Walking through the airport, I soon spotted my arch nemesis: Ryanair’s ‘cage of doom’ bag sizer.

Many a traveller has fallen victim to its tight measurements in the past, leaving them with no option but to pay the extortionate on-the-spot fee of £46-£60 – just so they can indeed have clean underwear on their next adventure.

Today, however, I vowed that would not be me – thanks to an impressive Primark 8-Wheel Hard Shell Underseat Suitcase, for just £25.

Lifting my case into the sizer, at first it appeared there was no chance it was going to fit. Luckily, I had a singular trick up my sleeve…

I pressed the release buttons on the sides of each wheel and in seconds, had all four of them in a little bag, which then got stuffed inside my pocket. Then, holding my breath, I once again lowered the now wheel-less suitcase into the sizer.

One deliberate prod later and the case fell neatly into place – and the Primark case fit like a glove. 

‘Bingo!’ called a woman watching on from the queue behind me. She was right, I did in fact feel like a winner and it’s all thanks to Primark’s new suitcase.

As someone who loves to travel but refuses to pay a penny more on a trip than for her cheap airfare, I am always on the lookout for an underseat bag that’s going to help make that a reality.

The problem is, bags that promise to fit the baggage allowance requirements for the likes of Ryanair, WizzAir and EasyJet can often get quite bulky just due to the volume of items people try to cram into such a small space. 

So, when I stumbled upon this gem during a routine trip to Primark – ironically while scouting for a different bag I’d heard about – I was really buzzing.

It was the words ‘removable wheels’ printed on the tag that caught my eye and brought me to my knees with glee.

That may be a slight exaggeration, but I did find myself bounding over to the shelves, eyes practically bulging in anticipation and excitement. ‘Could this case be the one I’d been searching for for all these years?!’ I thought.

Now, admittedly, this wasn’t my first foray into Primark’s ‘viral’ luggage. Last year I picked up its similar-sized soft black bag with two wheels and a hidden handle and was pleasantly surprised at its practicality.

While the measurements were a couple of cm over the allowance, it passed the dreaded airport test, and it even survived a seven day trip to Estonia.

Yet it wasn’t the material of this newest find that gave me pause, rather it was the case itself.

See, I’ve never understood the desire to take a suitcase as part of your small cabin baggage allowance before – when you’re only given 40x20x25cm, in my opinion, the wheels and handle eat up valuable packing space, why not opt for something else?

However, if you were to take the wheels out of the equation, that suddenly makes a lot more sense. Plus, hard sides could also prevent overpacking, which would satisfy many an anxious traveller.

So, suitcase trundling swiftly behind me, I left Primark £25 poorer and ready to put this bag to the ultimate Ryanair test.

At home, I was impressed to find that the suitcase came in at the stated measurements and, when it came to packing, I was able to squeeze in enough clothes, underwear and swimwear for a three day trip.

I even got a spare pair of shoes, a toiletry bag, an electronics bag, a travel adaptor and a phone tripod inside, too. 

But now it was packed to the brim, would it actually fit in the baggage sizer?

En route to the airport, I was happy to find that the suitcase handled well, especially on smooth surfaces. It required a bit more force on hills and cobblestones, but when the wheels hit vinyl floors, I felt close to pure joy.

Then it was time for the moment of truth.

I didn’t have too many concerns going in to be honest as it seemed Primark had thought of everything, even down to the small black bag designed for storing the wheels.

Still, watching it fall so neatly into place was a great moment and one I’m sure all money-savvy travellers would enjoy too.

My only lingering concern is that Ryanair’s baggage policy specifically states that a ‘small bag’ is a ‘small personal bag, such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack’. It might not explicitly prohibit a suitcase (even one without wheels) but get the wrong member of gate staff and you could have an issue.

Therefore, my advice is to remove the wheels before joining the queue and either store them inside the case or in a pocket so as to avoid attracting more attention than is necessary.

Hopefully this reduces your chance of being stopped and keeps the boarding process smooth for everyone. 

Overall, this new Primark suitcase does indeed get my seal of approval. It’s a great quality find for the price and it’ll certainly turn a few heads at the gate.

In fact, I can’t wait to take it on my next Ryanair flight with me and I think I’ll actually be disappointed if they don’t ask me to measure it. Cage of doom, come at me!

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

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Passengers flying from the UK with this little-known airline are the most likely to take off on time, according to new research.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) recently released its final Aviation Trends report for 2024, crowning Emerald Airlines top for punctuality.

In the last three months of the year, 83% of the carrier’s flights were on time, exceeding 80% in all four quarters.

In comparison, Ryanair came in with an average of 66.25%, while easyJet and British Airways both scored 67% and Wizz Air rounded out the year with 69%.

It’s great news for Emerald Airlines customers – but if you had no idea of their existence until now, you’re not alone.

Despite being the exclusive carrier for Aer Lingus regional services, the airline operates out of Belfast City Airport, so isn’t that widely known throughout the rest of the country.

In 2024, 15,823 Emerald flights set off from Belfast to the likes of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester, Jersey and Newquay.

That’s around one fifteenth of the figure for BA or one seventeenth that of Easyjet, but – perhaps surprisingly given its familiarity as a brand – only around half of Ryanair’s flight count.

Commenting on the achievement, Richard Spencer, chief operations officer at Emerald Airlines, said: ‘We are incredibly proud to be named the UK’s most on-time airline for 2024. This recognition is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, from our flight crew to ground handling staff, operations to engineers, it is without a doubt a team effort.

‘We look forward to exceeding expectations in the year ahead, providing smooth and timely operations for our passengers for 2025 and beyond.’

In Which?’s annual ranking of the UK’s best airlines, Jet2 won out as the top short-haul carrier for the fourth year in a row, scoring five out of five for customer service, booking, cleanliness and value for money. 

At the bottom end of the table, Wizz Air, the worst-performing short-haul airline for 2024, ranked just ahead of Ryanair with a customer score of 51%. 

When it came to long-haul, Singapore Airlines claimed number one spotwith an ‘impressive’ customer score of 80%, followed by Etihad and Emirates.

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If you’re planning ahead to your summer getaway, then there’s never been a better time to invest in a clever space and money-saving hack.

Shoppers in their thousands have rated cabin bags over at Amazon five stars and branded them ‘exactly what you need’ for your next trip.

Best of all? They don’t cost the earth either – we’ve found some for under £10 in the Amazon Spring Deal Days sale.

So whether you’re nipping off for a weekend in the countryside or jetting away to sunnier climates, making the most of those ‘travel Tuesday’ bargains – trust us when we say you won’t want to leave without one of these ‘perfect’ bags you can take onboard with you.

One that’s caught our eye is the WANDF Small Cabin Bag. Measuring a compact 40x20x25 and fits up to 20L, is currently priced at just £7.99 (for a limited time only) – and comes in 21 different colours, so basically one for each holiday mood you might be in or every family member.

WANDF Small Cabin Bag

This perfectly fits all your personal items in, and under the seat infront

shop £7.99 (was £11.99) – save 20%

People have even commented on how it fits perfectly under the seat in front of you whilst meeting the requirements of most airlines’ average cabin bag size – including easyJet, TUI, Ryanair and more.

One shopper said that it was the ‘right bag for using on Ryanair flights’ and ‘trip away’. Another satisfied shopper said: ‘Ryanair staff didn’t even look twice at it. Obviously happy with size.’

There is also a pocket at the front, which is great for those essentials you need to access quickly, like a passport, local currency or just under-eye patches to keep those peepers hydrated.

We also love the COSDDI Travel Duffel Bag (£12.36), which is 29L and can fit around the same amount of clothing as a small suitcase. There’s also a separate compartment at the bottom where you can store shoes, gym gear or wet swimming stuff – from that last dip in the pool before you travel home.

COSDDI Travel Duffel Bag

Available in four different colours, there's one for all the family!

Shop £12.36 (was £17.99) – save 31%

For those of us who might have the luxury of a suitcase included in the price of a flight, packing cubes can be a real asset – especially if you’re sharing a case with someone else.

Not only can you get more clothing in, it keeps everything (and everyone’s) items together, more organised and easy to access items you need in a rush or hurry. There’s nothing worse than having to pretty much empty your beautifully packed case all over the floor – and now that’s a thing of the past.

They are also waterproof, have a wide handle for carrying, double zipper and ventilation – so you can forget about damp-smelling clothing when you arrive at your destination.

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Independence, self-discovery and the freedom to do whatever you want are just some of the benefits of solo travel. But it comes at a price.

Earlier this month, Siculiana, a small seaside town in Italy, was offering €1 holidays to boost tourism. The deal sounded enticing, but, unfortunately, solo travellers were not eligible for the trip.

That’s because, to be in with a chance of winning the budget getaway, applicants had to submit their entries in pairs — a detail that upset many Metro readers.

Merry Smith said: ‘Annoying that you can’t enter as a solo traveller!’ and Amanda Webster asked, ‘Why does it have to be couples?’

Kenny Thomson wrote: ‘Singles are always left out,’ while Erika Mikaelsson shared, ‘I would love to go and I am in Sicily right now. But I am here alone. So I guess I am out…’

This comes at a time when the popularity of solo travel is rapidly increasing, with Airbnb’s latest spring travel trends report revealing searches for solo trips have grown by 80% over the last year.

Adam Schwab, co-founder and CEO of travel company Luxury Escapes, told Metro: ‘The solo travel boom isn’t just a trend – it reflects how we’re living now. People are settling down later, placing more value on independence, and are tired of putting off amazing experiences just because their friends can’t get time off work.

‘Social media has made a huge difference too. Seeing others have amazing solo adventures on Instagram and TikTok has normalised the concept and shown people it’s not just acceptable, but actually incredibly rewarding.’

He added: ‘The best part is that the industry is finally catching up, with solo-friendly activities and apps that help you connect with like-minded travellers.’

But, despite this, solo travellers still often find themselves paying more just to take a trip alone.

Research from Which? Travel in 2023 revealed that solo travellers are charged up to 87% more than those holidaying as a pair.

This is because those travelling alone often have no choice but to pay extra to occupy a double room, or a ‘single supplement’, a fee that’s been nicknamed the ‘singles tax’. However, the research also revealed that some companies applied the charges to small single-bed rooms too, despite these being only suitable for one person.

Some Metro readers have direct experience of this.

Kirk Parsons shared: ‘I was once charged a single room supplement on the grounds that the hotel would usually have two paying adults in a room. Fair enough. Except that I was then given a small room with a single bed, which couldn’t have accommodated two people anyway.’

Michelle Poczapsky revealed: ‘Since my dad died, my mum’s really wanted to go on a cruise, but the supplement you have to pay as a single traveller is crazy money… They really penalize solo travellers, which is such a shame.’

Schwab explained that, as far as the tour operator is concerned, if you want a room all to yourself you have to pay more. ‘To them, the costs for staff and transportation remain much the same,’ he added.

But there are ways to cut costs when travelling solo.

Lesley Morgan said: ‘I tended to travel in the shoulder seasons, so single rates are not so bad. But travel in the summer and the hikes were massive.’

Linda Clinton added: ‘I can relate to that. I tried out staying in a hostel a couple of times last year and purchasing flights separately due to the packages in the summer getting very expensive at the place I go to.’

For some, the cost has put them off travel completely. Richard Yampy Williams said he doesn’t go on holiday anymore, calling the prices a ‘rip off’.

Metro spoke to Chelsea Dickenson, a seasoned solo traveller and founder of Cheap Holiday Expert.

She refuses to compromise on cost when it comes to travelling alone, but admits that this isn’t always easy.

‘I love travelling solo on the cheap, but sometimes a ‘single tax’ does make it a bit more difficult to do on a budget,’ she revealed.

As well as having to pay extra as a single person in a double room, she added: ‘I’ve also had to avoid certain activities such as jet skis and snowmobiles where the advertised price is actually per person between two people, but you have to fork out the full cost when it’s just you on your own.’

How to cut costs when travelling solo

Despite the barriers, there are ways solo travellers can spend just as little (or even less) than those holidaying in pairs if they do their research before booking.

To start, Schwab recommended hunting for hotels that cater to solo guests: ‘More properties are finally waking up to this market and offering decent single rooms or ditching those ridiculous extra fees during their slower seasons.’

This also applies to tours that target solo guests, as these are designed not to charge extra for people travelling alone.

Meanwhile, seeking out online community pages, often used for planning and sharing travel tips, can help holidaymakers find a travel buddy who’ll be heading to the same destination around the same time.

But if you do find yourself on a tour that includes groups and couples, Schwab advises asking your operator about pairing you with another solo traveller.

Travelling during the shoulder season and, if you’re able to be flexible, booking late onto a tour can also save costs. Schwab said: ‘If a tour does not reach capacity, you may find an operator adds single rooms at the last minute without adding a single supplement fee.’

