Standing tall at Heathrow airport, dressed from top to toe in the best that Jermyn Street in London can offer. No, not me: the impeccably turned out gentleman greeting passengers at the entrance to the Virgin Atlantic premium economy check-in at Terminal 3. With a camel winter coat, perfectly tailored suit and shiny, happy shoes, he was the smartest person I could find at Britain's busiest airport – in more senses than one. With US transportation secretary Sean Duffy urging airline passengers to smarten up, I asked whether 21st-century travellers are letting themselves down? "People are going on holiday, so it's fine they want to feel casual," he said. But while he appreciates that passengers dress to destress rather than impress, there are limits. He singled out singlets, ripped jeans and flip-flops as unacceptable for international flights (though on some Australian domestic flights serving beach destinations I have been the odd person out for not wearing such garb). From my afternoon observation watching a straggle of arrivals from Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, almost everyone wears trainers. The average female passenger wears a loose top and leggings; men wear a hoodie or fleece over a T-shirt, plus jeans or baggy trousers. When the US fashion police start assessing passengers, two groups of travellers need have no fear. First, the "non-revs". Airline staff, family and friends travelling on free or very cheap tickets must turn out in "smart casual" as a minimum. Second, premium economy passengers. It looks to me that those in the business and first class cabins have bought the right to parade in pyjamas (which the airline may supply). We in the cheap seats don't much care how fellow travellers and crew see us. But those in premium economy have paid extra and are determined to make the most of their upward mobility. Christmas walkout: CrossCountry staff to strike every Saturday in December Lap drop: Heathrow flight diverts after passenger's laptop slides down seat Inflation proof: All you need to know about next year's rail fare freeze
Red tape: UK tightens up on ETAs for foreign visitors from February |
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Smart set: Passengers on the first transatlantic jet flight from London Heathrow, from the British Airways archive |
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| Kate Mann travels to the Franconian city and explains why a trip there helps fill in some of the gaps. Read more. |
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| Think Britpop fancy dress and dad-dancing at the school disco on this nostalgic Marella sailing. Read more. |
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| | The new circular trail spans 100 miles, taking in the River Dart, plenty of woodlands and country lanes. Read more. |
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Essential listening: Independent travel podcasts |
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"Cheaper fares through an expanded airline selection": that is one of the merits of a third runway at London Heathrow, at least according to the airport. After decades of dither and delay, expansion moved closer this week. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said Heathrow's £49bn growth plan would go ahead, despite strong opposition on environmental grounds.
"I should give her a ring. Has she got special rates for me? Everyone's got special rates for easyJet!" So said easyJet chief executive Kenton Jarvis, when I asked him whether Britain's biggest budget airline would move into Heathrow. He told me the area west of London "is not well served by low-cost carriers – partly why Bristol does so well even though it's far away". But the airline boss is cautious. "It depends entirely on economics. They seem to have gone for the more expensive option of moving the M25 to make a runway that we'll need maybe a third of [the length of] – not a great starter. If they design operations and terminals with low-cost carriers in mind, that's interesting. We're happy with walk-in, walk-out boarding, front and rear doors, no need for a single jetbridge. If they create something suitable for us, it's a good opportunity. If it's ivory-tower golden lounges and massive cost, they'll get what they already have." I put the same question to Yvonne Moynihan, managing director of Wizz Air UK. "Never, unfortunately. We are cost-driven, and Heathrow's pricing doesn't fit our business model. The operational complexities also don't align with how we work. We rely on quick turnaround times. So we'll continue focusing on our London airports – Gatwick and especially Luton, which is very favourable for low-cost operations." The next key location for the big three budget airlines is across the other side of Europe from Heathrow: Ukraine. The bosses of easyJet, Ryanair and Wizz Air have been sharing their plans for resurrecting civil aviation in Ukraine when finally peace comes. EasyJet boss Kenton Jarvis says he will launch flights to boost the reconstruction of post-war Ukraine – which, he says, will be "Europe's largest building project". He envisages routes from Gatwick, Liverpool and Belfast. Ryanair and Wizz Air have bigger plans. Each is intent on being first back in with new or revived bases in Kyiv and Lviv. Scheduled flights will begin within weeks of the skies of Ukraine reopening – connecting the estimated 14 million Ukrainians displaced across Europe with their homeland. |
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Can you be bothered to connect through Europe to reduce the tax? |
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Air passenger duty is set to rise inexorably over the next few years. To avoid or reduce the tax, you could go to a different European country to connect with a long-haul flight. But can you be bothered? Vote using the buttons above. Last week, I asked whether you valued superfast wifi on trains. Most of you said you wanted to stay connected – 72% voted yes – rather than switch off. |
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US National Park price hike in 2026 – and how to dodge it |
President Trump's "new resident-focused fee structure that puts American families first" could cost British families hundreds of pounds on visits to any of the 11 most appealing US National Parks. Starting on New Year's Day, foreign visitors will pay a surcharge of $100 per person on top of the normal charge. The parks include the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and the two great Utah locations, Bryce Canyon and Zion (below). The workaround: buy a $80 per person annual pass before 31 December 2025. From 1 January 2026, the pass for overseas visitors more than triples in price to $250. And the eight special days each year on which admission is free are henceforth for US citizens only. |
Two Black Friday rail deals caught my eye because they offer guaranteed savings with no limits on availability. The first is through Trip.com, for today only: a flat 8 per cent off all train tickets in the UK and Europe, including Eurostar. You could save £9 on a £114 Avanti West Coast off-peak return between London and Manchester. For a last-minute one-way Eurostar ticket from London to Paris, normally £219, the saving is £18. The offer ends at 11.59pm tonight, GMT.
