Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

Join me, Simon Calder, as I converse with Rail Minister Huw Merriman about the Great British Rail Sale. We explore enticing rail deals amidst potential strike disruptions, focusing on the benefits for passengers and the future of UK rail travel.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I unpack the chaotic week of UK travel. From railway strikes to unexpected flight diversions, we take a closer look at how these disruptions are reshaping the travel landscape for thousands of passengers.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's travel podcast. Christmas/New Year flights to Australia are now on sale. Should you book now at high prices, or risk fares increasing still further while hoping a late-booking might bag a bargain?This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's podcast is all about the UK's cheapest rail ticket, just 70p from Manchester to Stockport! How long will you be able to take advantage of this mega-deal? This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's podcast: an exclusive interview with Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Europe’s biggest budget airline, Ryanair.He tells me about his worries about air traffic control problems this summer; how Boeing is dealing with the 737 Max; how cheap air fares are here to stay; and why the government's probe into drip pricing is wrong.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Simon Calder, as we explore LNER's innovative approach to train tickets, replacing traditional off-peak tickets with a new flexible system. This pilot programme might just be a glimpse into the future of rail travel in the UK.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I, Simon Calder, explore the unceasing rail strikes by Aslef and their impacts. We'll navigate through the complexities of the dispute and how it's shaping the UK's transportation landscape as it enters another year of discontent and disruption.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Airlines offer some great deals for flying from outside their home nation, via their home nation, to somewhere else outside their home nation. This is known as "Sixth Freedom" flying. But beware: even though British Airways is offering some amazing deals for Dublin-London-New York flights, you can't simply get on (or off) at London and leave out the Irish connections.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today I bring you an insights from the bustling corridors of the UK’s top airports. 2023 has seen a tremendous upswing in air travel, with Heathrow, Manchester, and Stansted airports leading the charge in passenger numbers, underscoring a remarkable year in aviation.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at Heathrow Terminal 2, where Boeing 737 Max 9s are operating. Now, following Friday's incident in Alaska it's quite reasonable for many of you to be screaming, "Why?!" but I'll explain why they are and what the flight carriers are doing to make sure there's not a repeat of the incident.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered to your inbox every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Simon Calder, as we delve into British Airways' decision to extend the minimum connecting time at Heathrow Terminal 5 from 60 to 75 minutes. While it eases passenger stress, this change impacts travel dynamics, offering competitors like Lufthansa and Air France an edge in attracting transit passengers who prefer shorter layovers.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Simon Calder, reporting on the curious case of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. Departing from Portland, Oregon to Ontario, California, this journey on a Boeing 737 Max 9 took an unexpected turn when a panel detached mid-flight at over 16,000 feet. As we await detailed investigation results, join me in assessing the situation, exploring potential causes, and reaffirming air travel safety measures.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm Simon Calder, reporting from London Waterloo, where we're on the brink of a major Tube shutdown, spanning from January 7th to 12th. With the RMT Union's strike imminent, London's transport network faces significant upheaval, affecting commuters and travelers alike. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, I discuss the Kalinic family's challenging experience with a £100,000 medical bill during their trip to Africa. This story highlights the crucial importance of comprehensively understanding travel insurance, especially for non-standard travel arrangements. Join me as we unravel essential tips for secure and informed travel planning.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Simon Calder, as I discuss the collision at Tokyo's Haneda Airport involving a Japan Airlines Airbus A350. In this podcast, I delve into the incident's implications for aviation safety and highlight the importance of emergency procedures and safety briefings, which contributed to the successful evacuation and survival of all passengers on board.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The saddest part of my job as a travel correspondent is to write about tragedies, which includes airline accident. But compared with previous years, the tragedies have been about three times under the average of the last ten years. It is a remarkable to the people who do all they can to ensure we're safe as airline pasengersThis podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Happy New Year! There will be new electronic passport gates according to a report in The Times. It's really just an improvement on e-gates making them more efficient. This will be made possible with the new travel electronic authorisation system which the UK is introducing. Although it means that the country will need to have a lot more information on a lot more travellers.