Meanwhile, some major travel companies have begun offering trips for solo travellers, including easyJet, TUI and Thomas Cook.

Jet2 was recently recommended by Which? for solo travellers, so it’s worth checking out their offerings.

Dickenson shared her favourite locations for low-cost travel with Metro, saying: ‘The main way I deal with not feeling out of pocket is by heading to affordable destinations where I know my money goes a lot further.

‘In Europe, this includes places like Portugal, Poland and Albania where the accommodation can be much cheaper. Further afield, I love Thailand for not only great hotel prices but a street food culture that makes it easier to eat out solo, and make friends too.’

She also recommended looking for home-sitting opportunities as a way of securing free accommodation.

‘I’ve found that homeowners often want just one person to look after their place whilst they’re away. My favourite websites for this are TrustedHousesitters and Nomador.’

And if you’re looking for more tips to keep costs low on your next trip, Metro has rounded up the cheapest places for a weekend break in Europe, as well as the cheap places to travel to while you’re young and on a budget and 11 places you can fly to for less than the cost of a UK train ticket.

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European countries are lining up to warn their transgender citizens about travel to the USA amid fears of ‘indefinite detention’ at the border.

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump declared the US would only recognise two genders, the firing shot in an assault on LGBT+ rights in the US, which has included scrapping a directive preventing discrimination, and a ban on transgender people serving in the military.

This may create a stumbling block for transgender and non-binary travellers, whose visas, passports and other documents are now expected to list their ‘sex at birth’.

People whose legal gender differs from that, or who have an ‘X’ mark instead of ‘M’ or ‘F’, there is a fear they could be difficulty if they try to enter the US.

‘Confiscation of your passport and indefinite detention in an ICE facility is a real possibility’,TransActual director jane fae told Metro.

Among a series of people detained at the US border this month is a French scientist denied entry after immigration officials found messages critical of Trump’s policies on his phone.

It’s prompted numerous countries in Europe, including France, Ireland and Germany, to warn their transgender citizens about travel to the US.

A spokesperson for LGBT+ rights charity Stonewall Spokesperson told Metro: ‘LGBTQ+ people across the world are facing uncertain and turbulent times.

‘It is deeply troubling that one of the US President’s first actions upon taking office was to deny the existence of trans, non-binary and intersex people – a stance with alarming historical parallels.

‘As the US and other countries adopt regressive and harmful policies that threaten to roll back rights, it is important that governments adapt advice for their LGBTQ+ citizens so they can make informed decisions about travel and keep as safe as possible when they choose to do so.’

An update to the website of Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs on Monday said: ‘ESTA and visa application forms to the US require travellers to declare their sex.

‘The US authorities have indicated that this should reflect the traveller’s biological sex at birth.

‘Travellers who have an “X” marker on their passport or whose sex on their passport differs from sex assigned at birth should contact the Embassy of the United States of America in Dublin for further details on specific entry requirements.’

Full list of European countries warning transgender people about travel to the USA:

• Austria
• Denmark
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Norway
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• The Netherlands

Some countries like the UK, and the USA’s Nato partner Canada, haven’t issued US-specific guidance for transgender citizens, which a transgender rights charity has called a ‘dereliction of duty’.

However, they do offer general guidance warning transgender people they could face issues with travel documents in countries where transgender people are not recognised.

This is a marked contrast with the specific advice issued by the UK in 2016 when North Carolina passed a bill banning transgender people from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity, and Mississippi introduced a law allowing anti-LGBT+ discrimination.

TransActual director jane fae said: ‘Back in 2016, when the risks to travellers were less than today, the government, through its regular Foreign & Commonwealth Office briefs, issued a warning to LGBTQ+ travellers to North Carolina and Mississipi that was considerably more direct than anything government is doing today.

‘This advice stayed up until some point in 2017, when we were looking to appease an incoming Trump administration, and it was taken down.

‘Today, the risks to LGBTQ+ travellers are significantly greater. Confiscation of your passport and indefinite detention in an ICE facility is a real possibility.

‘Yet government is content to issue an anaemic warning that does not touch the seriousness of the situation.

‘They are putting lives at risk. In addition, by not issuing an official warning, those who are aware of the dangers and now wish to cancel their holiday bookings cannot obtain refunds.

‘This is dereliction of duty. It demonstrates yet again that government’s much touted ‘reset’ of relations with the LGBTQ+ community is just so much hollow rhetoric. If they truly want a reset, they need to do much better.’

British woman Rebecca Burke, 28, spent 19 days in detention for falling foul of border security while trying to leave the USA after working in return for accommodation, a violation of her visa.

This crackdown appears not to be limited to those breaking immigration rules, however.

Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student at New York’s Columbia University, was detained by immigration enforcement agents who took him from his home on campus to a detention facility in Louisiana.

He has not been charged with any crime, but President Trump is pushing to have him deported, indicting it would be the first of many deportations of pro-Palestinian protesters 

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Ryanair has launched a new subscription service that promises to give discounts to frequent travellers.

The new scheme which launched Monday March 24 is called Prime, and offers passengers discounts that the budget airline say could add up to £420 a year.

Ryanair Prime costs £79 per year, and will include member benefits such as free reserved seats, free travel insurance and access to 12 annual member-exclusive seat sales (one booking per month).

Ryanair’s CMO, Dara Brady, said: ‘Ryanair “Prime” is a new subscriber discount scheme for frequent flyers that want to fly regularly but don’t want to break the bank to do so.’

The CEO says the ‘modest’ £79 will deliver ‘great savings’, putting the total amount saved at £420 for members who fly 12 times per year.

So, let’s crunch the numbers.

If a passenger buys reserved seats on 12 flights per year, that amounts to £120. Travel insurance for those same flights would cost £180. On top of that, Ryanair say a traveller would save a minimum of £120 (£10 per seat) on 12 seats bought in a sale. Add that together and you get £420.

Even if you don’t fly that frequently, it’s still a good deal, according to the budget airline. Ryanair say that even if you only fly three times a year, you’ll still save £105.

Some passengers have been thrilled by news of the new scheme. Metro reader Angela Keating said: ‘For frequent flyers, it’s a good deal.’ While Chris Robinson said: ‘That’s a game-changer for people who travel a lot. Just think of all the extra holidays you could afford!’

And Sonia Burmby said: ‘Love Ryanair! Flown with them for years…..does exactly what it says on the tin!’

Dara Brady added: ‘Ryanair has been delivering the lowest fares (and the best services) in Europe for the last four decades, and we’re now extending our price leadership with the launch of our exciting new subscriber discount scheme.

So, if you like flying regularly while also saving money, then Ryanair ‘Prime’ is a no-brainer.’

The discount scheme is limited to just just 250,000 customers on a first come, first served basis, so head to Ryanair.com if you want to sign up.

Ryanair isn’t the only budget airline to offer travellers even more discounts.

Wizz Air has an ‘all you can fly’ scheme, for £495 (€599) for a yearly membership.

For your cash, you get access to unlimited flights to 200 destinations in over 50 countries, although you still need to pay a flat fee of £8.27 (€9.99) per booking.

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The world has never been more accessible to humans, but it seems that one island is completely out of the question.

Located 30 miles off the coast of Brazil is an isolated island called Ilha da Queimada Grande, also known as Snake Island, a place so dangerous that humans are prohibited from visiting.

With a total area of just 43 hectares (106 acres), the small island is restricted because it is home to an abundant snake population — one snake per square metre – and, more specifically, the world’s most poisonous snake.

Named Golden Lancehead, the rare vipers are critically endangered, and while their main food source is birds, they have the ability to kill a human within just one hour.

That’s not all, either.

Having found themselves stuck there more than 11,000 years ago after sea levels began to rise and disconnected the island from Bazil’s mainland following the last ice age, the venom of these snakes is considered five times more potent than that of mainland vipers.

Thankfully, they are no threat to us, and to ensure we are not a threat to them, the Brazilian government has declared the area a strictly prohibited site for tourists — except for a select number of scientists, the Brazillian Navy and, sometimes, a journalist.

In 2019, Australia’s 9 News Reporter Tara Brown was able to arrange a visit to the forbidden island.

In her report, she said: ‘When we were speaking to local fisherman, they told us, “That’s not a good idea, you don’t want to go there”‘.

‘There are legends about a whole family being killed there and of pirates burying treasure on the island and the snakes being put there to protect the treasure,’ she said. ‘The fishermen said they never went there, or they would die.’

Tara, however, lived to tell the tale.

Guided by Dr Bryan Fry, ‘a self-confessed snake geek’ who loves venomous snakes so much that he calls himself the ‘Venom Doc’, Tara found that the island and the world’s most venomous snakes have a huge role in research and saving lives.

Brazil experiences between 27,000 and 30,000 snake bites per year, with an average of 100 resulting in death, and research conducted on the island by Butantan Institute and IMCBio scientists is essential to helping create antivenom.

But lanceheads are important for more than just antivenom. Their venom is also an ingredient in blood pressure medication, which helps millions of people worldwide.

Some scientists even believe the venom could be ‘the source of future wonder drugs’.

So, it’s no surprise that the estimated 2,000 – 4,000 lancehead snakes on the island are being protected at all costs.

The rest of the snake species on the island aren’t all poisonous, including the Sauvage’s snail-eater, which is non-venomous.

In total, there are an estimated 430,000 snakes slithering around, meaning if you were to ever visit, that’s one snake per square metre (10.8 square feet) you would have to navigate.

There are also 41 recorded bird species on the island, including the southern house wren and the Chilean elaenia, a species of flycatcher.

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Britain has updated its travel advice for the US, warning visitors they could face ‘arrest or detention’.

The US ‘enforces entry rules strictly’ and those who do not abide by them could be detained, the Foreign Office says.

‘You should comply with all entry, visa and other conditions of entry,’ the department’s new advice reads.

‘The authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules strictly. You may be liable to arrest or detention if you break the rules.’

Earlier guidance that was in place in early February simply read: ‘The authorities in the US set and enforce entry rules.’

While the Foreign Office did not comment on why the change was made, it comes after a British backpacker was held in a US immigration detention centre for nearly three weeks, before being deported.

Rebecca Burke, 28, was handcuffed and detained on a visa violation at the border with Canada after she attempted to make the crossing into the US on February 26.

Her parents spoke of her ‘horrendous’ ordeal, claiming her ‘life-changing’ trip turned into a ‘nightmare’, as they fought to secure her release from the centre in Tacoma, Washington.

Ms Burke had spent two months travelling across the US, including visits to New York and Seattle, after flying across the Atlantic in January.

The graphic artist, from Monmouthshire, Wales, had been carrying out household chores for families in the US in exchange for hosting and planned to do the same thing in Vancouver, western Canada.

Canadian authorities told her to go back to the US and fill in new paperwork before returning.

However, when she tried to re-enter the US, American border force officials are thought to have found that the exchange of household chores for shelter amounted to work and not tourism, in breach of her visa.

Ms Burke said she was held at a facility that was ‘cold’ and ‘close to capacity’, where she had to wear an orange jumpsuit and slept in a dormitory of more than 100 people.

After 19 days in detention, she was led onto a plane with chains ‘like Hannibal Lecter’ and returned to the UK on Thursday.

Ms Burke’s father, Paul, expressed his concern and urged travellers to be extra vigilant.

‘You can do everything right and still be detained,’ he says.

‘I think this experience will change all of us.

He adds: ‘This will never go away, and what we want to do is to warn other young people, and anyone planning to travel to the US, to be extra careful and to check and double-check their visa requirements.’

Travel advice has also been issued to holidaymakers flying to or from Italy next week, warning them to expect disruption as strike action is set to delay air travel. 

Passengers are facing simultaneous strikes, with EasyJet pilots and Italian baggage handlers preparing to walk out on the same day.

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Summer 2025 just got hotter, as Skyscanner has revealed a new tool helping you get more bang for your buck.

The travel firm recently announced the launch of Drops, which helps holidaymakers find the best flight deals for their upcoming journeys.

Comparing over 80 billion prices every single day, the feature (which is only available in the app) was created to show all significant price drops from a selected airport.

That means you’ll be able to time your booking to take advantage of fares that are at least 20% lower compared to the past week.

It can make a big difference too, as data collected between January 1 and January 31 showed that the average savings equated to £68 – in many European hotspots, that’s an entire night’s accommodation.

One trip to the popular winter sun destination, Dubai, saw a £417 drop in the space of a week, while long-haul favourites like New Delhi, New York, and Toronto were offered to Skyscanner travellers with decreases of over £200.

But while the biggest savings tend to be on the most expensive journeys,Dublin won out as the place with more frequent drops than any other city in the UK and Europe.

