In many respects, 2013 has been a good for travelers. There have been notable improvements in air travel and progress on staying in touch when we are abroad. But it's not all been good news: the situation in Egypt caused great stress for many holiday makers, and car hire continues to be a minefield. Here's is the Crafty Traveler's end of year report...
PROGRESS:
Ryan air gets a bit nicer. To bolster bookings, Ryan air is trying to improve it's image. The most welcome development is fully allocated seating (available from February 1). Other changes include a 24-hour grace period to recently minor booking errors, and somewhat less punitive baggage rules and fees- you can now take a second small bag on the plane, and excess baggage charges have been halved. Flight delay compensation
Last spring, the European commission spelled out in much greater detail what constitutes 'extraordinary circumstances'- the excuse airlines normally se for not being liable to pay compensation for delays and cancellations- and what doesn't. The Civil Aviation Authority says this clarification has made it easier to pressure airlines into coughing up, though passenger rights need to be made much clearer still.
Dreamliner takes off
the introduction of the new Boeing 787 has not been smooth due to technical issues, but I hear nothing but praise from those who have flown in the aircraft- cabins are more spacious and lighter, and the air is less dry, so you arrive feeling fresher. Thomson (Thomson.co.uk) is now flying the Dreamliner on some long-haul routes.
Roaming free
Mobile operator three (three.co.uk) deserves praise for beginning to dispense with punitive extra charges for using mobiles aboard. http://www.reddit.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
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