Chaos in Europe: Hold Onto Your Hats (and Bags)!
Airports are never fun to begin with, but the chaos at European airports in the past month has truly been something else. Crowds are out of control, check-in lines stretch across terminal floors, and passengers seem to be both fed up and baffled as to why this is happening. So how did we get here? What’s behind the frenzy at European airports?
Things are getting worse
More than 250 flights were canceled at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle Airport on Sunday, due to a large amount of air traffic controllers striking over working conditions. This comes after dozens of flights were cancelled at London’s Heathrow Airport on Friday, due to delays caused by staff shortages. If you’re planning a trip abroad in May or June, it looks like your best bet is to hold onto your bags and travel light!
Here’s what you need to know
A new directive about airline passenger rights has been approved by a European Parliament, and it’s expected to go into effect later this year. The new rules include recommendations to ensure that passengers get reimbursed for delayed or canceled flights, as well as free meals and refreshments during long flight delays. These are just some of our favorite provisions. However, there’s one provision that would be very bad news for frequent flyers—those who tend to check a lot of bags when they fly.
What do you do?
If you have a valid passport and no criminal record, you can almost always get a visa on arrival in European Union countries. Yet these documents are not always required by all EU members. Check with each country’s entry requirements before traveling, as requirements vary by nationality. Even if your documents meet one country’s criteria, there is no guarantee that they will be accepted by every EU member state.
Following tips will help you get through the chaos
1. Don’t pack more than one piece of luggage per person; it is best to carry your own luggage to avoid confusion when traveling with multiple bags. 2. Put all liquids, creams, and aerosols into a zip-top bag before traveling through security—this will save you time and also help you find your items faster when going through customs and security at airports. 3.