1. General Information
1.01
We are Frequently Asked Questions that relate to our customers’ holidays so we thought it made sense to try to answer these questions in advance. If we have not added the question you have or you still need some help please contact us directly by telephone on 0870 241 6162 or by email sales@flysearch.co.uk.
Can I book by Telephone if I don’t want to book on the Internet?
No Problem just call 0870 241 6162 and they will help you as much as they can. It may not be possible to give you some of the discounts that are available for booking online but they will do their best for you.
Which products are bookable online?
Flight Only, Flight and Hotel, Hotel only and of course Tour Operator Package Holidays can all be booked on line as can Car Hire, Airport Parking, Theme Park Tickets, Airport Transfers and virtually anything else. If you cannot find what you are looking for then please call us, but you will probably find everything you need online.
What should I expect to receive in the way of paperwork, tickets vouchers etc.?
You should receive a document of sorts for every element of your journey. Air tickets may be traditional paper tickets or “E-tickets” which may be in the form of an email. If you have to pick up a Ticket On Departure (TOD) you will receive a voucher from us. Accommodation Vouchers will also be provided, as will a voucher for any other element of your Holiday. It will however be each clients responsibility to ensure that they have all of the required entry papers for each country that they are visiting such as Passports, Visas and any medical certificates they require. The details for these requirements can be found on the website of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
When can I expect to receive my tickets, vouchers etc?
All travel documents will, as a rule be dispatched to you 14 days prior to travel. There are occasions where this may not be possible but please contact us to check if you are concerned within this time.
I have only paid a deposit for my holiday, when is the final balance due?
Balance payments are due 12 weeks prior to departure. This will enable us to ensure that we meet the payment terms of our suppliers. If you are unable to comply with this you should contact us as soon as possible. Failure to do so can in certain circumstances lead to the cancellation of you holiday so it’s very important. Full details of our policy on this can he found in our Terms and conditions
How do I pay my balance?
To pay the balance of your holiday online please click on (Manage booking) of call us on 0870 241 6162 If it’s convienient for you we can take payment in any of our branches In Middleton or Manchester
How early do I need to go to the airport with the extra security we have now.
It’s really important to arrive early these days in view of the extra time that it can take to get through security.
Our recommendation would be.
• For Long-haul international flights – be at check-in 3 hours before your scheduled departure time.
• If it’s a Short-haul European flight – be at check-in 2 hours before your scheduled departure time.
• UK Internal / Domestic flights – be at check-in at least 1 hour before your scheduled departure time.
If you are late the airline is unlikely to be able to help so make every effort to be there in plenty of time.
Which terminal do I fly from?
The best way to check this is to either go to the Airport’s own website or if it’s a British Airports Authority site look at www.baa.co.uk. If you are unsure please don’t hesitate to call us.
If I cancel, will it result in Cancellation charges?
Unfortunately the answer to this is almost yes. All companies have a cancellation policy that we are obliged to stick to. The secret to minimise this is to tell us as soon as you think it is a possibility that you may have to cancel. The charges are usually on a sliding scale that gets greater as you get closer to departure. By checking early you will at least know when the final decision has to be made before you run into the next band of charges. The full details of this are in our Terms and Conditions on the website.
2. Health, Special Assistance and requests
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If any member of the party has special dietary requirements, questions about specific baggage items or medical queries, please contact our Customer Services department on 0870 241 6162(Calls to this number cost 10 pence per minute from a standard BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may vary). We will try our utmost to meet any special requests.
2.02
One infant, less than 2 years old on the date of the return journey, may sit on a parent's lap on a flight. An administration fee will be charged. Please contact our Customer Services Department for further details.
2.03
Most airlines accept expectant mothers for travel provided they are in a fit condition and not over the 34th week on the return sector of the flight. Many airlines, however, will require a doctor's certificate so please check with our Customer Services department on 0870 241 6162(Calls to this number cost 10 pence per minute from a standard BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may vary).
