Regardless of the destination or the purpose of the trip, flying is a form of transport which is embraced by a multitude of people. For many, the experience of flying is fun and enjoyable, offering a unique perspective from which to view the world – so how can you enjoy the perfect flight?

To enjoy the perfect flight there are only a few key factors which need to be addressed: destination, comfort and price. If all of these aspects are to your liking then your flight will be perfect, allowing you to experience the ultimate form of transport.

Destination

The destination you choose will have a great impact on your flight experience. The length of your flight will obviously depend on how far you are travelling and if you are getting flights to Amsterdam from the UK then you will benefit from a shorter journey time. The destination of the flight will also determine the route which is taken, meaning that the landscape and views you are able to see will also vary (if you are lucky enough to have a window seat of course).

Part of the fun of flying is the excitement of where you are heading to so it is important then when looking at holidays or places to visit that you chooses somewhere which you are interested and enthusiastic about.

Comfort

The comfort of flights is one of the main things that ensure a pleasant experience. Flights can be made comfortable by both your own efforts and by the effort of the airline or flight provider. Flight providers will offer flights to and from a range of locations in order to make it easier for you to begin your journey, cutting down on travel time to and from airports. As a central location, flights from London are very common and will be offered from a number of different airports in order to provide people with choice and variety.

Flights are known for offering people the chance to experience luxury whilst soaring through the skies, however, you can improve the comfort levels yourself as well. This involves making sure that you have the necessary equipment and accessories whilst on board. These include items such as personal music devices, books and magazines. All of these items will help to make your flight as enjoyable as possible by ensuring that you are fully relaxed at all times.

Price

Of course, the price you pay for your flight will influence your opinion of it and no one wants to pay extortionate prices for the first stage of their holiday. Looking for low cost flights is therefore a popular option and a number of providers such as Flybe will offer such services to a number of locations.

Finding flights at the right price is an essential requirement for travellers and helps to give their holiday a pleasant start. After all, the more money saved on the flight the more there is to spend at the destination!

Related posts:

1. Fear of Flying Tips
2. Looking for a cheap flight this spring?

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Dutch airline KLM is behind the fun and innovative ecards that are free to use and only take a second to turn into something cool.  Even better, you can send them free to as many people as you like so that everyone from your parent’s grandparents down to your friends can see you or anyone you like dancing a jig in a fun location.

Whether you imagine yourself on holiday in China practicing your latest kung fu obsession like the famous panda or saving the Wild Wild West at a ranch in the United States, the cards are fun and light designed to bring a smile on anyone’s face.  You can even add in a caption to really get into the spirit of things, and the best part is that once you create a card you are instantly entered into a contest where the grand prize is long haul tickets from KLM so that maybe your dream can become a reality.

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• Prepare for your flight. If you create checklists, pack in advance and leave plenty of time to arrive at the airport you will avoid rushing which can instantly increase anxiety. Arriving early at the airport will allow you time to look around the duty-free shops and have a snack at a restaurant, helping you to relax.

• Eat a decent meal before a long flight. Avoid sugars and refined carbohydrates and go for a balanced meal to ensure your blood sugars remain steady. Blood sugar levels can drop dramatically when you are stressed or nervous. The cabin pressure can also exaggerate the effects of alcohol so even though you may need a bit of Dutch courage, it’ll be better to stick to water or fresh fruit juice.

• Keep thinking positively. Once you have completed one journey, take that feeling of accomplishment and remember it on your next journey: you did it, you were ok and you can do it again.

• Inform cabin crew if you are a nervous flier. They are trained to deal with this situation and can reassure you by letting you know what to expect during the flight.

• Occupy your mind with things you enjoy. Take your I-pod on board and purchase your favourite magazines at the airport. You can even try googling “In Flight Yoga” (yes, really!) which will give you some great relaxing exercises you can do whilst in your seat with the strap fastened.