Alongside using tools like this to ensure you get the best deal, Skyscanner recommends booking flights on a Wednesday, as this is when they’re cheapest.

If you can’t wait until then though, be sure to book before 9am any day of the week. Much like the saying, the early bird really does catch the worm.

Laura Lindsay, Skyscanner’s travel expert, said in a statement: ‘Our latest Travel Trends 2025 Report revealed 67% of UK travellers consider the cost of flights the major factor in their holiday decision-making process.

‘We want to help cost-conscious travellers find and book that all-important next trip with ease and confidence, and with Drops they have easy access to incredible deals at their fingertips, where they can be sure they’re getting a good bargain.’

So, where are the best deals?

At the time of writing, Drops showed that trips out of London with the biggest decrease in cost were to India’s capital city, New Delhi.

At £926 for a round trip in and out of London Heathrow (departing on April 8 and returning on April 28), it comes in £1384 cheaper than last week.

Other bargains worth looking at include a four-night trip to Portugal’s Madeira – known as the ‘pearl of the Atlantic’ – between May 25 and June 2, with return flights from London Stansted down £37 from last week, currently costing just £126.

Or, if a last-minute city escape is calling your name, you can head to Barcelona in Spain tomorrow and return the following Friday, March 28, for just £106 return out of London Gatwick — a £102 drop compared to last week.

Whatever you choose, be sure to do it quickly. Skyscanner urges travellers to get in fast if they spot a tempting offer, highlighting that prices fluctuate constantly, and ‘the Drop you originally saved might not always remain the price you saved it at’.

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Following the publication of heavily redacted court documents relating to Prince Harry’s United States visa application, people are asking questions.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex moved to the US in 2020 after rescinding their responsibilities as working royals.

Meanwhile, London-born Harry made several explosive revelations about past drug use in his 2023 memoir, Spare, including taking cocaine as a teen, smoking marijuana, and trying magic mushrooms at a party in Courteney Cox’s home.

Historic drug use could typically disqualify a traveller from obtaining a US visa, leaving people to wonder whether Harry included this information on his application — or if the rich and famous get special treatment.

So, what’s the deal for the average Brit heading to the States on holiday? If you’re planning a city break in New York or a cowgirl trip to Texas, should you be worried about that hash brownie you ate as a Fresher?

Here’s everything you need to know.

Can you get a US visa if you’ve ever taken drugs?

According to the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales, an estimated 8.8% of people aged 16 to 59 years reported using any drug in the last 12 months up until March 2024.

That’s around 2.9million people, so we know drug use is far from uncommon.

Most UK citizens heading to the USA require an ESTA, an authorisation to travel from the US government, under their Visa Waiver Programme. It’s not a visa, but rather an electronic document that allows visa-free travel for tourism or business trips of up to 90 days. 

The ESTA asks questions including, ‘Are you a drug abuser or addict?’ and, ‘Have you ever violated any law related to possessing, using, or distributing illegal drugs?’

Legally, if you’ve taken drugs at any point, you are likely to be ineligible for an ESTA. Instead, you must apply for a non-immigrant visa, which can also be rejected following admissions of drug use.

However, the decision-making process isn’t so black and white. Immigration officers have the discretion to reach a conclusion based on several factors.

Can you get a US visa with a drug conviction?

It’s expected that most people who have participated in illegal drug use, either as youth or more recently, will tick the ‘no’ box when asked about it on any kind of USA entry form.

However, a conviction could deem you permanently ineligible to travel to the US on any visa.

There is room for mitigation, though, as you might be able to apply for a waiver on permanent ineligibility from the Department of Homeland Security, which allows someone who would not usually be allowed a visa, to apply for one.

Many factors play a part in this and whether it will be successful, such as the nature of the crime and when it was committed.

By law, any criminal convictions must be declared on your application, even if your arrest or conviction is considered spent.

Do you ever have to do a drug test to get a US visa?

Under US visa law, a medical exam is mandatory for all immigrant visa applicants. Failure to provide information upon request could cause your application to be delayed or denied.

The screening applicants undergo is not a complete physical examination, nor should it be used to seek diagnoses. Instead, its purpose is to uncover certain medical conditions relevant to US immigration law.

As for what it entails, applicants must arrive with their passport or other photo ID before a doctor reviews their medical history.

There will be a physical exam, which includes an examination of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, extremities, heart, lungs, abdomen, lymph nodes, and skin.

You will also have a chest X-ray and must provide a urine sample to screen for gonorrhoea and a blood test. These are not generally required by those under 15.

Drugs-wise, should you have a history of drug abuse, you might be asked to take a test and/or prove completion of a treatment plan.

Similarly, if you have been treated or hospitalised for alcohol or drug abuse, you must present written certification of your diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment details.

If you are abusing prescription drugs, illegal drugs, or alcohol at the time of your application, your visa will be rejected.

Why were the details of Prince Harry’s visa application kept secret?

Prince Harry’s visa application details have remained private due to a judge’s ruling. In September, it was concluded that it wasn’t in the public interest to disclose further information about his ‘exact’ immigration status.

It was argued that Harry could be targeted with ‘harm in the form of harassment’ and ‘unwanted contact’ from the press.

We also do not know what kind of visa Harry, whose wife is a US citizen, entered the country on. While not applicable to him, since he’s now a resident, A-1 or A-2 visas are offered to those travelling to the US on behalf of a national government to engage solely in official activities.

Judge Carl Nichols only ordered the unsealing of Harry’s documents after the Heritage Foundation, a Washington-based conservative think tank, filed a FoI request.

The research institute has engaged in a lengthy legal battle to have Harry’s records made public, given how visa forms specifically ask about current and previous drug use.

After a redacted version was released this week, the Heritage Foundation has said the ‘fight continues’ to release further intelligence to ‘the American people’.

In particular, they wish to know whether Harry ‘lied’ on his application or received ‘preferential treatment’.

Are the rich and famous exempt from these rules?

The application process for celebrities is slightly different from that of regular folk.

Among options is the O-1A visa, given to individuals with an extraordinary ability in the sciences, education, business, or athletics.

There is also the O-1B visa, which can be given to those with extraordinary achievements in cinema or television, and the EB-1A visa to those with extraordinary ability in the arts through sustained national or international acclaim.

Success in obtaining these visas allows holders to apply for a greencard, giving them the right to live and work permanently in the US.

Additionally, O-2 visas are for individuals who will accompany an O-1 artist or athlete to assist as an ‘integral part’ of activity relating to a specific event or performance.

These visa holders can legally live in the US for the duration of the O-1 visa holder’s stay. Extensions are possible should the O-1 holder’s stay be extended.

Meanwhile, an O-3 is for individuals who are spouses or children of O-1s and O-2s. In a similar sense, O-3 visas are dependent on the O-1 and O-2 visas and can only be extended if your spousal or parental visa holder also extends.

The O-1B is one of the most prestigious visas and is very difficult to obtain. They are valid for three years initially and then renewed in one-year increments.

Notable recipients include Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Boy George, Liam Payne, and Justin Bieber.

As far as drugs are concerned, public figures must still be ‘admissible’ to the US on medical grounds, which means not currently abusing drugs or alcohol.

Should questions arise, the US Embassy may refer celebs for a medical exam to seek confirmation that they are not ineligible health-wise. If given the thumbs up by doctors, their application can still go ahead.

As an example, Kate Moss was allegedly photographed with a white powder in 2005. Four years later, she returned to the US.

Meanwhile, One Direction star Payne was in Argentina when he died last October after being forced to extend his trip when his application to stay in Miami was delayed.

Because of his admission of past substance abuse, he was required to undergo psychiatric and medical evaluations before the visa could be approved.

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Ryanair has scrapped flights to plenty of popular holiday spots this year, citing the ‘unjustified’ and ‘bizarre’ introduction of aviation taxes across Europe as the reason why.

Spain was the destination hit the hardest, with the low-cost carrier cutting its schedule over several routes, while Italy, Germany, France, and Denmark have also faced a reduction in flights.

But, thankfully for holidaymakers, the airline has also introduced some new destinations across the continent this summer. 

AeroRoutes, which offers daily updates on the air network, has published a list of Ryanair’s planned route additions for summer 2025. 

And better still, it includes flights from the UK to destinations that have not been served by Ryanair in over a decade. 

All the new Ryanair routes for summer 2025

In January, Ryanair announced seven new summer routes from London Stansted, including the following destinations:

• Reggio Calabria, Italy – from March 19
• Bodrum, Turkey – from March 19
• Linz, Austria – from March 24
• Clermont-Ferrand, France – from April 20
• Munster, Germany – from May 20
• Dalaman, Turkey – from June 2.

Fares for these journeys start at just £14.99, according to Ryanair’s website, excluding London to Dalaman, which will set you back at least £33.69. 

Additionally, flights from Stansted to Lubeck in Germany are expected to begin from April 1, but tickets are not available to book on Ryanair’s website as of yet.

According to Aeroroutes, the carrier is also reinstating some routes that it hasn’t served for more than a decade, including three from Bournemouth airport. 

Ryanair will fly from Bournemouth to both Chania and Rhodes in Greece in June, and to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in April. 

All three routes, which have been absent from Ryanair’s website since 2014, will operate twice weekly. 

Those travelling from Manchester can expect two new routes at the end of March too, with twice-weekly flights to both Morocco’s capital Rabat and the southern French city of Toulouse. 

Twice-weekly flights to Toulouse will also commence from Bristol Airport as of May 3. 

Meanwhile, in Scotland, a new route from Edinburgh to Funchal in Portugal will launch on March 30, while a twice-weekly flight from Glasgow to Malta will begin on April 25. 

The budget carrier has slashed a number of flights this year, and many popular European holiday destinations have been affected. 

Spain is among the hardest hit by the cuts, with Ryanair revealing last month that it would cut its Spanish summer traffic by 18% this year. 

The airline will stop all flights to and from Jerez and Valladolid and reduce flights in and out of Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Santander and Asturias, with a total of 80,000 seats across 12 routes being lost.

Ryanair previously told Metro: ‘We have been forced to cut capacity to and from short-sighted markets that are bizarrely introducing or increasing aviation taxes.’

This article was first published on March 14, 2025.

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If you’ve ever had to sit next to a screaming toddler on a plane, you might have wished an adults-only flight had been available.

After all, child-free cruises have long been an option — Virgin Voyages, Viking and P&O are just three of the major cruise lines that offer them — so why aren’t airlines taking a similar approach?

Some carriers offer ‘quiet zones’ on certain flights, which have age restrictions in place, making them effectively child-free.

Turkish-owned Corendon Airlines is one of these, and caused a stir when it announced plans to introduce an adults-only zone in 2023.

The idea proved deeply divisive, but Metro readers have been quick to defend the desire for child-free spaces on planes.

And, perhaps surprisingly, a lot of people supporting the idea are parents themselves.

Anna Chandramohan said: ‘As a parent, I would be ok with this. I am very conscious of other people, so actually flying with my kids is really stressful. If there was a designated family area it would take the pressure off and allow others who could be travelling for work or just want some peace to get that as well.’

Gem Shelswell agreed, writing: ‘I have two kids and support this for longer haul flights where they are able to divide sections up. Mine are pretty good as [they] love flying, but can understand if you don’t have kids or have never wanted kids that it can be a disturbance.’

Another parent, Charlotte Saunders, added: ‘Children have different experiences on planes and taking into account children with disabilities or neurodivergence too. Doesn’t seem fair that the whole flight should have to put up with children crying etc when they’re having a hard time.’

But not everyone is on board (pardon the pun) with adults-only flights.

Aaron J Kennett pointed out: ‘I think tarnishing all the children that fly with the same brush is unfair and why would children who are keeping quiet want to be in the same small space as those children that are being a nuisance?’

Emma Louise Duff added: ‘It’s called private planes, noise-cancelling earphones or just simply not travelling. People do not need to accommodate to others. And I’ve been on more flights filled with annoying drunken adults than crying or loud children.’

Meanwhile, Jo-ann Bliss simply said: ‘Children are humans and valuable too… not second-class citizens. How very sad.’

Metro spoke to Anthony Radchenko, founder and CEO at AirAdvisor, the world’s leading air passenger rights company.

Radchenko thinks we could see more airlines introduce child-free zones in the future.

‘Airlines are presently testing child-free zones, so they’re still taking notes before normalising it. Apart from the obvious, one major advantage of child-free zones on planes will be improved in-flight productivity for business passengers. 

‘In fact, airlines might market these as ‘productivity hubs’ on long-haul flights to allow frequent flyers uninterrupted work time. This means they can create more seat categories, earning more money from tickets.’

Other advantages would include a smoother boarding process and enhanced crew efficiency. Child-free passengers can board into the dedicated area quicker, while crew in that section will spend less time assisting families.

