Looking ahead to Christmas travel arrangements, its difficult to give a clear direction as to what you may encounter. The threats to travel are currently coming from several different directions. Julian Bray reports.
In every case I would always advise staying in touch with your airline via the website, ensure your travel insurance is in place and have more than one credit card available for use.
In addition, we have to consider extreme weather conditions this Winter, we've had several episodes already with subsequent knock-on effects.
Although some Railway strikes have been settled, the RMT settlement relates to previous years and they will be putting in another fresh claim in the New Year!
Meanwhile the Train Drivers ASLEF Union are still on strike and December will be peppered with strikes throughout the month. Again keep in contact with the Train Operating Companies, track their websites as appropriate.
I have to draw your attention to the hard working (and very savvy traveller) Simon Calder the Travel Editor of The Independent. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @simoncalder. He is constantly breaking news stories and offering a series of solutions as each new 'peril' presents itself.
On the motoring front, it is essential that every car now carries an emergency winter kit in the event of a sudden snow storm and possible stranding. Green Flag membership seems to.be more flexible than the larger motoring recovery services.
My Car Emergency kit consists of :
Warning Triangle
4 Battery Flashing Beacons
Garage Grade Jump leads
Tow Rope
Spare Outer 'snow' jacket, gloves and hat
High Viz Vest
Thermal blankets (3)
Folding snow shovel
Solid fuel stove
Small camping kettle
Mess tins
Carton of Mars Bars
Coffee/ Tea bags
Dried Milk
6 pack of bottled still water.
Charged up phone plus battery pack and car charger
You may say I have a car electric kettle, fine, but as your car battery runs down a wholly independent source of heat is needed hence the solid fuel stove....
Hopefully you will dodge all the perils this Winter, but if you dont then like Boy Scouts 'Be Prepared' Merry Christmas.
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