CURRENT NEWS
Update - London Heathrow Terminal 5 Update
Friday 11 April 2008 - 16:34
British Airways & BAA have decided to defer the move of the majority of their long haul flights from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Terminal 5 (originally planned for 30 April). Although there has been a steady improvement at Terminal 5, BA want to be sure that customers can be confident of high service standards when the terminal is handling larger numbers of passengers. The move will now begin in June but as yet they do not have a precise date. This decision has been taken to protect clients from the kind of disruption seen at Terminal 5 on its first day.
Over the next week BA will advise Trailfinders of your new departure terminal, we will then update our ViewTrail facility with the correct information. We suggest that you check ViewTrail 72hrs prior to your departure for up to date information.
How to check your departure terminal:
1.British Airways online check-in: available up to 24 hours prior to departure this ensures a smooth journey through the airport. Access your itinerary using our ViewTrail facility and click on the "Manage My Booking" link in order to check-in. Your departure terminal will be confirmed to you upon checking in.
2.Detailed Flight Itinerary on ViewTrail: check-in and terminal information can be found by accessing your Detailed Flight Itinerary using the ViewTrail facility on Trailfinders website.
3.Call your travel consultant.
London Heathrow Terminal 5 opens
Thursday 20 March 2008 - 17:44
On 27 March London Heathrow Terminal 5 will welcome the first British Airways passengers through its doors. Promising a smoother check-in process, fewer queues and less waiting around you’ll have far more time for eating, shopping or relaxing in the state-of-the-art facilities available.
British Airways starts its transition into Heathrow Terminal 5 from March 27, although some flights will still depart from Terminals 1 & 4. Other airlines will also be changing terminals over the coming months, although exact details are subject to change.
To ensure a problem-free start to your trip we recommend you check which terminal you will be flying from in advance.
How to check your departure terminal?
- British Airways online check-in: available up to 24 hours prior to departure this ensures a smooth journey through the airport. Access your itinerary using our ViewTrail facility and click on the "Manage My Booking" link in order to check-in. Your departure terminal will be confirmed to you upon checking in.
- Detailed Flight Itinerary on ViewTrail: check-in and terminal information can be found by accessing your Detailed Flight Itinerary using the ViewTrail facility on Trailfinders website.
- Call your travel consultant.
Update - British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Fuel Surcharge Refunds
Friday 15 February 2008 - 18:25
We are aware of reports in the media suggesting signing up to third party websites in order to register for refunds. We have not received guidelines from either airline on this issue and as a result do not recommend Trailfinders' clients take this action at this time.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have reached an agreement to refund a percentage of the fuel surcharges to clients who purchased tickets between 11 August 2004 and 23 March 2006. This has to be ratified by the US courts and it is expected that full details of the refund procedure will not be available until late April /early May. Trailfinders are unable to accept any requests for refunds on this basis until an approved policy has been released by each respective airline.
10 Lucky Winners
Monday 21 January 2008 - 16:28
Trailfinders recently celebrated making our ten millionth travel arrangement. To mark this prestigious occasion anyone who made a booking with us between 17 November and 23 December was entered into a prize draw to win one of ten pairs of tickets to Dubai or New York with Silverjet. Alternatively entries were possible online at trailfinders.com.
Frank Barrett, Travel Editor of the Mail on Sunday, drew the following lucky winners on Tuesday 15 January;
Mr J Wilson, Witham
Dr P Collins, London
Mr J Robertson, Glasgow
Mrs H Hall, Petworth
Mrs L Heath, Nottingham
Mr G Mellers, Belper
Mr P Bartholomew-Keen, Colchester
Mr N Shelmerdine, Woking
Mrs M Jenkins, Hove
Mr A Cowie, East Lothian
Unfortunately, with over 35,000 entries, not everyone could be a winner. Sorry if you were not one of the lucky ones this time round, but please look out for future competitions on trailfinders.com.
Update - Current Situation in Kenya
Friday 18 January 2008 - 16:35
As the Foreign Office advise for Kenya remains unchanged and they are still advising against all but essential travel to Kenya due to the unsettled political situation Trailfinders has extended their policy.
