Challenger brands work wonders for the traveller

Virgin Atlantic celebrates its 40th birthday tomorrow ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD1jaWVkcXg1ZWk4NDMmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [The Independent](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0SwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvP2xpZD1rdnV1cGI1ZDc5cmYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Friday, June 21, 2024     [Simon Calder's Travel Week](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsP2xpZD11bWVodHU0OTlsMGMmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) [Simon Calder's Travel Week](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsP2xpZD1lMHFrc2JzNjVlY2YmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)   Competition works wonders in travel. Forty years ago tomorrow, Virgin Atlantic started flying a Jumbo jet from London Gatwick to New York Newark. That a music industry mogul, Richard Branson, had the temerity to start competing on the prime intercontinental air route was deeply offensive to the traditional aviation industry. They presumed the-then single plane airline would soon go the way of Laker Airways, which had gone bust two years earlier. But [Sir Freddie Laker](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2Uvc2lyLWZyZWRkaWUtbGFrZXItY2hhbXBpb24tb2YtdGhlLXNtYWxsZnJ5LWZsaWVyLTM0NjA4Mi5odG1sP2xpZD16bHk1aThkaGVkMXkmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) – who had received a £8m payout from his larger rivals to settle a predatory pricing case – urged the Virgin founder to compete on quality as well as airfares. The [Boeing 747](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QPAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvYnJpdGlzaC1haXJ3YXlzLWJvZWluZy03NDctanVtYm8tamV0LWdyb3VuZGVkLXNpbW9uLWNhbGRlci1hOTYyNDE3Ni5odG1sP2xpZD0xaGQzNXB5YjNhOGsmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) whose top deck inspired the name “Upper Class” has long flown off to the scrapyard. But Virgin’s upfront cabin is still enticing premium passengers. This formidable “challenger brand” has harried British Airways on key long-haul routes for four decades, and will soon resume competing from Heathrow to Toronto. BA’s big European rivals – Air France and Lufthansa – face no such foe. British Airways is a much better airline as a result of Virgin Atlantic constantly snapping at its heels. [When I talked to (now Sir) Richard Branson](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvcmljaGFyZC1icmFuc29uLXZpcmdpbi1hdGxhbnRpYy00MC15ZWFycy1pbnRlcnZpZXctYjI1NjExNDIuaHRtbD9saWQ9MWltbnJ6bTE2ZXBnJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) ahead of the 40th birthday, he revealed his part in another aviation start up: “Many years ago I was doing a talk in Greece and this young lad who was in his late 20s kept asking me questions. And that was Stelios [Haji-Iaonnou, founder of easyJet]. He said, ‘Should I should I start one then?’. My motto: screw it, just do it.” And the rest is bright orange aviation history. [First London-New York flight powered by sustainable aviation fuel](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHYvbGlmZXN0eWxlL3Zpcmdpbi1hdGxhbnRpYy1zdXN0YWluYWJsZS1mbGlnaHQtc2ltb24tY2FsZGVyLWIyNDU0Njc2Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWdrNnlsZGNuemhvcyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) - Dublin down: [What the Aer Lingus pilots' dispute could mean for your trip](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QAAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvYWVyLWxpbmd1cy1waWxvdHMtc3RyaWtlLWZsaWdodHMtZGlzcnVwdGlvbi1iMjU2NTMzNS5odG1sP2xpZD16dHNkZjZkYWMweHImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) - Dubious digs:~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QJAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvY2l0eS1jZW50cmUtY2hlY2staW4tZ2F0d2ljay1leHByZXNzLWZsaWdodHMtYWlycG9ydC1iMjU0NDg5NC5odG1sP2xpZD0yMWJnbjA5bDM1YzYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9oZWF0aHJvdy1haXJwb3J0LXRyYW5zaXQtZXRhLWxvcmRzLWIyNTQ4NDg4Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXpkanloczVyYnZpaSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QJAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvY2l0eS1jZW50cmUtY2hlY2staW4tZ2F0d2ljay1leHByZXNzLWZsaWdodHMtYWlycG9ydC1iMjU0NDg5NC5odG1sP2xpZD1lYTBxMW9tZXdjeTQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9oZWF0aHJvdy1haXJwb3J0LXRyYW5zaXQtZXRhLWxvcmRzLWIyNTQ4NDg4Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWgzdXAyZjN1eGxkYSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ 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rights if an online accommodation booking goes wrong](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QIAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2Uvb25saW5lLWFjY29tbW9kYXRpb24taG9saWRheS1ib29raW5nLXJpZ2h0cy1yZWZ1bmRzLWIyNTY0MzkxLmh0bWw_bGlkPWg5bXFmY20wcTYzYiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9oZWF0aHJvdy1haXJwb3J0LXRyYW5zaXQtZXRhLWxvcmRzLWIyNTQ4NDg4Lmh0bWw_bGlkPXNsMHJpa3V2dGdpdCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QJAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvY2l0eS1jZW50cmUtY2hlY2staW4tZ2F0d2ljay1leHByZXNzLWZsaWdodHMtYWlycG9ydC1iMjU0NDg5NC5odG1sP2xpZD0ydWlpYW53dGN0ZDImdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QJAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvY2l0eS1jZW50cmUtY2hlY2staW4tZ2F0d2ljay1leHByZXNzLWZsaWdodHMtYWlycG9ydC1iMjU0NDg5NC5odG1sP2xpZD14cmNvbzljazViMmUmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ - Right track? [Labour pledges rail fare reform and 'billions in savings'](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9yYWlsLWxhYm91ci10cmFpbnMtcGFzc2VuZ2Vycy10YXhwYXllcnMtYjI1NjMyMjMuaHRtbD9saWQ9d2F4bDIwMHByOW52JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QHAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvcmljaGFyZC1icmFuc29uLXZpcmdpbi1hdGxhbnRpYy00MC15ZWFycy1pbnRlcnZpZXctYjI1NjExNDIuaHRtbD9saWQ9MGQwNHh0bmQ2ZnIyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj Maiden Voyager: Richard Branson launches Virgin Atlantic on 22 June 1984   Get inspired ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9mcmFuY2UvcGFyaXMvbWFyYWlzLXBhcmlzLWNpdHktYnJlYWstYjI1NjM4MDcuaHRtbD9saWQ9bGF3a3A5cTBza3hiJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Le Marais: The chicest district in Paris](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9mcmFuY2UvcGFyaXMvbWFyYWlzLXBhcmlzLWNpdHktYnJlYWstYjI1NjM4MDcuaHRtbD9saWQ9ZDk1dXRsNTZiNWw3JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) With its electric eateries and trendy hotels, the area is perfect for a fashionable city break. [Read more.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9mcmFuY2UvcGFyaXMvbWFyYWlzLXBhcmlzLWNpdHktYnJlYWstYjI1NjM4MDcuaHRtbD9saWQ9bGZjcjk4MmJ3Y3ptJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25vcnRoLWFtZXJpY2EvdmllcXVlcy1wdWVydG8tcmljby1pc2xhbmQtYjI1NjQ0MTEuaHRtbD9saWQ9NXM5Z3ZnOTFnd3Y0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [This island is an idyllic Caribbean getaway](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25vcnRoLWFtZXJpY2EvdmllcXVlcy1wdWVydG8tcmljby1pc2xhbmQtYjI1NjQ0MTEuaHRtbD9saWQ9a2FtdDQ5Y3hjZzloJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) Home to one of the brightest bioluminescent bays in the world, Vieques feels relatively undiscovered. [Read more.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TtaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25vcnRoLWFtZXJpY2EvdmllcXVlcy1wdWVydG8tcmljby1pc2xhbmQtYjI1NjQ0MTEuaHRtbD9saWQ9NTYweHRjOWJmdG44JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2FzaWEvbWFsYXlzaWEvcGFuZ2tvci1sYXV0LW1hbGF5c2lhLWlzbGFuZC1jdWlzaW5lLWIyNTU5OTcyLmh0bWw_bGlkPXAxaDJha2hkdGRsbiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ [Anna Friel and daughter explore paradise](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2FzaWEvbWFsYXlzaWEvcGFuZ2tvci1sYXV0LW1hbGF5c2lhLWlzbGFuZC1jdWlzaW5lLWIyNTU5OTcyLmh0bWw_bGlkPW1hOW96aDQ4MzIzMyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) The remote Malaysian island of Pangkor Laut provides the space and time to unplug and bond. [Read more.](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2FzaWEvbWFsYXlzaWEvcGFuZ2tvci1sYXV0LW1hbGF5c2lhLWlzbGFuZC1jdWlzaW5lLWIyNTU5OTcyLmh0bWw_bGlkPXp3bGxjaXEzNG80aiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   