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INSPIRATION • November 2022

The joy of solo travel

Thinking about exploring your next destination alone? Companion Vouchers now provide a discount on solo travel and, to celebrate, we’ve asked friends of The Club to share their singleton stories of adventure

The Lake District, Chile Says who? Jamie Lafferty , travel writer and photographer ( National Geographic Traveller , New York Times and other titles) So far as hard deadlines go, a total solar eclipse is as inflexible as they come. You must stand in a very particular spot at a very precise time or miss the shadow of the moon altogether. In December 2020, I was hoping to see the one passing over Chile’s Lake District. After near endless difficulties getting there with closed borders and cancelled buses, the day of the eclipse passed as much of the rest of the year had, which is to say unpredictably and alone.

It started in the pouring rain and, for a long time, it looked as if something as boring as cloud cover would end my chances. Except, unlike so much else in 2020, it turned out perfectly, the clouds parting at exactly the right moment to reveal the transcendental sight of two celestial bodies dancing in space. I wasn’t sharing the experience, but I wouldn’t be forgetting it, either.

Viñales , Cuba Says who? Georgina Lawton , author of Black Girls Take World Havana, Cuba, was eclectic salsa, pastel-coloured apartments and air so thick you could taste it. From Havana, I hitchhiked to Viñales, cigar country of rolling hills and verdant valleys. I was 24 and travelling solo. On a side street I was picked up by a car of Cubans. Our engine hissed like a cantankerous cat along the deserted roads.

By chance, a police vehicle pulled us over. “Todos Cubanos?” Yes, all Cuban, the driver insisted. But my Lonely Planet Havana book poked from my backpack beside pink bikinis. “Tourist!” the policeman shouted. We were carted to Viñales police station, the driver eventually let off with a warning, the passengers freed. Someone explained that hitchhiking was encouraged between Cubans, not tourists. I didn’t know. The driver thought I’d pass as a Cubana, with my dark skin and curly hair. Cuba was full of unexpected customs, a constant whirlwind.

Arizona, USA Says who? Hannah Ralph , travel writer and The Club  magazine editor I know two kinds of taxi drivers. One, importantly, is a woman and she spends our short journey across Grand Cayman fixated on me in a maternal distress. The second speeds us toward the ruinous embrace of the Acropolis, asking, incessantly, why I have come to Athens alone. The former was worried I was being trafficked. The latter, we can but assume, was wondering if I could be.

As a baby-faced female, I face some unique tribulations as a solo traveller – and yet I’m convinced it’s the reason I feel grown up at all. I wear ‘Table for one?’ like a badge of honour, some great proof of my capability to exist. Hurtling down Arizona’s Route 89, the Red Rocks of Sedona surrounding my rental car, I blare music I don’t worry someone else isn’t enjoying. As my hot air balloon climbs the desert sky, I smile knowing I can do the most romantic thing, all by myself.

The Maldives Says who? Ed Grenby,   award-winning writer and former editor of The Sunday Times Travel Magazine “Ah, I see, Sir. Shall I… remove the rose petals from the bed then?” “Not bothered, mate. Just make sure you leave both pillow chocolates each night.” Travelling solo is even sweeter in the places where those smug couple types least expect it. So, in February 2020, with lockdown looming, I made a by-myself break for the world HQ of honeymoons: the Maldives.

Last time, I’d taken the long-term girlfriend, and we’d bickered over everything (even which of us got which masseuse in our ‘romantic couples’ spa ritual). This time, though, it was just me, my every whim and complimentary Champagne. Raise a glass – hell, raise two, since housekeeping has left them – to the one-ymoon.

Marseille, France Says who? Madévi Dailly , travel writer and food editor for Mr & Mrs Smith In times of turmoil, I turn to the purifying powers of the Mediterranean. This is how I found myself in Marseille one hot single summer, my heart heavy and confused, craving the anonymity of a city I barely knew. And what a city it is – brash and boisterous, sun-drenched and loud, oddly welcoming.

I got lost in the warren of narrow streets twisting around the old port, seeking out simple pleasures I could savour with the full greed of a solo traveller: long trawls through hip boutiques, flirtatious chats with waiters, cold sorbets for parched days. A day trip took me to the Calanques, a protected stretch of velvety sea and limestone-carved bays. Dolphins followed the boat for a while, jumping in and out of the water. Here it is, they seemed to say: happiness, so easy to grasp, if you’d only just reach for it.

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This article has been tagged Adventure , Destination

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British Airways Travel Together Ticket Now Valid for Solo Travel

Daniel Ross

Senior Content Contributor

665 Published Articles 1 Edited Article

Countries Visited: 56 U.S. States Visited: 17

Table of Contents

Travel together ticket offers 50% discount on 1 ticket, how do i get a travel together ticket, where can i fly using the travel together ticket, final thoughts.

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Traveling alone just got more appealing for British Airways frequent flyers.

The airline has changed the rules of its Travel Together Ticket, opening it up to solo travelers.

Let’s take a look at what the rule change means.

The Travel Together Ticket , a benefit of the British Airways Visa Signature ® Card that was already often pitted as one of the most valuable perks in the points and miles world, just got even more valuable for some.

Owners of a coveted Travel Together Ticket will now be able to use it when traveling solo. In addition to the option of being able to bring a travel companion with you when making a redemption, you’ll now be able to get 50% of the price of 1 redemption ticket when traveling solo.

Firstly, you’ll need a British Airways Visa card in your wallet.

Secondly, you’ll need to spend a cool $30,000 in a year to unlock the ticket.

Reminder: No matter how good the perks of a credit card may seem, they’re never worth getting into debt for. Make sure to do the math before agreeing to take out a new credit card.

However, the card’s annual fee is on the low side at $95 and comes with a host of other benefits, including:

• Limited time offer! Earn 85,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
• Earn 3x Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia, and LEVEL
• 10% off British Airways flights starting in the U.S.
• No foreign transaction fees

We detail many more perks of the card in our review of the British Airways Visa card .

As long as the trip starts and ends in the U.S ., on a British Airways-operated flight, the Travel Together Ticket can be used to travel to London or even onwards to all destinations on BA’s network.

As British Airways operates no less than 26 routes from the U.S. to London , no matter where you are in the country, it should be easy enough to find a British Airways flight departing from somewhere close to you.

Let’s take a look at an example.

When using a Travel Together Ticket on a solo basis, a return flight from New York to London in business class with British Airways costs 50,000 Avios (halved from 100,000 Avios) + £1,575 (~$1,903) in taxes and fees.

Per our  points and miles valuations , the 50,000 Avios contingent has a cash equivalent of around $625. When you add BA’s absurdly high taxes and fees, the true cash value of the ticket comes to around $2,582.

Hot Tip: Before making any award ticket redemption, we always advise running the numbers first to ensure you’re getting true value in cash terms.

The cash fare for the exact same flights is $7,361, meaning if you booked using your Travel Together Ticket as a solo traveler, you would save almost $5,000!

The experience of flying British Airways business class across the Atlantic can vary drastically depending on the aircraft. Some are kitted out with the airline’s old Club World seat, while other comprise the airline’s latest, and far superior, business class: Club Suite .

British Airways has opened up a whole new world of travel possibilities for owners of the Travel Together Ticket who would prefer to use the perk as a solo traveler.

Where will your Travel Together Ticket take you?

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About Daniel Ross

Daniel has loved aviation and travel his entire life. He earned a Master of Science in Air Transport Management and has written about travel and aviation in publications like Simple Flying, The Points Guy, and more.

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British Airways Companion Award eVoucher Now Applies to Solo Travellers

There has been a recent change to the British Airways Companion Award eVoucher, which is earned as a benefit on the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card upon spending $30,000 (CAD) in a calendar year.

Previously, the voucher was only applicable to British Airways Executive Club redemptions made for at least two passengers; however, as found buried in the card’s terms and conditions, any vouchers earned as of July 4, 2023 may now also be used for individuals.

