Simon Calder

Passport validity for European Union. A UK passport must meet two conditions: On day of entry to the EU, issued less than 10 years ago. On intended day of exit from EU, at least 3 months left before expiry date. (Also Switz/Iceland/Norway but not Ireland.) independent.co.uk/travel/europe/…

@Sam09141369 @luxmy_g @BBCBreakfast @British_Airways Sam, so sorry to hear about this. Could you kindly email more details to s@hols.tv and I will try to investigate.

@luxmy_g @SimonCalder @BBCBreakfast @British_Airways can you tell me why a class of 24 children was asked to leave flight BA0485 due to technical difficulties after sitting on the plane for approx 3 hours, no accommodation provided, had to sleep on airport floor, still no info on flight home, been there over 24hrs

Good morning! Me and @BenThompsonTV with you again on @BBCBreakfast 🌞Thanks for your company this weekend🤗

Dozens more flights cancelled on Sunday to and from Heathrow and Gatwick airports by British Airways and easyJet due to poor weather Follows more than 200 grounded flights on Saturday. Brings the number of passengers whose flights have been cancelled this weekend to around 40,000

200+ flights cancelled today on British Airways to/from Heathrow and on easyJet to/from Gatwick 35,000 passengers stranded. Under air passengers’ rights rules, they are entitled to be flown to their destination as soon as possible on any airline, plus meals/hotels as appropriate.

UK holiday? No passport necessary. Or is it? I booked a one-night cruise from Scotland to England. Now Fred Olsen wants all my passport details. And a travel agent warned a client, wrongly, she needed a passport to fly Gatwick-Glasgow on easyJet. (Paywall) telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment…

The Travel Expert – latest podcast just out. I'm keeping cool on a boat in the Outer Hebrides while @Greg_Dickinson overheats in London. European escapes from high temperatures. Why no-fly cruises are on the rise. And rules on duty-free on budget airlines. linktr.ee/TheTravelExper…

Seatback pockets: yes or no? "Yes" from me. More kneeroom and fewer potential biohazards for passengers and staff. I used to clean planes at Gatwick and the seatback pockets could be vile. A discarded apple core was the least of my problems ... But @Greg_Dickinson wants them back

LNER, which runs trains on the East Coast Main Line from London King's Cross to Yorkshire, northeast England and Scotland, is now urging passengers not to travel on Wednesday or Thursday this week due to predicted high temperatures. Advance tickets for Wed/Thu are valid on Friday

@sTeamTraen @Telegraph @Greg_Dickinson Remarkable. Thank you.

@Telegraph @SimonCalder @Greg_Dickinson They should have used his left hand...

‘I only have three fingers and a thumb’⁠ ⁠ On last week’s episode of The Travel Expert, @SimonCalder and @Greg_Dickinson discussed the many issues with the new Entry Exit System (EES), including a query from one of our listeners. ⁠ ⁠ Have you had any trouble with the new EES? Tell us what you think in the comments ⬇️⁠ linktr.ee/TheTravelExper…

Latest podcast now here: The Travel Expert with @Greg_Dickinson and me. Qantas nonstop flights from London to Sydney start next year. Why airlines don't alert passengers at check-in to passport problems? And why EU reform of cabin baggage rules is bonkers. telegraph.co.uk/podcasts/the-t…

Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are now safe to visit, the UK Foreign Office declares. That means standard travel insurance is valid again, whether you are taking a holiday or just changing planes. Expect bargains for summer trips, but be warned that the average daily high is above 40C

Holidays in Dubai and transit through the big Gulf hubs are now back on. The UAE as well as Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait are now OFF the Foreign Office no-go list. Travel insurance is once again valid for those locations. Still warnings of regional tensions. gov.uk/foreign-travel…

Qantas has revealed that nonstop flights from London Heathrow to Sydney will begin in October 2027. Sydney-New York starts shortly after. Expect fares to be at least 20% higher than one-stop journeys – partly reflecting the high consumption of fuel on such ultra long haul routes.

Places that will soon be just one stop from Sydney include Aberdeen, Inverness; Derry, Belfast; Cork; Mykonos; Jersey and Guernsey. Places that will soon be just one stop from Heathrow include Wellington and Queenstown NZ; Norfolk Island; Launceston Tasmania and Broken Hill NSW.

First ultra-long-haul nonstop flight from Sydney will be London Heathrow – not New York. 10,573-mile ‘Project Sunrise’ service takes off October 2027, says Vanessa Hudson, CEO of Qantas.

How would you feel about spending 20+ hours on a plane?

@DMacshane49850 @Ryanair @tedthornhill @Cathman Sorry to hear this. Can you kindly email s@hols.tv with more details?

50 @Ryanair passengers left stranded in Athens as Ryanair refused to let them board. They had tickets, no prob with Greek passport officials, cops called but now left alone to fend for themselves @tedthornhill @SimonCalder @Cathman

World Cup fever less contagious than hoped. Whether or not you love football, North America offers great value. Flights and hotels are well below usual summer prices. Even with a match ticket, you can visit Canada or California for around £1,000. (Paywall) telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/no…

Episode 2 of The Travel Expert podcast with @Greg_Dickinson and me: now ready for your listening pleasure. July package bargains. The first million-dollar holiday. How to get a World Cup break for under £1,000. And Eclipse '26 – the greatest show on earth. linktr.ee/TheTravelExper…

@Aendryr Hi, I am now at Telegraph Travel. s@hols.tv will find me, and can I ask you please to delete this post because the reference number could be used by scammers?