However, Radchenko adds, ‘travelling with a child is not a crime, so families might feel marginalised’ by these zones.

But what about completely child-free flights? After all, just because you’re several rows away from a child doesn’t mean you won’t be able to hear them.

As Shelly Hill pointed out: ‘How exactly are they going to stop the noise of a crying child breaching that ‘child-free’ zone? No problem with child-free flights though.’

Stephen Yarrow agreed: ‘Child-free flights would be good.’

It’s not just Metro readers who have been discussing the possibility of adults-only flights.

Posting in the subreddit r/childfree, one Reddit user shared: ‘I feel like this is the only place I can say this and not get downvoted but I’m tired of flying with kids. Last night I was stuck on a plane with like 10 kids, including two screaming babies. It was a late night flight too so imagine trying to catch a quick nap but can’t because a baby is screaming bloody murder.

‘I’m surprised there isn’t a child-free airline yet. I would pay extra for that convenience.’

Other users were quick to share their own experiences of being sat near small children.

One said: ‘I flew from NYC to Paris this summer and there was a baby crying several rows behind me for the majority of the flight. Let’s just say that my noise-cancelling headphones were not cutting it. I hate heights but if someone had offered me a parachute, I would have seriously thought about it!’

Another shared: ‘My last flight was overseas from Heathrow to San Diego –five kids under three years old, and they each had their own special turn to scream and cry.’

A user offered some advice, saying: ‘I have had good luck taking extremely early flights. It’s rare that a family is organized enough to be on a 6am flight.’

However, Radchenko has some bad news for passengers hoping that airlines will soon start introducing entirely child-free flights.

He told Metro: ‘Under EU Regulation 261/2004 and UK air passenger rights frameworks, airlines are legally required to provide non-discriminatory access to services. Having child-free flights will breach these rights and invite unnecessary chaos. It will catch the attention of consumer advocacy groups and push regulators to formalise new standards.’

So, if you’re someone who prefers to holiday undisturbed by children, make sure you book yourself into an adults-only hotel to welcome you after your flight.

You could even check out Metro’s round-up of Europe’s best adults-only hotels to inspire your next trip.

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Spain has long since been one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits.

In fact, British tourists made up the biggest proportion of the record-breaking 94 million tourists Spain welcomed in 2024.

While we’re fans of its paella and historic landmarks, it seems Spaniards aren’t so impressed with us, complaining of overcrowding and a lack of affordable housing in tourist hotspots.

Several protests have been held by Spanish locals in areas like Barcelona and Tenerife and, as a result, there have been crackdowns by local authorities on tourism.

There are quite a few new rules that have been enforced, so if you’re planning on heading to Spain or the Canary Islands for some sun this year, you’ll need to be in the know to avoid any unexpected charges or fines.

Full list of Spain’s new tourist rules

Spain’s tourist tax

There are two new tourist taxes set to impact travellers in different parts of Spain.

Tax 1:

Where: The Balearic Islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza or Formentera.

When: The new tourist taxing measures are awaiting approval.

Pricing: Overnight tourist charges could rise from £3.36 to £5.04 per person per night. Rates will vary depending on the quality of your accommodation, with guests at four and five-star hotels paying the most in the months of June, July and August.

This means holiday makers in luxury accommodation will pay £35.31 per person per week – a rise of £11.77. Cruise ship passengers will be worse off, with overnight charges increasing by 200% from £1.68 to up to £5.04 per person per night.

Exemptions: These charges will be scrapped for tourists who visit in January or February. Children under 16 are also exempt.

Tax 2:

Where: Barcelona.

When: By the end of 2025.

Pricing: Tourist tax is set to double, reaching up to £12.40 per person per night – again this is dependent on the quality of accommodation.

Currently, the maximum fee is £6.20 for guests in five-star hotels and £4.70 for guests in four-star hotels. Those staying in flats are charged £5.20.

Tourists visiting wider Catalonia will be charged between 99p and £4.95 per day.

Exemptions: Children under 16 are exempt.

Banned beach items and behaviour

Where: Gran Canaria.

Authorities released a new list of banned items on the beaches of Gran Canaria in March, and using any of this contraband on Spanish sand could see you hit with a £2,500 fine.

You can’t:

• Smoke or vape
• Play music in subathing areas – this includes beaches, promenades and coastal areas
• Cook on the beach
• Use an umbrella for shade
• Put up any type of tent or shelter
• Reserve spots on sun decks and bathing platforms
• Collect any shells or rocks from the beach or the water, or turn over stones without returning them to their original position
• Have public sex – although that one is self-explanatory
• Obstruct any access routes or walkways
• Misuse public showers or foot-washing stations e.g. by wasting water or using the water to fill containers, or washing with soap
• Fish with a rod within 150 metres of bathing zones or near divers

Fines: Breaking these rules means you’ll have to pay authorities £25 to £629 for a minor infraction, £630 to £1,258 for a serious infraction, and fines of up to £2,517 for a very serious violation.

It’s not clear what is considered a minor, serious or very serious offence, so don’t risk it.

Walking tour caps

Where: Mallorca.

There’s a crackdown on walking tours, specifically in Palma. New requirements will see tours limited to 20 people per group, which will likely make them more expensive.

But it’s not yet clear how these group numbers will be monitored. These caps don’t apply to the Balearic Islands, so walking tours are still able to accommodate up to 70 people.

A residents only area

Where: Mallorca.

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, has a destination hailed as a ‘typical old Mediterranean town’, Sóller.

If you’re planning on visiting there by car, you’ll need to think twice. Some locals were concerned about the number of tourists, so the council introduced a ‘residents only’ zone blacklisting hire cars from the town centre.

Across 70 hectares of the town, which spans 12 streets, only residents with registered cars will be allowed to drive, with no hire cars – or cars not registered to the area – allowed.

According to Sóller’s councillor for mobility, Pep Porcel, the new policy will ensure that visitors arriving in a car will ‘leave them parked in the car parks’ to be set up ‘next to the Desvío road.’

Debunking the ‘three year’ tourist ban

Where: Malaga.

When: January 14, 2025.

A new three-year law introduced in Malaga has been dubbed a ‘tourist ban’ by some. The term is misleading – the law doesn’t ban tourists from anywhere. Instead, it prevents the registration of any new holiday rentals across 43 districts in the area.

The measure, introduced by Malaga City Council and Costa del Sol, is expected to last beyond the initial three years, and aims to stop the rise of holiday-rental properties in the most crowded parts of the city and give locals a better chance of finding long-term lets.

Don’t panic, you can still book hotels, Airbnbs and other accommodation as normal.

Where else has introduced the ban: Alicante, Madrid and possibly Seville.

Alcohol ban

Where: Llucmajor, Palma, Calvia (Magaluf) in Majorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza.

When: 2024.

What: A late night drinks ban prohibiting the sale of alcoholic drinks from 9.30pm to 8am the next day was introduced last year.

The ban means you can’t just stock up on drinks before the curfew and continue drinking through the night, as you won’t be allowed to drink on public roads during these times.

And if you’re thinking ‘fine, I’ll just go to a boat party’, you might have to think again – under a law passed in 2020, party boats are not allowed to operate within one nautical mile of the designated area.

The crackdowns are an effort to save the popular resort areas from rowdy behaviour induced by excessive drinking.

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Singapore Airlines has become the latest international airline to ban the use of power banks on board its flights.

The airline announced that, as of April 1, customers will not be allowed to charge portable power banks via the onboard USB ports or use power banks to charge their devices.

Additionally, power banks must be carried in cabin baggage and are not permitted in checked luggage.

Singapore Airlines announced the new rules – which also apply to customers flying with its low-cost subsidiary, Scoot – via a statement on its Facebook page earlier this week. 

The post read: ‘Customers may bring power banks with a capacity of up to 100Wh without special approval, while those between 100Wh and 160Wh require airline approval.

‘We seek customers’ understanding that safety will always be our top priority.’

The announcement prompted thousands of comments, with some questioning how the cabin crew would enforce the new rules. 

In response, the airline stated: ‘Our crews are trained to remain vigilant and ensure that customers comply with in-flight procedures.’

Its post also explained that the SIA Group complies with the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations regarding the carriage of power banks, which are classified as lithium batteries.

Lithium batteries, including those used in power banks, laptops, mobile phones, and electronic cigarettes, are known to pose a hazard due to a reaction called ‘thermal runaway’ which occurs when a battery overheats, potentially leading to a fire.

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): ‘All lithium-ion batteries are capable of overheating and undergoing a process called thermal runaway. 

‘Thermal runaway can occur without warning due to various factors, including battery damage, overheating, exposure to water, overcharging, or improper packing. It can also result from manufacturing defects.’

This process is believed to have been the cause of a fire that engulfed and destroyed an Air Busan plane at Gimhae International Airport in Busan, South Korea, earlier this year. 

While all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated, three people sustained minor injuries. 

On Friday, South Korea’s transport ministry said the results of an interim investigation suggest the fire could have started due to insulation inside a power bank battery breaking down. 

The device was found in an overhead luggage compartment where the fire was first detected, and its debris showed scorch marks, according to officials. 

However, investigators have not yet determined the exact cause of the battery failure, and the final accident report is expected to be released within a year, according to global aviation standards.

Following growing concerns over lithium battery safety, South Korea implemented stricter regulations earlier this month, requiring passengers to keep power banks and e-cigarettes with them rather than storing them in overhead bins. Charging devices on board is now prohibited.

The aviation industry has long recognised lithium batteries as a safety concern, leading to periodic tightening of regulations in response to incidents. 

According to the FAA, incidents involving overheating lithium batteries on planes have risen, with three cases recorded every two weeks last year, compared to just under one per week in 2018.

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If you’re heading abroad for your summer holidays this year, you should be mindful of the laws in your chosen destination.

Because every country — and some cities — have their own unique set of regulations.

While many of these will be similar to what you’re used to, there are some instances where something perfectly acceptable at home — like wearing camouflage or building a sandcastle — could get you in trouble elsewhere.

And though these rules might sound far-fetched to tourists, flouting them could still earn you a slap on the wrist, a fine, or worse.

Read on to discover some of the stranger rules from around the world…

Feeding pigeons in Venice

Take a trip to Venice and you’ll notice that the iconic Italian city has no shortage of both canals and pigeons.

But getting too close to the latter could land you in trouble with the law.

While feeding the pigeons in St Mark’s Square used to be a fun activity for tourists, these days it’s more likely to land you a fine after authorities made it illegal back in 2008.

The ban was brought in to prevent the birds from pecking away at monuments and buildings in the city when trying to reach scraps of food.

The cost of cleaning up and repairing the damage was being handed down to the Venetian taxpayer, but now tourists could be fined anywhere between €25 and a whopping €500 (£21 to £420) for flouting the law.

Wearing camouflage clothing in Barbados

If you’re heading to sunny Barbados for this year’s holiday, you’ll want to leave your camouflage clothing at home.

The UK Government website explains that it is ‘illegal for anyone, including children, to wear camouflage clothing’ on the Caribbean island.

Why? Because the print is reserved strictly for those who are in the military.

The penalty for flouting the law is a $2,000 (around £767) fine, or a one-year imprisonment, or both.

And it’s not just Barbados where this law is imposed — wearing camo is also outlawed in other parts of the Caribbean, including Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, Trinidad and Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada.

This is also a big no-no in parts of the Middle East. In Oman, for example, it could get you flung in jail, as well as in parts of Africa.

Taking your foot off your bike pedals in Mexico

Heading to Mexico and planning a spot of cycling while you’re there?

Be careful how you go, because it’s illegal for cyclists to remove their feet from the pedals of their bike while riding.

The law came into force in the 19th century, following an accident between a coach and a cyclist.

It’s unclear whether you’ll actually get into trouble for doing this, but given the law is in place to keep people safe, it’s probably best for everybody if you don’t try and find out.

Hiking naked in Switzerland

With its towering mountain ranges and jewel-toned lakes, Switzerland is a great place for hikers to enjoy a holiday — as long as you keep your clothes on.

Naked hiking is a no-no in the Alpine areas, and was first outlawed in 2009 after citizens in Appenzell Inner Rhodes became fed up with encountering hikers wearing nothing but boots and socks.

Local authorities can impose fines on people hiking naked in the Alps, but it remains a grey area as there’s no law against public nudity in Switzerland (though the country does have laws against public indecency).

Therefore, fully dressed hiking is probably the most sensible way to go.

Not smiling in Milan

Off to Milan any time soon? Remember to smile if you are — it’s supposedly a criminal offence to frown in the Italian city.

The only people exempt from this strange rule are those at a funeral or hospital.

Rumour has it that the rule dates back to the days of the Austro-Hungarian empire. Apparently, authorities legislated that the people of Milan had to smile by law to combat the dissatisfaction at the foreign domination, and it has never been repealed.