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at London Bridge station assessing the problems for travelers in the run-up to New Year.See you all in 2024! This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thousands of people have been affected by the unexpected travel issues across the UK during the holidays. What has caused these scenes of chaos and confusion? I go over the biggest problems and how it has impacted travelers with long wait times and the possible risks of not making their destinations on time. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As usual, no passenger trains ran in the UK on Christmas Day, with very few running into Boxing Day. Do you think that’s the right policy? Should everyone get time off on two low-demand days?Or is the Continental Europe approach, often with a near-normal service on 25/26 December, better?This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Calder debates whether the national rail trains should run on Boxing Day and if it effectively eases travel stress. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at the Church of St Nicholas celebrating the Christmas legend. If you come to this church you'll see a mural to Santa Claus. It wasn't until the late 20th century that archeologists decided to excavate this area and the result is exquisite, especially the Marble mosaics.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at from Kings Cross reporting on the problems with overhead wires after the havoc that Storm Pia caused yesterday. Not to mention the strikes in Paris. I also meet someone who might just be Britain's unluckiest passenger.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel pod here: How is Storm Pia affecting travel in this all-important week? I'm (once again) at London Waterloo.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Krakow is difficult to leave. Partly that is because this extraordinary city in southern Poland is so rich in culture, history and gastronomy. But it is also because the railway station is nigh-impossible to find, as I discovered on my way to the airport train.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A week before Christmas Day, and the strains in the UK’s transport industry are showing. I’m in a long security queue at Gatwick. With many train cancellations too, this looks like a tough week for travelers.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year one in 25 children at school in England was taken out of school for a holiday – resulting in a £60 fine for parents. Clearly, some parents see paying fines as worthwhile because of the enormous savings that can be made. Why are families penalised – and should the government clamp down on holiday prices?This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cologne, Frankfurt, and Geneva should appear on the train departure screens from London by 2030, the boss of Eurotunnel has vowed.Yann Leriche, chief executive of the tunnel firm’s parent, Getlink, says he expects new entrants to start competing with Eurostar – and to double the number of direct rail routes from the UK.Eurotunnel is the infrastructure operator between Folkestone and Calais. It currently runs the LeShuttle car-carrying operation as well as trains carrying trucks. Freight trains and Eurostar passengers expresses pay for the right to run through the tunnel. Eurotunnel collects €20 (£17) for each passenger on Eurostar trains.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nine years to the day after German rail operator Deutsche Bahn scrapped the Paris-Berlin sleeper train, a revived overnight service rolled into Gare de l’Est in the French capital. Simon Calder reports on the train's return and interviews the French Travel Minister about his thoughts. This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm today speaking from a cafe in Tirana, taking stock of what's changed in Albania since my first trip in the 1980s. Albania has almost completely changed from my first visit, especially for the men with long hair amongst us. To find out a little more, I spoke with Mirela Kumbaro, Albanian Tourism Minister.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Find out more here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With just two weeks to go to Christmas, I'm in Tirana airport giving you an update on how to avoid the dreaded 'Frenetic Friday' great getaway. In this episode I'll be talking about the situation at UK airports, across Britain's rail network and also what the situation will look like on the roads.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Brexit ban on tourists from the EU using ID cards has begun to be reversed. Insisting on passports almost obliterated school group travel to the UK. From next year the ban has been lifted for children attending French schools, with others likely to follow.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter - sign up to receive it every Friday here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Wednesday, the day of a rail strike that wiped out almost all South Western Railway trains, London’s Northern Line shut down for an hour. With many travelers switching from rail to Tube, the closure was doubly damaging. It is not clear what caused the problem, and Transport for London has not responded to my request about it. But while I was part of the Tubeful of travelers wondering what was going on, I thought I should look at the best and worst Underground lines for cancellations.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter - sign up to receive it every Friday here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe's biggest tour operator, Tui, is reporting souring profits and passenger numbers. Holiday bookings for the current winter are 11 per cent up from the same time last year. What does this mean? That your holidays won't be getting any cheaper.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter - sign up to receive it every Friday here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The great Ryanair boarding pass mystery. Has Ryanair come up with a new moneymaking scheme just in time for Christmas? That is the question that has been exercising a good few of you in the last couple of days. The short answer, according to an airline spokesperson, is no: “There is no new procedure in force.” But something odd has been happening. Here's what we know, and what I am guessing.