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Christmas travel tips |
The schools break up for Christmas this week signaling the start of the great Christmas Getaway.
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With thousands of people set to jet away to visit families and friends or in search of warm weather expect to encounter busy airport terminals.
With plenty of people heading to the airport over the next week or so it's important to be organized and heed security advice to make your passage through the airport as smooth as possible.
Here are just a few tips to help you prepare for your flight this Christmas:
Use online check-in
Check-in online and print your own boarding passes to avoid queues at the airport. Alternatively, if your airline offers self-check-in terminals at the airport use these. By not using the terminal check-ins you can avoid the queues and just use the fast bag drop lanes – that's if you are carrying luggage.
Allow plenty of time to get to the airport
Expect the roads to be busy at this time of year and allow plenty of time for travel to the airport.
Visit the Highways Agency website for details of any planned roadworks that could increase your journey time – there's also a section displaying real-time travel disruptions. The BBC offers information on traffic hotspots too
If you aren't booking our Gatwick meet and greet parking but plan to use off-site airport parking instead, don't forget you will need to take this journey into consideration and your transit from the car park to the airport when working out how long your journey will take.
Baggage restrictions
To make passage through security as easy as possible, make sure you stay up to date with hand luggage rules. If you are travelling with presents in your hand luggage, don't wrap them as they may have to be unwrapped for inspection at security.
Don't forget the rules covering liquids in hand luggage. Restrictions still apply and cover presents too, so pack any liquids of more than 100ml in your checked-in luggage.
Check out our Gatwick security section for up-to-date information.
Christmas items
Be aware that if you are planning to carry Christmas items, many airlines and airports will not allow the transport of Christmas crackers – restrictions vary from airport to airport and airline to airline.
Some airlines permit crackers in the cabin provided they do not contain sharp objects or banned items, others will only permit crackers in the hold and then stipulate that they must be factory produced and are in unopened boxes – it's always advisable to check with your airline before you travel.
Party poppers may seem quite harmless but they are regarded as explosive items and are banned from all aircraft.
Other items that are restricted:
Lithium batteries can pose a fire risk if not wrapped correctly, or the item they are being transported in is accidentally activated during the flight, so be careful when packing these items.
Goods that must not be taken on board an aircraft include:
- Fireworks, flares, toy gun caps
- Culinary blowtorches, camping or compressed gas cylinders
- Petrol, lighter fuel, paint, non-safety matches, firelighters.
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| If you are flying over Christmas make sure you follow the rules, and if you have any questions about the carriage of any item check with your airline. |
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