Of course, the law is not actually enforced, so tourists won’t be slapped with a fine for frowning outside the Duomo di Milano.

Passing wind in public in Florida

Florida is a popular holiday destination for many folks seeking sunshine, sand and glorious weather.

But if you are heading there for your summer holiday, you might want to carefully consider what you’re having for dinner, since it’s allegedly illegal to break wind in public after 6pm.

Quite when or why this law was imposed is unclear. But it’s never really been enforced, so you don’t actually need to worry about being punished for it (as long as you’re prepared to receive some judgemental stares, that is).

Running out of petrol in Germany

If you’re planning on renting a car to zip up and down the Autobahn, make sure the tank’s full before you set off. Running out of fuel on Germany’s famous motorway system is against the law.

While in the UK running short of petrol might prompt a call to the RAC and a whole lot of waiting around, German road laws take it a bit more seriously — to the point that an empty petrol tank or an unnecessary breakdown might land you a fine.

It’s related to Germany’s law stating it’s illegal to stop or slow down unnecessarily on certain roads, and running out of fuel isn’t considered a good enough excuse.

Driving without headlights in Sweden

Speaking of driving, anyone planning a road trip around Sweden also has an extra law to bear in mind. Driving without your headlights on in the Scandinavian country is illegal — no matter what time of day it is.

This caters to Sweden’s long, dark winters, which see just a few hours of sunlight a day in the north of the country.

You’ll also need to remember to keep your headlights dipped to stop you from dazzling drivers approaching from the opposite direction.

The RAC explains that when driving in Sweden: ‘Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it’s a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters.’

Building sandcastles in Spain

Spain is one of the most popular holiday destinations among British tourists, with millions heading to the Mediterranean country each year.

But, depending on where you’re heading, you might need to leave the bucket and spade at home.

Believe it or not, it’s against the law to build sandcastles on Levante beach in Benidorm, as well as beaches in Arona and Arico, in Tenerife.

The law was first introduced to the largest of the Canary Islands in 2009, as part of an effort to keep the coastline as clean and natural as possible, while in 2016 Benidorm’s Town Hall voted to ban sand structures.

While smaller sandcastles of the kind children build aren’t likely to land you in hot water, large sand structures could see you fined £130 for your efforts.

Going commando in Thailand

In Thailand, it’s illegal to be out in public without any underwear.

While the Thai police are unlikely to know if you’re walking around commando (and we couldn’t find any reports of tourists going to jail over a lack of underwear) it’s best to play it safe.

So make sure you pack enough pants for your whole trip, to avoid having to admit to your family back home why you ended up in trouble with the law.

Chewing gum in Singapore

Singapore banned the sale and importation of chewing gum in 1992, in order to stop people from sticking it in public places such as on the pavement and subway train doors.

In 2004, the ban was loosened slightly for ‘therapeutic’ chewing gum, which includes dental and nicotine gum.

But while you won’t get in trouble for accidentally smuggling a couple of packs into the country, you’ll face a fine for spitting it out and leaving it as litter.

Penalties for littering in Singapore include fines of as much as $2,000 for a first offence (roughly £1,164).

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Ryanair has scrapped flights to plenty of popular holiday spots this year, citing the ‘unjustified’ and ‘bizarre’ introduction of aviation taxes across Europe as the reason why.

Spain was the destination hit the hardest, with the low-cost carrier cutting its schedule over several routes, while Italy, Germany, France, and Denmark have also faced a reduction in flights.

But, thankfully for holidaymakers, the airline has also introduced some new destinations across the continent this summer. 

AeroRoutes, which offers daily updates of the air network, has published a full list of Ryanair’s planned network additions for summer 2025. 

And better still, this includes flights from the UK to destinations that have not been served by Ryanair in over a decade. 

New Ryanair routes for summer 2025

In January, Ryanair announced seven new summer routes from London Stansted, including the following destinations:

• Reggio Calabria, Italy – from March 19
• Bodrum, Turkey – from March 19
• Linz, Austria – from March 24
• Clermont-Ferrand, France – from April 20
• Munster, Germany – from May 20
• Dalaman, Turkey – from June 2.

Fares for these journeys starts from just £14.99, according to Ryanair’s website, except for London to Dalaman, which will set you back at least £33.69. 

Additionally, flights from Stansted to Lubeck in Germany are expected to begin from April 1, but tickets are not available to book on Ryanair’s website as of yet.

According to Aeroroutes, the carrier is also reinstating some routes that it hasn’t served for more than a decade, including three from Bournemouth airport. 

Ryanair will fly from Bournemouth to both Chania and Rhodes in Greece in June, and to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands in April. 

All three routes, which have been absent from Ryanair’s website since 2014, will operate twice weekly. 

Those travelling from Manchester can expect two new routes at the end of March too, with twice-weekly flights to both Morocco’s capital Rabat and the southern French city of Toulouse. 

Twice-weekly flights to Toulouse will also commence from Bristol Airport as of May 3. 

Meanwhile, in Scotland, a new route from Edinburgh to Funchal in Portugal will launch March 30, while a twice-weekly flight from Glasgow to Malta will begin from April 25. 

The budget carrier has slashed a number of flights this year, and many popular European holiday destinations have been affected. 

Spain is among the hardest hit by the cuts, with Ryanair revealing last month that it would cut its Spanish summer traffic by 18% this year. 

The airline will stop all flights to and from Jerez and Valladolid and reduce flights in and out of Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Santander and Asturias, with a total of 80,000 seats across 12 routes being lost.

Ryanair previously told Metro: ‘We have been forced to cut capacity to and from short-sighted markets that are bizarrely introducing or increasing aviation taxes.’

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Last week an easyJet flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a fight broke out — and the cause of the disagreement has enraged travellers.

Two families came to blows over a five-year-old boy watching The Karate Kid film too loudly on his iPad.

A woman sitting four rows in front allegedly shouted ‘racial abuse’ when asking the boy to turn the film off, according to his mother.

She added that her son ‘was left extremely scared and distressed’.

Metro readers have shared their views on the incident, with many believing it could have been avoided if the boy was wearing headphones.

Alison Lewis said: ‘[The] Son should have been using earphones. It’s inconsiderate to those around you not to.’

Carol Gillard echoed: ‘The child should have been wearing headphones if he was watching a film,’ and Mark Doughty agreed: ‘How about have some respect for everybody else on the flight and have your kid use headphones?’

Sabree Bee shared: ‘One of my pet hates is when people watch stuff or play noisy, bleepy games on devices in public spaces such as buses, trains, planes etc, without wearing headphones. It really irritates me.’

Even those who were keen to remain impartial took issue with the lack of headphones.

Rachel England commented: ‘Not condoning the escalation to violence but for God’s sake. Use headphones in public spaces.’

And Steve Picco added: ‘Not taking sides, but if someone four rows away could even hear it (let alone be annoyed by it), it was clearly much too loud!’

It’s not just Metro readers who have been left irritated by the issue — the subject has been a hot topic on Reddit recently too.

In the subreddit r/unitedairlines, travellers have shared their experiences of fellow United passengers playing music or watching videos out loud.

One user said: ‘Last night, we arrived at our gate early and had to wait about five minutes for the other plane to back out. Some idiot ahead of me started playing an obnoxious game with the sound on. After listening to it for a bit, I announced, “Would you please use your headphones?” I got a few laughs, a couple people clapped, but the sound kept going.’

Another added: ‘I was in airports and subways in Malaysia and Singapore and Istanbul recently. About 20% of people have now decided games, TikTok, and FaceTime conversations are best done without headphones’.

What to do if you’re sat near someone who isn’t using headphones

Metro spoke to Jay Robert, a senior cabin crew member for a major European airline, to find out what plane passengers can do in this situation.

He said: ‘If you find yourself seated next to someone disrupting the cabin with their device, politely ask if they would mind using headphones. However, if you feel uncomfortable doing so or the person refuses, get the crew involved immediately. Acting under the Captain’s authority, cabin crew are empowered to enforce rules that maintain cabin comfort and safety.’

He added: ‘Under no circumstances should you escalate the situation to violence, as this could result in an expensive flight diversion, one you may be held financially responsible for. This is also why I personally invest in noise-cancelling headphones or carry earplugs; they help block out everything from snoring seatmates to engine noise.’

Meanwhile, etiquette expert Jo Hayes, founder of EtiquetteExpert.org, offered advice on how to approach a headphone-less passenger.

She explained: ‘For those who need to approach a fellow passenger about turning their audio off loudspeaker (not just down, but off), the MO is: Kind, calm, clear.’

Hayes suggested phrasing the request: ‘Hi there, would you be so kind as to listen to your audio with headphones? It’s distracting for others around you.’

If this doesn’t work, she agrees that the next step is to call a flight attendant.

Hayes added: ‘Adults travelling with children have a responsibility to ensure their children have appropriate headphones for air travel entertainment.’

And Roberts agrees, telling Metro: ‘Passengers must remember that they are in a shared space and should follow basic rules and guidelines to ensure everyone’s comfort. Parents, in particular, should teach their children proper social etiquette when travelling on shared transport, not encourage and defend the act.’

It’s a habit so frustrating, in fact, that airlines have taken to making announcements to tackle it.

One Reddit user revealed: ‘On my recent flight the flight attendant made an announcement during boarding about using headphones. Hopefully they enforce it.’

Roberts is supportive of this approach, telling Metro: ‘Airlines need to set clear noise guidelines in their terms and conditions.

‘The major US airlines have started doing this, with American Airlines being the latest to adopt and enforce a ‘Quiet Cabin Policy’ to improve passenger experiences and give their crew more authority to end cabin noise.’ 

This isn’t the first time travellers have taken to social media to lament the behaviour of their fellow passengers.

People who stand up to queue down the plane as soon as it lands have recently been dubbed ‘aisle lice’ by Reddit users frustrated with the behaviour.

It’s a subject that’s divided travellers, with some considering it bad plane etiquette and others defending the desire to stand up after a long time sitting in a plane seat.

Similarly, ‘gate lice’ is the secret name airline workers have given to passengers who queue up the minute the gate opens at the airport.

If all this has you worried about the nuances of in-flight etiquette, Metro spoke to the experts to find out the seven things you should never do on a plane — make sure to give it a read before your next trip.

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Martin Lewis has spent his entire career saving the nation dosh, with his latest pearl of wisdom being no exception – and it’s an urgent warning for anyone with a holiday booked this year.

Speaking on his ITV series, The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, the consumer finance expert extolled the virtues of travel insurance and why it is so vital to UK travellers.

With many now planning their summer getaways, putting contingencies in place for if a worst-case scenario does occur is an essential step in ensuring you don’t lose thousands of pounds. 

And contrary to what you may believe – or have managed to get away with in the past – this extends long before you board the plane.

Martin Lewis’ latest travel insurance advice

‘Travel insurance is not just to cover you while you’re away,’ warned Martin, ‘It’s also very important to cover you in case something happens before you go that stops you from going.’

The Money Saving Expert (MSE founder) shared a rule to help viewers remember this: ‘Get your travel insurance ASAB – as soon as you book.’

Further stressing the importance of getting cover sorted, he continued: ‘Right now, many people have already booked and, if you don’t have your travel insurance… do it right now!’

The money guru then explained his reasoning for hammering home the advice, saying: ‘Every year, something asks me a question that goes something like “I’ve been diagnosed with cancer. We can’t go on the holiday. They’re saying we can’t have our money back. What do I do?” And I’m impotent. Because the answer is – you get on your travel insurance.’

Later in the show, an email MSE had received last year was read to the audience, spelling out that exact scenario – someone who had been medically advised not to fly, and lost all of the money they had spent, due to a lack of travel insurance.

‘Please don’t be the person who asks me that question this summer,’ Martin responded. ‘If you’re going to get travel insurance; ASAB.’

On X, Martin was challenged as to whether this warranted the term warning or if it was simply ‘best practice’, replying: ‘Forgive me but it is 100% a warning.

‘If you got the emails I got from desperate people who’ve had a serious health diagnosis in the summer and can’t afford to lose the holiday money. You’d warn people too.’

And travel insurance protects you from a number of other issues that may arise before your trip too, from extreme weather that prevents you from flying to geopolitical events that deem your destination too dangerous.

‘Comprehensive coverage is key,’ Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy, previously told Metro. ‘It is always best to ensure you have comprehensive travel insurance organised once you’ve booked your holiday.’

How to get cheap travel insurance

If you are yet to arrange travel insurance for an upcoming break, hopefully Martin Lewis’s words will sufficiently motivate you to do so.

Fortunately, the Money Saving Expert website provides a Cheap Travel Insurance Finder tool to help holidaymakers find the ideal travel insurance for them at a price point that works.

