BA LAUNCHES MOBILE PHONE CHECK-IN

British Airways has launched remote check in service, allowing travellers 'on the go’ to check in for flights wherever they may be, via their mobile handsets. The service is quick, free and available in 11 languages (including Japanese) - without any need to download accompanying software.
Logging on to www.ba2go.com using any mobile device with wireless connectivity (such as BlackBerrys and mobile phones), customers can access the BA timetable in real time, as well as select seats and check-in individuals, groups and families for departure or return flights.
The check in service offers full seat change and seat selection functions and the ability to enter passport information – everything that can be done on ba.com apart from printing the boarding card. At the end of check-in customers  will be presented with the option to collect the boarding pass at the airport from a kiosk or desk, email the boarding pass, or fax the boarding pass.
Chris Carmichael, British Airways innovation and planning manager said: "We are proud to be the first UK airline to offer a remote check-in service in 11 languages. We recognise that our customers have busy lifestyles, and by offering greater accessibility we hope to enhance their overall travel experience."
British Airways news 06 Nov 08

BRITISH AIRWAYS SPECIAL UPGRADE OFFER

Purchase a full fare return fare in Euro Traveller to any destination Europe-wide and receive a one-way upgrade to Club Europe on the outbound or return journey (subject to availability).
Purchase a full fare return fare in Club World to any destination worldwide and receive a one-way upgrade to First class on the outbound or return journey (subject to availability).
Eligible bookings:
Booking and travel dates: from now until 19 December 2008
Routes: All long-haul routes worldwide, and all short-haul routes except:
Belfast, Cork, Moscow, St.Petersburg and Tripoli.
Book via JTB on 020 8237 1601. 

No pre-registration required, but please remember to request the upgrade at time of booking.
Other Terms and Conditions apply. Please contact your JTB travel advisor if you would like a copy. Subject to availability. This promotion is not available online.

JAPAN AIRLINES TO REPLACE LONDON-OSAKA SERVICE WITH LONDON-TOKYO

Japan Airline's London Heathrow - Osaka service will be terminated on 28 March 2009.
But the airline announced today that it will be replaced by a new London Heathrow - Tokyo daily service starting from 29 March 2009.

JL404 will depart London Heathrow 16:35, arrive Tokyo Narita 12:20 next day
JL403 will depart Tokyo Narita 10:00, arrive London Heathrow 14:35 same day

This will be in addition to the JL402/401 daily service between London and Tokyo.

TERMINAL 5

The Galleries Club lounge opened in Terminal 5 Satellite B (T5B) on 17 September, ahead of the next phase of British Airways' move into the new terminal at London Heathrow.   This means that customers with flights departing from the satellite terminal will be able to go directly to T5B after they have passed through ticket presentation and security.
If you are travelling in BA First, Club World or Club Europe cabins or are Gold or Silver members of the British Airways Executive Club, you will be able to enjoy the Galleries Club facilities, which include the Silver Bar, the Silver Island Bar, Wine Gallery, Work and Entertainment Zones, Elemis Travel Spa, Shower Suite and Kids Zone.
Customers travelling in First will continue to be able to enjoy the Concorde Room, and Gold Executive Club members will continue to use the Galleries First lounge. Both are located in Terminal 5A southern Galleries lounge pavilion.
However, customers flying from T5B should ensure that they allow sufficient time to make their way to their boarding gate. We recommend that this should be a minimum of 30 minutes before departure to reach the boarding gate no later than 20 minutes before departure.
In addition to the opening of the lounge, BA has created a dedicated Check-in zone with 16 Check-in Kiosks and 16 Fast Bag Drops desks for customers flying in Club World, Club Europe and Silver members of the Executive Club travelling through Terminal 5. All customers will continue to be able to check in online at ba.com before arriving at the airport, and we recommend this as the easiest and quickest option for checking in.
Fast Track lanes for ticket presentation and security in the Flight Connections area have also been introduced to help make transferring through Terminal 5 even easier and quicker. Fast Track is available for customers travelling in First, Club World and Club Europe, as well as Gold and Silver Executive Club members.
A small number of BA flights will remain in Terminal 4 until 21 October 2008, before moving to Terminal 5. These are: Boston, Calgary, Chennai, Delhi, Denver, Dhaka, Dubai, Islamabad, Kolkata, Montreal, Seattle, Shanghai.
In addition, flights to Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney will continue to operate from Terminal 4 until further notice.
Customers who are flying from Terminal 4 from 17 September and are entitled to use BA lounge facilities will be able to enjoy the comfort of the Gate 1 lounge. Facilities include: Pre-flight dining for First customers travelling on flights departing on or after 2000hrs, Chefs Theatre and Larder, Combiz business areas, World Wine Bar, Cappuccino Bar, Shower suite, Washrooms and Toy Box.
Visit batraveltrade.com for further information.

EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD

The Department of Health is urging all British travellers going to Europe this month to check the expiry date of their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), as millions have already expired.
Currently 28 million Britons have an EHIC, however three million expire between September 2008 and March 2009. By the end of October, nearly 1.5 million EHICs will have expired.
Anyone travelling with an out-of-date EHIC is putting themselves at risk when travelling in Europe as they will not be covered for basic medical care.
The EHIC, which replaced the E111 form three years ago, entitles travellers to reduced cost or free state-provided healthcare in most European countries if they fall ill or have an accident whilst abroad, but only if it is in date.
Recent research by the Department of Health worryingly revealed that over 52% of Brits were not even aware that the EHIC has a shelf life. Paul Siddell, Overseas Healthcare Programme Manager at the Department of Health says: “Many Brits are putting themselves at unnecessary risk by not checking their EHIC expiry date. If you’re travelling in Europe it’s vital that you carry an EHIC, as well as comprehensive travel insurance. If travellers find that EHIC’s are out-of-date, it is very easy to renew them online or over the phone and they will be delivered within ten days. Card holders can renew up to six months in advance of expiry so we are urging people to check their EHICs now.”
To renew or obtain an EHIC, log on to www.nhs.uk/healthcareabroad or call 0845 606 2030.
For further information call the EHIC enquiries line on 0845 605 0707.

EUROSTAR TIMETABLE 01 October - 07 March 09

After the problems affecting the Channel Tunnel, another section of the tunnel has now been reopened for use by Eurostar, and a near-normal services is now running. Eurostar have released a timetable operating between 01 October and 07 March 2009:
Timetables (pdf 228kB)

BRITISH AIRWAYS BAGGAGE POLICY CHANGES

Key changes for Excess Baggage charge
Excess baggage charges have increased by 20% when paid for at the airport.
Customers receive a 20% discount when they pre-pay online prior to check-in.
New Online Excess Baggage rates are:

UK domestic flights	ONLINE EXCESS BAGGAGE rates		EXCESS BAGGAGE PAID AT AIRPORT
	previously	from 01 September 08	previously	from 01 September 08
	£ 16	£ 20	£ 20	£ 25
All other short-haul	£ 24	£ 28	£ 30	£ 35
Long haul	£ 60	£ 72	£ 75	£ 90

The maximum excess baggage allowance per customer is 10 bags; this came into effect from 01 September 2008. Customers should use the British Airways cargo facilities if they exceed their excess baggage allowance.

Key changes for Heavy Bag charge
British Airways passengers who check in bags that exceed their piece allowance (23kg per piece) will be charged a flat rate of £ 25 per bag from 26 November 2008.
The Heavy Bag charge can only be paid at the airport.
No bag weighing over 32kg will be accepted for carriage.