For 30 years I have been writing as The Man Who Pays His Way – with the strongest of incentives to seek out the best value in travel, and to hold holiday companies, airlines and the rest of the industry to account. They still advertise with The Independent, and work with us in partnership on commercial ventures (all of which are clearly badged, incidentally, to keep them distinct from pure editorial). During those three decades, the travel desk has always been small but focused: telling the stories of innovation, indulgence and adventure, along with a reliable tangle of transport chaos along the way. My excellent colleagues (all of whom seem to be even younger than me) are also formidably productive. The work has become sharper and faster since The Independent went entirely online eight years ago, and as a reader I believe the journalism is even better. To judge for yourself, [try taking out a subscription](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP2xpZD1meG43enp2aXptYWomdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~); by doing so, you will join the elite who can ask direct travel questions of me every week, in [our special Premium Ask Me Anything newsletter](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP2xpZD05M3FiMjNkeXYwMHYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). And for a limited time only, you can [secure 6 months for just £1](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP2xpZD04MGxnZ3BtaWNyaW8mdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). Looking forward to hearing from you. [SECURE 6 MONTHS FOR JUST £1](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP2xpZD12ejFyODBtenlpdGgmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~)   Essential reading - [The best hotels at London's biggest airports](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QFAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9ob3RlbHMvbG9uZG9uLWFpcnBvcnQtaG90ZWwtaGVhdGhyb3ctc3RhbnN0ZWQtZ2F0d2ljay1sdXRvbi1jaXR5LWIyMTE1NTk3Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWFxMnp2dHVxaHRyYyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) - [The 50 ages of travel: what's allowed, what's banned, what's cheap?](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QDAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvbWluaW11bS1hZ2UtcmFpbGNhcmQtY2FyLXJlbnRhbC1jcnVpc2UtZmxpZ2h0cy1iMjMxODMzMC5odG1sP2xpZD1pYXdpazB4cTB2OWUmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) - [Paris Olympics: rail fares and hotel rates tumble](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9wYXJpcy1vbHltcGljcy1mbGlnaHRzLWV1cm9zdGFyLWZhcmVzLWZhbGwtYjI1NjI1NDEuaHRtbD9saWQ9czFqdGQycWpuanltJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)   Simon’s dispatches Tomorrow – 40 years to the day after the maiden Virgin Atlantic departure – Gatwick airport will be the venue for another first. It might not look immediately significant: the first Singapore Airlines departure. Anyone keen to fly from London to Singapore has been able to do so for decades, departing from Heathrow (apart a brief spell when Norwegian also flew from Gatwick to the South East Asian hub). But from tomorrow [travellers in a hurry to reach Sydney](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QOAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2UvbG9uZG9uLXN5ZG5leS1mYXN0ZXN0LWZsaWdodC1hdXN0cmFsaWEtc2luZ2Fwb3JlLWFpcmxpbmVzLWIyNTY1ODU1Lmh0bWw_bGlkPWV3ZjJkcTJheW8yMyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) can shave half-an-hour off the journey time. With a connection at Singapore Changi airport of just 55 minutes, you can reach Australia’s main gateway in 21 hours and 40 minutes. A much better plan: be kind to yourself and [build in a stopover in Singapore](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL3RyYXZlbGJhZy1zaW5nYXBvcmUvc2luZ2Fwb3JlLXRyYXZlbC1ob3RlbHMtaG9saWRheXMtYjIyNDE0MDMuaHRtbD9saWQ9NHRoZzc1M2o0eGo3JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). For most of us, the primary ingredient is cost – and that is where Gatwick comes in. The Sussex airport has long been Heathrow’s challenger