2.04
We do not accept bookings for any children travelling alone under 16 years of age on the date of travel unless accompanied by an adult aged 18 years or over. Please contact our Customer Services department on 0870 241 6162(Calls to this number cost 10 pence per minute from a standard BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may vary) for more details.
2.05
Flysearch have a 24 hour Duty office, which is based at Manchester Office. The number is (+44) 161 655 3645.
2.06
Special arrangements can be made for passengers with disabilities. Please contact our Customer Services Department on 0870 241 6162 (Calls to this number cost 10 pence per minute from a standard BT landline. Calls from other networks and mobiles may vary) where they will be pleased to advise you on the assistance that can be provided.
3. Inflight catering
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From 1st May 2004, meals on charter flights will be optional and therefore will not be included in charter flight prices (This excludes Monarch Charter flights to Orlando Sanford where the meal is included in the price). Meals may be pre-purchased by paying a meal supplement when booking through the Reservations department.
4. Travel Information
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For UK citizens about to travel or live abroad, we have practical tips on staying safe, secure and healthy, and avoiding problem situations.
Sometimes, it’s to do with commonsense precautions – like arranging the right vaccinations and travel insurance. Sometimes, we have more specialist advice – like how to keep yourself informed about the risks of terrorism in the country you’re going to.
Travel checklist:
We’ve put together this travel checklist to help you plan for your trip abroad and stay safe whilst you are there. We’ve got more advice for specific types of travellers in our Travel advice relevant to you section.
Before you go:
• Check our travel advice pages for the country you are visiting. Sign up for email alerts and you’ll get the latest updates for that country
• Register with our LOCATE service so we can get in touch with you if something goes wrong
• Find out where the nearest embassy will be – check their website to find out what services they offer and their opening times
• Don’t travel without insurance – make sure it covers you for any activities you are likely to undertake such as extreme or water sports
• Travelling within the EU? Then get a free European Health Insurance Card for free or reduced emergency care - you still need full travel insurance though! Also remember, you can call 112 to contact the emergency services in any EU country.
• Check with your doctor as soon as possible to find out if you need any vaccinations before you travel
• Make sure you’ve got correct visas for the country you are visiting and that your passport is valid.
• All first time adult passport applicants must now attend an interview to verify their identity. It now takes up to six weeks to get a first passport. For more information please visit www.ips.gov.uk
• For certain countries your passport must be valid for 6 months after the date you travel – check before you go
• Take photocopies of your passport and other important documents and keep these separate from the originals when you travel and/or store them online using a secure data storage site.
• Make sure you fill in the emergency contact details in your passport. This will make it much easier for us to contact someone if necessary
• Tell a friend or relative where you are going and for how long for - give them some idea of your itinerary if possible and an emergency contact number
• Take enough money for your trip and some back-up funds in a mix of cash and travellers cheque - make a note of the cheques’ numbers before you go
• Invest in a good travel guide to help you plan your trip
• Driving abroad? Make sure your licence is current and valid. Make sure you are aware of the driving laws in the country you are visiting
• Check HM Revenue & Customs website "Travel" for information on duty-free allowances, banned goods etc.
When you are away:
• Think about what you are doing at all times and trust your instincts - don’t take risks that you wouldn’t at home!
• Don’t openly display valuables such as mobile phones or digital cameras and consider using a padlock on suitcases or backpacks
• Find out about local customs and dress, behave accordingly and obey local laws -there may be serious penalties for breaking a law that might seem trivial at home
• Be careful when taking photographs, videos or using binoculars. Such activities may be misunderstood, especially near military installations
• Consider taking your mobile with you or renting one whilst you’re away. Store useful numbers such as the local police and the nearest embassy or consulate
• Check with your service provider to make sure your phone works abroad
• Check whether it’s safe to drink local tap water- if not, stick to bottled water and avoid salads, non-peeling fruit and ice in drinks
• Use your judgement when buying and eating food you’ve not prepared yourself
• Respect the environment – don’t buy wildlife souvenirs, conserve resources like water and don’t drop litter
• Check import regulations for food and plants before you attempt to bring them back to the UK
Before you travel:
• If you are ill with a respiratory illness you should delay travel.