The British Airways Companion Award eVoucher is a benefit offered on the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card . As a reminder, cardholders earn a voucher after spending $30,000 (CAD) on the card in a calendar year.

Previously, the Companion Award eVoucher could only be used to cover the cost in Avios of a second passenger’s ticket. 

For example, if it costs 160,000 Avios to fly round-trip in business class between Toronto and London for one passenger, the Companion Award eVoucher would keep the cost at 160,000 Avios for two passengers.

In total, you’d pay 160,000 Avios for two passengers with the eVoucher applied; however, you’d still need to pay the full amount of taxes, fees, and surcharges for both passengers, which is around $700 (CAD) per person.

Historically, you could only use the Companion Award eVoucher when travelling as a duo, which meant that you’d have to find award availability for two passengers on the same flight. Depending on the routing, this could be challenging, although it’s worth noting British Airways consistently releases multiple award seats on all flights.

However, as of July 4, 2023, any British Airways Companion Award eVouchers earned on the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card may also be used for individual travellers . If you choose to redeem the voucher this way, the cost in Avios is reduced by 50%, which could be worthwhile in some situations, as we’ll explore below.

In a sense, using an eVoucher this way is similar to using an Aeroplan Priority Reward , in that the total cost in points is reduced by 50%. However, British Airways Companion Award eVouchers can apply to any class of service, regardless of your level of elite status.

(Unfortunately, British Airways doesn’t currently offer its First Class cabin on any Canadian routes, so you won’t be able to use it for this). 

It’s worth noting that Companion Award eVouchers have been applicable to solo travellers in the US and the UK already – this recent change is uniquely relevant to the Canadian market.

This update could benefit travellers who value direct flights and fly between London and Canada frequently on British Airways. However, given the hefty spending requirement to have one added to your account in the first place, it’s likely not worth going out of your way to acquire one.

Save 50% on British Airways Flight Redemptions

Let’s take a look at a few examples to illustrate the value that the eVoucher can offer.

(The prices shown in the below examples don’t have a Companion Award eVoucher applied, so just divide the number in half to calculate the cost with an eVoucher applied). 

Since British Airways Executive Club uses distance-based pricing for redemptions, you’ll pay more in Avios as you travel greater distances.

For example, a flight between Vancouver and London in business class typically costs 90,000 Avios. However, if you were to apply the Companion Award eVoucher, it would cost you just 45,000 Avios  for the same flight or 90,000 Avios round-trip, although you’d still be on the hook for the full amount of taxes and fees.

If you wish, you could also tack on flights to another destination within Europe or beyond. For example, connecting onwards from London to Warsaw would cost just 55,000 Avios in business class after applying the Companion Award eVoucher, since the regular cost is 110,000 Avios.

Perhaps a more interesting example is using the eVoucher on longer itineraries, such as flying from Vancouver to Johannesburg via London with British Airways.

While a one-way flight in business class would normally cost a whopping 180,000 Avios, by using an eVoucher, the cost is reduced to just 90,000 Avios, which isn’t bad for flying 10,000+ miles in business class.

On the other hand, flying from Vancouver to Johannesburg via London in economy will cost just 30,000 Avios  with the voucher applied, which is 50% of the usual 60,000 Avios this route would cost.

Indeed, you’ll get more value out of the Companion Award eVoucher as you spend more Avios to begin with. Following that, the most interesting applications of the eVoucher generally lie in premium long-haul cabins.

How to Earn & Redeem British Airways Companion Award eVouchers

One British Airways Companion Award eVoucher per year is available to all primary cardholders of the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card . The voucher is deposited into your Executive Club account upon spending at least $30,000 (CAD) on the card during a calendar year.

It may take up to eight weeks for the voucher to appear your British Airways Executive Club account. Typically, you’ll receive an email notifying you of its arrival, and from then, you’ll have 24 months from the date of issuance to use it.

Keep in mind that while you’ll enjoy a 50% discount in the number of Avios required for a redemption, you still need to pay for all of the surcharges, which can be hefty when you fly on British Airways, even if you don’t depart from London.

For example, it’s not uncommon to see the total cost of around $900 (CAD) for round-trip flights from Canada to Europe in business class. You can also expect to pay around $600 (CAD) in taxes, fees, and surcharges on an economy booking, which won’t necessarily result in outsized value over paying cash for an economy ticket instead.

Even for a one-way flight, you’re looking at $450 (CAD) departing from Canada, and even more if you’re leaving from the United Kingdom, thanks to the Air Passenger Duty (APD) .

It’s important to note that the primary cardholder must travel on the flight to which the eVoucher is applied. This means you may not use the voucher to secure a discount for someone else.

As before, Companion Award eVouchers earned in Canada can only be redeemed for flights that originate in Canada. This means that you wouldn’t be able to use one for flights that depart from the United States, for example.

Interestingly, on the British Airways website , it’s listed that Companion Award eVouchers may only be used for flights with British Airways. However, the terms and conditions for the voucher on the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card state that it may be used on a wider range of airlines:

The Companion Voucher may be used for flights operated by British Airways and its subsidiaries EuroFlyer and CityFlyer; Iberia and its subsidiary, Iberia Express and its franchise partner, Air Nostrum; Aer Lingus and its subsidiary, Aer Lingus U.K. and its franchise partner, Emerald Airlines.

In Canada, this would really only apply to Aer Lingus, since Iberia doesn’t currently operate flights to any Canadian cities. However, while you could wind up saving Avios, you’ll still get stung by taxes, fees, and surcharges on Aer Lingus flights, too.

If you have an eVoucher in your account, you should be able to select it from the menu on the main British Airways Executive Club search page. Once the search results load, the prices should reflect the 50% discount.

As of July 4, 2023, any British Airways Companion Award eVouchers earned on the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card may be used for solo travellers, as well as pairs. This change first debuted in the UK and the US versions of the eVoucher, and it’s now available in the Canadian market.

Given the high spending threshold required to earn the voucher, shifting $30,000 (CAD) worth of spend each year onto the RBC British Airways Visa Infinite Card each year just for this perk likely isn’t a worthwhile exercise for most travellers.

However, if you prioritize direct flights between Canada and London, or prefer flying with British Airways to its other destinations, this change is positive, and could be worth pursuing.

• Earn 80,000 MR points upon spending $15,000 in the first three months
• Plus, earn  40,000 MR points  upon making a purchase in months 14–17 as a cardholder
• And, earn 1.25x MR points on all purchases
• Also, receive a $200 annual travel credit
• Transfer MR points to Aeroplan and other frequent flyer programs for premium flights
• Unlimited airport lounge access for you and one guest at Priority Pass, Plaza Premium, Centurion, and other lounges
• Credits and rebates for business expenses throughout the year with Amex Offers
• Bonus MR points for referring family and friends
• Qualify for the card as a sole proprietor
• Annual fee: $799

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British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: Is it Worth It?

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 19/03/2024

In 2017 I flew premium economy with Qantas Sydney to Hong Kong return. It was a fantastic experience.

In fact, it was so good it made me question if I could really justify the extra amount to fly business class if it wasn’t an Australia – Europe/US flight.

So when was looking at flying from London to New York – and then Los Angeles to London return – I thought I would give British Airways World Traveller Plus a shot. Which I did back in 2018 and I recently flew with British Airways World Traveller Plus post-Covid in 2022.

I’m going to kick off with an update from 2022 when I flew from Portland to London Heathrow with British Airways in premium economy. My older review involved flying out of London Heathrow so it has quite a bit of information on checking in at Heathrow etc.

⇒ Click here for Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus 2022 update

After a long break flying with British Airways in World Traveller Plus I signed up again to try them out in July of 2022. I was flying from London to Washington DC, and then home to London out of Portland. I received an offer that was too good to refuse to upgrade to business class on the flight from Heathrow to Washington DC. This review update covers the Portland to London Heathrow leg in premium economy.

