The results of the BA cabin crew ballot are in, and a British Airways strike for 12 days over Christmas has been announced. Sometime today BA will respond with an announcement on how it intends to deal with the strike and assist affected passengers.

The risk averse, particularly those flying BA on or before Christmas Day, should already have made or now be making alternative plans (eg see my previous post on the potential strike).

Passengers affected by the strike, some of whom do not have the option of buying an extra ticket on another airline, rerouting voluntarily or changing dates, are waiting to see what help BA will provide (as they must under EU reg 261/2004). BA should start contacting passengers flying on 22nd in the next couple of days and then continue with passengers flying on later dates.

In my case I have 3 BA flights in the strike period, none in the first couple of days of it. I am sitting tight for now – there is a chance the strike may be called off. If it is not then I have some unpalatable choices about contingencies to make later this week. I have already researched other airline options to my destinations, and backup accommodation if I get stuck en route. I won’t be waiting too long to make any changes because the alternatives will quickly sell out now the strike has been confirmed.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

My travel life is never dull.

The inaugural flight I referred to (Rotorua to Sydney in case you are wondering) not only was special for being an inaugural flight but had added unplanned drama.

1) Nearly missing the flight due to bad weather – I needed to fly to Rotorua but the airport was marginal for a few hours.
2) The flight nearly being called off due to the bad weather.
3) Police escorting passenger off the aircraft after we’d all boarded. This delayed the flight by nearly an hour. The last time I’d seen this was last year in Russia.
4) Almost missing my onward flight (65 minutes scheduled transit time most of which was lost due to the late arrival).

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

This is part of a series of blog entries on how to get to countries and places. Here is a link to the index. I plan to eventually cover every country and some other places. If you have a request for a particular country or place please use the email me link at top right, or leave a comment.

Sri Lanka

Source: Bernard Gagnon

The main way to reach Sri Lanka is by air. Airlines flying to Colombo include:

• Star Alliance – Singapore, Thai
• Oneworld – Cathay Pacific (from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore), Royal Jordanian
• Sky Team – none
• Other selected – most Indian airlines, many Persian-Gulf and Malaysian airlines

TIP There is plenty of competition from Chennai, Bangkok and Singapore. If you cannot get a reasonable fare to Colombo from elsewhere in Asia or further afield check the option of separate tickets via one of these 3 places. Don’t forget to allow plenty of time to connect (eg a day).

TIP There are not many low cost airlines flying to Colombo. Air Asia from Kuala Lumpur, a couple of European airlines during northern winter season and several Indian airlines.

TIP Around the world or longhaul award tickets to Colombo on Star Alliance or Oneworld are fairly easily obtained via Bangkok or Singapore, as long as the booking is made early enough. This may change as Sri Lanka returns to being a popular tourist destination now the Tamil-related violence is gone.

TIP Several airlines operate a triangle flight with short hop between Male and Colombo in either or both directions connecting to a longhaul destination in Europe, Middle East or Asia. If fares to/from Colombo are high check them to/from Male instead with a separate ticket for the extra flight.

TIP In the past Colombo has had very low longhaul premium (ie first and business class) fares (to North America, Europe or around the world). So low that many people travelled to Sri Lanka to get these cheap tickets. The best bargains are long gone due to fare increases and currency movements, however from time to time there are some cheap longhaul fares that are worthwhile as long as you can get to Sri Lanka cheaply or easily.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

I’m looking forward to my 13th inaugural flight soon. They are usually a lot of fun. I wonder what surprises the airline has in store for us?

Due to aircraft scheduling this one is a bit odd in that the first flight on the international route is headed to the home country not from it as is normally the case. I hope that doesn’t curtail pre-departure festivities.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

I get a stream of travel questions in my email, which I’m happy to help answer. Sometimes I get questions posted as comments on unrelated posts. Those are generally more difficult to deal with, in that replying as a comment is off topic for the post and if I don’t have an email address I can respond privately.

Email is my preferred medium for dealing with travel questions, but copying the idea from One Mile at a Time, I’m also happy for questions to be made on the Ask page.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

Sheraton has launched a new site called Sheraton Shared Moments, Shared Moments or Sheraton Moments (all 3 names are used in confusing branding). The site doesn’t (yet) do much. You can upload pictures with a brief comment.