• Check to see if your destination is reporting cases of swine flu. You can look on the NaTHNaC website for up-to-date case totals.
• Stock up on waterless alcohol-based hand gels.
You should consider:
• Whether you need to go to a swine flu affected area
• The risk of getting swine flu at your destination
• The level of medical care including access to anti-viral medications in the event you need treatment for an influenza-like illness (fever plus two or more of cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches or headache).
• You should receive appropriate vaccines and other preventive measures for your destination. This includes seasonal influenza vaccine if you come under the recommended risk groups (see NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet on Influenza)
• You should obtain comprehensive travel health insurance, and clarify any exclusions to coverage
During travel:
Influenza is transmitted via the respiratory route and you should exercise sensible precautions:
• Follow public health guidance at your destination.
• Avoid crowding or mass gatherings.
• Where possible avoid close contact with persons who are ill with an Influenza like illness.
• Wash hands with soap and water; use waterless alcohol-based hand gels when soap and water is not available.
• Avoid touching your nose, mouth or eyes, to prevent the spread of germs.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue promptly.
• Keep hard surfaces (e.g. door handles, countertops) clean using a normal cleaning solution.
• Assure that children follow similar advice.
• Swine flu is not passed through properly handled and prepared pork; the virus is killed by cooking to temperatures of 70°C.
• There is little evidence of the effectiveness of wearing masks at a mass level, however, properly fitted special grade masks can be worn in situations such as healthcare settings.
After you travel:
Travellers who have visited affected areas should monitor their health for seven days after the visit. If you develop a flu-like illness with cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache or muscle aches, within seven days you should:
• Check your symptoms on NHS Direct, NHS Choices and/or NHS 24, if you remain concerned contact your GP
• Limit contact with other people
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of the tissue promptly
• Wash hands with soap and water
• Keep hard surfaces (e.g. door handles, countertops) clean using a normal cleaning solution.
Swine flu pandemic:
The number of confirmed cases of Swine Flu (H1N1) across the world continues to grow. The World Health Organisation’s current pandemic alert level is Phase 6. This is characterised by human-to-human spread of the virus in more than one WHO region. The alert phase refers to the geographical spread of the pandemic, not its severity
About to travel overseas?
Medical screening for the Swine Flu virus (H1N1) has been introduced by local authorities at several airports for passengers arriving on international flights. Containment measures may be introduced or changed with little or no notice. You may be required to undergo further tests if you show flu-like symptoms.
Some countries have put quarantine measures in place for people travelling from affected countries, or in one case at a hotel where an infected person had been staying. British nationals who find themselves quarantined overseas should contact their nearest British Embassy/Consulate who will be able to offer consular assistance, though access may be limited due to the quarantine restrictions.
If you are looking for advice on how swine flu might affect your travel plans, you should consult the travel advice for the country concerned; it would also be wise to subscribe for email alerts that will notify you of any changes prior to travel. If you are overseas and are seeking specific advice on the country in which you are located you should also consult our travel advice.
British nationals overseas:
If you live in a country affected by swine flu, you should monitor our travel advice and, as with other medical matters, assure yourself of your own healthcare arrangements. This might include obtaining access to anti-viral medicine. If you have any concerns over your own health, you should seek medical advice.
British nationals working overseas should speak to their employers about plans they have in place. Such plans may include access to anti-viral treatment for employees and/or repatriation to the UK.
The British Government will not be in the position to offer evacuation of British Nationals in the event of an influenza pandemic.
Many countries may have limited availability of anti-viral drugs. Our Embassy/Consulate staff may be able to provide advice on the availability of local medicines or healthcare, but we cannot provide medical treatment (including anti-viral medication.
5. Usefull Link
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www.baa.co.uk
www.fco.gov.uk/en/
