A survey has revealed that Britons tend to err on the side of caution and pack more than they need when going on holiday.

British Airways discovered that a whopping nine in 10 holidaymakers do not use up to 30% of items they take on holiday, while 40% take three or more pairs of shoes.

A fifth of people take 10 or more pairs of underwear, while an eighth take three or more towels away with them on a one-week holiday.

Scottish people and those from the east of England are more likely to pack too many things and therefore have to dig deep in their pockets to pay excess baggage surcharges.

If you do have a lot of baggage, airport transfers can be a quick and stress-free way to get between airports.

The survey went on to reveal that many Britons pack foods in their suitcases to take with them on holiday. Popular items include tomatoes, sardines, peanut butter, Super Noodles, Marmite and potato peelers.

Fancy dress items, such as angel wings and nun’s outfits, were also popular items to take abroad.

Abigail Comber, BA’s head of brands and marketing, said: “We don’t really want to have to choose between books, toiletries or tea-bags, or to dress kids in half their holiday clothes just to avoid excess baggage fees. Something as basic as checking what your baggage limit is on your chosen airline will help.”

Copyright © Press Association 2012

The Government has outlined new proposals designed to encourage airports to focus more on the needs of the passengers who travel through them.

The airport legislation included in the coalition’s draft Civil Aviation Bill aims to support passengers with the help of a new single primary duty, which will promote their specific interests.

The draft proposals also call for certain roles fulfilled by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to be amended or expanded.

For instance, under the terms of the Bill, the CAA would be required to encourage investment in airports in order to improve their facilities.

The draft Bill would also require the authority to set performance measures at key airports in a more flexible manner.

While responsibilities for aviation security policies would stay with the Government’s transport secretary, the CAA would be given the power to fine airports 10% of their annual turnover if they were found to have breached their licence conditions.

The formal version of the Bill could now be introduced in Parliament in the early stages of 2012. Originally, ministers had planned to wait until the next Parliamentary session to introduce it.

Among the other reforms which the Bill proposes, the CAA would become responsible for certain security functions, including monitoring and enforcement.

Copyright © Press Association 2011

The Government has urged airlines to become “greener”, warning them that it supports aviation growth but not “at any price”.

Transport secretary Philip Hammond has called on the aviation industry to cut emissions and noise, while the Government has ruled out adding a third runway at Heathrow and is opposed to additional runways at Gatwick and Stansted. 

Mr Hammond made the comments as he launched a document designed to seek views on a new aviation policy. It will replace the Labour’s 2003 aviation White Paper which supported runway expansions at Stansted and Heathrow.

He said: “We are not anti-aviation – we are anti-carbon.

“We are firmly focused on the benefits aviation can bring, particularly in terms of economic growth. But we are not prepared to support growth at any price.

“The aviation industry needs to do more, not just on emissions but also in terms of its other environmental impacts, particularly noise.”

Mr Hammond said that while the industry should be able to grow, it had to “play its part in delivering our environmental goals and protecting the quality of life of local communities”.

He also wants to move beyond the “increasingly polarised” debate on aviation towards “a broader consensus which honestly recognises both the value of air transport and its negative impacts and is prepared to agree the framework within which aviation can develop”.

Of course, holidaymakers can do their bit for the environment by taking the bus to the airport rather than drive. Not only does this help to reduce carbon emission, it also saves money in parking fees.

Copyright © Press Association 2011

Giant holograms of customer service workers will be used to inform passengers at Manchester Airport about liquid restrictions on flights.

People going through the security search area at Terminal 1 will be greeted by virtual versions of actual employees John Walsh and Julie Capper, who will also remind travellers to have their boarding cards at the ready.

It is hoped that the holograms, created by the same company that brought the chart-topping animated band Gorillaz to life on stage, will help to cut the length of security check queues.

Julie Armstrong, customer services director at Manchester Airport, said: “We are always looking for new ways to improve the experience of our airport for customers but four years after the restrictions were introduced, passengers understandably forget about liquids.

“We don’t want anyone to have to throw their drink or make-up away so we’ve tried lots of different ways to reinforce the liquid rules, from posters to people dressed up as giant deodorant cans!”

“Maybe holograms are the answer. You certainly can’t miss them and with the real John and Julie already being popular with our customers, I’m hopeful that their virtual selves will be a big hit too.”

Copyright Press Association 2011

The Department of Transport has promised to cut the number of queues at the country’s airports, with Stansted a particular cause for concern. 

It is understood that the department is prepared to look again at security measures, with Transport Secretary Philip Hammond pushing for the introduction of body scanners as a way to speed up the process.

Ministers will also meet with the UK Border Agency to discuss immigration queues at Stansted, Aviation Minister Theresa Villiers revealed, adding that the drive was in line with the Government’s ambition to make airports “better not bigger”.

The group was particularly concerned about queuing at Stansted, pictured

Speaking after the inaugural meeting of the Government’s South East Airports Task Force, she said: “We believe that our decision to say no to new runways at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted makes it very important that we make the best use of existing airport capacity and take action to improve the passengers’ experience.”

Mrs Villiers explained that the panel had identified three areas of concern that demanded immediate attention: queuing, access to London’s threeairports and mechanisms to deal with unforeseen events such as bad weather. 

While the introduction of body scanners could put the UK on a collision course with the EU, which demands that metal detectors be used, ministers say the technology would reduce the number of necessary checks from one to two.

Moves to use the devices would bring the country into line with some airports in the US.

Copyright © Press Association 2010