I somehow managed to end up on British Airways’s first (not sure if this is the first ever flight but it was certainly the first for a while) direct flight out of Portland to Heathrow. Everyone was in a great mood and there was even cake and sandwiches at the boarding gate for everyone!

As such, we had a very nice new 787 that I believe was a Dreamliner. Few things make me happier than realizing that I am on a relatively new plane as it always means a huge improvement in the premium economy experience.

When I mentioned to the crew that Virgin Atlantic offers its premium economy passengers prosecco the attendant even went and got me a glass of champagne from business class! As I said, all were in a joyous mood.

To be honest, not a lot has changed since the last time I flew World Traveller Plus with British Airways. The 787 I was on had only three rows of premium economy seats. I quite liked this as it normally means faster service and I feel more of a sense of space when the area is smaller. The seat layout was 2-3-2.

I had booked in my window seat when I booked the flight as I always do on overnight flights (I find it worth it to pay a bit extra at booking to achieve this).

One thing that has improved is the quality of the headphones in premium economy which are now noise cancelling. Also, the quality of the food on offer has improved. I enjoyed a very nice steak.

The Dreamliner 787 also has new touch-operated window screens and better cabin pressurization. If you are able to choose your flight and can see the different planes available, I suggest checking to find the Dreamliner 787 option for world traveller plus as it is definitely a step above premium economy on some of BA’s other planes.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review (2017): Online Check-In

Unfortunately, things with British Airways World Traveler plus did not get off to a good start. Two days before my flight I went on to the British Airways app and was able to reserve one of the aisles British Airways Premium Economy seats – great.

The next day, when I went to actually check in online I was told that my passport number was wrong and that I wasn’t able to check in.

I then had issues with my uber so only arrived at the airport 90 minutes before my British Airways flight.

British Airways Premium Economy: Bag Drop and issues arise

I went and used the check-in machine for my premium economy British Airways flight and my seat had changed to a window – which was good news for me. Then I went to the desk for bag drop.

When the attendant is on the phone for some time when all you do is drop your bag, it is not a good sign. I was told by the attendant that I had been “sneaky” taking the window seat.

I was quite annoyed by this and asked how could I be sneaky when the app had done this for me. I was then told that they had overbooked business class and that seat had been meant for someone who was being downgraded to premium economy on British Airways – which meant they now wanted to move me to British Airways economy class.

I was so annoyed. It really makes me furious when airlines do this. Or should I say when British Airways do this as they are the only airline that has tried to bump me from flights several times due to overbooking.

In what other industry would an organization take your money ahead of time and then when you turned up to experience that service be told that you couldn’t as they had overbooked – and that apparently this was fine?

It is a major problem as a solo traveler as we are at the top of the list when it comes to who gets bumped first when it comes to air travel.

A British Airways staff member once told me that the safest people were those also flying with British Airways from a connecting airport eg Manchester to London and then on to say NY, followed by groups, followed by families and then by couples.

Only the male solo traveler is worse off than the female solo traveler. My annoyance was greater as I had injured my ankle in Nepal earlier that year and absolutely could not have sat in an economy seat for several hours without problems.

Luckily I had a letter from my doctor with me (I had it in case my ankle got worse and I needed medical treatment) so I was able to produce this and say I had to stay in British Air premium economy.

I ended up in British Airways Economy Plus but not without quite a bit of undue stress and frustration. This experience alone has been enough to really put me off flying with British Airways.

I do find it outrageous that you can be potentially bumped like this – and that the staff always seem to act like this is of no consequence and why are you getting upset? OK rant over!

British Airways Premium Economy Review: Getting to the Gate

Anyway, the flight was then at Gate A10 at Terminal 5, which means a very long bus trip. I thought we were driving to New York.

BA World Traveller Plus also means no lounge access and no priority seating.

British Airways World Traveller Plus Review: The plane and the seats

The British Airways World Traveller Plus 777 plane was a little old and compared to Qantas it felt a lot less spacious. The seat layout was 4 in the middle and 2 on each side.

I was on the side thank goodness. I would have been very unhappy to have paid for premium economy and to have had one of the extreme middle seats.

I often wonder who ends up in these seats – are they the people that don’t make sure they do early online check-in? Or maybe they are more tolerant than me.

BA World Traveller Plus Review: In-flight amenities

British Airways Premium Economy 747 has good quality headphones which were nice. The British Airways premium economy product also does have a very good in-flight entertainment system.

The British Airways Premium Economy in-flight amenity kit was not bad – socks, eye mask, earplugs, toothbrush and a pen. Great idea to have a pen as everyone needs one on a flight.

There is a lot of legroom and the seats are comfortable on the British Airways 787 Premium Economy flight. I was also pleased to see that there were 2 USB ports in the seat ahead and then 2 power points between the seats.

The food was a big positive for this World Traveller plus review 777 writer. It did feel like an upgrade from economy. We were also offered a lovely glass of sparkling wine before take-off.

Premium Economy British Airways Review: Some Positives

One of my favourite features of British Airways premium economy 777 is that they have a very useful brochure which explains all the features and benefits of the world traveler plus seat – this is such a good idea.

Every premium economy and business class seat is different and you don’t want to miss out when good features can be used.

There was also a good-sized storage locker next to the window which was handy – another reason trying to get the window seat is one of my top tips.

World Traveller vs World Traveller Plus

In March 2018 British Airways made major upgrades to its World Traveller and British Airways Premium Economy 777 cabins at Gatwick on their Boeing 777s.

Both cabins have had their entertainment screens increased by 50% in size. I’m looking forward to checking out the new six-way headrest.

Interestingly these new planes will feature a considerable increase in the number of World Traveller Plus seats – coming from a reduction in Club World. Premium Economy is on the rise.

So what about the rest of the fleet? World Traveller Plus is a major improvement on World Traveller, which doesn’t offer the best seats. Also, there are few opportunities to upgrade within World Traveller – apart from the exit rows.

If you have a long flight or an overnight flight I think the upgrade cost is absolutely worth it.

Upgrading to British Airways Club World

Theoretically, being in BA World Traveller Plus means it is easier/more likely that you can be upgraded to Club World. BA does offer paid opportunities for upgrades but not all the time – and not necessarily at the best prices.

The best way to check if this is an option for your flight is to visit the Manage My Booking page. The price generally varies between 400 and 700 GBPs.

For frequent flyers, Avios points are a good option for upgrading – or combining Avios points with payment. It is not normally the best use of Avios to upgrade (they tend to be their most effective for less-visited longer trips in economy class in my experience) but it is a good option.

Finally, if you are a frequent flyer and flying World Traveller Plus there is a greater opportunity for an upgrade. This will most likely happen when World Traveller Plus has been booked out and business class has seats.

British Airways Premium Economy: The Verdict

Overall, the seat itself is the key difference between world traveller and world traveller plus on British Airways.

On Qantas and other airlines, there does feel like there is more of a difference between the two cabins – particularly when it comes to service.

I was flying with British Airways when they were having extensive problems as an airline so it could not have been fun to be working for them at that time.

However, I am paying the extra and in my view, I do expect a slightly better service. I would hesitate to take British Airways Premium Economy again – mostly driven by nearly being downgraded to economy.

I don’t want to have to worry about this when I am headed to Heathrow. I, of course, would fly with them if there was a good enough deal, but they have certainly moved down my list after this experience.

Here is BA’s full rundown on their premium economy offer and The Telegraph’s Comparisons of Premium Economy Offers including British Airways Premium Economy Reviews

⇒ Prices and Deals on British Airways

British Airways World Traveller Plus Frequently Asked Questions

What class is world traveller plus on ba.

World traveller plus on British Airways is premium economy. This is a class between economy and business class.

Do you get lounge access with British Airways World Traveller Plus?

No, you do not get lounge access with a British Airways World Traveller Plus ticket.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get priority boarding?

Yes, World Traveller Plus travelers on British Airways get priority boarding and check-in.