But whichever policy you go for, heed the warning and avoid burying your head in the sand until your suitcase is packed: ASAB is always best.

If you want more tips and tricks on saving money, as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join our Facebook Group, Money Pot.

Nothing kills the thrill of a theme park visit like spending most of it stuck in queues. 

But for those willing to splurge, the UK’s largest (with the best-loved coaster) is offering a way to skip the wait entirely — and it’s more than just fast-track. 

Alton Towers’ Platinum VIP Package promises the ‘ultimate’ day out, with unlimited front-of-line access, exclusive perks, and even a personal guide through the park.

Guests can enjoy Platinum fast-track on 15 rides, express parking, an unlimited digital photo pass, a Coca-Cola ‘freestyle vessel’ with unlimited refills, meal vouchers, and a VIP host for the day. They can even choose their preferred seat on each rollercoaster. 

The Platinum VIP experience was introduced last year, and has proven popular with adrenaline junkies ever since.

Unlike the park’s fast-track passes, which limit how many rides customers can skip, this allows you to jump the queue as many times at you want.

At £340 per person, though, it’s a big investment. So, is it worth it?

TripAdvisor reviewer @dodgyrodger recounted his experience of the VIP Platinum package, claiming that he was initially apprehensive to book the experience for him and his stepdaughter due to the high price tag.

He wrote: ‘This was a lot of money! Well beyond my comfort zone for a day at a wrote park. My biggest issue wasn’t the cost, it was if I was disappointed with my experience.’

However, he was pleasantly surprised.

‘The day started with parking within spitting distance of the entrance,’ the reviewer continued. ‘That 10/15 minute walk to the car park was a welcome miss.’

From there, they were greeted by their host, Natasha, and their trip ‘just got better!’

He praised the ‘knowledgeable’ host, who went on rides with them. escorted them through all the fast-track queues and took their belongings to the storage for each ride. They even had a pre-booked table for lunch at the Rollercoaster restaurant.

After a long day on the rides, they were escorted back to their car at 9pm.

‘We were genuinely sorry to be leaving,’ he added ‘I can hand on heart say this was by far the best day out I’ve ever had there. It was money well spent making great memories.’

Theme park-focused account Coastertog also shared details of the Premium VIP package on TikTok, captioning their video: ‘Ever wanted to know what it feels like to be a celebrity at Alton Towers? Well, now you can. But it’s going to cost you.’

This prompted a number of responses from users questioning whether the £340 price tag was worth it – including @maybesaiyan who called it ‘extortionate’.

However, plenty more felt it was a decent deal on balance.

‘That’s not too bad if you add up the cost of a normal day at the park,’ wrote @the.rave.monkey ‘Let’s say you have food, photos and fast passes, you would spend close to that, so it’s worth it in my opinion.’

‘Not bad,’ added @alex_nufc, while @djjayroberts argued it was ‘worth it just for the queue jumping.’

And adding to the list of thrillseekers who’d given it a go, @coastercalumc said: ‘Done the VIP with my partner. The best themepark day I’ve had. Our first Towers visit. 10/10.’

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Air travel is more accessible than ever, with new flight routes to enticing destinations cropping up all the time.

In recent months, London Stansted has launched eight new journeys to the likes of Bergen and Rotterdam, British Airways unveiled three new Italian routes and Ryanair, WizzAir, Jet2 and easyJet have all added new destinations to their roster.

But not everyone feels inspired to take advantage of these new travel opportunities.

Some Metro readers have shared their trepidation around stepping onboard a plane, with Peter Ekenasio writing: ‘Until they solve the aircraft crisis, it’s cruises for me’.

Zeeshan Meer Khan Khel added: ‘People are scared to travel in an aeroplane. Accidents have become a normal thing nowadays.’

In reality, aviation incidents such as plane crashes haven’t become ‘normal’. Data from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), a UN body dedicated to ensuring safe international air travel, shows that global aviation accidents have been decreasing in recent years. But there’s a reason some travellers feel unsettled.

There have been two high-profile incidents less than three weeks apart this year. In January, 67 people died after a US Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines plane in Washington DC. In February, a Delta flight tipped over on the runway at Canada’s Toronto Pearson Airport. No one died in the incident, which is being investigated.

The proximity of the events left many wondering if plane crashes are becoming more common, while increasing turbulence due to climate change has also made some travellers nervous.

Severe turbulence increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020, according to researchers at the University of Reading, and 2024 saw one man die from a suspected heart attack when an aeroplane was buffeted flying over Myanmar.

Just days later, 12 people were injured on a flight that hit turbulence when flying over Turkey.

Research published last month found that 69% of adults surveyed view travel by plane as ‘very or somewhat safe’. But while the majority still feel comfortable with flying, this figure is down from 76% in January 2024.

Metro‘s own travel expert Alice Murphy shared her recent feelings of flight anxiety, and was overwhelmed by the number of people who could relate.

One user shared: ‘I just developed flight anxiety a couple of years ago (one random panic attack on a flight made every one after it so hard). I was in shambles for weeks if not months before the flight — like, I put off booking it because I was so scared.’

Another said: ‘I would send goodbye messages getting on planes’, while one user added, ‘It’s pure luck whether I’ll be in bits with anxiety or be grand.’

According to the NHS, fear of flying, or aerophobia, affects around one in ten people.

Tips for managing flight anxiety

Metro readers have shared their own tips for managing anxiety when flying.

Kirk Parsons said: ‘I book a window seat so I don’t get disturbed by my neighbours needing to go to the toilet or buy stuff. Then I just read my book and blank everything else out.’

Julie Ann shared her distraction technique, writing: ‘I am scared of flying, but what I found helped me was sorting my phone out whilst mid-air such as deleting duplicate and unwanted photos, sorting photos and videos into albums.’

And Jane Clark Cadman added: ‘I am terrified of flying, but I love holidays and don’t want to be that person who won’t go anywhere. I have been known to have my jacket over my head for a four-hour flight!’

Many travellers revealed they use alcohol as a coping mechanism for anxiety when flying.

Sharing her airport routine, Amanda Tsim wrote: ‘Arrive early so no rushing. Book the seat you feel comfortable in, mine is a back-row aisle seat where I feel least trapped. Then have a few wines. I’m not saying it’s ideal, but it gets me on a plane.’

However, having a tipple isn’t always the best approach for calming nerves.

Metro spoke to BACP registered therapist and founder of Therapy in London Philip Karahassan, who explained that drinking alcohol can lead to a sharper increase in anxiety during the recovery period.

‘Many like to use sedatives to quell any anxiety during a flight, but this doesn’t conquer anxiety long-term. It simply numbs it for the time being, allowing it to return just as much as before.’

Instead, Philip shared some techniques nervous flyers can use to ease their anxiety:

• Preparation is key: Rushing and lack of preparation can snowball into existing anxiety about flying. Make sure to get your documents in order, check your luggage allowances and plan your journey to the airport ahead of time — the more you prepare, the less space you have for anxiety to creep up.
• Seek out support: Speak to people around you and don’t be afraid to ask for support from the people you are flying with. The more you talk about your anxiety, the less threatening it becomes.
• Distract yourself: Make sure you have something to watch or listen to before and during the flight, to distract yourself from the anxiety.

In the meantime, there’s an ever-increasing list of alternative ways to travel the world if you don’t fancy stepping on board a plane any time soon.

A new train journey linking seven major European cities launched earlier this year, while Eurostar will soon resume its direct route between London and Amsterdam.

Elsewhere, Metro has rounded up the best sleeper train journeys in Europe and the best value luxury cruises.

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As countries across Europe crack down on overtourism, one stunning Spanish holiday hotspot has introduced a ‘residents only’ zone.

The largest of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca is known for its crystal blue waters, gourmet food scene and, famously, for having more than 300 days of sunshine each year. And, found on the north coast is Sóller, a destination hailed as a ‘typical old Mediterranean town.’

But increasingly, some locals are concerned that too many are being charmed by its beauty, as the council introduces a ‘residents only’ zone blacklisting hire cars from the town centre.

While it’s not known roughly how many people visit Sóller each year, a whopping 15.3 million international tourists flocked to the Balearics in 2024, an increase of 6.15% from 2023, as per the Border Tourist Movement Survey.

Now, Sóller Council is experimenting with a new policy that’ll see the introduction of a low-emission zone, according to reports in the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

And, across 70 hectares of the town, which spans 12 streets, only residents with registered cars will be allowed to drive, with no hire cars – or cars not registered to the area – allowed.

According to Sóller’s councillor for mobility, Pep Porcel, the new policy will ensure that visitors arriving in a car will ‘leave them parked in the car parks’ to be set up ‘next to the Desvío road.’

The Majorca Daily Bulletin described the current situation in Soller as ‘one long snaking queue practically from the tunnel to the port,’ while elsewhere, Redditors have long wondered whether the destination is getting too busy.

@zobovaultgirl labelled the beach ‘lovely’ but ‘packed,’ while @Merkaartor noted that, particularly during the summer months, there are never ‘enough taxis’ and ‘parking will be hard.’

This isn’t the first Spanish holiday destination to put its foot down.

Last year, Barcelona locals used water guns to deter rowdy tourists, while more recently, Málaga took action with a new three-year law subsequently dubbed a ‘tourist ban.’

However, the term is somewhat misleading, as the law doesn’t ban tourists from anywhere. Instead, it prevents the registration of any new holiday rentals across 43 districts in the area.

And, over in Italy, which is on the cusp of marking one of its busiest periods on record as it celebrates its Jubilee year, a new rule to save Florence from overtourism has proved controversial.

In 2024, 364,073 people called the city home, and yet each year, around 11 million flock to experience its famous food, history and culture.

Now, many locals have seemingly had enough. The city council has announced that Florence will ban self-check-in keyboxes typically used by short-term holiday lets such as Airbnb, which act as a buffer between a host and their travelling guests.

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Ryanair has confirmed that it will delay its move to paperless boarding passes, a change that travellers have called ‘ridiculous’.

Last month, the budget airline announced that it would be scrapping paper boarding passes in favour of digital check-ins, meaning all travellers will need a smartphone to board their flights.

The change was due to come into force in May, but now the carrier say thatthis will be postponed to November 3.

Ryanair faced backlash from travellers after initially sharing the news, with many worried for older passengers.

‘How will this affect the older generation who are not tech savvy?’ commented @skatkatzenberg on TikTok. ‘And when airline systems are down? It’s a great idea until systems go down.’

‘Ridiculous as some older people do not have smartphones,’ added @colonia1912, while @kimmybrown27 agreed, writing: ‘I think it will cause chaos, especially for older people.’

Metro readers were equally furious, with some urging other flyers to boycott the airline in protest against the change.

Youssef Ka wrote: ‘People should just boycott… Not everyone has a smart phone or apps…’, while Raymond Skinner added, ‘Just Boycott them, go easyJet, Jet2 instead’.

Dan James echoed: ‘Simple, don’t fly with them, they’re awful anyway’ and Andrew Kaye simply said, ‘I’d rather walk’.

Ryanair have not given a reason for the delay to their plans, but did cite their ‘less busy’ winter schedule, which will likely make the transition to paperless a little smoother.

In a statement released today, the airline’s CMO, Dara Brady said: ‘This move to 100% paperless boarding passes from November 2025 will allow us to deliver an enhanced travel experience for customers, streamlined through the myRyanair app during our less busy Winter schedule.’

The airline also say that paperless boarding passes are more environmentally friendly.

Dara Brady continued: ‘Like other ticket industries (concert, sports venues, rail, etc.) there has been a massive switch to using mobile, and with almost 80% of Ryanair customers already using the myRyanair app, it is time to transition the remaining passengers to digital, which will see them reduce their carbon footprint and receive a smoother and enhanced travel experience from November 2025 as Ryanair continues to grow to 300m passengers over the next decade.’

Ryanair first announced the new boarding pass rules at a press conference in Dublin in September 2024.

The firm’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, said that procedures are already in place for any potential digital hiccups.

‘If your battery dies, we know your seat, we have your travel documents, and we can do everything at the boarding gate,’ O’Leary said. ‘We already do this when we can’t scan someone’s phone for any reason. Once we get your name and passport, it’s fine, and everything will be on the app.’

What happens if your phone dies at the airport?

Ryanair has said they can print boarding passes at the gate if necessary.

However, they haven’t clarified whether there will be a fee for this, or what would happen if a traveller’s phone dies before they are able to pass through security at the airport.

According to the Ryanair website, the current fee for printing a new boarding pass at the airport is £20.

Do you need internet access to show your boarding pass?

Once you’ve downloaded your boarding pass to your phone — which you can do after checking in online — you won’t need internet access to display it.

It’s a good idea to download your pass before you arrive at the airport, in case you’re unable to find a reliable internet connection.

