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/…

Airline CEOs on what the Iran crisis augurs. Michael O'Leary, Ryanair: "It’s not as significant as 9/11 or the Gulf War. But that depends how long it continues." Kenton Jarvis, easyJet: “We make about £7 per seat. If fuel goes up £10, you have to respond.” independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

Heathrow. One year ago tomorrow, Europe's busiest airport closed almost completely for the day. Dozens of diversions; 1,300 flight cancellations; a quarter-million travel plans torn up. The cause: a fire at a substation supplying Heathrow with electricity. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

Travel to and through the Gulf. 11 questions and answers including: Changing planes at UAE airports against Foreign Office travel advice. How the tourism industry in developing nations is being hit. Could I face a fuel surcharge for my forthcoming holiday? independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

@Linda_Bell Your passport is valid for entering Spain and anywhere else in the Schengen area up to April 2027 – specifically, its 10th birthday. Subject to other permits you may have, you could enter for a stay of up to 90 days on that passport.

@SimonCalder I never got an answer to this and I have DM'd you because I don't know when my UK passport actually runs out. I live in Spain.

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/…

@cave_dave_06 Yes, with a rare and unlikely exception: if you were originally booked in economy but only business class is available, the cancelling airline must buy that ticket for you.

@SimonCalder Thanks Simon. Does it have to be in the same class that has been booked with the original airline? Business for business etc.

Edinburgh airport: a pair of Qatar Airways Boeing 787s on an extended stay at the Scottish capital’s airport. While Emirates and Etihad are resuming commercial operations, Qatar Airways is giving no indication of when schedules might start up. Instead, just rolling cancellations.

@andy_shawcross @cave_dave_06 Hi, under air passengers’ rights rules the airline must pay for a flight from Manchester to Brisbane on the appropriate day, on any airline that has seats available.

@cave_dave_06 @SimonCalder Cancelled it all this morning. 7 days before the trip of a lifetime. There’s your flight money back 😢. Lost a fortune

Now 20 days into the collapse of Middle East aviation caused by the unfolding tragedy in Iran and beyond. How active are the airlines of the Gulf? As a % of normal operations: Emirates: 55 Etihad: 25 Qatar Airways: 15 Gulf Air has a pop-up hub at Damman. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

EasyJet boss says "book as early as possible" to avoid air fare hikes. But CEO Kenton Jarvis says his airline has "hedging" in place to avoid price rises this summer. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary plays down prospect of aviation fuel shortages in short term independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

Talking to the new leader of the train drivers’ union, Aslef: Dave Calfe. He says: "No to driver-only operation – every train should have a 2nd safety-critical person.” "Open-access rail firms [Lumo, Grand Central and Hull Trains] should be nationalised." independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

@jonhossain As the article explains: I booked a Jakarta-Abu Dhabi-London Etihad flight weeks before the Iran conflict began. Alternative flights were 3 times the £583 I paid. The airline, airport, UAE authorities and (most importantly) pilots were confident it would be safe. So I went ahead.

@SimonCalder So why did you go to Abu Dhabi? Many follow your advice

Foreign Office warns against travel to/through the UAE. That includes merely changing planes at Dubai or Abu Dhabi airports. Yet thousands of British travellers do just that every day. Emirates and Etihad are selling tickets for flights through their hubs. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

@japers_1984 @FCDOtravelGovUK The Foreign Office advises against any presence whatsoever in the UAE – including changing planes in the airport for a couple of hours. Definitely not classed as essential travel.

@FCDOtravelGovUK Could you please, for the love of god advise if transiting through the UAE to get home is classed as essential travel or not?? I matters as insurance won’t cover, neither will the tour operators so you are forcing people through Dubai etc @SimonCalder

#UnitedArabEmirates Updated information about registering your presence ow.ly/3KwI50YuXQL

Rail delay repay: bought a ticket through an independent retailer such as Trainline? If the journey is disrupted, you must apply to the train operator for compo. But once Great British Railways takes over track and trains (in 2027) the retailer can repay. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an….

British Airways resumes flying from London Heathrow to Melbourne in January 2027, daily via Kuala Lumpur. BA is also going back to Colombo. Demand for direct flights to Asia and Australia is strengthening as the Iran conflict disrupts routes via the Gulf. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

Thousand of Emirates passengers suffer ‘flights to nowhere’ from UK as drone strike causes another Dubai shutdown. Passengers from Edinburgh are back in the Scottish capital after 11 hours airborne. Travellers who departed Stansted last night are in Vienna independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

@scottishgooner @andy_shawcross Qatar Airways’ problem, not yours. When you are booked from the UK, an airline that cancels a flight must provide an alternative as close to the original as possible. If the airline fails to do so, buy the cheapest reasonable ticket and send them the bill. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

@andy_shawcross @SimonCalder Kind of similar position, flying Edinburgh -Doha-Amritsar on 24th, flight still sowing as active but I don’t think there is any chance it will happen. Looking at alternatives and costs are ridiculous

Emirates and Etihad are now selling tickets for cash from many points in Asia and Australia to the UK. But they involve a change of planes in the UAE, which is on the Foreign Office no go list. Alternative flights avoiding the Gulf are selling at 3 x more. independent.co.uk/travel/news-an…

Due to flight kerfuffles, my usual 5:30 pm Saturday session answering travel questions in an Instagram live is pre-poned to 2.55pm. Sunday is also affected unless the Wi-Fi on my flight is better than average; if not it may appear from Abu Dhabi at 7:30pm. instagram.com/simon_calder/

@liquiddnbvibes @etihad @EtihadHelp 1 With 9 days before your trip, the Foreign Office advice may change. 2 If you have booked a flight only deal, then the Foreign Office advice is irrelevant as far as Etihad is concerned. 3 You can ask your travel insurer if it would pay out for a cancellation due to FCDO advice,

@etihad @EtihadHelp @SimonCalder My family have a scheduled return flight 22/3-2/4 LHR>AUH>LHR. If UK govt advises no travel to UAE, plus travel insurance is then invalid, is force majeure clause activated meaning we are not obliged to travel & should receive a refund or credit?