• Try deep-breathing exercises. The easiest and simplest way to calm the physiological reaction to anxiety. Start by sitting up as straight as possible, take a long, deep breath in through your nose and hold for 2 seconds then release slowly through your mouth. Try this a few times until you start to feel calmer.

• Only consider medication as a very last resort and it would be best to talk this option through with your GP. We recommend that you learn to control and handle your fear yourself rather than relying on medication.

Airlines such as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways run fear of flying courses which can help to overcome your fears. Flyers can also head to the ‘Know Before You Go’ section on the APH website which provides savvy, independent travellers the information they need to make smart pre-travel decisions.

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Chartered flights are booked by, and created for those who are travelling on a holiday and want the comfort of easy flight times and a simple and clear overall price When you start to look at charters one thing you will notice is that the flight prices are all very reasonable making it even more practical to consider flying out of the country instead of sticking to the shores of England this spring.

Another bonus of flying via chartered flights outside of the fact that you will most likely be able to choose from cheap flights is that almost all chartered flights are covered with Total Financial Protection.  This means that in the case that something should happen in the destination you have chosen or there is a travel emergency such as the Icelandic volcano last year you will not be out the money on your flight, which allows you the ease of booking in advance without any worry about your flights down the line.

Therefore, if you are looking for an exciting trip this coming spring or summer season you may want to explore what chartered flights area available out of your local airport to help you choose what holiday destination will be the best choice.  For those who are not yet sure where they want to go this can be an excellent way to narrow down the choices while still saving money which is something that always makes the decision to fly out of the country just a little bit easier to make.

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Despite the recession flight tickets have remained cheap; figures have shown a rise in demand for international flights in regions right the way around the world and plenty of people are still travelling to destinations that they’ve never visited before.

One island country springs to mind immediately: Sri Lanka. With civil conflict in the Southern Asian destination having come to an end, increasing numbers of holidaymakers are  interested in the country. Many of these go to the west coast resorts of Bentota and Negombo, both of which are close to Colombo, the capital. According to the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, the number of Brits arranging a flight booking to Sri Lanka in July was 51 per cent higher than in the corresponding month last year.

It’s now far easier to visit Sri Lanka thanks to the lifting of all restrictions by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This means that Brits are free to explore everything that the island nation has to offer. So, in addition to its resorts and capital city, what are Sri Lanka’s highlights?

Well, many head to the beautifully remote beaches of Arugam Bay and Trincomalee, while animal lovers shouldn’t leave without paying a visit to Yala National Park. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Sri Lankan leopard or the western-purple-faced langur. What’s more, UNESCO’s world heritage committee recently confirmed that it will include Sri Lanka’s Central Highlands as a World Heritage Site, which is sure to attract new visitors to the area.

South Asia is a traveller’s paradise. Only a short hop across the water is the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. From here, visitors are presented with the choice of heading up India’s western or eastern coasts, and the majority choose the former. After a short journey, you can reach the stunning state of Kerala and the resorts of Kovalam and Varkala – both of which are popular with holidaymakers from all around the world.

If you want to extend your trip still further, why not arrange a cheap airfare from the nearby Trivandrum International Airport? While cheap air tickets to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore are available cheaply and easily, many travellers choose to extend their Indian adventure by booking a domestic flight to Mumbai, the country’s commercial centre, or Delhi, India’s capital.

South Asia isn’t for everybody, though, particularly if you’re concerned about your stomach! If it’s an adventure you’re after but you also want somewhere that feels in some ways closer to home then why not consider Australia or New Zealand?

It’s a well-known fact that Australia is a land of contrasts. Holidaymakers and travellers shouldn’t expect to squeeze in everything that the country has to offer – for example, you may have to make a choice between the Sydney Opera House and Kakadu National Park. The really adventurous may be tempted to head all the way out to Western Australia, which boasts some of the world’s whitest beaches.

Australia is attractive for its people as much as its landscape. Brimming with friendliness and confidence, Australians are famous the world over for taking a laid-back attitude. Head inland and you’ll be able to meet the Aboriginal people, whose culture and way of life feel as old as the land itself.