Does World Traveller Plus on British Airways get to use the fast track queue for security?

No, World Traveller Plus customers on British Airways do not get to use the fast track queue for security.

How wide are the World Traveller Plus British Airways seats?

The seats in British Airways World Traveller Plus generally have a 38 inch pitch and are 18.5 inches wide. The seats are 1 inch wider than economy and the pitch is 7 inches greater than economy.

Booking Flights:

I use Skyscanner for all my flights – from economy through to business – click here to Check out SkyScanner 

Boutique Hotels in London

Artist Residence is located in Pimlico which is fabulously central. It is in a gorgeous 5 store regency building and has a cute bar.

⇒ Read reviews on TripAdvisor ⇒ Book Now

The Portobello Hotel is located in one of London’s best known and cutest neighbourhoods Notting Hill. This is also the hotel where Kate Moss and Johnny Depp filled up the bath with champagne.

The hotel is located on a quiet street but is a great location.

The Great Northern Hotel is ridiculously close to Kings Cross and St Pancras stations which is incredibly convenient. The hotel dates back to 1854 but has had a major refurb so it feels fresh and modern.

The Hoxton hotel is in the heart of East London in Shoreditch and is a perfect base for exploration. The rooms aren’t huge but the location makes up for it – as does the great value for London with rooms starting at £99 a night.

Who Paid for What in this British Airways World Traveller Plus Post

I covered the cost of my flights on British Airways Premium Economy. This post on British Airways world traveller plus contains affiliate links. That means if you click on them and end up making a purchase on that website I will receive a small commission. I wanted to make sure you were aware of this.

READ NEXT: American Airlines PREMIUM ECONOMY REVIEW

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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Journeying John

Sunday 5th of March 2023

Glad your food was ok and an upgrade but I have to reportthe reverse, bith in and oit of India, there was no choice and what was actually served was worse than mkat carriers economy meals. As for BA's IT systems and contempt for customers who habe paid for a service they don't recieve. Your experience is far from unique and I wonder if you would ever have got any form of compensation had you not had the ankle injury. BA or the UK brand of IAG are #BestAvoided today.

Amanda OBrien

Wednesday 15th of March 2023

I doubt it on the compensation front John! Luckily BA seems to be getting better but I am still nervous about being kicked off flights when I am travelling solo

Jean-Pierre

Tuesday 21st of February 2023

Interesting you had problems with entering your passport information when checking-in. This has happened twice to me using the BA website. The two occasions have been years apart so BA have not fixed their website.

I eventually found a telephone number to call for website support and after about 40 minutes the agent was able to get my passport info to take. It was very frustrating, especially after paying for the upgrade to World Traveler Plus, the taking more money part of their website works very well.

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Now more valuable than ever: How to maximize the British Airways Travel Together Ticket

Editor's Note

Airline credit cards typically offer standard benefits, like bonus miles on airfare purchases, free checked bags and priority boarding. But one of the most valuable perks any airline credit card can offer is a companion ticket that can cut your cost of travel in half.

Thanks to its high welcome bonuses, earning structure and airfare discounts , the British Airways Visa Signature Card has long been considered one of the best credit cards from a foreign airline offered in the U.S., especially when you consider British Airways' extensive U.S. route network. But it also comes with one of the most interesting companion travel benefits: the Travel Together Ticket.

The rules around redeeming this perk have recently been improved, and it is now easier to use and more valuable than ever.

Here are the details on this companion deal and how to maximize it.

How to earn the British Airways Travel Together Ticket

U.S.-based British Airways Visa Signature Card cardholders who spend $30,000 on their card in a calendar year can earn a Travel Together Ticket (posted within 4-6 weeks). The voucher is valid for outbound travel up to 24 months from the issue date (the return flight can be after that).

The British Airways Visa Signature Card offers 85,000 Avios after spending $5,000 in the first three months and exclusive offers when flying the carrier, such as a 10% discount on British Airways flights originating in the U.S., up to $600 in statement credits for award flight taxes and fees every year and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. The annual fee is $95.

Only the main cardholder with a registered address in the U.S. is eligible to earn the Travel Together Ticket; additional cardholders are not. Only one voucher can be earned each calendar year, even if the cardholder spends more than $30,000 on the card.

Rules for redeeming The Travel Together Ticket

The Travel Together Ticket comes with several conditions worth considering when it comes time to redeem it , some of which are positive and some negative.

Previously, these vouchers could only be applied to award bookings using British Airways Avios and on British Airways-operated flights . However, this rule has recently been relaxed, so they can now be redeemed on flights operated by Aer Lingus and Iberia, though note you must still book your flight(s) through British Airways Executive Club.

The Travel Together Ticket differs from other companion tickets, which are more like a two-for-one paid deal. In this case, you're getting a two-for-one award redemption but are still responsible for the taxes and other carrier-imposed charges on your ticket (which can be substantial). This also means you've got to find two awards open on the same itinerary in the same cabin. If you wish to travel in first class, two award seats on the same flight can be tough to come by.

For solo travel, you can redeem it for 50% of the Avios required for one passenger, which is a handy perk if you would rather travel alone and save Avios.

Previously, the voucher could only be used on round-trip itineraries originating in the United States. However, this rule has also recently been relaxed, so voucher holders can now commence their itinerary anywhere in the world that British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus operates from (provided there is Avios availability).

Your companion must be booked in the same cabin on your itinerary (unless you redeem it for solo travel). So if you book a business-class award for yourself, you must find a second one for your companion on the same itinerary. Stopovers are allowed.

Though the terms are not explicit, you should plan to have your card open and in good standing at the time your want to use your Travel Together Ticket.

Related: How to avoid fuel surcharges on award travel

When it makes sense to redeem the Travel Together Ticket

Now we come to the real question: Is it worth using the Travel Together Ticket? The answer depends on how you plan to redeem it.

British Airways awards are notorious for high taxes and surcharges on flights through London. While this generally makes economy awards a bad value, it can still be worth paying less than $2,000 per person to fly in business or first class as part of an award ticket compared to shelling out the cash fare, which will be many thousands of dollars, especially with premium fares across the Atlantic as high as they currently are.

BA introduced a new option in 2022 called Reward Flight Saver to use more Avios to reduce the cost of the taxes and surcharges on Avios redemptions.

British Airways award availability between the U.S. and Europe tends to be much better than what U.S. and other European carriers make available. So if you want to book an award, your chances of finding it are good.

The other key benefit is that British Airways has retained an award chart, so you can be confident of how many Avios you will need on any day — no 400,000 points per flight pricing with this program.

Related: Dynamic pricing vs. fuel surcharges — which is the lesser of two evils for your next redemption?

Now, let's take four scenarios and compare the cost of using the Travel Together Ticket compared to purchasing airfare to determine whether this is a good deal.

To make things simpler, we'll look at a single route from Atlanta (ATL) to London Heathrow (LHR) over a single set of dates in November since award availability was open across all four cabins offered by BA on these flights (these are off-peak dates). The taxes and fees are typical examples of what you would expect to pay, both for two people traveling together and solo travelers, given the ticket can also be redeemed for solo travel.

First up, economy. A round-trip award on this itinerary for two people using the lowest surcharge Reward Flight Saver option would cost 120,000 Avios plus 300 British pounds ($393) in taxes/fees.

If you were using this as a Travel Together Ticket, you'd still be paying 60,000 Avios plus $393 for two tickets. This is because you would only be charged the Avios for one passenger but the fees, taxes and surcharges for both. Compare that to the regular economy fare on the same dates of around $1,000 per person for non-stop flights and this would be a great way to use Avios to save hundreds of dollars.

If you are a solo traveler, you can redeem the Travel Together Ticket for 30,000 Avios plus $196 in fees, taxes and surcharges, saving over $800 on the cash fares for the same flight.

Related: A review of British Airways' A350 in economy from London to Dubai

Now for premium economy. Here's a sample award from the same week that would cost 190,000 Avios plus 660 British pounds ($864) for two passengers.

