With the summer holiday season underway, many UK travellers will be taking advantage of tax free shopping at the airport. More than half of UK consumers believe that tax free airport shops offer average savings of 20% or more compared to recommended retail prices on the high street, but a new report released by shopping comparison website Kelkoo, reveals that airport shops may not be offering the bargains you expect.

Contrary to popular belief, tax free goods in European airports are on average just 6.2% cheaper than those in local high street stores, with Heathrow Airport offering the worst overall discounts out of any major European airport (3.1%).

Tax free shopping across Europe is big business, with consumers spending over €2.8 billion last year alone, making savings of 6.2% (€185 million) compared to standard high street prices. However, by shopping online for the same goods, consumers could have saved a further 6.1% (€171 million) which would have equated to a total saving of 12% (€355 million) over high street stores.

The report, commissioned by Kelkoo, and produced by the Centre for Retail Research, examines the difference in prices between high street stores, tax free shops in airports and online retailers across Europe.

Save more on health and beauty products
Health & beauty (39%) along with luxury, fashion & electricals (31%) account for 70% of all tax free retail sales in Europe. While Europe’s airport tax free outlets offer savings against high street prices in these categories ranging from 6% to 10%, online discounts are typically higher at 12% and 13% respectively. In fact, Europe’s online retailers offer consistently higher savings on all categories except for tobacco!

Although prices in airport tax free shops still compare favourably to the local high street, with discounts varying from 3.1% to 11.9%, online savings on the same goods are much higher, ranging from 9.1% to 15.4% with the UK offering the best overall savings for online shopping over high street stores.

Europe’s most expensive airports
For people who like to shop before they fly, the discounts on offer across European airports vary widely. London Heathrow offers the lowest average tax free savings in Europe at just 3.1%, followed by Berlin Schoenefeld at 4.6%. Interestingly enough, Spanish airport stores have the highest prices for health and beauty products, and wines and spirits are dearest in French airports!

Bruce Fair, Managing Director of Kelkoo UK, comments: “… eleven years on from the end of duty-free there is still the perception that tax free shopping offers the best deals. In reality, higher overheads, decreased competition and less choice means that tax free shops are not always the hunting ground for bargains that people think they are. In fact, airside retailers simply cannot compete with online retail for the best prices… Our advice to travellers who want the best deal is to shop online before they fly.”

Is airport shopping really tax free anyway ?
Using the high street prices in each country as the basis for comparison, the report reveals that European airports offer tax free savings of 6.2% on average. However, taking the average standard rate of VAT in Europe, if airport tax free stores were passing on a full tax rebate on the high street cost of goods to European travellers, they would instead be offering average price reductions of 17.4%. Airport shopping retailers argue that this discrepancy is due to higher overheads, including steep rental charges and higher staff salaries, compared to those of high street stores.

Buy before you fly for the best prices !
Almost 6 in 10 consumers in the UK believe that tax free airport stores offer average savings of 20% or more on recommended retail prices and one in five passengers intentionally wait to shop at the airport before travelling.

Almost one in ten also mistakenly think that airport shops are cheaper than online retailers, and over two thirds of UK shoppers often buy themselves something at the airport even if they don’t need it! Impulse shopping at its most expensive!

Buy before you fly really makes sense when it comes to your travel size toiletries and mini fragrances when airport tax free shops are more expensive than shopping online.

Although Eurostar are struggling to try and transport the thousands of passengers stranded by the recent breakdowns, Ryanair will operate special flights between London and Paris on 23rd December to help passengers return home for Christmas.

The Eurostar rescue flights will operate between London (Stansted) and Paris (Beauvais) airports and can be booked via www.ryanair.com.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said “Seats are limited so passengers should book as soon as possible as these seats are likely to be snapped up”.

Always remember that in order to avoid additional charges on Ryanair you should check in online and print your boarding pass to take with you to the airport. To avoid paying additional charges for  putting baggage in the hold ensure that all of your travel size toiletries are less than 100ml so that your hand luggage will pass through the airport security checks for carry on luggage.