Can you use a screenshot of your boarding pass?

Ryanair recommends that passengers use the app to access their boarding pass, instead of a screenshot.

However, passengers can use a screenshot as a backup — just make sure it shows all the information, including flight number, QR code, full name and seat number.

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Flying can quickly get expensive, but if you’re looking to enjoy a champagne experience on a lemonade budget, one major airline has a way in for as little as £13.23.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) is Japan’s largest airline, offering flights to 95 airports globally, spanning 50 Japanese destinations as well as Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.

When travelling in premium economy or economy class across selective destinations, the airline offers the chance to select the option of a ‘paid exclusive dining meal’ – which is one cut above the standard dish served to economy passengers.

While it’s not quite the same as the food served to customers in business or first class, it upgrades the in-flight meal to a bougier option and costs a mere JPY 2,500 (£13.23) per person for a three-course meal.

The upgrade is available on all ANA-operated flights departing from either Haneda (also known as Tokyo International Airport) or Narita (also known as Tokyo-Narita International Airport).

So, if you’re off for the experience of a lifetime in Japan and want to enjoy the high life for a reasonable price, it could be well worth spending the extra cash on your way home.

Wondering what you might be in store for? Until May 2025, when the menu next changes, the airline is offering a marinated tuna and couscous salad with herb sauce as an appetiser, a choice between grilled tilefish with miso sauce or beef stroganoff with turmeric rice for the main, and a yuzu and white chocolate mousse for dessert.

Is it just us, or does that sound like a Michelin-star restaurant sitting?

‘Enjoy your time on board to the full with these beautifully presented meals, which are made with carefully chosen ingredients and seasoned to perfection,’ ANA’s website reads, adding that customers can choose between a Japanese or Western-style meal.

To upgrade, eligible customers can make a request when booking a flight directly via the ANA website – and this can be done any time between purchasing the ticket and 24 hours before departure.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that it isn’t available on flights that don’t offer a meal service – so if only a light meal and drink are being served, you won’t be eligible to upgrade.

Wondering what passengers in business class are entitled to? The spring menu was curated in collaboration with Ginza Okuda, a famous Japanese restaurant renowned for its Michelin star, and features sea urchin, pen shell mussels, prawn dumplings, and even crab.

Elsewhere in the world of little-known aviation discounts, one TikToker recently realised that she could effectively unlock a ‘business class’ experience through Etihad for as little as £200.

Ahead of her visit to Australia, 24-year-old lifestyle and travel influencer Maddie Borge (@maddieborge) received an email inviting her to upgrade – and so she decided to peruse the offers available when she found a hack she’d never seen before.

‘I never really click on these emails, but I was like, you know what, let’s just see what they have,’ Maddie told her 328,000 followers in a recent TikTok video.

‘So, I log in, and it’s the basic choose your seat, extra baggage, upgrade to business.’

Out of curiosity, Maddie wanted to see how much it would cost her to upgrade to business class – and she ended up with an offer of £842. It was then that she came across an offer right next to it called ‘neighbour free.’

‘It allows you to buy out the seat next to you or the entire row for £200,’ Maddie shares.

‘You’re telling me I can upgrade to business class for £1,000, or basically get business class in economy for £200? I’m in shock, this is so cool.’

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A popular holiday region in northeastern Spain is set to increase its tourist tax, affecting visitors to one of the country’s most popular cities.

Catalonia, which is home to the city of Barcelona, first introduced the tax in 2012.

Last week, the Catalan government signed a deal that will allow the region to double the tax, in an attempt to tackle the increasing number of tourists.

This means that in Barcelona this fee could reach a maximum of €15 (roughly £12.30) per person per night.

The amount tourists will have to pay depends on the type of accommodation they stay in.

Currently, the maximum fee is €7.50 (£6.20) for guests in five-star hotels and €5.70 (£4.70) for guests in four-star hotels. Those staying in flats are charged €6.25 (£5.20).

The rest of Catalonia will be able to increase the tax if they introduce the surcharge that was previously only applicable in the Catalan capital.

This means tourists to parts of the region outside Barcelona will be charged between €1.20 (99p) and €6 (£4.95) per day, depending on their accommodation.

The increased revenue the government will receive from the tax will be used to fund housing policies in the region.

David Cid, a spokesperson for the left-wing Comuns party, said: ‘A person who comes to Catalonia paying €400 or €500 for a night in a hotel can pay €7 more,’ when speaking to Spanish radio network Cadena Ser.

He argued that the new figures ‘do not impose any limits’ on tourism or the arrival of visitors, and that similar measures ‘are being proposed across Europe’.

Barcelona mayor Jaume Collboni confirmed that the city would increase the tax hours after the deal was made public, but did not specify when this would take place.

The new measure comes after anti-tourism protests swept Barcelona last summer, with protestors demanding ‘tourists go home’ and squirting visitors with water pistols.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands protested in the city in November to demand lower house prices. 

Overcrowding and a surge in the number of holiday rentals in the city has left locals disgruntled, arguing that it has driven up property prices.

But Barcelona isn’t the only city that has seen a pushback against visitors.

Elsewhere in Spain, Málaga has taken action against overtourism with a new three-year law that prevents the registration of new holiday rentals in some areas.

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Gap years (or yahs) aren’t just for school leavers and fresh graduates: there’s an increasing number of people who, having missed the opportunity to take one when they were younger, are now jetting off on a trip later in life.

A whopping 4,900,000 Brits have hit the pause button and taken a sabbatical from work, including one-third of those aged over 40. But if you’re tempted to join, there’s a little-known money pitfall you might never have thought about.

As per new research, as many as four in 10 have no idea that failing to notify their insurance provider about a trip lasting more than 30 days could invalidate their policy, while in 2024, the average claim racked up to £10,216.

Both paid and unpaid breaks are on the up, as according to MoneySupermarket, 53% of organisations offer sabbaticals as an employee perk in their benefits packages.

However, before jet-setting off, you’ll need to ensure your insurance provider is aware of your movements – else, should you need to make a claim, they might not pay out.

Close to a fifth of Brits (17%) have admitted to going away for more than 30 days without notifying their insurance company, while nearly half of Gen Z and Millennials have either been on a sabbatical or are currently planning one.

Comparatively, the figures for Gen X and Baby Boomers rest at 30% and 24% respectively.

So, how long are people jetting off for, and why? As per the new study, 13% spent more than a year away from the UK, while 20% were gone between six months and a year.

Almost half (47%) admitted to going on a break to get away from the pressures of the 9-5, 35% said that they needed to ‘reevaluate their life,’ and 23% missed out on travelling before they entered the workforce when they were younger.

But at the same time, in 2024, claims paid out by insurers hit their highest level since 2007 – when summer floods swept the UK amid unprecedented rainfall.

Likewise, in the last five years, as many as four in 10 people have made a claim on their home insurance policy, with water damage topping the list of causes.

‘It’s great that more people have the opportunity to take a sabbatical, but there’s lots to think about when you’re planning such a big trip,’ said MoneySupermarket’s home insurance expert Kara Gammell.

‘Getting the right travel insurance is crucial, but you should also make sure your home and possessions are protected while you’re away. You need to let your home insurance provider know if you’ll be away for more than 30 days and if necessary take out unoccupied property cover to protect your home.

‘It’s as simple as a phone call or logging into your policy online to do and means you can enjoy your trip worry-free.’

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Tattoos can be an expression of individuality, a tribute to a special person or life event, or simply a fashion statement.

But not every culture takes the same approach to inked skin.

Travelling with visible tattoos can spark both curiosity and judgement from strangers, especially in countries where certain types of body art are forbidden.

Metro writer Katie Boyden discovered this for herself when she embarked on a week-long trip down the River Nile in Egypt.

Though she left Egypt feeling ‘awestruck and extremely lucky’, when sharing the things she wishes she’d known beforehand Katie wrote: ‘If you’re a woman with visible tattoos you will receive stares and comments.’

Her experience struck a chord with Metro readers, many of whom have shared their own experiences of travelling with tattoos.

Hayley Rafelt said: ‘I visited Cairo and Luxor in September as a solo woman traveller with lots of visible tattoos and it was hell! Couldn’t even walk down the street without being harassed.’

Islam is the main religion in Egypt, and many Muslims consider tattoos to be haram (meaning forbidden by Islamic law), because they are seen to be changing Allah’s creation.

Metro spoke to Anton Esmair, the CEO of tattoo parlour Riders Studio in Cairo.

He explained: ‘As far as religion goes, it’s not as accepted as if you’re Muslim, but if you’re Christian, it is. There’s a fairly large Christian population here, and lots of them have tattoos.

‘Some Muslims do get tattoos, but this varies on what they believe in or how they perceive it. But, for the most part, most locals wouldn’t get a tattoo.’

However, Anton notes that the attention tattooed travellers receive might not have anything to do with religious beliefs.

‘If you’re a Westerner, you just don’t look like an Egyptian, and you’re going to get attention because you’re a tourist,’ he said. ‘But if you’ve got tattoos, they’re going to look at you too, because they’re like, “Wow, that’s different.”

‘Getting tattoos gets you looked at by everywhere. It’s not necessarily anything to do with Egypt — you’ve got art on you.’

Tattooed Metro readers have shared receiving attention from locals in other parts of the world too.

Sharon Balmer said: ‘I went to Zante on my own for a week. I had a few tattoos and piercings back then, purple and pink hair, and wore black clothing as usual. I was quickly nicknamed devil woman by the elder Greeks, it was hilarious. They were polite enough, but extremely weirded out by me.’

While younger generations in Greece are embracing tattoos, a historical stigma against inked skin lingers in the country.

In fact, the word ‘stigma’ is derived from the Greek word which means ‘to mark’, and is related to the work ‘stizein’, which means ‘to tattoo’.

In Ancient Greece, tattooing was used as a punishment for criminals and slaves, and these connotations still have some influence on today’s attitudes.

Meanwhile, John Scott said: ‘I’ve been asked in Stockholm what I’d been in prison for and in Tokyo if I was a member of the local Mafia,’ and Carlos Zaes added, ‘I wasn’t allowed in most nice onsens in Japan’.

Japan was mentioned several times, with India Taylor sharing: ‘Tokyo was worst for me, people staring at me and kids pointing often’.

The world’s least tattoo-friendly countries

In Japan, tattoos were illegal until 1948 and are still seen as socially unacceptable due to their connection to the Yakuza, a Mafia-like criminal organisation.

In the county’s tourist hotspots, it’s generally ok to have your tattoos on display these days. But there are places where you may be asked to cover them up, such as onsens (Japan’s natural hot springs).

Meanwhile, in South Korea doctors are the only people legally allowed to tattoo, meaning there are very few tattoo artists in the country because they must spend years getting medical licenses.

Though tattoos are more socially acceptable than they used to be, inked travellers in South Korea may receive some curious looks and be asked to cover up in some public spaces.

Elsewhere, travellers could face questions and judgement from locals if they have a tattoo that has cultural implications.

Kerry Gall shared: ‘My husband got one of Genghis Khan 30-odd years ago. He had no idea who it was, just liked the look of the warrior with Saturn behind him… Then we went to Turkey. Don’t think we can ever go back.’

In more extreme cases, tourists in Sri Lanka with visible Buddha tattoos have been arrested and deported, because they are seen as an insult to the country’s majority Buddhist faith.

These types of tattoos are also considered to be offensive in Thailand.

Other countries where tattoos are frowned upon include Iran, the United Arab Emirates and parts of Turkey. Tourists may receive unwanted stares when displaying tattoos in these areas.

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Long queues, confusing baggage rules, and strict staff: getting through airport security can be a stressful experience for many travellers.

But if the thought of facing extra scrutiny makes you feel uneasy, you may want to pay closer attention to your boarding pass.

Those travelling to and from or within the US could be unlucky enough to find a mysterious quadruple S printed on their boarding pass — an experience recently documented by @themobilehomie on TikTok.

In the video, she explains: ‘When your boyfriend gets SSSS, so you are now a solo traveller.’

Her partner is then taken away to a separate security space, leading her to frantically separate all of her things from her boyfriend’s bag before it’s swabbed down.

While it may seem innocuous, this code – which stands for ‘Secondary Security Screening Selection’ – can spell disaster for your plans. And here’s why.

What is an SSSS boarding pass?

If you see SSSS on your boarding pass, it means you’ve been selected for Secondary Security Screening Selection – an intensive check enforced by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the US.

This means passengers will have to undergo an especially thorough security process, which can involve a pat-down, additional bag searches, explosive detection tests on personal items, and detailed questioning by gate officers.

Passengers are often escorted to a private room for the screening by a TSA staff member too, with the process sometimes taking anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour or more — which can create significant delays to a journey.