If you want to get as far away from the UK as possible, you can’t really do better than New Zealand. Depending on the weather, cheap flights to this destination take between two and three hours from Sydney, which is a relatively short time for countries that feel so far away from anywhere else. The country may be small and remote, but it’s famous for its incredibly dramatic scenery, excellent cuisine, exciting festivals and an unbeatable range of outdoor activities.

Airlines have really made New Zealand accessible over the last decades. In 1999, a relatively meagre 1.6 million people made the journey to this enticing nation – a figure that increased to 2.2 million  in 2007. The chances are that, during a trip, you’ll pay a visit to one of New Zealand’s three main cities; Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington. Here, in addition to the sights, you can look forward to tucking into some especially tasty food and internationally-acclaimed wine and beer.

Of course, for the really cheap flights you should look closer to home. Maybe you fancy a city break in a European capital? The likes of Paris, Berlin and Madrid are well served on routes from the UK’s airports, while relatively uncovered destinations such as Riga, Tallinn and Brindisi are also accessible thanks to the success of low-cost airlines.

If you’ve had enough of cities for the year, it’s not too late to arrange a cheap airline tickets to a European sunshine destination. The Mediterranean is the obvious choice. While Spain, France and Greece’s beauty are well documented, though, why not travel somewhere you’ve not been to this year? Croatia and Turkey have become the most popular emerging destinations: not only do both boast gorgeous coastlines, they also offer holidaymakers superb value for money because neither is in the Eurozone.

Don’t be stuck at home putting off your next holiday. Give yourself something to look forward to by arranging flight tickets online. Not only will you be impressed by the prices, you’ll be delighted with just how convenient it is. The sooner you book, the quicker you can look forward to getting on that aeroplane.

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Vibrant posters for the ‘Hooray for Holidays’ campaign featuring lilos, flip-flop tan lines and snorkels will be splashed across Gatwick and Heathrow airports from July 14.

The marketing campaign will highlight British Airways July sale which includes more than 80 destinations with departure dates ranging from 15 July to 31 March 2011.

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Mike Powell, Insight Analyst at Defaqto comments “people should urgently check with their insurer about the cover provided for delays and the possible cancellation of their trip. Travelers who have already checked in may be covered, but for those who have not yet checked in, your insurer may not actually provide cover. This is because the airports are not officially checking in passengers and many if not most policies will only provide cover on basis that the insured person officially checks in”.

Defaqto advises that air travellers should follow the checklist below:

• Urgently check with your insurer about the exact cover that is provided.
• If you have booked an ATOL protected packaged trip, check with tour operator or travel agent about the options available.
• If you have booked flights independently, contact your airline, as they may refund the cost of the flight in full or rearrange the flight.
• If you have booked hotel and car hire independently and have paid for these on your credit card, contact you card supplier as these costs may be refundable. Also remember to cancel these with the providers wherever possible.

This information has been supplied by Defaqto: www.defaqto.com

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66% voted that airport scanners were a good idea as they would speed up security checks and improve security, whilst 30% said that they disapproved, largely on health and privacy grounds. (4% gave other answers).

Over 400 people voted in the poll, and the results clearly showed that most travellers were in favour of the scanners.
Barry Smith, Skyscanner co-founder and business director commented:

“As long as the machines are safe and any potential privacy issues can be solved, travellers are in favour of anything which will make flying safer and security checks faster. If it saves me from having to take my shoes off, empty my pockets and remove my belt, I’m all for them.”

The Skyscanner poll did reveal that some travellers had concerns over the safety of the scanning machines, specifically the health issues of being x-rayed. However, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) say the technology is harmless, and that the amount of radiation produced is minimal, equating to what a person would naturally receive in just two minutes of flying on an airplane.

Other respondents believed that the scanners would not increase passenger safety; Skyscanner user Vasco Sotomaior left a message on Skyscanner’s Facebook page explaining his reasons for being against the scanners:

“There’s no use for them. The threat exists, but it is so little that it doesn’t justify them. The current measures are more than enough”.