brand. [Gatwick](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25ld3MtYW5kLWFkdmljZS9nYXR3aWNrLWFpcnBvcnQtbmV3LXRyYWluLXN0YXRpb24tb3Blbi1iMjQ1MDk4Ny5odG1sP2xpZD10YzIyd3U0ZzRqZzQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) was clobbered far harder by Covid than any other major airline, but has now built back to its traditional place as the busiest single-runway airport in the world. Its charges are much lower than the planet’s busiest two-runway airport, Heathrow. And with Singapore Airlines the latest carrier to launch flights from Gatwick as well as Heathrow, the passenger is the winner. Even better, Gatwick has its own challenger: Stansted. They are the main hubs for easyJet and Ryanair respectively, and their main business is flying you and me to the Mediterranean. But the Essex airport is now building up its intercontinental links – and once the winter schedules begin, Stansted will steal the “quickest flight to Sydney” title – thanks to Emirates and a one-hour connection at [Dubai](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL25vcnRoLWFmcmljYS1taWRkbGUtZWFzdC91YWUvZHViYWkvYmVzdC10aGluZ3MtdG8tZG8tZHViYWktYjIzNjkwMDEuaHRtbD9saWQ9bjJwNTJ2bjN5czg5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). Meanwhile, I was intrigued to discover that flights from Birmingham, Glasgow and Manchester will get you to Sydney as quickly as the faster from Heathrow. Keep challenging – we are all winners. [Flying far? Why turbulence is getting worse – podcast](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QaAWh0dHBzOi8vc2hvd3MuYWNhc3QuY29tL2dyZWVuLWxpc3QtdHJhdmVsLXdpdGgtc2ltb24tY2FsZGVyLWFuZC10aGUtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQvZXBpc29kZXMvanVuZS0xOHRoLXdoeS10dXJidWxlbmNlLWNvdWxkLWJlLWdldHRpbmctd29yc2U_bGlkPTh2MDNoNWdjOGh6cCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   PICK OF THE WEEK Explore Vietnam: 11-Day Adventure from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4RVAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZhbHVlYWRkZWR0cmF2ZWwuY29tL3R5cGVzL3RvdXJzL3ZpZXRuYW0vYmVzdC1vZi12aWV0bmFtLTEwLW5pZ2h0cy0xMS1kYXlzLXRvdXI_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1pbmRlcGVuZGVudCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXJlZmVycmFsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1iZXN0X29mX3ZpZXRuYW1fMTBfbmlnaHRzXzExX2RheXNfdG91cl9qdW5fMjAyNCZsaWQ9YnFqMjYzM28zbm9oJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj [Discover Vietnam's highlights from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, including Ha Long Bay, Mekong Delta, and Hoi An. Immerse in local culture and history on this 11-day adventure. Book now from £2970/pp!](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4RVAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZhbHVlYWRkZWR0cmF2ZWwuY29tL3R5cGVzL3RvdXJzL3ZpZXRuYW0vYmVzdC1vZi12aWV0bmFtLTEwLW5pZ2h0cy0xMS1kYXlzLXRvdXI_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1pbmRlcGVuZGVudCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXJlZmVycmFsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1iZXN0X29mX3ZpZXRuYW1fMTBfbmlnaHRzXzExX2RheXNfdG91cl9qdW5fMjAyNCZsaWQ9aTB0YmJjczZwYjh6JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)   INSIDER TIPS Argyle and Islay to Northern Ireland by ferry ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0StaHR0cHM6Ly9raW50eXJlZXhwcmVzcy5jb20vP2xpZD14bXRwam45YXVmNGYmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~ Northern Ireland has long-established Scottish ferry links – but the southwest of Scotland has only intermittently been connected with Ulster. The fast, passenger-only [Kintyre Express](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0StaHR0cHM6Ly9raW50eXJlZXhwcmVzcy5jb20vP2xpZD1vazE2emo5ZmtjbjQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) solves that problem, with daily departures from Ballycastle on the Antrim coast to both Campbeltown in Kintyre and the island of Islay. The one-way fare is a surprising £80 – but as a time-saver you might find it good value. [BELFAST TO GLASGOW THE PRETTY