Next, generous discounts on Interrail passes are becoming commonplace, but the newly launched promotion offers a best-of-the-year saving of 25 per cent on "Global" passes – allowing unlimited travel in 32 European countries from Finland to Portugal and Ireland to Turkey. The cheapest deal is a pass covering four days of travel within one month, costing €212 (£186) in second class. The most expensive – three continuous months of travel in first class – costs €971 (£845), which works out as less than £10 per day. Buy (through one of a wide range of retailers) by 9am on 17 December, and you can start using the pass any time within the following 11 months. |
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My partner and I are looking at travelling to San Sebastian in Spain by train in the spring. Would you recommend the trip? |
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Alongside Barcelona, Malaga and Cadiz, San Sebastian completes the quartet of great Spanish coastal cities. It has a magnificent location wrapping around the the scallop-shaped bay of La Concha ("the shell") just beyond the western end of the Pyrenees. The old town, with the early 19th-century Plaza de la Constitucion at its heart, is a joy – and the cuisine is among the best in Spain.
Handily, San Sebastian is the fastest Spanish city to reach by rail from Paris, and by extension from the UK. From Montparnasse station in the French capital, you can be at Hendaye – on the Spanish border in the far southwest – in 4h 36m. Just outside the SNCF (French Railways) station is the terminus of the Eusko Tren – the Basque narrow-gauge shuttle train connecting Hendaye with San Sebastian. The 35-minute trip costs €2.90. With smooth connections, you should be able to make it from London St Pancras International to San Sebastian in nine hours flat. Yet I recommend you break the journey at the fine city of Bordeaux, if only for a few hours.
My personal preference is to take it easy on the overland journey to San Sebastian, enjoying the locations en route, then fly back from Bilbao – whose airport is an hour away by frequent bus. Inbound airfares from northern Spain in March are ridiculously low – such as £12 to Gatwick on Vueling. If you prefer not to fly, you could sail back from Bilbao to Portsmouth on Brittany Ferries. |
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"At The Independent, we've always believed journalism should do more than describe the world – it should try to improve it.
This Christmas, we're asking for your help again as we launch our new campaign with the charity Missing People – the SafeCall appeal.
Every year, more than 70,000 children in the UK are reported missing. The misery that follows – for the child, for the family, for the community – is often hidden. Too many of these young people have nowhere to turn when they need help most. SafeCall will change that. Our goal is to raise £165,000 to help Missing People launch this new, free service – designed with the input of young people themselves – offering round-the-clock support, advice and a route to safety."
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| Red Letter Days are offering big discounts on exciting experiences, from thrilling helicopter rides and UK safari adventures to laid-back vineyard tours and more. It's the perfect time to snap up a unique Christmas gift for the adventurer in your life – and save while you're at it. Learn more. |
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| Jet off for less with savings on flights from the UK to the United States and Ireland in the Aer Lingus sale. Soak up Dublin's charm, or head across the pond to explore the Big Apple, LA, Miami and more. Various dates and departures available. Learn more. |
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| Use code: "BLKFRI" to save up to £300 at Tui. Whether you're dreaming of a relaxing beach break, a scenic escape to the Italian lakes, or a far-flung escorted tour, there's a deal to suit every traveller. T&Cs apply. Learn more. |
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| Keep entertained on your travels – the Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet is just £40 this Black Friday! |
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| Pocket big savings on travel accessories in the Aspinal of London Black Friday sale. |
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| Pack comfort for your feet! Enjoy a buy 2, get 2 free deal on socks at Peper Harow. |
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| Follow me on Instagram @Simon_Calder. Join me here live every weekend at 5.30pm British time as I answer your travel questions. |
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