Whether it’s a quick city break to Europe or a long-haul escape further afield, millions of people across the UK are expected to head abroad over the Easter holidays, marking one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
With airports set to be busier than usual and demand for flights remaining high, passengers are being urged to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys. Travellers could face longer queues at check-in and security, while popular routes and destinations are likely to be operating at near capacity.
In response, consumer experts at the UK Civil Aviation Authority are reminding passengers to take simple steps before they travel to help avoid disruption and ensure a smoother experience from departure to arrival.
Whether it’s checking flight updates, understanding your rights if things go wrong, or making sure you’re fully prepared for airport security, being organised in advance can make a significant difference during peak travel periods.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has issued the following advice for passengers travelling over Easter:
- Check before you travel – Check your flight status with the airline and ensure you are up to date with the latest government foreign travel advice on any countries you are transiting through before you leave for the airport.
- Know your rights – If your flight is delayed or cancelled, you may be entitled to meals, accommodation or alternative travel arrangements provided by your airline. Find out more on the CAA website.
- Review travel insurance policies – Travel insurance can protect against missed flights, medical emergencies, and lost or stolen belongings. Carefully review the terms and conditions to understand your coverage.
- Plan your packing – Items like lithium batteries (e.g. battery packs, electric toothbrushes, e-vapes) can cause queues at border security. Check with your airline for any restrictions on what you can take and what needs to go into cabin bags.
- Get to the airport early – Ensure you allow yourself plenty of time at the airport to drop off your bags and clear security before your scheduled flight departure time.
To ease delays, some airports and airlines are operating twilight bag drops so passengers can check-in bags the night before travel. Passengers at some airports can also skip security queues by reserving a timeslot ahead of arrival.
Selina Chadha, Group Director for Consumers and Markets at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said:
“With many UK travellers planning to get away over the Easter holidays, it’s important that those planning to travel know their rights and plan ahead to make their journeys as smooth as possible.”
