Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

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.