The decision comes as a welcome relief for the million or so people who were set to have their Christmas travel plans ruined by such a lengthy strike.

Unite have condemned the ruling and say that they will hold a fresh ballot and seek support for a further strike. However, given the timescales involved it is unlikely that they will be able to disrupt the Christmas period.

BA chief executive Willie Walsh said “We do not want to see a million Christmases ruined”.

“Irregularities” had been highlighted by BA in the strike ballot which it believes makes the outcome of the vote invalid, including sending ballot papers to staff who had already left or were in the process of leaving the airline’s employment, and therefore should not have been balloted.

BA said it hoped the legal action would “protect customers from the massive stress and disruption” threatened by the 12-day stoppage.

BA have expressed their “urgent need to reduce costs” as the airline industry continues to perform badly. The company reported a pre tax loss of £292m for the six months to the end of September and the trustees of its two pension schemes have just announced that there is a combined deficit of £3.7bn.

Last month, BA announced plans to cut a further 1,700 jobs, in addition to cutting the numbers of cabin crew on long-haul flights and freezing staff pay for two years. BA cabin crew are still said to be the best paid in Britain, with an average salary of £29,000 compared with £14,000 at Virgin Atlantic.

However, the Unite union has condemned the move and balloted its 12,500 cabin crew members in support of industrial action as part of the dispute over job losses and changes to working practices. The strikes will run from 22nd December until 2nd January.

The industrial action and disruption will be hugely damaging for British Airways in terms of both reputation and finances as it continues to struggle and lose money.

Ultimately the action could drive more and more customers into the arms of the budget airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair who will no doubt capitalise on the malaise suffered by BA.

However, when flying with the budget airlines be aware of the additional charges for placing baggage in the hold. In order to avoid these charges ensure that your travel size toiletries are all under 100ml so that they will pass through the airport security checks.

Last week, Roetzel & Andress filed a Complaint under Section 337 of the Tariff Act with the United States International Trade Commission on behalf of David Tropp and Safe Skies, LLC for patent infringement against 24 foreign luggage lock manufacturers.

The investigation, conducted by the United States government, is based on the unlawful importation into the U.S., sale for importation, and/or sale after importation of airport security-friendly luggage locks which infringe Mr. Tropp’s patents. The Complaint supports Safe Skies’ global intellectual property enforcement strategy against infringers.

In 2002, Tropp developed an innovative system for making airline luggage inspection secure while accommodating the needs of the traveler. The system involves a special dual access lock, called the “TSA Lock,” available to airline travelers that can be opened by both the luggage owner and the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”).

This system provides a solution to the problem of clipped locks resulting from the TSA’s policy of cutting locks on luggage, if necessary, for inspection.

The TSA Lock, currently used by more than 60 million travelers and recognized by 50,000 TSA officers in 400 U.S. airports, was patented by Tropp in April of 2006 and is covered by two U.S. patents, both entitled “Method of Improving Airline Luggage Inspection.”

The 24 foreign lock manufacturers named in the Complaint, based in five countries with the majority located in China, have unlawfully manufactured, imported and distributed identical dual-entry TSA Locks into U.S. retail and distribution outlets.

All infringing companies make TSA locks, baggage or luggage incorporating TSA locks and collaborate with Travel Sentry, also being sued for patent infringement. The impact of these infringements is not only lost domestic sales for Tropp’s patented methods, but also compromised security issues relating to possible tampering of luggage with clipped locks.

Safe Skies owner, David Tropp states,  “Retailers and distributors can enjoy the benefits of my patented innovation, including competitive pricing and  greater variety of locks offered, as long as they are respectful of my intellectual property and purchase patented product. This is a win-win situation where retailers can support American innovation and benefit from  best-pricing on a practical travel item. Safe Skies looks forward to building long-term mutually beneficial relationships with major retailers and distributors to make patented TSA accepted luggage locks available to the traveling public.”

Travel Bag Size are one of the few approved retailers for Safe Skies patented TSA Luggage Locks in the UK, with the Safe Skies BoomerangIt being a market leader.

