Christmas holidays: how to avoid the queues
According to RAC motoring group, almost 14 million drivers are expected to take to the road in the last weekend before Christmas, a new record.
There is also a possibility of increased congestion on the roads due to rail disruption due to engineering works.
So how can you avoid hotspots – whether you’re traveling by road, air, ferry or rail?
Travel time on roads has reduced
RAC says On Friday, the worst time to travel is between 14:00 and 19:00, and evening travel may be slightly easier. On Saturday, expect most traffic between 13:00 and 18:00, and it is best to leave in the morning.
The AA advises people to be prepared with plenty of fuel, charge their phones and have their tires and lights checked.
They also suggest carrying food and warm clothes with you in case you get stuck in a traffic jam during that time, as it could be one of the busiest festive periods for road trips since it began in 2010. Is.
Experts say that due to Christmas falling in the middle of the week, traffic could spread over several days.
“Check traffic reports before you go and try to travel when it’s quieter if you can, or consider taking a different route to avoid jams,” says the AA’s Chris Wood.
Travel expert Julian Bray says if traveling by road, “go earlier and come back later” as there will be heavy traffic due to rail engineering works taking place during the festive period.
Check engineering works on rail
Network Rail advises passengers Checking their journey before travelling.
Some services like West Midlands Railway A modified service is being run due to engineering works and last minute train cancellations are possible.
As London Paddington is closed between 27 and 29 December for HS2 construction works, rail journeys to and from Heathrow Airport will be disrupted, as will travel to south Wales and south-west England.
The RMT union has also announced a strike affecting Avanti West Coast on 31 December and 2 January, and the train firm will run a revised timetable.
Eurostar says it expects Boxing Day and December 29 to be its busiest days and significantly longer travel times.
Consumer Group Which? Travel expert Ella Boldron says: “If your rail journey is delayed, you will be entitled to compensation, although how this is given may vary between rail companies”.
Under Delay Repayment SchemeFor example, it varies according to the length of the delay.
And she explains that if your train is cancelled, you may be entitled to a full refund.
Confirm return travel by plane
Friday 20 December is forecast to be the busiest day for air travel over the festive period, according to data analyst Cirium.
It looked at all departures occurring between December 20 and January 2 and said overall, there would be 5% more departures this year than in 2023.
The busiest day for Heathrow will be 20 December, while the busiest day for Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Birmingham and Bristol airports will be 22 December.
Mr Bray says customers should keep in touch with their airline and expect changes.
It is wise to leave enough time for the journey to your departure airport, and also to check the baggage rules as some airlines have recently changed their policies.
They also say customers should always confirm their return journey before departure.
Which one? It has been advised that if passengers’ flight is delayed by more than two hours, they will also be entitled to assistance from the airline for things like food and drinks.
“For short-haul flights, the compensation limit starts after a three-hour delay – but it is only payable if the delay is considered to be under the control of the airline, meaning if your plane is stopped by a So you wouldn’t be entitled to a blizzard or a security incident,” says Ms. Boldron.
For cancellations, you should also get the option of a refund or rebooking on the next available flight.
Arrive only for your allotted boat trip
The Port of Dover is one of the busiest ports in Europe and it says if you have booked with a third party provider, you should check your details before travelling.
Allow adequate time for your journey and arrive only for your allotted journey.
It also suggests keeping the passport open and ready before border control, in addition to carrying snacks or entertainment to pass the time.
One of Britain’s busiest ports, Holyhead in North Wales, will be closed By 15 January at the earliest after damage during Storm Darragh.
Ms Boldron says: “If your ferry is delayed, you will not be entitled to compensation if the vessel cannot operate safely due to weather conditions, or there are other exceptional circumstances.
Otherwise, compensation is usually paid on a sliding scale based on the length of your trip and the amount of time you are stopped.
She adds that if the ferry is canceled or delayed by more than 90 minutes, you should be offered the choice between an alternative sailing or a refund.
She adds that you may also be entitled to overnight accommodation if required.