British Airways (BA) has made an announcement regarding their launch of a new remote check-in service which allows travellers to check in for their flights whilst they are ‘on the go’.

Passengers are able to check in using their mobile phones and the service is also available in eleven different languages without downloading any necessary software.

All customers need to do is to log on to the mobile section of the British Airways website and they will be able to view the airlines timetable, select seats and check in either groups or individuals.

Chris Carmichael, BA’s innovation and planning manager, said: ‘We are proud to be the first UK airline to offer a remote check-in service in 11 languages. We recognise that our customers have busy lifestyles, and by offering greater accessibility we hope to enhance their overall travel experience.’

Earlier this year in July, BA launched an application for the Apple iPhone which allowed users to check using their mobile and within the first month more than 16,000 downloads were made, which proves the popularity and demand for this sort of service.

If popular, more airlines are likely to offer some sort of similar service for their flights.

Bmi to remove fuel surcharges

Airline bmi has made an announcement that it is to remove all its fuel surcharges on both domestic and European flights.

The airline is London Heathrow’s second largest carrier according to bmi and they have said that this initiative is in response to the current economic situation and their need to provider lower flight prices for both corporate and leisure passengers.

BA and Virgin Atlantic have also made similar announcements in recent week that they are reducing their own surcharges on both long and short haul flights.

Peter Spencer, bmi’s managing director, said: ‘Bmi has always been a market leader in UK and Europe and is committed to providing the best value flights backed up by our renowned friendly service. Our extensive UK domestic and European mainline network links 17 cities and the abolition of fuel surcharges on these short-haul flights [is] designed to help encourage more business and leisure travel.’

Bmi has said that their fuel surcharges are still to remain in place on the regional flights in both the UK and Europe.

Bmi offers flights to many cities across Europe from London Heathrow airport including places such as Dublin, Lyon, Venice, Amsterdam and Edinburgh.

According to a statement from the Association of Independent Tour Operators, British holidaymakers believe that they are receiving better value for money when they go on holiday if they go to more ‘touristy’ places.

The Association said that Brits prefer to visit holiday destinations, whether they are going on luxury holidays or cheap holidays, which have a better infrastructure and sights or attractions to see above all others.

A spokesperson for the Association said:

“Even though we’re away from home, people still want the feeling of home. The Middle East is proving popular, you’ve got lots of hotel capacity in Dubai. Other places like Muscat in Oman or Bahrain and Abu Dhabi are popular as it has great choices, good weather and friendly people. There are certain towns that have a British feel.”

It seems that we Brits really do prefer to holiday at a ‘home away from home’.

Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that there was a decrease in visits abroad by UK residents in the three month period from June to August this year by one per cent.

However, trips to North America and Europe increased by one per cent.

The two airlines, Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines, have finally merged and now the merger has been officially completed.

Almost all travel markets worldwide will be serviced by flights from the new joint airline, which is named Delta, as it will serve around 375 cities across the globe on all the continents.

Delta CEO Richard Anderson said: ‘The airline industry faces a very difficult economic environment around the world and this merger gives Delta increased flexibility to adapt to the economic changes ahead.  With much of the work to bring our airlines together well under way the new Delta will be at the front of the pack in achieving the benefits of consolidation and is well positioned to navigate the tough waters ahead.’

The new Delta airline is to be based in Atlanta in the United States.  The customer benefits available from the two previous separate airlines are hoped to continue with the new merged airline.

The new Delta airline will fly from almost every main airport in the UK and to destinations as far and wide as New York, Paris, Singapore and Mumbai, amongst others.

P&O Cruises has announced that a new cruise liner is expected to join the rest of their fleet from 2010 and they have named her Azura.

Azura is the same size as P&O Cruises existing superline, Ventura, which was only added to the fleet earlier this year.  Like Ventura, Azura will have the capacity to carry 3,100 passengers across 15 decks so will be a great option for those searching for luxury holidays.

The managing director of P&O Cruises, Nigel Esdale, said:

“Evoking images of the ocean and capturing the thrill of cruise travel, the name Azura is very fitting for this most sophisticated of superliners.  It is also appropriate for a ship that will be a haven of serenity and the embodiment [of] the choice and service excellence for which P&O Cruises is renowned.”

Over the fifteen decks, there will be an amazing range of facilities including five boutiques, eleven restaurants, two passenger lounges, four pools and over 900 balcony-fitted cabins.  Cruise passengers will not be short of things to do.

Azura’s maiden voyage is expected to commence from Southampton docks in the late spring of 2010, with the complete itinerary and destinations yet to be announced but expected in early spring of 2009.

Reports from technology company Steape state that mobile phone phrasebooks are likely to prove more and more popular with travellers because they offer a higher degree of security.

Steape is working in conjunction with Lonely Planet to create an audio phrasebook for all mobile phones enabled with Java.  These mobile phrasebooks will offer English translations of approximately 200 phrases in ten different languages to start with.