Trailfinders consultants are in the process of contacting clients due to travel on or before the 27 January to discuss alternative travel arrangements. If you have not yet been contacted and would like to discuss possible options please contact your local travel centre.
We will continue to monitor the situation and will review our policies in line with Foreign Office advice.
Update - Heathrow Flight Disruption
Friday 18 January 2008 - 16:27
Following yesterday's incident at London Heathrow it is likely that there will be some disruption to flights to and from Heathrow on Friday 18 January. B.A.A. are expecting near normal operations however are recommending that anyone due to fly into or out of Heathrow today contact their airline regarding the status of their flight. British Airways have stated they plan to operate all of its longhaul flights and a high percentage of its shorthaul flights, however some shorthaul flights will be cancelled as a result of aircraft, pilots and crew being out of position. Should your travel arrangements be affected please contact your Trailfinders travel centre for further information."
Heathrow Flight Disruption
Thursday 17 January 2008 - 17:01
Following an earlier incident at Heathrow involving a BA flight from Beijing the Southern runway is closed and will remain so for at least the remainder of today (17 January). Information is limited, however, British Airways have advised that all their UK Domestic and European services will be cancelled for the rest of today. Other airlines may also be cancelling flights. British Airways intend to operate a full longhaul service, subject to delays, using the Northern runway. Should your plans be affected by this disruption please contact your Trailfinders travel center for further information. Any further news will be updated on our website.
Trailfinders Vice Chairman completes Atlantic Double
Friday 04 January 2008 - 11:18
Congratulations to Tristan Gooley, Vice Chairman of Trailfinders, who arrived at Marigot Bay, St Lucia, on the afternoon of the 1 of January in a 32ft yacht called Golden Eye after 26 days at sea alone.
He is the first European to have both flown solo and sailed single-handed across the Atlantic. In May 07 he flew from Goose Bay, Canada to Oxford, England in a single-engine Cessna Caravan, re-fuelling in Greenland, Iceland and Scotland during the epic 2 day flight.
The only other person to have achieved both is the legendary American navigator, Steve Fossett, who is still missing after a routine flight in Nevada in September.
Tristan is using his achievements to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer, a disease that kills one man every hour. He is also paying tribute to Steve Fossett. Tristan quotes
“It has been a difficult and unusual challenge but that has been a large part of the attraction. I like the fact that more people have walked on the moon than tackled the Atlantic by air and sea alone.”
For any press queries on Tristan's latest challenge please contact:
Nikki Davies. PR & Marketing Manager
020 7937 8499; nikkid@trailfinders.com
or
Andrew Appleby, PR & Marketing Executive
020 7368 1590; andrewa@trailfinders.com
Current Situation in Kenya - Kenya
Thursday 03 January 2008 - 16:37
The Foreign Office is currently advising against all but essential travel to Kenya due to the unsettled political situation.
Trailfinders consultants are currently in the process of contacting clients due to travel on or before the 14 January to discuss alternative travel arrangements. If you have not yet been contacted and would like to discuss possible options please contact your local travel centre.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will review our policies in line with Foreign Office advice.
Telegraph Award 2007 - United Kingdom
Friday 30 November 2007 - 17:15
Trailfinders is delighted to announce that we have been voted Best Specialist Travel Organiser 2007 by readers of The Telegraph.
We have previously been awarded Best Specialist Independent Travel Company every year since the inception of The Telegraph travel awards and are delighted to have won again in 2007. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to vote for us.
Changes to Libyan entry requirements - Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
Monday 12 November 2007 - 12:07
It has been reported that on Sunday 11th November Libya changed their entry requirements to necessitate all travellers entering or exiting the country to have an Arabic transcript of their passport details.
The translation must be presented on a blank page attached to their passport and must contain the translation of all details of the passport photo page (name, date of birth, expiry and place of issue etc.).
Any passenger travelling without this translation will be refused entry, effective immediately.
For clients planning to travel to Libya we would advise contacting the Libyan Embassy for clarification before travelling.