Whenever you schedule your holidays and wherever you’re jetting off to, the routine of actually getting up in the air can be a bigger hassle than it ought to be (and in the last decade, things have probably gotten even worse). When flying from the UK, these are the guidelines you have to follow (though 99% of it all is applicable in most countries!)
Don’t Get Too Stressed!
If you’re reading this how to guide, you’ve shown initiative! But sometimes, reading up on how to prepare for something shows that you are a little too apprehensive. It’s important to remember that whilst holidays require preplanning, they’re ensuring that you have a few enjoyable days off in a new and exciting place in which to forget all your worries. If you begin your holidays stressed, you’ll probably end them that way too, and you’ll be no fun for the people around you. Just relax and have fun!
Early Preparedness
That said, once you’re know you’re off on holiday, it’s never too early to get on top of things.
- Having a valid passport should be a no-brainer, but for many of us, a passport is a possession that sits at the bottom of the drawer until needed. Check immediately after booking a holiday, or preferably as soon as you feel the need to go on holiday: the turn-around for a new passport is measured in weeks, not days (it’s hardly inexpensive either)!
- Inoculations are also critical, and should be sought from your GP around the time your destination is determined: your GP will have an up to the minute database of what jabs are required for entry (though it can never hurt to look it up yourself).
- Start thinking about money, but with fluctuations in the money markets, it can sometimes be beneficial to hold on for a better conversion rate (though without an in depth knowledge of economics and a sharp eye you may well struggle).
- Travel insurance is another issue to approach early, but to hold off on until you can find the best deal.
Know Your Limits
There are no limits to holiday fun! But there are certainly limits to how much and what you can take on a flight. Before the millennium, a section like this would have been a lot less complicated: you would just avoid taking anything on a flight that was obviously dangerous. No knives or firearms (unless special arrangements had been made of course), no volatile liquids, nothing that could be construed as a weapon easy. Just make sure you didn’t turn on your Gameboy until in the air and you wouldn’t have any grief whatsoever.
Nowadays, virtually everything you own is treated with suspicion. Liquids in particular require checking. In the UK, you must put all of your liquids into a single clear plastic bag provided by the airline. Containers cannot contain more than 100ml and the whole lot must be presented whilst moving through the security point. Rules governing Baby food and milk are specifically relaxed to allow whatever is necessary for a journey. You can also take as many liquids from ‘air-side’ shops at your airport as you wish to.
The size and weight of items you can take on flights from the UK will depend on operators and what you have paid for. It’s quite common for short-haul operators to allow only a single bag of hand-luggage inclusive in the flight fee, extra luggage costing extra. This checked luggage must typically not weigh over 15kg. The UK government itself does not have a maximum luggage size, so always check with your airline. If in doubt, always contact your operator: some items, like large Musical Instruments may require you to purchase a second seat as they won’t be allowed in the hold.
Steph Wood writes articles on behalf of Tropical Sky, who are focusing efforts on All inclusive Maldives hotels and the Mauritius holidays 2012 season.
Steph is a copywriter and internet marketer from South East England. Their principle passions are videogames, comedy shows and animated film, but if it can be researched, it's usually interesting!