The phrases will be accessible in both audio translations played through your mobile phone’s speaker and also in text format.

A technical officer from Steape, Bas Jaburg, commented that the guides should prove useful for the majority of holidaymakers these days as most already use mobile phones.

He added:

“For travellers, having a means of communication gives them some security and backpackers will probably be going to countries where people don’t speak English, and they can’t speak the language or read the signs.  In an emergency or even if you just need to get to the airport and have no idea how to get there it could be a lifesaver.”

The mobile phrasebook will be sold in a downloadable format at a cost of just €4 (£3.20).

Lonely Planet also publishes printed phrasebooks which, after the company’s renowned travel guides, are the company’s largest profit mechanism.

Regional airline Flybe is celebrating their 2008 Brussels Airport Environmental Award this year, which is their second award for their green performance in 2008.

Last month, at the Budgie Awards, the airline was given an honour for their ‘special merit for commitment to the environment’.

Flybe’s representatives collected the recent award on the 23rd October, having beaten competition from other airlines such as Air Canada, British Airways, Etihad and Lufthansa.

Their green initiatives include investing $3 billion (£1.9 billion) on new aircraft, which will apparently make it the most fuel efficient and youngest fleet globally by the end of next year.

Mike Rutter, the airline’s chief commercial officer, said:

“We’re honoured to receive this award from Brussels airport that recognises Flybe’s environmental credentials.  Our $3bn investment into a dual type, state-of-the-art environmentally sensitive fleet and the launch of the world’s first and only eco-label for the aviation industry, have both contributed to Flybe taking an industry lead and making a significant contribution in this area.”

Flybe is claiming that it is the most successful European regional airline, as it now has over 190 routes servicing thirteen different countries.

Luxury holidays do not stop in winter, according to Costa Cruises, who say that travellers should consider taking a cruise to flee the winter weather.

Costa Cruises has a fleet of cruise liners that travel to worldwide destinations, include sunshine hotspots such as the Indian Ocean, the Far East and Caribbean beach resorts.

There are many options for travellers this winter, including a trip on the Costa Europa with an itinerary that commences in Port Louis in Mauritius, heads to the Seychelles and then on to Mombasa in Kenya.

Following a visit to the Comoros Islands to Mayotte, this particular cruise then continues to Madagascar and Reunion, the home of a real live volcano, before finally ending its journey where it began, in Mauritius.

Those interested in Caribbean luxury holidays may wish to take a look at the Costa Atlantica, which will be setting sail from Guadeloupe on the 13th December this winter on a journey that will include visits to St Maarten, St Lucia, Antigua and other sunny destinations over its four month cruise.

Other cruises available to Costa Cruises passengers are options to sail around south-east Asia with the Costa Allegra, southern Europe on the Costa Serena and South America on the Costa Mediterranea.

According to a recent report from the Post Office on the price of skiing holidays, they reveal that increased costs in the United Stated are making Europe much more attractive for cheap skiing holidays.

Those looking for bargain holidays should be looking at Eastern Europe according to this study, although France, Austria and Switzerland are also likely to benefit from rising costs in US resorts.

The cheapest skiing destination is apparently Romania, then followed by Slovakia, although Slovakia is soon to join the eurozone in January and so resort costs are likely to be affected.

Third on the list was Bulgaria. Others in the top ten included Italy, Germany, Finland ad Austria.

Helen Warburton, head of travel at the Post Office, said:

‘Although the pound will not stretch as far for UK skiers as in previous years, there is still good value to be had. Resort prices in France, Austria, Switzerland and particularly Italy look good value when compared with the US, while the emerging ski resorts outside the eurozone – especially Romania and Slovakia – will be excellent choices for beginners and for families on a tight budget.’

Those skiers feeling a little more adventurous could try the Post Office’s adventurous suggestion of Argentina, reportedly half the price of the ski passes and equipment in the US.

Qantas Airline announced earlier this week that on the 20th October it made history by launching the first ever commercial Airbus A380 flight, which made the journey from Australia to America.

The flight departed from Melbourne at 11:15 Australian time and made its way to Los Angeles, where is was met by the mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio Villaraigosa, as well as celebrities Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.

The Chief Executive Officer at Qantas, Geoff Dixon, said this flight demonstrated the air carrier’s commitment to its transpacific market.  He said:

“We have operated air services between Australia and the United States since 1954 and have invested significantly over our 54 years of operation to develop these routes,’ he added.  Today, we offer 47 services a week to the US, plus daily extensions to New York. In fact, we offer more services to the USA than any other international market with the exception of New Zealand.”

This Melbourne-Los Angeles flight is to be followed by another A380 commercial flight tomorrow, Friday 24th October, when it will fly between Sydney and Los Angeles.  Another flights service will be launch in January next year when they add flights to London, through Singapore, to their itinerary.

The Qantas superjumbo comprises four cabins; business class, economy, premium economy and first class, and altogether has 450 seats available.