A paid fare on the same dates would be $1,813 per person, so $3,626 for two passengers. With a Travel Together Ticket for two passengers, you would be charged 95,000 Avios plus $864, saving you thousands off the cash ticket.

Solo travelers could redeem 45,000 Avios plus pay $432 in taxes and surcharges, another excellent way to save big on the $1,813 cash fare.

Related: Is British Airways premium economy worth it on the Boeing 777-300ER?

In business class, British Airways will charge 360,000 Avios plus 900 British pounds ($1,179) in taxes and surcharges for two passengers at the Reward Flight Saver rate.

With the 50% reduction in Avios with the Travel Together Ticker, you would still be charged a huge 180,000 Avios plus the full $1,179 co-payment. However, with cash fares on these dates close to $4,000 each roundtrip in business class, you would still save thousands of dollars using the voucher.

For solo travelers, just 90,000 Avios plus under $600 in taxes and fees saves versus $4,000 for a cash ticket is a great deal.

Related: British Airways' Club Suites don't disappoint: On board a retrofitted 777 from London to New York

Reward Flight Savers are not offered in first class, so while you'll only need marginally more Avios than the business class rates above, you must pay the full fees, taxes and surcharges. For two passengers using a Travel Together Ticket this would be 170,000 Avios roundtrip plus an eye-watering 3,263 British pounds ($4,279).

While this would represent a decent saving on the cash fares of almost $6,000 per person, given the thousands of dollars of surcharges you must pay for a first class redemption, using the voucher for business class instead would be a much better deal.

How to earn Avios

If you want to use a Travel Together Ticket but don't have enough British Airways Avios in your Executive Club account, British Airways is a transfer partner of Capital One, Chase Ultimate Rewards , American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy , making Avios one of the easiest currencies to earn .

Points transfer from Chase, Bilt and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses of up to 40%), while Marriott points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you'll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.

The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios:

• American Express® Gold Card : Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Check to see if you're targeted for an up to 125,000-point welcome offer through CardMatch (offer subject to change at any time). Terms apply.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : (see rates and fees ) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : (see rates and fees ) Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve : Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card : Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Bottom line

The British Airways Visa Signature Card 's Travel Together Ticket can save you thousands of dollars on British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus flights from anywhere in the world by allowing two passengers to travel together, in any cabin with award availability and only pay the Avios required for one passenger. The spending requirement to earn the perk is high, though.

Following last years Reward Flight Saver rollout to allow passengers to reduce the notorious BA carrier-imposed surcharges by paying more Avios, this voucher is a valuable credit card perk for economy, premium economy and business class flights. However, the savings are less in first class as the Reward Flight Saver option is not available.

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

It's about to be easier than ever to see Tromsø's Northern Lights this winter

British Airways is launching its first direct route to the remote city in Norway

Luckily, you don't need to spend the next few months trawling the internet for winter holiday ideas and inspiration, because the cold-weather destination of dreams has just become easier than ever to reach. We're talking about Tromsø , the remote city in Norway that's known for being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights – and where British Airways will begin flying directly from the UK from 1st December 2024, just in time for Christmas .

The flights will depart from Heathrow every Thursday and Sunday until 27th March 2025, with return fares available to book now from £153. You'll find packages from British Airways Holidays, too, such as three nights on a room-only basis at the Comfort Hotel Xpress Tromso from £379 per person, travelling in January 2025.

While there are currently direct flights available to Tromsø with some low-cost airlines, like Wizz Air and Norwegian, it's the first time BA will take travellers to the European city.

Located in the far north of Norway, around 350km into the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is a winter wonderland like no other – and BA 's most northernly destination to date. Not only does it give visitors an epic front-row view to the natural light show that is the aurora borealis , but it also boasts abundant snowfall, making it the perfect place for those with a penchant for skiing, mountaineering, husky sledding, reindeer sledging and all manner of winter activities.

You can also go whale-watching, cruise the fjords, discover Sami traditions, sample local delicacies and soak up the magical atmosphere of the Christmas markets. There are some fabulous Tromsø hotels to stay in too, from rustic-chic lodges and luxury glamping spots to glass-fronted cabins for romantic nights under the stars. In short: Tromsø is a winter holiday no brainer, particularly now that British Airways is launching a direct route. It's almost enough to make us wish for winter... Almost.

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Every 90 seconds, a British Airways aircraft takes off from somewhere around the globe. Our pilots take millions of customers to hundreds of amazing international destinations every year, doing it in one of the most modern and fuel-efficient fleets of any airline in the world. Wherever they’re travelling to, our Captains and First Officers take great pride in creating unique experiences for our customers and extending a big British welcome to everyone who flies with us. It’s part of our identity as the nation’s flag carrier, and it’s what makes us different.

Job Description

• Download Job Description

This is a key time to be joining BA Cityflyer as we ‘Build a Better Cityflyer’. We take huge pride in our past – but we’re looking to the future as an airline that loves embracing the best of modern Britain. Our country’s creativity, diversity, style, wit and warmth are the same special qualities that make us who we are. If you’re made of the same qualities as us, you could soon be part of the next chapter of our story.

For BA Cityflyer Captains, the customer always comes first. Your goal will be to provide the very best flight experience bringing our business and leisure customers into the heart of London.

You’ll be expected to work flexibly within a tight-knit team to deliver our dynamic seven-day-a-week operation, flying business, charter, and leisure flights on a varied roster including day trips, night stops and tours.

Operating the Embraer 190 into London City Airport, with its high value and sophisticated customer base, we fly in and out of one of the world’s most challenging operating environments. Therefore, our pilots are required to maintain the highest professional standards.

The drive to provide industry defining standards of customer service in a demanding yet exciting environment is the aspiration we look for in our high calibre pilots.

And there’s more… you may have the opportunity to develop your career within BA Cityflyer.

Additionally, we have a whole host of leading industry benefits that we have listed below.

What we offer

• Permanent contract: full terms and conditions which are effective from your first day of employment
• Company funded conversion course/type rating (with bond)
• Private Medical Scheme
• Medical and licence renewals paid by BA Cityflyer
• Company pension scheme (up to 12% employer contribution)
• Loss of Licence scheme on joining 
• Life Assurance
• Company car leasing scheme. Cycle to Work
• 30 days annual leave increasing to 35 days on 7-years completed service
• On joining extensive British Airways worldwide staff travel benefits
• Up to 30 discounted ‘Hotline’ airfares per year for yourself, friends and family

Discounts at selected car hire, hotels and retail stores

With our commitment to sustainable employment, we are an equal opportunities employer and value diversity at BA Cityflyer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, marital status, veteran status or disability status. This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the job and the general nature and level of work performed by job holders within this job. However, this job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of qualifications, skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities or working conditions associated with the position. 

The minimum criteria to apply are:

• Current UK CAA Part-FCL licence ATPL (A) or ability to convert to a UK licence using CAA EASA transfer process route 5 or 6 (link below)
• A current type rating with a minimum of 4000 hours total hours to include 1500 hours as PIC of a commercial jet/turbo prop multi crew aircraft. The 1500 hours will not include any PICUS hours.
• ICAO English language proficiency level 6
• Valid ME Instrument rating
• Valid Class 1 Medical (valid for 6 months after date of joining)
• E-Jet type rating desirable but not essential
• Currently operating as a Captain is desirable.

Supporting Files

Please add a copy of your Licence, Class 1 Medical and last 3 pages of your logbook to the supporting files section before submitting your application.

Third Country CPL and ATPL licence conversion requirements from 1 January 2023 | Civil Aviation Authority (caa.co.uk)

Hours and ratings will be checked during screening and at assessment.

Please read the job description for the full criteria.

