Passport validity for European Union. A UK passport must meet two conditions: On day of entry to the EU, issued less than 10 years ago. On intended day of exit from EU, at least 3 months left before expiry date. (Also Switz/Iceland/Norway but not Ireland.) https://t.co/IJeDBBHzxE

Train v Plane. Airlines are boosting London-Paris flights in March 2026. Up to 27 round-trips per day: about as many as before the Channel Tunnel opened. To CDG, Air France launching from Gatwick and easyJet from Stansted. Are high Eurostar fares to blame? https://t.co/uJ6H4AOm5g

Airport drop-off fees: rip-off or useful pro-public transport nudge? London Heathrow will raise its charge to £7 from 1 January (up 40% in four years). London City is bringing in a fee by the end of the year. Among big airports, the standard fee is now £7. https://t.co/GKmyAgFnFD

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Planning a US train trip up to mid-March 2026? Amtrak has a snap sale, until 5am GMT on Thursday, offering 25% off normal fares.

Join Fr Richard McAlear LIVE on Zoom! Thursday, December 11th, 2025 at 7:00pm EST - ADVENT With Father in this Jubilee Year of HOPE - Father Invites You To An Evening of - PRAISE, TEACHING, PRAYER - Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room! Zoom link available at:

US National Parks. Non-Americans touring the wonders of the great outdoors, such as Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon, currently pay around $35 for a car with 5 people in it. From 1 January, the admission fee rises to $535. Yes, a 15-fold increase https://t.co/obBETs8q6a

The story behind the ‘ghost train that never was’ from Manchester to London. Plus other ghost trains such as the 8.30am Saturday train from Stalybridge to Stockport. And the non-existent Manchester-Paris train that made its ghostly way in to the timetable. https://t.co/IAlNe3Yfh0

About to-be-a-ghost-train 7am Manchester-London is saved: people will be allowed to buy tickets for the only sub-2 hour express on the line. Office of Rail and Road has “given Network Rail and Avanti the go-ahead to arrange for the 7am service to continue running with passengers"

In Australia and New Zealand, JetStar has cancelled around 90 A320-series flights, affecting more than 15,000 passengers – mostly flying in or out of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Air New Zealand has also made a number of cancellations. Avianca of Colombia also badly affected.

Airbus A320 family "emergency airworthiness directive": British Airways and easyJet both report no disruption to their European operations today. Main issue: Air France at Paris CDG and Orly, with dozens of cancellations overnight, continuing this morning. https://t.co/5AbMo7ymnM

easyJet: “We are expecting this to result in some disruption. We will inform customers directly about any changes to our flying programme tomorrow and will do all possible to minimise the impact. Safety is our highest priority.“

Senior UK aviation source: “A serious issue, but one which looks to be tackled very rapidly, with disruption to passengers. While passengers can take safety for granted, everyone in the aviation industry cannot and this is a rare occasion where decisive action is clearly needed."

I understand only three of BA's aircraft are affected, and that the necessary software updates will be completed overnight with no disruption to flights.

Main operators in the UK are British Airways, easyJet and Wizz Air. Chasing BA and easyJet for more information. Wizz Air says: “Some flights over the weekend may be affected” Many other airlines flying to and from the UK also use the type, including Air France/KLM and Lufthansa.

Thousands of Airbus A320 series aircraft may be temporarily grounded due to solar radiation fears. Millions booked to fly on the jet could find flights cancelled while urgent modifications are made. Assume yours will go ahead unless airline says otherwise. https://t.co/5AbMo7ymnM

Airline passengers: Sean Duffy, US transportation secretary asks “Are you dressing with respect?” At Heathrow Terminal 3 arrivals (with many >10 hour flights) almost everyone dresses to de-stress, not to impress. But what inflight clothing is unacceptable? https://t.co/ej1n3Iyg93

Air passenger duty to rise in both April 2026 and 2027. By the summer of 2027, a family of four flying to Orlando will paying £1,008 in tax for leaving the UK in anything better than basic economy, eg premium economy. Tips on how to cut or avoid APD here🔽 https://t.co/YkAt1567vi

Rail/Road: mixed messages in the Budget. Many (including me) assumed the pre-announced freeze on regulated rail fares meant there would not be a freeze on fuel duty. "Motoring will cost more, so why not take the train?" But we got another fuel duty freeze. https://t.co/U0HoHlF1Cg

Many Black Friday travel offers have strictly limited availability. Not so the best Interrail deal of the year: 25% off "Global" passes, covering 32 European nations. Available from many retailers. Buy by 17 December (9am GMT), start using within 11 months https://t.co/DJt6HHYHtP

Not everyone thrilled. Environmentalists oppose expansion due to the impact on everything from local area (noise, air quality, traffic) to global emissions. Airlines say current passengers should not have to pay for future benefits. All you need to know 🔽 https://t.co/HHVTGblxek

Heathrow. According to the government, 10 years from now: A 3rd runway and new terminals will be built. The M25 will be shifted to the west. And the airport will be well on the way to more than 2,000 flight movements a day and 150 million passengers a year https://t.co/ZYoKP4aB3u