rid of embarrassing parents and party this summer by snapping up one of Ryanair’s Father’s Day Gift Vouchers which are available from just €25 on www.ryanair.com.

Ryanair’s Father’s Day gift vouchers are the ideal gift for those who think that Mom and Dad could do with a relaxing holiday -  or simply those who really need a break from their parents. Ryanair’s gift vouchers can be redeemed online for a relaxing week in the sun or great value city break on Ryanair’s 850 routes across 26 countries.

The Father’s Day vouchers are available until Sunday 21st June 2009.

If you still need something special for Dad for Father’s Day check out the great travel size toiletries or Father’s Day Special Offers at our online shop.

Today sees the launch of US Airways summer flights direct from Birmingham to Philadelphia. The new nonstop service provides 5 flights a week departing from Birmingham up until September.

US Airways will operate a Boeing 757 ETOPS aircraft on the new route, with 12 seats in Envoy (US Airways trans-Atlantic business class) and 164 seats in economy.

The US bound flight (US727) departs Birmingham Airport (BHX) at 08:45 am arriving in Philadelphia at 11:05 am (daily except Tuesday and Thursday).

The UK bound flight (US726) departs Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) at 6:05 pm arriving in Birmingham the following morning at 06:25 am (daily except Monday and Wednesday).

Currently the only other trans-Atlantic carrier operating from Birmingham Airport is Continental Airlines which offers daily direct flights to New York.

Remember that when flying to the USA you must register with the US Electronic Travel System (ESTA) at least 72 hours before travelling.

Its also worth thinking about the “carry on” hand luggage restrictions in place and make sure that any travel size accessories or travel size sets you take with you comply with the current airport security regulations.

British Airways opens their new 300 seat Galleries Club Lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 3 today. The lounge is open to the airline’s First, Club World and Club Europe passengers as well as Gold and Silver members of BA’s Executive Club frequent flyer programme travelling to Barcelona, Helsinki, Lisbon, Madrid, Malaga and Vienna.

Situated in Zone F of the terminal’s departures concourse, the lounge includes a bar, wine gallery, coffee house, club deli, work and entertainment zone, kids zone and guest services.

British Airways has also announced that a Galleries First Lounge and Elemis Travel Spa will open later in 2009 when long-haul services move into Terminal 3.

Following “hot on the heels” of Ryanair’s “May Madness” cheap flights offer, easyJet have announced they are making up to 200,000 seats available at incredible prices for an early summer getaway.

Up to 100,000 cheap easyJet flights are available from only £15.99 as long as you book by the 12th May.

Only yesterday Ryanair launched it’s “May Madness” cheap flights offer with 75% off its lowest fares.

This releases 1 Million “May Madness” seats for travel in May, June and early July, where some of the summer madness is resulting in seats going for as little as £2.50. However, you must book before midnight 10th May.

Remember that with the budget “no frills” airlines,  more often as not, the “seat” is literally all you get on your flight ! Check the terms and conditions very carefully to see exactly what is, and what is not, included in the price of your flight.

So if you want some in flight entertainment – take your iPod, and if you want an eye mask and ear plugs you had better buy them beforehand. Of course you can always go a little “upmarket” and bring along your own personal flight bag full of goodies for the flight.

From 12 January 2009, British travellers flying to the US under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) need to register their details online with the US government.

Once you have registered, your details will be valid for two years, or as long as your passport remains unexpired (whichever is shorter).

Registering your Advance Passenger Information (API)

Your airline will usually ask you to supply the passenger details found on the machine-readable page of your passport (that is the page containing your photograph). You may be asked for your:

• full name
• date of birth
• gender
• passport number
• country that issued your passport
• date of passport expiration

You may also be asked for additional information – such as the address of your first night’s stay.

In most cases, if you do not provide your API in the time required, you may not be allowed to travel.

(more…)