About Safe Skies LLC. Safe Skies LLC (www.safeskieslocks.com) sells 100+ different styles of TSA luggage locks accepted and recognized by TSA and by United Kingdom’s Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). All Safe Skies TSA Locks are protected by US Patents 7,021,537 and 7,036,728 with worldwide patents pending.

Swine flu is now widespread in the UK and spreading rapidly, with the number of new cases doubling every seven days. Most of these are because people are catching swine flu in their local community and not as the result of foreign travel.

To be able to prevent against being infected by swine flu you will need to know a little about the influenza virus itself in order to take effective precautions against catching swine flu.

So what is swine flu (or influenza A H1N1)?
Normal flu is an illness caused by an infection of the influenza virus. However, a new highly contagious strain of influenza, known as A (H1N1) or more commonly as swine flu, was confirmed in the UK in April and has spread to more than 100 countries around the world.

How does swine flu spread?
Swine flu appears to be transmitted through respiratory droplets in the same fashion as the common cold. The flu virus can live on a hard surface for up to 24 hours and a soft surface for around 20 minutes.

How to prevent swine flu?
There are a set of guidelines issued by the Government with a simple way to remember them as – CATCH IT. BIN IT. KILL IT. (Download the Swine Flu Information Leaflet)

There are two key elements in containing the spread of swine flu:

Prevent swine flu spreading to other people
To help prevent the spread of any infection, if you sneeze, keep a disposable tissue in front of your mouth and after sneezing or blowing your nose throw the tissue away and then wash your hands. Use an anti-bacterial hand gel and keep a bottle with you at all times for when you cannot wash your hands.

Prevent catching swine flu from other people

1. Maintain a healthy lifestyle. The healthier you are, the better your immune system will be at defending your body against any virus. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, drink plenty of fluids, and eat good nutritious food. You may also consider taking a vitamin C supplement, as some people regularly do this (especially during the winter months) to bolster their immune system.
2. Practice good personal hygiene. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water since swine flu like other viruses can be contracted by touching objects contaminated by the virus. Clean hard surfaces frequently, such as door handles and remote controls in the home or keyboards, telephones and keypads in the workplace. Use an an anti-bacterial hand gel and keep a bottle with you at all times for when you cannot wash your hands.
3. Clean plates, cups and utensils. Don’t use “communal” utensils or cups unless they have been thoroughly washed and cleaned. Never share drinks – even on hot days, avoid taking a sip or a “taste” of someone else’s drink if offered.
4. Reduce the risk of exposure. If swine flu infections are prevalent in your area consider avoiding large public gatherings and be particularly careful about indoor gatherings where air circulates poorly.

Just a footnote on face masks. Although face masks were given out in Mexico, there is no actual evidence that proves wearing a face mask will stop you getting the virus. The recognised advice is to use tissues when sneezing and coughing and wash your hands regularly.

Who is at risk?
There are some groups that are known to be at particular risk or more susceptible to catching swine flu, these are:

• pregnant women
• the elderly
• young children (under 5)
• people who have serious illnesses

Although the elderly are deemed to be more susceptible to swine flu it has also been recognised that older people seem to have a natural resistance or an increased immunity from the virus.

What are the symptoms or signs of swine flu?
The symptoms of swine flu are broadly the same as those of ordinary flu, but may be more severe and cause more serious complications. The typical swine flu symptoms are:

• sudden fever (a high body temperature of over 38C or 100.4F)
• sudden cough

Other symptoms may include headache, tiredness, chills, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, diarrhoea or stomach upset, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, and loss of appetite.

What do I do if I think I have got swine flu?
If you think you may have swine flu contact your GP by phone. Do not go to the surgery! There is also an NHS direct swine flu symptom checker to help you diagnose your symptoms.

The latest NHS swine flu alert can be found here.