Please note:

• Candidates who were not successful at initial screening, video interview, capacity testing or assessment centre stage can now reapply for the pilot recruitment campaign after 6 months from their most recent assessment date. This change is due to the updated assessment process. Candidates who were not successful at the SIM stage must wait 12 months before reapplying for the pilot recruitment campaign.
• You may only apply to one airline within the British Airways family (British Airways, Euroflyer, or Cityflyer) at a time. If you are unsuccessful in one campaign, you will be unable to reapply to any of the three airlines within the British Airways family until the specified re-apply period has elapsed.

Inspired to fly

Our incredible and diverse team of pilots are driven by passion. Find out what it means to embark on a career in the skies with British Airways.

Success Profile

It takes something special to work for the nation's flag carrier. Here are some of the qualities we're looking for in a British Airways Pilot.

• Responsible
• Customer orientated

Why British Airways?

Change is always in the air at British Airways. Our story is one of endless innovation and transformation, and our pilots play a huge part in helping us evolve. It’s not just that they’re flying some of the most technologically-advanced aircraft to an ever-expanding network of destinations around the world. We empower our colleagues to take ownership of their role, push original ideas forward and find new ways to help us serve our passengers – all while delivering the exceptional service that our customers expect. We also recognise that every one of our pilots - from our newest Cadet to most experienced Captain - has had their own unique journey to the flightdeck. We celebrate these differences and always encourage our people to showcase their individual personalities and skills. However, we also understand what unites us; a pride to wear the iconic British Airways uniform, and a dedication to delivering excellence in everything we do. In return, we make sure our colleagues feel truly valued for who they are and what they contribute.

Career Path

Senior First Officer

• Training Co-Pilot/Captain
• Training Standards Captain
• Management roles
• Project work: Recruitment/ Training/Sustainability
• Operational management

British Airways is a diverse airline, and I've had the pleasure of working with many different people from all types of backgrounds. There are many perks to the job, from new challenges, to exploring the world but, particularly, being able to be involved in projects outside of the flight deck.

Lovjinder G.

Rewards & Benefits

Staff travel

You’ll get access to discounted ‘Hotline’ tickets for yourself, friends, and family from day one, along with unlimited standby and premium standby fares for you and your nominees and an Annual Bookable Concession on completion of six months of service.

We offer a market-leading defined contribution (DC) pension. Enrolled at 2% employee contributions and 7% employer with an option to increase.

We’ll pay the cost of an annual membership upfront, which will then be deducted from your pay over 12 months. Colleagues on a permanent contract will be eligible for this benefit after three months.

Flexible benefits

Choose from benefits including critical illness cover, childcare vouchers, cycle to work, additional life insurance cover, private medical insurance, dental plan, and healthcare cash plan.

Electric car scheme

Colleagues can access a brand new, fully maintained and insured electric car for a fixed monthly amount. Available through salary sacrifice offering tax and NI savings. You’ll be eligible for this benefit after 12 months.

Heathrow Express

Whether you are commuting to Heathrow or heading off on holiday, you’ll be entitled to buy Express Saver tickets with a 75% discount.

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Going on holiday is an exciting time full of new experiences, a change of pace and beautiful scenery. While relaxing is all part of the enjoyment, it's important not to let your guard down completely to ensure safe travels.

Travel Aware

We recommend that you check the  Travel Aware  advice for up-to-date information from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. You'll find useful tips on how to stay safe so you can make informed decisions when you're travelling abroad. You can register for email alerts specific to the destination you’re travelling to.

Health advice

You should only travel if you are fit to travel and able to participate in all part of the services that you have booked to undertake. You will need to comply with the health requirements of your destination, as well as prove that you have any necessary vaccinations for your travel arrangements. Consult your doctor about any health requirements for your destination beforehand and visit IATA Travel Centre to find out what vaccinations you'll need.

Should you need to take any medication with you, check before travel that you are allowed to take it into the country you are visiting. Some countries do not permit certain medicines even though they may be widely accepted in your own country. Take any paperwork or authorisation from your doctor that may be required.

Our insurance partner, Europ Assistance, offers travel insurance covering medical emergencies and travel disruptions.  Find out more

Take care abroad

Millions of people travel the world each year and enjoy trouble-free trips, but crimes against people and property are a fact of life. Take the same responsibility for your own safety abroad as you would do at home.  Here are some useful tips:

• Use credit cards where possible to avoid carrying excessive amounts of cash or travellers cheques.
• Use the hotel’s safety deposit box if there is one.
• Lock your door even when you’re inside your room, and when you leave make sure you close and lock your windows, doors and balconies.
• Don’t walk around poorly lit areas and beaches after dark, and don’t feel embarrassed about crossing the road if you feel uneasy about someone in the street.
• Try to use only registered or official taxis, so ask the hotel for guidance.
• Drink responsibly.

Helping you make the most of your holiday

• If you take part in adventure sports during your holiday, check that your instructor is qualified, insured and properly trained. 
• Check that any watersports representatives who may approach you from outside the hotel or on the beach are officially appointed or associated with the hotel. If in doubt, check with the hotel staff. 
• Make sure you research any local vendors, their safety policies and insurance before agreeing to take part.
• Remember to check your insurance policy, because not all policies include cover for certain types of sports.
• If you will be using equipment other than your own, don't use anything that looks or feels unsafe.
• For safety reasons, you should not do any scuba diving within 24 hours of arriving on your holiday, or within 24 hours of your flight home.
• Children should never be left unsupervised on balconies.
• Do not climb or stand on balcony furniture and keep all furniture away from the balcony walls and railings.
• Do not lean over, sit or climb on the balcony wall or railings. The height and design will vary from place to place and few areas are legally obliged to install either toughened or safety glass in windows or doors.
• In bright sunlight or at night, it can be more difficult to tell if a glass balcony door is closed so please take care not to walk into them.

Few hotels provide non-slip mats in the bathrooms, however in some hotels they are available on request. Tiled bathroom floor surfaces can be slippery when wet so take extra care on wet surfaces.

Before you swim, always make sure that the beach is recommended for bathing and that there are no tides, currents or hazards that could make it unsafe. Although many beaches will have lifeguard supervision, you should still familiarise yourself with the flag warning system as well as any rescue service procedures. Some areas are zoned off for watersports activities so be aware if they are present and avoid using any zoned areas.

• Please supervise your children at all times, especially around playgrounds, lifts, balconies and open water, and especially if the evening entertainment on your holiday takes place around a swimming pool.
• Before you use a cot, make sure that vertical bars are not more than 10cm apart and that the mattress fits snuggly into the base. If the side bar is adjustable, make sure that it is high enough to prevent your child from climbing out. Cots and high chairs should be sturdy and free from sharp edges.
• Never leave children unattended in a bath, and make sure you check the water temperatures yourself first before allowing your children to use the bath.

When you arrive at a destination, ask what you need to do if you need to contact the emergency services. We suggest you inform your party members and keep all useful telephone numbers in a safe, accessible place, and add the numbers to your mobile phone. If you have any concerns, check that your tour operator has a duty office or helpline telephone number. These numbers should have been given to you with your booking details.

Take great care and closely supervise any children when they are close to any plug sockets. Bring suitable adaptors for the local voltage with you.

Fire regulations and procedures can differ from country to country and some local regulations may prevent a hotel from providing the level of fire safety that you may be used to, either for historic or aesthetic reasons.

When you first arrive at your hotel, make sure you and your travelling party familiarise yourself with the fire procedures and emergency exits for your accommodation. If there is anything that you don’t understand, always ask.

The following checklist may help:

• Read the emergency plan, which is usually on the back of your room door.
• Find out where the nearest fire exit is located and walk from your room to at least one escape route, counting the room doors between your own and the fire exit.
• Find out how to raise the alarm.
• Keep your room key in the same place by your bed at night.
• If a fire occurs: • Raise the alarm and tell reception. • Leave immediately if possible, keeping low to avoid smoke. • Keep your group together. • Use the stairs, never use the lift. •  Close all windows and turn off air conditioning. •  Fill the bath with water and put wet towels and sheets around the door cracks. •  Keep calm and listen for any instructions.
• If there’s a fire elsewhere in the hotel, take your key and place the back of your hand by the doorknob to check its temperature. If it’s too hot to open or if the corridor is full of smoke, call the reception and tell them that you are unable to leave your room.

