Holiday News - Archive 2003 (page 2)
Sentinel on trial
Terminal 1 at Heathrow is trialling a new type of security check � to detect terrorist explosives or weapons – which sounds like something from Startrek.
A passenger walks through the Ionscan Sentinel II detection arch and air is blown across body and clothing, dislodging trapped particles and vapours. Any residue is drawn into the machine and analysed for suspicious substances within seconds.
The Terminal also has a new Xray machine – Rapiscan AXIS-3D – which gives a three dimensional screen image of a passenger's bag, allowing security staff a clearer view of the contents and increasing their ability to locate any prohibited items. The operator of this X-ray machine has to wear special glasses to gain the enhanced view on the screen – which explains the 3D part of the machine's title.
The BAA says it has high hopes for both these systems and, subject to trial results, looks forward to their wider introduction across its airports.
At present passengers are being chosen at random for both the new pieces of equipment. Feed back from passengers and staff has been favourable.
Cards safer than cash on holiday
New research from Capital One Bank estimates that British holidaymakers will lose or have stolen around £323 million in cash while on holiday abroad this year.
Of the 13 million Britons going overseas, about one in 14 will suffer the loss or theft of cash. The average amount lost is a staggering £359 per incident.
Rob Habgood of Capital One says, "Taking credit cards abroad is a lot safer than cash and may be less costly than travellers' cheques. If cash disappears it is lost for good, but credit cards can be cancelled in an instant."
Credit card company Mastercard has come up with the following tips for protecting your plastic on holiday:
- Don't take more cards than you need. The fewer you have with you, the quicker you will notice if one is missing.
- Write down the helpline number. Keep this separate from your card, with a note of your account number.
- Report losses immediately to your card issuer (lines are open 24 hours a day) and tell the police.
- Check your statement when you get home. If you see any transactions you do not recognise, notify your card issuer.
- Take care of receipts – don't just throw them away. When disposing of financial documents, tear or shred them.
- Protect your PIN. Never write it down and don't disclose it to anyone.
- Try to keep your card in sight and when it is returned, make sure it is yours.
- Never sign a blank receipt slip. Draw a line through any blank amount lines that appear above the total amount line.
Shorts
CARRIBBEAN CHARTERS
Charter flights to the Caribbean are hard to come by these days, so many
will welcome the news that Excel Airways is launching routes to Grenada,
Tobago and St Kitts from November. Flights start at just £299, making
these beautiful islands more affordable.
VIEW DON'T QUEUE
The Uffizi in Florence is top of most people's must-visit list but there
can be long queues for this and the city's Accademia gallery.
But there is another way. An association of Florence's museums, the Firenze
Musei, issues prebooked tickets. They cost extra – €3 per person
per museum – but it's worth it. Just call in advance with your details
(good English is spoken) and you will be given a reservation number. All
you need do when you arrive is float past the queues to the reservations
desk, pay and enter. Telephone 0039 055 294883 (Mon-Fri 8.30-6.30, Sat
8.30-12.30)
Website: www.firenzemusei.it
SPACED OUT
Passengers flying out of Gatwick (and soon Heathrow) with Virgin Atlantic
can buy themselves extra leg room for £50. The extra space comes
with seats next to emergency exits. There are only 18 on a Boeing 747
and, as they can't be booked in advance, you need to check in early to
avoid disappointment.
WINELANDS OF SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa has wine farms – and wine tours – in abundance.
If you fancy visiting one, click on to www.winelands.co.za, choose your
area, then choose your vineyard to find out visiting times. But it's not
all sipping and sampling. The site also details activities like abseiling
– probably best to indulge in the the latter before the former (there
again, perhaps it should be the other way round).