Trials with the body scanners are already taking place in some airports and train stations across Europe and the US, including Manchester Airport in the UK. The technology blurs facial details ensuring that passengers cannot be recognised and images are viewed by staff in walled-off rooms where they cannot see travellers who are being checked.

Passengers who prefer not to be scanned will be able to opt for the traditional pat down check instead.

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On DVD for the first time are these in-depth voyages into the developmental years of quite possibly the greatest passenger aircraft of all time – Concorde. A celebration of the Anglo-French Concorde project showing the illuminating journey of discovery from the initial extensive aerodynamic experiments to the first flights and rigorous testing of the prototypes, through to the inaugural scheduled supersonic passenger flights. These official films are presented uncut, many are previously unseen and all provide an unrivalled insight into the aeronautical marvel of its time.

Concorde was an icon of luxury travel during for nearly thirty years of service so this is a great prize for anybody interested in history of travel.

To enter answer the following question:

In what year did Concorde end commercial operation?

E-mail you answer to plans2travel@xec.co.uk

To complete your entry, you must also sign up to our travel newsletter featuring lots of travel news and regular offers.  Sign up using box at side of this page or click here.
Competition ends Midnight 7 December 2009.

Prizes donated courtesy of Strikeforce Entertainment.

If you want to read more about the content of the DVDs then the full details are available at http://www.concorde.org.uk/concorde-products/concorde-the-early-years-dvds-volumes-1-and-2/

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It’s the time of year when many Brits are thinking about jetting off on their summer holidays to far-flung, sunnier climes. However, for an estimated 20% of the population, the thought of boarding a plane fills them with dread and as many as 5% will never fly as a direct result of their fear. Overcome Your Fear of Flying is a major new self-help book, written by two psychologists and a pilot, which provides effective skills and techniques for sufferers to use to help reduce the anxiety commonly associated with flying.

Fear of flying is a surprisingly common problem. For some, flying is unpleasant but manageable, while for others it is an incapacitating fear. There may be serious and potentially disastrous social, financial and professional consequences for anxious flyers – a fear of flying can spoil holidays, damage careers and put relationships under stress. However, it is one of the most treatable psychological problems which almost everyone should be able to overcome.

Co-author of Overcome Your Fear of Flying, Professor Robert Bor, explains, “Our collective experience with people who have a fear of flying shows that, although some books provide useful information about flight safety, they fail to explain the full range of psychological techniques which are known to help overcome fear and anxiety. Helping sufferers to master these techniques is the main focus of the book; it brings together the latest, proven methods for overcoming a fear of flying and helps the reader select and implement the techniques most likely to help them overcome their fear. We also outline the way in which a fear of flying can become a problem in the first place and how different people are affected.”

Interspersed with case studies demonstrating how a fear of flying can manifest itself in various different ways, Overcome Your Fear of Flying approaches treatment of the problem differently from many others. It will not baffle readers with statistics about flight safety, nor will it ‘argue’ with the sufferer’s fears. The book facilitates a tailored approach to self-help, built on a solid foundation of clinical practice and research. The aim is to motivate and empower readers to confront and overcome the different elements that characterise their fear of flying.

Topics in the book include:

• what exactly is fear of flying
• phobia triggered by flying itself, or traumatic experiences in the air
• what reinforces anxiety
• understanding flying, including the effects of flight on the body
• challenging and managing anxious thoughts
• addressing your ‘worst fears’
• tackling unhelpful behaviour such as safety rituals or excessive use of alcohol
• techniques to help you relax
• FAQs – e.g. how safe is flight? What is turbulence?

Overcome Your Fear of Flying is also a helpful companion for people who have previously undergone Fear of Flying courses, such as those offered by some airlines, as they need to keep up-to-date with the latest skills and techniques. Friends, colleagues and relatives who accompany fearful flyers will find the book useful too, as it’ll provide them a useful perspective on the issue.