A change in climate, different food, very cold drinks and sometimes combined with alcohol may result in an upset stomach, which is not necessarily the result of poor local hygiene or food preparation. Take sensible precautions, especially with raw foods, drinking water and any ice that is in your drinks. We recommend that you drink bottled, purified or boiled water when travelling. Alcohol can dehydrate you so avoid it when sunbathing and do not drink alcohol when you go swimming.

Gas Appliances

If you have a gas cooker in your accommodation, always check that it has been turned off when you've finished using it. If the gas is supplied direct from a bottle, turn off the supply at the bottle neck when not in use.

Recognise the signs of faulty gas appliances. Black marks or stains around the appliance, lazy orange flames instead of crisp blue flames and too much condensation are all signs that gas appliances aren't working properly.

If you’re in any doubt about a gas appliance in your accommodation do not use it and speak to the hotel reception, Villa Company or your Tour Operator.

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas sometimes produced when fuel-burning appliances malfunction. You can't see or smell CO, but it can be fatal.

Don't mistake carbon monoxide poisoning with other holiday sicknesses, such as food poisoning, dehydration or a hangover. The six main symptoms include headache, dizziness, nausea, breathlessness, collapse and loss of consciousness.

British Airways Holidays operate a policy to not provide accommodation with internal gas water heaters. If you have booked your hotel or villa with us, and have concerns that there may be a gas water heater within your sleeping accommodation, please contact us immediately. The British Airways Holidays 24 hour helpline number is detailed in your travel documentation.

In some countries, the lift will only have three sides with a slight gap between the door opening and the lift shaft wall. Always keep children to the rear of the lift.

Various insects and even small lizards should be expected in all tropical destinations, national parks and game reserves. They are a way of life and not a reflection on the standards of hygiene and cleanliness. You can reduce the risk of insect bites by using repellents and covering up, especially during the evening and at night.

Many restaurants are open sided, which means local birds or small animals can visit and may want to share your food, but please don't encourage the birds and animals by feeding them.

Where possible avoid the sun when it is at its strongest and wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. Hats will help protect your head and face and sunscreen with a suitable sun protection factor is essential from day one of your holiday.

If you are travelling with children, enjoy the swimming pool at your hotel safely by following these steps to help you relax:

• Recce the pool environment when you first arrive at your accommodation. Identify safety features, barriers, slides and chutes, deep and shallow end, whether there is a lifeguard if it's a shared pool and when they’re on duty. 
• Take a moment to enter the local emergency numbers into your phone when you arrive.  
• Make sure you or someone you are with knows lifesaving techniques. There may not be a lifeguard where you are going, so learn some basic CPR, and even if there is a lifeguard, it's always good to be prepared.
• Always keep your eyes on the children, whether it’s you or someone you trust.
• Take time to explain   to children how to use the pool safely, and provide armbands if required. 
• Check depth markings around the pool.
• Remember that a lifeguard may not be a local requirement.
• Advise the hotel management immediately if water clarity means you cannot see the bottom of the pool.
• Do not dive if there are ‘No diving’ signs posted around the pool, or where water depth is less than 1.5 metres.
• Do not drink alcohol and swim, or swim immediately after eating.
• Do not swim outside of the pool opening hours, or at night.

Vehicle hire

Hiring a car is a great way to explore and car hire can be organised with us before you go.

If however you decide upon a company of your own choice, please ensure that it is a well-known reputable company. Before taking charge of any vehicle we suggest you follow these guidelines:

• If you are not familiar with automatic drive, ask for a run-through from the hire depot agent.
• Check the bodywork and windscreen.
• Check that the tyres are in good condition.
• Check lights, seatbelts, screen wash and wipers.
• Ensure you read your rental agreement and are happy with the details and any applicable charges before signing. If you are not happy with any aspect of the car or its condition, do not leave the depot and ask for the car to be changed.
• Familiarise yourself with local regulations.
• Never drive while under the influence of alcohol.
• When leaving your car, keep maps, travel information and so on out of sight to reduce being identified as a tourist.
• Most insurance companies do not cover you for accidents whilst hiring mopeds or scooters due to the potential risks and it is for this reason that we do not recommend the hiring of mopeds or scooters.

Child seats

Laws regarding child-passenger safety vary from country to country. In general, we recommend travelling with your own child seat and where possible ensuring a private transfer is booked as due to their design minibuses are usually unable to be fitted with child seats. When booking car rental or transfers with British Airways, we'll tell you in our booking information if it's possible to request a child seat to be provided locally and any restrictions that may apply in your destination.

Road safety

In some countries, drivers drive on the other side of the road so take care and look the other way first before you cross a road. Not all drivers will stop at a pedestrian crossing either.

• Don't draw attention to yourself by wearing valuable accessories or carrying expensive electronic equipment.
• Keep valuables locked away in your room, but don't leave them in your suitcase.
• If there is no safety deposit box in your room, ask the reception if there is a hotel safe you can use.
• Make a photocopy of your passport and carry it separately from your passport, in case the original is lost or stolen.
• If any of your property is lost or stolen from the premises, you should report it, along with any relevant receipts, serial or identification numbers, to the management and also to the local police within 24 hours. Keep a note of the time and date you reported the incident along with names of persons you reported the incident to. Ask for a copy of any written reports.

Why choose British Airways Holidays?

Enjoy these great benefits:

• Book flight + hotel or flight + car hire together for the best deals
• 23kg checked baggage per person included
• 24-hour support helpline during your trip
• Low deposits from just £60pp
• Collect bonus Avios
• All our holiday packages are ATOL protected

10 oldest airlines in the world

Editor’s Note: Sign up for Unlocking the World , CNN Travel’s weekly newsletter. Get the latest news in aviation, food and drink, where to stay and other travel developments.

The aviation industry might be known for its volatility and financial instability, particularly in recent years, but a surprising number of airlines from the pioneering early days of commercial flight are still surviving in their original form.

Finnish flag carrier Finnair celebrates its 100th anniversary on November 1, having been founded in 1923 as a seaplane service, while the Czech Republic’s flag carrier Czech Airlines made its first flight just a few days earlier in October 2023.

Here are 10 of the oldest airlines in the world still in operation.

Year of foundation: 1919

First flight: May 1920

Passengers transported in the first year: 440

Passengers transported in 2022: 25.8 million

As a nation that once had the largest merchant fleet in the world, it seems fitting that the Dutch were among the first to set up a national airline that became a strong force to be reckoned with.

The need to connect Amsterdam to what was then known as the Dutch East Indies would certainly have been a powerful motivation to get KLM off the ground in the early days.

Although formally founded in October 1919, the new airline did not really take off until May 1920, when a four-seater De Havilland DH.16 made the inaugural flight to London’s now defunct Croydon Airport.

In 1924, KLM launched a service from Amsterdam to Batavia (as Jakarta was then known), the world’s longest air route at the time.

In 1946, it became the first European airline to begin scheduled flights to New York, using DC-4 aircraft.

Throughout its century and more of existence, KLM’s commitment to innovation has been constant.

This doesn’t just apply to its fleet either. The airline has also proved pioneering with its use of social media, introducing the first social media-driven flight schedule.

First flight: 1919

Passengers transported in 2022 : 24.6 million

Founded by German immigrants in Barranquilla, Colombia, in 1919, Avianca was originally named SCADTA and operated Junkers F13 aircraft, some of which were equipped with floats.

As the world moved closer to war In the late 1930s, SCADTA became a source of concern for the US government, who were worried about the security implications of the airline’s links to Germany.

Pan American World Airways subsequently acquired a controlling stake in the company.