Anti-bacterial hand gels and wipes are invaluable in containing the spread of germs and infections such as swine flu. They come in all shapes and sizes, small enough to fit any pocket or handbag and used regularly can dramatically reduce the risk of infection by the swine flu virus

ck free Mens Fragrance

The ck free range for men will be launched in September and will consist of 30ml, 50ml and 100ml EDT sprays, a 100ml after shave and a 150ml after shave balm.

There is also a 200ml hair and body wash and a 75g deodorant stick to complete the ck free range.

The slim bevelled edge EDT bottle will make it an ideal travel size fragrance for packing as part of your carry on hand luggage for flights.

View a further selection of  Mens Travel Size Fragrances in the Travel Size Toiletries shop!

While the UK basks in the sunshine there are two extremes of weather on display in the South of England today. While the South East has been declared a Level 3 Heatwave by the Met Office the South West has been issued with a Severe Weather Warning for Flooding.

Thunderstorms are forecast to affect parts of South West England during the day with more than 15 mm of rainfall in 3 hours in some places. The heavy rain is expected to hit Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth and Torbay.

The rain is likely to have a dramatic impact with travel disruption on motorways and other road travel. Motorists are advised to take extra care and refer to the Highways Agency for further advice on traffic disruption on motorways and trunk roads.

The strike is due to begin at 7pm on Tuesday 9th June and will bring the London Underground to a halt on Wednesday and Thursday, with normal service due to be restored on Friday 12th June.

The London Underground, affectionately known as the Tube, is used by around 3.5 million passengers a day and its closure will have a huge impact on the whole of public transport services across London.

The Mayor has unveiled plans to cope with the additional “surge” in passenger numbers for the rest of the network as follows:

Buses – London buses operate around 700 routes with services being boosted by up to 100 extra buses on key routes on strike days.

National Rail – Oyster Pay As You Go will be accepted on all National Rail journeys within Greater London on Wednesday and Thursday, just show your Oyster card at station gate lines.

Taxis – during the morning peak hours of 0800-1030, taxi drivers will be operating a marshalled, fixed-fare shared taxi service for central London destinations at six major London rail termini – Waterloo, Liverpool St, London Bridge, Marylebone, Paddington and Euston.

DLR and London Overground – services will be operating as normal.

Roads and the Congestion Charge – to help keep traffic flowing the Congestion Charge will remain in operation through-out the strike and TfL will be suspending road works on major London roads wherever possible. Where possible, Londoners and commuters are encouraged to consider alternatives to the car.

Cycling – additional options for cyclists will include morning commuter led cycle rides, temporary parking facilities and thousands of cycle maps will be distributed across London.

Led commuter rides – The London Cycle Campaign will be leading five escorted rides into Central London from Finsbury Park main gate, Mile End Green Bridge, Ravenscourt Park, Brixton Road (KFC) and Swiss Cottage. All rides will set off from 0745 and further details are available at www.biketube.org.uk.

Cycle Parking – In addition to the major cycle park at Finsbury Park and existing racks at major London stations across the city, another 1000 cycle parking spaces will be provided at London Bridge cycle park and temporary cycle parking facilities at the locations and times below. Many London businesses will also be opening up their foyers and parking facilities for their staff.

Walking – if you are considering making or completing your journeys by foot, check www.tfl.gov.uk for information or, in central London on strike days, pick up a free local vicinity walking map from staff at major rail stations, bus stations and key tube stations.

River – existing services will be boosted from a capacity of 1,500 to 8,000 an hour and including:

• London Bridge to Tower Bridge – an additional free shuttle service.
• Greenwich-Canary Wharf-Central London – normal Clippers service with enhancements.
• Putney-Central London – normal Thames Executive Charter (TEC) service with four boats instead of two.
• London Eye – Westminster – Tower Bridge – free peak shuttle every 10 minutes between 0700-1000 and 1500-2000 on both main strike days.

If you are visiting London on these days you may want to arm yourself with a London City Visitors Kit. Unfortunately on this occasion the iPod Touch London Tube Map will not be as useful as it could be – but what the heck! Your iPod will still work like a charm and you may need a little music whilst you’re on the move.