The security measure was created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks to enhance security across American transportation systems.

According to its website, the TSA’s mission is to ‘protect the nation’s transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce.’

Why are travellers selected for SSSS?

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website: ‘Many factors are considered to determine whether to select someone for secondary screening, but for security reasons they cannot be disclosed.’

While there is no official information on why passengers might be selected, there are several reported reasons, including travelling to and from high-risk countries and ‘suspicious activities.’

According to travel experts at The Points Guy (TPG), these could include:

• ‘Suspicious’ activities, like booking one-way tickets, purchasing tickets using cash or travelling to and from high-risk countries
• Random decisions by on-site TSA staff who identify ‘suspicious behaviour’
• Purely random selection, as according to TPG there may be a quota to hit.

How to get ‘SSSS’ removed

If you frequently notice SSSS on your boarding pass, content creator and travel expert Michelle (@laxtoluxury) suggests applying for a redress number through the Department of Homeland Security’s Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP).

In a video, she explains: ‘You can apply for a redress number, which prompts the DHS to review your record and clear up any erroneous or weird info that could be triggering the additional security measures.’

The process allows travellers to request a review of their records and correct any errors that may be causing extra security screenings. Once approved, you’ll receive a redress control number, which should be added to all future flight bookings to help prevent repeated SSSS selections.

While this can help clear up any existing errors, it doesn’t mean you won’t ever be flagged again.

Concerns over SSSS

Although the process is said to be random, some tourists have complained they have been pulled aside almost every time they’ve travelled to the US.

The SSSS selectee list has also been condemned by civil liberties groups as infringing on privacy rights and potentially leading to racial and ethnic discrimination.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed a lawsuit alongside a dozen plaintiffs  in 2023, calling for an end to SSSS screening, which they claim disproportionately targets Muslim travellers.

In a statement, CAIR said: ‘The watchlist is Islamophobic. An expert statistical analysis of leaked portions of the 2019 watchlist estimates that at least 98.3% of the names on the watchlist are identifiably Muslim. That doesn’t happen by accident.’

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also criticised the SSSS process, claiming that its lack of transparency leads to unfair selection and the disproportionate targeting of Muslims and individuals of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent.

Passengers have taken to X to share their frustrations towards the SSSS boarding pass.

One traveller wrote: ‘I’m SSSS on EVERY flight. Special treatment includes @TSA feeling & squeezing you & every single item in the luggage.’

Another questioned the pattern of selection. They wrote: ‘Why do you SSSS me every time I travel to the Mideast? Come on already, can’t Americans travel freely without harassment?’

Others have pointed to their travel history as a likely factor, with one passenger commenting: ‘A flight history that includes multiple trips to Iraq and Libya will do that, I guess.’

A TSA spokesperson told Metro that SSSS ‘pertains to TSA’s unpredictable security measures, both seen and unseen, to accomplish our transportation security mission’.

They added: ‘Security measures begin long before passengers arrive at the airport. TSA works closely with the intelligence and law enforcement communities to share information. Additional security measures are in place from the time passengers get to the airport until they arrive at their destination.

‘In some cases, passengers are randomly selected for enhanced screening. TSA adjusts processes and procedures to meet the evolving threat and to achieve the highest levels of transportation security. Because of this, passengers may notice changes in our procedures from time to time.

‘Passenger screening at the airport is part of TSA’s layered approach to security to get passengers safely to their destination. TSA’s screening procedures are intended to prevent prohibited items and other threats to transportation security from entering the secure area of the airport and are developed in response to information on threats to transportation security.’

TSA also encourages travellers to report suspicious activities, such as unattended bags or packages and individuals in possession of a threatening item, as part of its If You See Something, Say Something enforcement.

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We’ve all been there — waging war against the zip on your suitcase in the hopes of taking all 37 outfit options on holiday.

From packing cubes to vacuum-packed bags, there are plenty of elaborate ways to save a little space.

TikToker Aline Lowry prefers a more simple space-saving hack, which involves packing your suitcase upright on a bed.

But while some called it genius, others branded the trick ‘diabolical’ and despaired over the dirt and bacteria the wheels of a case could leave on your bed.

In her video, which has amassed 8.6 million views, fashion and travel influencer Aline stands an empty suitcase on her bed and packs it from bottom to top.

‘I’m very impressed with the amount of clothes I was able to put in this bag. When you arrive at the hotel and don’t want to unpack at all, this is like a drawer full of clothes,’ she said.

And when she opened the case, she said she could see everything she’d packed, like she was looking in a wardrobe.

The trick drew praise, with one person saying they’ve been doing it for a long time: ‘No way, I have been doing this for five years. Y’all get 50% more stuff in there than packing the normal way.’

‘I do this,’ added @LindaDe. ‘Start with heavier items. I put shoes closest to wheels then toiletry bag, underwear, socks because they won’t show wrinkles, pants, blouses on top.’

Others were much less impressed, writing that ‘wheels on the bed is diabolical’.

Some pointed out that Aline had put a towel on her bed to protect the duvet from the wheels, but @ludavevericaO wrote: ‘Even with a towel… Still diabolical.’

Whether you pack on the bed or on the floor, this ‘vertical space-saving hack’ seems pretty popular.

Packing hacks

Last month, Metro brought you another viral packing hack that raised eyebrows across the internet, after a Reddit user posed the question: ‘This might be stupid, but are you allowed to check a suitcase with a smaller suitcase inside?

‘I’m going to Europe soon and I plan to do a lot of shopping. [On] my flight there I only get one checked bag but on my flight back I get two free checked bags.

‘I was thinking of packing a small suitcase with my things and putting it into a slightly larger suitcase and checking the larger one, then checking both on the way back’.

It turns out that packing suitcases inside each other is indeed allowed on flights, provided you don’t exceed the weight allowance.

Reddit users confirmed they’ve used the trick successfully, though one woman warned that security once opened her suitcase to check what was going on.

It’s also advisable to wear your heaviest clothing on your flight, rather than letting bulky items take up space in your limited luggage space.

Some travellers have attempted to save space by filling their travel pillows with clothing, although be prepared to pay for extra luggage allowance if you get caught like this unlucky passenger.

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Ryanair is shaking up its European flight schedule with cuts across the continent in 2025.

Fed up with rising aviation taxes in Europe, Michael O’Leary’s low-cost Irish airline is pulling routes to popular holiday destinations in a bid to reduce the surcharges it pays for operating at airports.

Ryanair will run fewer flights and scrap routes altogether to certain destinations, with some already underway. Italy, Denmark, and France are set to be impacted, but Spain is facing the biggest blow.

The airline has never minced its words about rising taxes across Europe. 

In a ‘resolutions’ manifesto released on New Year’s Day, Ryanair called on governments to axe aviation taxes, reduce air traffic control (ATC) fees and scrap traffic caps.  

It said these taxes should ‘be provided by governments and not paid for by airlines and passengers’. 

As the cuts and changes come into effect, here’s a full list of all the destinations affected so far.

Spain 

Ryanair has revealed it will cut its Spanish summer traffic this year by 18%, which means 800,000 seats across 12 routes will be lost. 

In a statement, the airline confirmed it will be shutting down operations in Jerez and Valladolid, closing one of its bases in Santiago and cutting traffic in Asturias, Zaragoza, Santander and Vigo.

The airline said the ‘completely avoidable loss’ will be ‘devastating for Spain’s regional connectivity, jobs and tourism’. 

The airline told Metro: ‘We have been forced to cut capacity to/ from short-sighted markets that are bizarrely introducing or increasing aviation taxes. 

‘These capacity cuts are due to increased costs making these markets uncompetitive compared to their EU counterparts who are actively lowering costs and, as a result, benefitting from rapid Ryanair growth.’

Ryanair’s CEO, Eddie Wilson, attributed the schedule changes to the Spanish state-controlled airport operator, Aena, which he claims has imposed ‘unjustified’ price hikes in airport charges.

Aena had initially scaled back the charges, which airlines pay to use the airport’s facilities. But Ryanair says they’ve been increasing since. 

However, Aena claimed the average fee of €10.35 (£8.75) per passenger is ‘among the lowest in Europe’.

From May, Ryanair’s budget rival Jet2 will run direct flights from the UK to Jerez.

Italy 

Spain is not the only destination affected by Ryanair cuts. 

The airline confirmed last month that it will remove one of its aircraft from Rome’s Fiumicino (Italy’s largest airport) due to municipal surcharges in Italy’s main airports that start on April 1, 2025. 

‘This means no growth for Rome despite the celebrations for the Jubilee year,’ the airline said. 

Denmark 

Flights have also been scrapped to and from Aalborg after Denmark announced the introduction of an aviation tax of DKK50 (£5.60). Ryanair has said this makes serving its regional airports ‘hopelessly uncompetitive’ compared to other EU countries.

This means the country will lose 1.7million seats and 32 for the summer, according to the airline.

Currently, passengers can find tickets for £14.99 from London Stansted to the historic town, but as of next month, all flights will be stopped.

It will also be closing its base at Billund Airport, which currently houses two aircraft. While this means passengers won’t be able to get a Ryanair flight to the city, British Airways will still operate services.  

Germany

Ryanair will operate 12% fewer flights to and from Germany this summer, with officials citing the country’s high air traffic control (ATC) costs and aviation taxes as the reason behind the cuts.

A total of 22 routes will be axed from various bases across the country, including a 60% reduction in services from Hamburg International Airport. Bases in Leipzig, Dortmund, and Dresden are also set to close.

France 

Ryanair routes to and from France are also under threat as the country is set to increase its aviation tax this year. 

The tax on an economy class short-haul flight within France or Europe will rise from €2.63 to €7.40 on flights departing from France.

The increase is backed by the Minister of Public Accounts Amelie de Montchalin. She commented: ‘It is a measure of fiscal and ecological injustice.’ She highlighted that ‘the 20% of the population with the highest income are responsible for more than half of the expenses devoted to air travel’.

While the airline has not announced any cancellations just yet, Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary, threatened to reduce flights to the country if the tax was increased. 

At a press conference last week, O’Leary said: ‘France is already a high-tax country, and if it increases already high taxes further, we will probably reduce our capacity.

‘France is going against the tide. Europe will not become more efficient or more competitive by over-taxing air fares.’

Thousands of ‘danger tourists’ have travelled to the slopes of Mount Etna in Italy to witness explosive lava flows and breathtaking ash clouds after its latest eruption.

Sicily’s iconic volcano, which is the tallest and most active in Europe, regularly erupts and has attracted tourists for decades.

But Sicilian authorities have hit out at ‘careless’ behaviour, warning that visitors are blocking the paths of rescue crews trying to provide assistance.

Footage on social media reveals just how close people are getting to one of nature’s most powerful phenomena.

One TikTok video shows dozens of tourists near a lava flow that has melted to form a stream in the snow. Skiing is prohibited in the area at the moment, but a second video appears to show skiers flouting rules by gliding past a lava flow.

Etna’s most recent eruption, which began on the night of February 11, has sparked a sudden influx of hikers, photographers and volcanologists, who officials say pose a serious safety risk. The volcano’s first eruption in 2025 has intensified in recent days.

Salvo Cocina, Sicily’s head of regional civil protection, described the tourism to Etna in recent weeks as ‘wild’ and ‘extremely dangerous’.

He said tourists parking on narrow streets in the area have obstructed emergency vehicles and made rescue attempts impossible. 

‘As darkness falls, the situation becomes extremely dangerous, with rising risks of falls and people sinking in the snow,’ he wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday night. 

Cocina said the majority of tourists are ‘well accompanied by alpine and volcanological guides’ and blames the ‘careless behaviour of unprepared people’ for the accidents and calls for help.

On Saturday, Mayor Fabio Mancuso also issued a warning to his town of Adrano, which is located at the foot of the volcano.

In a Facebook post, he wrote: ‘Etna is giving us a breathtaking spectacle: A lava flow has reached our territory.

‘A lot of people are trying to get closer to admire this natural phenomenon, but it is extremely dangerous!’

However, not everyone has taken the advice on board. 

On Monday, Cocina said eight people attempting to hike up the mountain without a guide were lost for several hours before rescuers located them.

Hours earlier, he claimed a 48-year-old man fractured his foot after falling on the ice. 

The eruption on February 12 sent a cloud of ash and lava into the air which was visible from miles around. It came from the volcano’s southeast crater, called Bocca Nuova, meaning ‘new mouth’. 

During previous eruptions, nearby towns have been covered in thick volcanic ash, however, the recent eruption has caused minimal disruption – aside from delays and the diverting of flights at Catania Airport, at the foot of Mount Etna. 

In April 2024, the volcano sparked fears of eruption after it was seen puffing rings of gas. It last erupted in 2023.

This story has been updated and was originally published on February 20.

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