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter - sign up to receive it every Friday here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a miserable weekend for travelers in large parts of the UK, the working week has begun with more disruption. Thousands of airline passengers woke up on Monday morning where they did not intend to be after dozens of weekend flight cancellations. Rail firms are warning of major disruption on day four of an overtime ban by train drivers. Some roads in Cumbria and the Peak District are blocked due to snow, and the Met Office has issued four yellow weather warnings for Monday.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter - sign up to receive it every Friday here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m speaking exclusively to Mick Lynch, general secretary of the RMT union, just after members voted overwhelmingly to accept a pay deal. But, he warns, strikes could be back next summer if negotiations in the New Year do not go well.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter - sign up to receive it every Friday here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's podcast, I'm stationed at Manchester Piccadilly, exploring the impending rail challenges this December. From driver strikes to altered schedules, I'll break down what this means for UK travellers and how to best navigate the disruptions.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another bit of aviation jargon unravelled. Some listeners and readers have been in touch about “downgauging" – when an airline uses a smaller plane than planned. What happens if two dozen passengers are unable to travel as booked? The same rules apply as for overbooking.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Simon Calder, as I chat with Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, about their groundbreaking 100% sustainable fuel flight across the Atlantic. We discuss the significance of this pioneering step and its impact on the future of sustainable aviation.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wish it could be Christmas every day? Probably not if you, like me, rely on public transport, because on 25 December all the UK trains close down. But this year the long-distance coach operators are providing more intercity links than ever.And on Boxing Day, ScotRail will offer the highest number of trains for three decades.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

News has just broken that Eurostar trains from Amsterdam and Rotterdam to London will be canceled from June 2024 to January 2025. The Channel Tunnel passenger rail firm will still run London-Rotterdam-Amsterdam; the problem is space for London-bound frontier formalities while Amsterdam Centraal station is renovated. And Brexit is playing a part ...This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Traveling home for Christmas by rail? Good luck. Festive engineering works mean two key London stations, Paddington and King's Cross, are closed on Christmas Eve. So unless you travel by 23 December to/from Yorkshire, northeast England and Scotland (King's Cross) or the West of England/South Wales (Paddington), you could be scuppered.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm at London Gatwick Airport talking to the chief executive, Stewart Wingate. He says that if a second runway gets the go-ahead, the Sussex airport would almost double the passengers it presently handles.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm on a rail route I've not done before today. That's right, I'm on the new course that's cost quarter of a billion pounds to build to transform the railway experience at London's Gatwick airport. Listen in as I explain what's different, what the owners of Gatwick are hoping to achieve and how I fared on my first journey.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Simon Calder, as I chat with Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership, about current challenges in tourism, including Egypt's downturn and Brexit travel complexities. We also look ahead to 2024 and discuss how general elections influence customer behaviour in the travel sector.This podcast is free, like my weekly newsletter with the latest travel stories. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, I'm exploring the impending rail difficulties in the UK. As we brace for a difficult period, with strikes and operational challenges, rail journeys face numerous hurdles. Stay informed on what to expect and how best to adjust your travel plans.This podcast is free, like my weekly newsletter with the latest travel stories. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rail strikes will resume in early December – but with a difference. Train drivers belonging to the Aslef union will walk out during the course of the first week of next month. But rather than being an all-out national strike, cancellations will instead ripple across Britain during the course of the week as drivers at different operators stop work. I explain how this will work and how its aim is to maximise the disruption caused to Britain's rail network.This podcast is free, like my weekly newsletter with the latest travel stories. Subscribe here to get it delivered every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm in Sharm El Sheikh, assessing the state of tourism during these turbulent times. Despite challenges, there's remarkable value and a chance to support this vital industry, all while enjoying the resort's famed hospitality.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join me, Simon Calder, in a captivating conversation with Kuoni UK's Mark Duguid. We're delving into what defines luxury travel today, how preferences have evolved, and where the savvy high-end traveller is heading next.This podcast is free, as is my weekly newsletter. Subscribe here for it to be delivered every Friday to your inbox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.