Would it be wise to book a spring trip to Turkey now?

Q Is it a bad idea to book a holiday to Turkey right now for 26 March–2 April this year?

Nik T

A I am afraid it is. The dramatic UK government announcement, in which travel to and from Portugal was abruptly terminated, shows how fragile any recovery in the travel industry might be.

It is instructive to note the nature of that announcement by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps. The travel ban he talked about was focused on South America because of the new Brazilian variant of the coronavirus. But in travel terms, by far the greatest impact will be felt on people travelling, or not, between the UK and Portugal. I estimate there are 10 times as many people wishing to travel to our close neighbour, where hundreds of thousands of Brits have homes or long-stay winter arrangements, than there are to the other 14 countries combined.

Portugal was an unwitting casualty, because of its strong links with Brazil, of the government’s wish to keep a lid on the new variant. I fervently hope that by late March the vaccination programme here in the UK will have protected all of the most vulnerable people, and that we see significant falls in the number of hospitalisations and fatalities from the coronavirus. But in this increasingly unpredictable world, many other developments may occur.

For example, Istanbul is a really important hub for Africa as well as western Asia. It is not inconceivable that a new variant discovered in one of those locations, or in Turkey itself, leads to another travel ban. If you have wisely booked a proper package holiday, and it is cancelled, then you know you will get your money back. But to reduce potential hassle, I suggest you wait for at least another six weeks. I would start looking at the beginning of March. Since your timing will just about swerve the school holidays, I think you can still be sure of a good deal.

Q What personal-item foods can we now take from the UK to Europe? I see products of meat and milk are banned, but with some exceptions. Does that allow for unopened chocolates still being OK?

Morgan S

A If the UK nation you happen to live in is Northern Ireland, then nothing has changed (unless you are travelling via Great Britain). But for those of us in England, Wales and Scotland, the rules on what you can take to the European Union have altered significantly. As mentioned in Monday’s answer to a travel question about pet food, there are some drastic restrictions – on food for humans, as well as animals.

The most useful guide I have found is the interpretation of EU regulations produced by the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture; the EU rules apply equally for travel to that part of the UK for travellers from Great Britain.

As you say, the basic rule is that nothing containing milk or meat can be imported. Most chocolate contains milk, of course, but there is an exemption for chocolate and similar confectionery – so long as they are not made with “high levels of unprocessed dairy ingredients”.

The same applies for biscuits and cakes that “do not contain fresh cream or high levels of dairy products”. Conveniently, there is a list of banned confectionery that includes a wide range of Asian and Middle Eastern sweets: “Burfi, gulab jaman, halwah or halva, ras malai, rasgullah, ladoos and chum chum.”

But a box of Milk Tray or a tin of Quality Street should pose no problems. I suggest you keep everything in its original packaging in case officials want to take a closer look.

For the avoidance of doubt, there are no significant restrictions returning to Great Britain – so long as you have not bought more than £390-worth of chocolates.

Q Last year, in one of the many airline sales, I booked return flights from London to the US for the coming summer. First class was only £400 more than business class, so that was what I went for. At the time, some friends booked the same flights but in business so I know what the fare difference was.

I have now been told the aircraft has been changed and has no first class. I can travel in business, but the airline is refusing to refund the fare difference. They have said I can cancel the flights for a full refund and can then rebook. But the business class fares are now higher than I paid for first, so that would be silly.

What can I do to get the refund I believe I deserve?

Dave P

A Europe's consumer rules for airline passengers are still law in the UK: the government says: “Existing passenger rights continue for air passengers flying from the UK.” Those regulations appear at first glance to be on your side. They state: “If an operating air carrier places a passenger in a class lower than that for which the ticket was purchased, it shall reimburse 75 per cent of the price of the ticket.” If your ticket cost of the order of £2,000, that would mean you would get to travel business class to the US for £500 – a brilliant deal.

But these rules are designed more for “on-the-day” downgrades. It seems the airline is taking a different approach which I believe is perfectly legal: saying, “Sorry, Dave, effectively your trip is cancelled because we’re no longer doing first class, and we’ll refund your cash in full.” It is then offering you an alternative, which is to keep the booking but downgrade.

In normal circumstances it would be “take it or leave it”. But the fact that you know people who booked at the same time for business means that there’s a reasonable moral case for the airline to pay you back the difference. Let us hope that happens. If not, it comes down to: are you happy with what you paid for business class? If not, claim a full refund.

Q I’m travelling from the US to Cyprus via Heathrow Terminal 5, where I will have a two-hour layover between flights.

As I will be staying “airside” do I need a negative Covid test before I board in the US?

Clive L

A As you have evidently been warned, from Monday 18 January travellers heading to the UK from any foreign country except Ireland will need to produce evidence of a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of their departure by air, sea or rail.

The measure, which is commonplace in many other countries, has been introduced to try to limit the importation of the virus to the UK.

Now, at Paris CDG and other hub airports, passengers who are merely changing planes “airside” between international destinations need not meet the requirements for entering the country. But British Airways – with whom you must be flying, since you are connecting at BA’s Heathrow Terminal 5 – says it is different in the UK.

“Unless exempt, we require all customers on international flights to the UK arriving from 4am on Monday 18 January 2021 to provide evidence of a negative Lamp, PCR or antigen Covid-19 test taken within three days of their departure,” a spokesperson told me.

I imagine that is disappointing news. But there is some flexibility: BA also says that passengers who are unable to travel on their intended departure time can move their flight to a later date using the airline’s “book with confidence” policy.

Alternatively, you can cancel your booking and get a voucher to the same value for future travel on British Airways. If you expect to be travelling with BA in the reasonably near future, you might consider this – and promptly rebook your trip via Paris CDG instead.

Otherwise, I am afraid that you will have to source and pay for a suitable test before your departure to London and onwards to Larnaca.

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