In 1949, SCADTA merged with fellow Colombian airline SACO (Servicio Aéreo Colombiano) and adopted its current name.

Today, after absorbing several airlines in neighboring countries, Avianca is one of the largest airline groups in Latin America, with a fleet of more than 130 aircraft and a network of subsidiaries that spans pretty much the whole continent.

Year of foundation: 1920

Passengers transported in 2022 : 21.3 million

Few people outside of Australia know that Qantas stands for “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services.”

As its name indicates, the initial goal of the airline was to service the tropical and sparsely populated lands of Northern Australia.

Its first aircraft was an Avro 504, a pre-World War I biplane that could seat a pilot and one passenger.

Qantas was nationalized by the Australian government after World War II and reprivatized in the ’90s.

Its kangaroo livery first appeared in 1944 and accompanied the airline during the airline’s expansion throughout the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Today Qantas remains the de facto flag carrier of Australia as well as the country’s largest airline and one of its best known brands globally.

4. Aeroflot

Year of foundation: 1923

First flight: July 1923

Passengers transported in 2022: 20.5 million

A flight from Moscow to Nizhny Novgorod carrying six people (four passengers and two crewmen) on a Junkers F13 marked the start of what would turn out to be the Soviet Union’s, and later, the Russian Federation’s flag carrier.

Originally called Dobrolet, it was renamed Aeroflot in 1932, when the Soviet government decided to place the whole civilian aviation fleet under one single entity.

After World War II, Aeroflot became the largest airline in the world, as air travel was often the only means of transportation available to bridge the vast expanses of the Soviet Union.

In 1956, the airline introduced the Tupolev Tu-104, considered the first truly successful jet airliner.

During the Cold War years, Aeroflot operated the long range Il-62, which flew all the way to Cuba by way of Murmansk, in the Arctic, and the supersonic Tupolev Tu-144, the Soviet Union’s answer to the Concorde.

In much the same fashion as the Soviet Union, Aeroflot was separated in the ’90s and divided into a number of regional airlines, with some former Soviet republics beginning their own services.

The core of the airline then came under control of Russia and remains state-owned.

Aeroflot underwent a massive transformation during the first decade of the 21st century in terms of both service and fleet.

Bar its hammer and sickle logo, the Aeroflot of today bears little resemblance to its original conception.

5. Czech Airlines (CSA)

First flight: October 1923

Passengers transported in 2022 : No data

Started as a national airline for the then newly founded country of Czechoslovakia, Czech Airlines’ activity was interrupted by World War II and the airline was later reinstated by the post-war Communist government.

In 1957, CSA became the third airline, after BOAC and Aeroflot, to operate jet airliners when it put the Soviet-made Tupolev Tu104A into service.

The airline was also the first to operate a jet-only connection: Prague to Moscow.

During the Cold War years, CSA operated a remarkably large operation that included a fleet of up to 21 long range Ilyushin Il-62 aircraft as well as an extensive route network covering the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

Unfortunately it also suffered two unfortunate firsts, becoming the first airline to suffer a mass hijacking, when three of its aircraft were diverted to West Germany by defectors in 1950.

It was also the first airline to lose a captain at the hands of a hijacker, in an incident during the 1970s.

Like many national airlines of the former Eastern Bloc, CSA was renamed, restructured and modernized during the ’90s.

The airline has scraped through to its 100th anniversary after being declared bankrupt in 2021, having been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s now gone through a reorganization process with a new investor, Prague City Air.

First flight: March 1924

Passengers transported in 2022: 9.1 million

For those who’ve ever wondered why Finnair’s airline code is “AY”, this is derived from the name it used before being rebranded to Finnair in 1953 – “Aero O/Y.”

During its first 12 years, the airline operated only seaplanes, a logical choice given the many lakes and water inlets that cover the surface of Finland.

In 1983, it became the first European airline to fly non-stop to Tokyo, with DC-10 aircraft.

Five years later, Finnair was the only European airline with a direct flight between Europe and China.

This helped to position the airline as the shortest gateway between Europe and Asia, largely thanks to Helsinki’s location atop the Great Circle route.

7. Delta Air Lines

Year of foundation: 1924

Passengers transported in 2022: 141.6 million

Delta has grown from a small crop-dusting operation in America’s Deep South to the largest airline in the world by some measures.

Two important corporate decisions helped consolidate it at the top of the global airline leagues – the purchase of Pan Am’s East Coast and European routes in the early ’90s and its merger with Northwest Airlines in 2008.

Delta is one of the world’s largest airlines in terms of scheduled passengers.

8. Air Serbia

Year of foundation: 1927

Passengers transported in 2022: 2.7 million

Air Serbia claims descent from the several airlines that operated as flag carriers of Yugoslavia (hence its code JU), starting with Aeroput in 1927 and Jat Airways from 1948.

During the Cold War years, Jat developed a significant route network and bought equipment from both East and West, in line with Yugoslavia’s status as a non-aligned country.

After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Jat became the Serbian flag carrier.

In 2013, Etihad bought a 49% equity stake in the company, which then engaged in a massive recapitalization and rebranding operation that saw it adopt the new name of Air Serbia.

First flight: December 1927

Passengers transported in 2022: No data

Formerly a privately owned company, Iberia was put under government sponsorship shortly after its launch, providing postal transport between Madrid and Barcelona.

After an operational hiatus in the early 1930s, it was resurrected with German assistance, by the nationalist side during the Spanish Civil War.

After the war, Iberia, now firmly in government hands, developed as Spain’s flag carrier.

In 1946, it was the first airline to fly between Europe and South America, a region that has remained at the core of Iberia’s long haul business throughout its history.

The airline was privatized in 2001 and it merged with British Airways in 2010 to create the International Airlines Group.

10. British Airways

Year of foundation: 1919 (or 1974)

First flight: August 1919 (or 1974)

Passengers transported in 2018: 44.1 million

Now this one is a little controversial.

The UK flag carrier British Airways was formed 45 years ago following the merger of four companies: British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, Cambrian Airways and Northeast Airlines.

However, it celebrated ts centenary in 2019 based on the 100 years of achievement of its predecessor airlines.

It all began, says British Airways, on August 25, 1919, when the world’s first scheduled international flight between London and Paris took off with one passenger, plus some Devonshire cream and some grouse.

It was the beginning, not just of British Airways, but of international commercial aviation.

Miquel Ros is an aviation blogger and consultant. An economist by background, he’s worked for Flightglobal and Bloomberg. He currently covers the airline industry through Allplane.tv.

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James corden defended by passengers after exchange with british airways staff, james corden exchange with airline staff ... passengers take his side.

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James Corden wanted to get to the bottom of an international air travel snafu, seeking out airline employees ... and this time he's got the public on his side.

The comedian was photographed at an airport in Portugal appearing agitated with several British Airways staffers ... chatting them up after some travel issues, a welcome sight for others on board.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... while he might've looked peeved, he was actually just talking to airline employees and seeking info. There were reports James confronted the crew but we're told he didn't confront anyone ... and wasn't "venting frustration" either.

James was on a plane from Portugal to the UK, but the passenger jet had to make an emergency landing in Lisbon after a mechanical issue with the wings ... with passengers saying they were told to brace for impact and possibly head for the emergency exits.

Once on the ground, James and his fellow fliers reportedly were kept on the plane for 3 hours as it sat on the tarmac ... a sure recipe for sowing discontent among travelers.

The process didn't get much smoother once they were let off the plane, JC and others were herded to an immigration area but there were no BA staffers directing them and it turned into another big mess.

James was photographed speaking with the airline crew, and people who were on the flight defended his actions to media outlets ... a contrast to some of James' prior public spats, like his old beef with a NYC restaurant owner .

This time, the travelers say James was totally in the right for his exchange with British Airways staffers ... and they say he also provided the entertainment during the 3-hour ordeal on the tarmac, telling jokes and taking pics as he walked up and down the aisle.

We reached out to British Airways ... so far no word back.

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