Details on British Airways website

NEW VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR CHINA

Requirements when applying for a BUSINESS VISA:

• Application form (pdf 438KB)
• 1 x passport-size photo
• copy of Confirmed Travel (passenger must be named on this)
• copy of Confirmed Accommodation (passenger must be named on this)
• official invitiation letter from the Chinese Government (see example)

Requirements for a TOURIST visa are the same as above, but invitation letter is not required.

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM FOR TRAVEL AUTHORISATION (ESTA) TO THE USA mandatory from 12 January 2009

New US Regulations
UK travellers planning to visit the United States under the visa waiver scheme must ensure they comply with new U.S Customs regulations in advance of their travel.
From 12 January 2009, airlines are required to comply with the mandatory Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA), introduced by the U.S. government for all customers flying into the United States under the Visa Waiver scheme.
Applying for ETA online
The USA government will enforce changes to its visa-waiver programme meaning travellers will be required to apply for authorisation to travel under the scheme before arriving at the airport.
The changes, which came into effect in August 2008 on a voluntary basis, will become mandatory from 12 January 2009 and will affect all passport holders from 34 countries currently participating in the visa-waiver scheme, including UK passport holders.
Travellers will be required to obtain authorisation (known as ESTA) before arriving at the airport and can apply online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov
The application process may take up to approximately 15-20 minutes and authorisation is normally granted immediately but may take up to 72 hours. We recommend that you apply for authorisation at the time of booking or at least 72 hours before your flight, to ensure that you are able to travel. This therefore applies from 9th January, for arrivals from 12th January onwards.
Once granted, authorisation is valid for two years. Travellers do not need to have firm plans to travel to apply for authorisation.
This requirement for approved authorisation is in addition to the requirement for all customers to submit APIS data.
Until further notice, travellers will still need to complete the green I-94W non-immigrant visa waiver form onboard their flight.
Travellers with a resident permit ‘green card’ or travelling on a visa will not need to apply for authorisation as they are not travelling under the visa-waiver programme.
For more information, go to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov, or www.visitusa.org.uk

From: British Airways

TERMINAL 5

Which terminal do I depart from?
Latest information from British Airways

Heathrow Terminal 5 Information (pdf 1.3 MB)
Lounges (pdf 2.9MB)

Tube access: the frequency of trains on the Heathrow branch of the Piccadilly line remains unchanged, with services from Hatton Cross to Heathrow split.
Alternate trains run either to Terminal 4 (around the loop and back to Central London via Terminal 123), or direct to Terminal 123 and
Terminal 5.

 

 

 

IMMIGRATION CHECKS FOR JAPAN

From 20 November 2007, all foreigners entering Japan are fingerprinted and photographed at immigration. Download official poster (pdf).
Japan's Ministry of Justice produced an information video (5 ½ mins) before the checks were introduced, which shows the procedure and the equipment used.

BRITISH AIRWAYS AND VIRGIN ATLANTIC PASSENGER REFUNDS

As you will be aware, a class action has been brought in the US relating to surcharges on airline tickets. Both BA and Virgin have admitted to participating in unlawful fixing of the "fuel surcharge" that was added to base ticket prices.
Eligibility
Consumers and businesses may be entitled to a fuel surcharge refund of up to £20 per passenger per return flight if they bought a ticket in the UK on BA or Virgin between 11 August 2004 and 23 March 2006 for a long-haul flight (over 7 hours) from the UK.
List of applicable British Airways flights - download pdf
All Virgin Atlantic flights qualify, as they are all long-haul.
Timescale
Information and application forms are available now, on the website https://www.airpassengerrefund.co.uk.
The cutoff date for applications to be submitted is 31 December 2012.
Method
Individual travellers can submit an application directly through https://www.airpassengerrefund.co.uk.
Alternatively, corporate clients of JTB UK can request JTB to handle the procedure for the company as a whole. A handling fee will be charged.
Data from JTB UK
JTB Corporate customers who are on JTB UK's "Online Management Reporting" system can get information on the passengers who may qualify by using the system on this website, or ask JTB for a report.