If you want to be enticed to share your pics, they have a competition to win one of 5 week-long stays at a selected Sheraton (Diana Majestic in Milan, Lisboa Hotel & Spa in Lisbon, Stockholm in Stockholm, La Caleta Resort and Spa in Tenerife and Miramar Resort El Gouna Red Sea in Hurghada). The competition is only open to residents of UK, UAE, Belgium, Denmark, Norway & Sweden.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

I think I’ve been spoilt this year. There have been too many airfare and accommodation sales.

Today I went to book a great sale air fare only to back at at the final purchase to confirm stage because my inner voice asked if this was really the best rate I could get for that particular trip.

I also went to book several nights of accommodation for a few upcoming trips in an Intercontinental “72 hour” sale (sneak link here for early bookings in the really 96 hour sale period). These 72 hour sales have been recurring throughout the year. Once again I found myself backing out of booking at the final step figuring I may be able to do better booking later and there is no urgency to book these nights.

Hopefully it doesn’t come back to bite me later with higher rates.

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

The end of the year and start of a new one is a time for reflection for many, including me.

I have a lot to be thankful for, and so one of the ways I give back to those less fortunate is through Kiva. For other travellers (or anyone) who wishes to give someone poor an opportunity and a hand up I urge you to consider a Kiva loan too. This isn’t charity per se, but is a helping hand to those who can use it. You pick who receives your loan, which can be as little as US$25, from the many people and groups vetted by microfinance organisations around the world. There are also Kiva gift certificates if you are stuck for a holiday present idea.

If you are on Flyer Talk, you can join the FT Kiva team (see the Kiva thread for more info).

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

Over on the A Wing and a Prayer blog, Gray has finally posted the long-awaited report on his flight to Erbil (or Arbil) in Iraq. I’d flown this route about 18 months ago and blogged about the unusual descent to land in Iraq and a couple of other aspects of the flight, and so I was interested in his take on it as well as whether there have been significant changes.

However, one comment Gray makes in the post has gotten my attention. He prefers security checks to be at the gate (as they are in Vienna and Berlin for example) rather than centralised (in most USA airport terminals).

Some of the airports I fly through regularly (eg Singapore and Wellington) also have security checks at the gate. I’m no fan of them.

1) If there is a last minute gate switch you often need to go through security again.

2) In most airports there are limited facilities beyond gate security checkpoints. Fine if you can always time it just right for boarding a flight. Not so good if boarding is delayed or if you are directed to go to the gate earlier than necessary by an announcement over the PA or on the departure monitors. I’d much rather spend extra time in the lounge, or shops, and head to the gate at the last minute.

3) When there is a tight connection a security check at the gate may be the difference between making the onward flight and misconnecting. Centralised security generally means no security for transits, at least for domestic travel (plus within the Schengen zone in Europe) within the same airport terminal.

I’ve flown enough to appreciate that centralised security can also have downsides. Notably when you are stuck in an enormous queue and running late for your flight. If you were in a queue at gate security instead you might get picked out of the line so you can make the flight or be sharing a queue with other passengers on the same flight (thus it may be held for you). However, this ignores the queues for security checkpoints at the gate can also be long and be shared amongst multiple flights.

It also ignores that centralised security by definition makes full use of all the security officers, whereas security at the gate may have some gates manned with no queues while other gates have lengthy queues.

In summary, centralised security should be more efficient than security at the gate – less screening of transitting passengers and more consistent usage of available security officers and equipment. Which type do you prefer?

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.

With the World Cup draw a day away there are many people waiting to book flights within South Africa once they know where their teams are playing.

It is shaping up as a logistical nightmare. The venues are far enough apart that for most fans who wish to follow a team and see more than one game there is no choice but to fly. The domestic airlines simply do not have enough aircraft to take all the fans who wish to move from one venue to another, and so it is likely there will be a significant number of charter flights operating. To date there has been no details of the charter flights.

Some people will take no chances, so I expect the websites and phone lines of the main South African airlines will be clogged tomorrow. The airlines include:

• South African Airlines
• Comair (British Airways subsidiary)
• Kulula
• 1time

Musings of the Global Traveller
Thoughts, advice and travel news from around the world by a seasoned frequent flyer.