WAY](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QYAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2Uvc2V2ZW4tYWR2ZW50dXJlcy1kYXlzLWJlbGZhc3QtZ2xhc2dvdy1pc2xheS1pc2xhbmQtdHJhaW4tYm9hdC1wbGFuZS1hOTA3NDAyNi5odG1sP2xpZD1sa3AzdXJiZXJ4em0mdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~) Breton boost The far northwestern French city of Brest is currently unconnected by air from the UK. From November, though, [the budget airline Volotea](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TAaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudm9sb3RlYS5jb20vZW4vY2hlYXAtZmxpZ2h0cy9icmVzdD9saWQ9Y3pkeTd3d2dycDZrJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) starts flying from London Gatwick with fares from €47 (£40) [Our latest travel guide to France](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvdHJhdmVsL2V1cm9wZS9mcmFuY2UvZnJhbmNlLWNvdW50cnktZ3VpZGUtdHJhdmVsLWhvbGlkYXktYjIxMzU3MzcuaHRtbD9saWQ9bGJtbm84cGFvMXllJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF5LmFjYXN0LmNvbS9zL2dyZWVuLWxpc3QtdHJhdmVsLXdpdGgtc2ltb24tY2FsZGVyLWFuZC10aGUtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQ_bGlkPWcwYWJiOGswZjVkZSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~ ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF5LmFjYXN0LmNvbS9zL2dyZWVuLWxpc3QtdHJhdmVsLXdpdGgtc2ltb24tY2FsZGVyLWFuZC10aGUtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQ_bGlkPW52NWJmZGl0dWdzNSZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~   [Backpacks with wheels](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L3RyYXZlbC1vdXRkb29ycy9sdWdnYWdlL2Jlc3QtYmFja3BhY2std2l0aC13aGVlbHMtYjE5MDIwMDAuaHRtbD9saWQ9dXVhY28xejRuM3A2JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) We've reviewed the [best backpacks with wheels](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvZXh0cmFzL2luZHliZXN0L3RyYXZlbC1vdXRkb29ycy9sdWdnYWdlL2Jlc3QtYmFja3BhY2std2l0aC13aGVlbHMtYjE5MDIwMDAuaHRtbD9saWQ9ZTdnY2s4eHNiY3J0JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj) to help take the weight off your shoulders when travelling.   Question of the week Question of the week Buy easyJet, fly someone else?     I was searching for flights from London to Biarritz on the easyJet website, for next week. But when I clicked to book, it said: “A small number of flights on this route may be operated by our trusted airline partners, SmartLynx or Avion Express”. What's going on?     SmartLynx and Avion Express are both subsidiaries of the world’s biggest “unknown airline”: Avia Solutions Group. This Dublin-based company is the leading short-term supplier of planes with pilots and cabin crew: known as “wet-leasing”, or by the acronym ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance). Fully crewed aircraft are in demand in summer – and it is standard practice for an airline to subcontract some of its peak schedule flying to an “ACMI” carrier. One June I flew from Seville to Stansted on Air Arabia, having booked with Ryanair. Wet-leasing helps to meet demand for the high-revenue summer without having expensive planes and crews sitting on the books during low-revenue winter. EasyJet is in that position. The airline says: "In peak periods, we sometimes work with partner airlines to operate flights on our behalf..” On a flight of less than two hours to southwest France, the experience is likely to be very similar to “real” easyJet. Both SmartLynx and Avion Express meet all the appropriate safety standards and I would happily fly on either. To ask your own question, get Simon's Ask Me Anything newsletter by [subscribing to Independent Premium](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvc3Vic2NyaWJlP2xpZD1oZGd6MnB0bTlnN3AmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~).   ~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4RVAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnZhbHVlYWRkZWR0cmF2ZWwuY29tL3R5cGVzL3RvdXJzL3ZpZXRuYW0vYmVzdC1vZi12aWV0bmFtLTEwLW5pZ2h0cy0xMS1kYXlzLXRvdXI_dXRtX3NvdXJjZT1pbmRlcGVuZGVudCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPXJlZmVycmFsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1iZXN0X29mX3ZpZXRuYW1fMTBfbmlnaHRzXzExX2RheXNfdG91cl9qdW5fMjAyNCZsaWQ9Y2J4Nm5yc3lkeXJ5JnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj   STAT OF THE WEEK £5,364 [Financial resources officially required by Spain for a UK family of four on a two-week holiday](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP4QKAWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL3RyYXZlbC9uZXdzLWFuZC1hZHZpY2Uvc3BhaW4tdHJhdmVsLXVrLWJyZXhpdC1sZXR0ZXItb2YtaW52aXRhdGlvbi1kb2N1bWVudHMtYjI1NjUzNzAuaHRtbD9saWQ9ZGJ1aDFjanYwd3BuJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj)     [Train journeys](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpuLnRvLzNWUWxiYjU_bGlkPWM0MXRuNGxoOHQzMyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Discover 60 unforgettable rail trips around the world and save £5 on this Lonely Planet book. [GET DEAL](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpuLnRvLzNWUWxiYjU_bGlkPTBtcTI4a2t6eTJkcyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) [charger](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpuLnRvLzRiNVVOT00_bGlkPTF3MXdraDJrbHN6eCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) Never run out of battery while travelling – this handy portable charger is almost half price. [GET DEAL](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly9hbXpuLnRvLzRiNVVOT00_bGlkPXA2aHB4eThocHQwbyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~)   MORE FROM SIMON Listen to my daily podcast, ‘Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast’ – available free on [Spotify](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TlaHR0cHM6Ly9vcGVuLnNwb3RpZnkuY29tL3Nob3cvMHMwSGwyaExoazR5VTFIMGFHVG5Vdz9zaT05V2dSS3NjYlROMlc1eElLYi1zT0lBJm5kPTEmbGlkPTZ0ZTR1ZDBkczQxYiZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~), [Apple Podcasts](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0T8aHR0cHM6Ly9wb2RjYXN0cy5hcHBsZS5jb20vZ2IvcG9kY2FzdC9ncmVlbi1saXN0LXRyYXZlbC13aXRoLXNpbW9uLWNhbGRlci1hbmQtdGhlLWluZGVwZW5kZW50L2lkMTU2NjkxNTc3MD9saWQ9czl3Mnl3Mm5kbnZqJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj), [Pocket Casts](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0SpaHR0cHM6Ly9wY2Euc3QvbXU0bDNjd2Q_bGlkPTZ2bjZwZ25yd2txcCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) or [Acast](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0TiaHR0cHM6Ly9wbGF5LmFjYXN0LmNvbS9zL2dyZWVuLWxpc3QtdHJhdmVsLXdpdGgtc2ltb24tY2FsZGVyLWFuZC10aGUtaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQ_bGlkPXEybDk0YnRzdWVoYyZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~). Be the first to see big travel stories by following me on X/Twitter [@SimonCalder](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S0aHR0cDovL3d3dy50d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9zaW1vbmNhbGRlcj9saWQ9NmtxeTY4aHdlenAyJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1icmF6ZSZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249U2ltb24gQ2FsZGVyJ3MgVHJhdmVsIFdlZWsgTmV3c2xldHRlciAyMS0wNi0yNCZ1dG1fdGVybT1JTkRfVHJhdmVsX05ld3NsZXR0ZXJfQ0RQVwVzcGNldUIKZnSAGHVmZ4oVT1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAMj). My direct messages are open – and I try to reply to as many as possible. Follow me on Instagram [@Simon_Calder](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S5aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5zdGFncmFtLmNvbS9zaW1vbl9jYWxkZXIvP2xpZD11ZGg0NGUybWhpZ28mdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWJyYXplJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1TaW1vbiBDYWxkZXIncyBUcmF2ZWwgV2VlayBOZXdzbGV0dGVyIDIxLTA2LTI0JnV0bV90ZXJtPUlORF9UcmF2ZWxfTmV3c2xldHRlcl9DRFBXBXNwY2V1QgpmdIAYdWZnihVPUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAyM~). Join me here live every weekend at 5.30pm British time as I answer your travel questions. Find me on TikTok [@caldertravel](~/AAAHagA~/RgRoV52AP0S-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGlrdG9rLmNvbS9kaXNjb3Zlci9TaW1vbi1DYWxkZXI_bGlkPXltYzhnczltZGp6dCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YnJhemUmdXRtX2NhbXBhaWduPVNpbW9uIENhbGRlcidzIFRyYXZlbCBXZWVrIE5ld3NsZXR0ZXIgMjEtMDYtMjQmdXRtX3Rlcm09SU5EX1RyYXZlbF9OZXdzbGV0dGVyX0NEUFcFc3BjZXVCCmZ0gBh1ZmeKFU9SG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAADIw~~) for more travel tips and advice   The Independent proudly partners with 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