The book has been written by a highly experienced and uniquely qualified team of experts who are committed to helping people overcome their fear of flying. Collectively, they have over 50 years of experience and have published their research findings on treating fear of flying in many specialist medical and psychological journals and books and are often invited to talk about their work at conferences around the world.

Overcome Your Fear of Flying is published by Sheldon Press on 23 July 2009.  It is availble from Amazon.co.uk – click here or on the image below for more details.

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Spain
France
Italy
USA
Turkey
Germany
Greece
Portugal
Ireland
Cyprus

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They will be including a new service from Manchester to Faro, with travel dates currently available from 28 March 2010 – 18 April 2010. The new service will operate three times a week, with flights departing from Manchester Airport on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday.

Other Easter 2010 destinations include Alicante, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Belfast International, Bordeaux, Cork, Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Glasgow, Grenoble, Ireland West Knock, Jersey, Lisbon, Malaga, Murcia, Newquay, Nice, Palma, Paris (CDG), Prague, Toulouse.

More information at www.bmibaby.com

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The offer is time limited, ending midnight Thursday 21st May – So Book now!

Here are some of destinations that bmibaby fly to.

Alicante
Almeria
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Belfast
Bordeaux
Cork
Edinburgh
Faro
Glasgow
Jersey
Lisbon
Mahon
Malaga
Murcia
Nice
Ireland West Knock
Newquay
Palma
Paris (CDG)
Perpignan
Prague
Toulouse

More information about this offer is available here.

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Peter Spencer, managing director bmi commented: “We are delighted to announce the launch date for our newest service, offering customers a market leading Business Class product on the route between London and Kiev. Customers travelling with bmi will have the opportunity to discover the business opportunities and cultural attractions the city has to offer, whilst taking advantage of competitive prices.”

Services from London Heathrow to Kiev will operate five times a week on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, operated by an A321 with a two cabin configuration of 31 Business Class seats and 118 Economy seats.

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Frequent Virgin Club members are also entitled to complementary V ROOM passes for maximum luxury and chill out before travel. Virgin Holidays V ROOM at Gatwick Airport includes complementary breakfast a couples chill out area and tonnes of activities for kids to keep them entertained right at the start of the holiday when the excitement is at its peak!

To check out the latest Virgin Holiday deals visit www.virginholidays.co.uk, click on the banner below or Call 0844 5573 875

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Currently  bmi operates 1,800 flights a week to: Aberdeen; Addis Ababa; Aleppo; Almaty; Amsterdam; Antigua; Baku; Barbados Beirut; Belfast City; Bishkek; Brussels; Cairo; Chicago, Cologne; Copenhagen; Damascus; Dammam; Dublin; Durham Tees Valley; East Midlands; Edinburgh; Esbjerg; Freetown; Glasgow; Groningen; Hanover; Jeddah; Jersey; Khartoum; Las Vegas; Leeds Bradford; London Heathrow; Lyon; Manchester; Moscow Domodedovo; Naples; Norwich; Palma Mallorca; Riyadh; Tbilisi; Tehran; Tel Aviv; Venice; Yerevan; Zurich.

Visit www.flybmi.com for more information.

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They offer a secure online booking system so you can book your airport car parking with confidence and ease. You will receive confirmation of your booking and simple easy to follow directions so you know where you’re going.

Park and Go only offers safe and secure car parking facilities, you can view what security measures are in use at each car park on our website, but common measures include CCTV, Perimeter Fencing and 24 hr Security Guards. So you can be sure your vehicle is safe whilst you are away.

Pre-booking your car parking online with Park and Go saves you money compared to the cost you would pay on the day. In some cases you can save up to 40% on your UK airport parking by pre-booking and it guarantees you a space so you don’t have to worry about finding one when you arrive at the Airport.

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It’s also worth have a good look around the BootsnAll Travel Network which labels itself as it the ultimat resource for the independent traveller.  There are a huge number of resources there including a busy forum and a busy blog.

Well worth a try.

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* Caribbean – Antigua + Barbados
* Israel
* Turkey
* Jordan
* Majorca
* Egypt

To rebook you are advised to contact the BMI call centre on the numbers provied below. Proof of purchase with XL will be required.

Contact numbers:

* UK reservations for customers with bookings made directly with XL: 0870 60 70 555

* UK travel trade line for bookings made with XL via a travel agent: 0870 606 1000

* US reservations for customers with bookings made directly with XL or via a travel agent (001) 0800 7880 555

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XL customers currently overseas will be able to continue with their holidays as planned. We are currently organising the repatriation of customers who booked ATOL bonded packages and are stranded in Spain, Portugal, Bulgaria, Sardinia and Egypt and these flights will take place as close to the passengers original departure dates as possible. Our overseas teams will be working closely with the existing XL representatives in resort to facilitate the repatriation of customers back to the UK.

Passengers currently stranded overseas are advised in the first instance to visit the CAA website (www.atol.org.uk) or call +44 (0)2891856547. There will also be links from the XL website.

Further assistance available for those due to travel

XL customers who have booked an ATOL protected package or flight and are yet to travel, can arrange an alternative holiday. We are advising customers who booked direct, or through a Thomson or First Choice shop to take confirmation of their booking to any of our branches nationwide. Our retail team will be able to arrange an alternative holiday for them and assist with claiming the refund for their XL holiday or flight.

Customers who have booked with another travel agent are advised to visit the travel agent that sold them the holiday who can look at other options with First Choice and Thomson Holidays. Again both businesses will assist with the refund and arrange the paperwork on behalf of the customers.

The company has arranged a helpline for those not near a First Choice or Thomson shop, which is as follows: Tel: 0871 231 5704

All package holiday companies offering air inclusive arrangements must have an Air Travel Organisers Licence or ATOL, which ensures that consumers are repatriated or given a full refund if an airline collapses. This cover is usually not available when customers book separate flights and accommodation. A customer who books a scheduled flight direct with an airline is not given the same financial protection as those booked as part of a package.

Many consumers have a false sense of security, believing that their travel insurance will cover them if an airline fails, but usually, this is not the case. Credit card companies do offer some protection, but they will not repatriate passengers if they are abroad.

A recent survey of Thomson Holidays’ customers found that over 90% of holidaymakers said that having their holiday financially protected was important to them but also found that consumers were confused with over 50% of holidaymakers still wrongly believing that booking a scheduled flight directly with an airline meant they were financially protected in the event of bankruptcy.

Despite a Government commitment to encourage scheduled airlines to communicate the fact that flight only bookings are not protected by the ATOL scheme, over 50% of passengers wrongly believed that having paid upfront for their flights in good faith, their money would be protected if the airline went bankrupt.

More detailed advice for customers:

XL Customers who booked direct

If you have booked a holiday or flight with one of these holiday companies direct (ie: not through a travel agent), please go to your local Thomson or First Choice travel shop. In most cases they will be able to transfer the value of your booking to a new holiday with the minimum of fuss. Our retail staff will be able to then reclaim the value of your lost holiday..

XL Customers booked through a Thomson or First Choice Shop

If you have booked a holiday with one of these companies through a Thomson or First Choice Travel Shop, please go back to the shop where they will be able to help. In most cases we will be able to simply transfer the value of your holiday with the failed company onto another holiday. The travel agent will be able to then reclaim the value of your lost holiday .

XL Customers who booked with a travel agent

If you booked a holiday with one of these companies through any other high street travel agent brand please go back to see them. We are working closely with all UK travel agents on this issue and will in most cases be able to transfer your lost holiday value onto a First Choice or Thomson holiday with the minimum of fuss and no penalty.

In all cases customers should bring all the original documents and proof of payments made to the travel agent. This will help speed things up.

For more information on XL help, customers are being directed to www.thomson.co.uk/xlassistance

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