Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

July 12th - Heathrow Airport announces capacity limits

12 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Heathrow airport today announced a 100,000-a-day passenger capacity until September to try and deal with staff shortages in baggage and front-desk ser...

July 11th - The ghost Eurostar station at Ashford International

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's podcast, I am in Ashford, Kent, to visit the ghost terminal that used to connect Eurostar trains between mainland Europe and the UK before ...

July 8th - Why I am such a fan of overbooking

08 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I want to talk to you about overbooking and what a fantastic thing it is, if it is done correctly. I explain how airlines overbooking their flig...

July 7th - Your travel questions answered

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

our questions answered – seeking (as always) to put minds at rest about the very likely absence of travel chaos this summer, but also concerned to r...

July 6th - What British Airways cancellation announcement means for you

07 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

BA is taking nearly five million seats off the market, drastically reducing availability and pushing up fares “It’s the right thing to do for our ...

July 5th - Are we about to see the rail strikes worsen?

05 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two weeks on from the first national rail strike, I'm at London Bridge station to assess the prospects of the summer ahead – with strike ballots und...

July 4th - EasyJet operations chief quits amid flight chaos

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The chief operating officer of Britain’s biggest budget airline has resigned just as the peak summer season gets under way.Peter Bellew apparently l...

July 1st - Should you check in your baggage when flying?

01 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast is all about flying with baggage – should you check it in?I tell you what you can do to minimise the chance that your precious belon...

June 30th - What is happening at Heathrow?

30 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I went down to Heathrow Airport, which has axed 30 flights scheduled to leave Thursday morning, as it asked airlines to reduce their schedules to ease...

June 29th - The London Overground line

29 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today, I jump on the much used Overground line to travel around the top of north London — the route is a kind of North Circular Road of the railways...

June 28th - Changes afoot at Heathrow

28 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I've been nosing around and keeping my ear to the ground and it seems that the carriers at Heathrow are quietly moving about. British Airways is movin...

June 27th - Do we need to start checking our plane's performance history?

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you are tracking a flight you have booked to see how well it is performing – and you don't like what you see – can you cancel and get a full re...

June 24th - What the by-election results mean for the rail strikes

24 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

By-elections - always a good excuse for a protest vote at the best of times but the two that the Conservatives lost yesterday in Wakefield and Tiverto...

June 23rd - British Airways workers announce strike action

23 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

British Airways ground staff at London Heathrow vote to strike. No dates for industrial action yet. My take on what It could mean.Of course this podca...

June 22nd - Looking back on day one of the rail strikes as second day is confirmed

22 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I've been looking to see what were the repercussions of yesterday's rail strike on the network and suffice to say it was an uneven picture. It seems m...

June 21st - How the rail strike is affecting London's train hubs

21 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The first day of three planned rail worker strikes by the RMT union has begun and despite the doom-mongering I was pleasantly surprised when visiting ...

June 20th - Is Brexit at all responsible for our air travel misery?

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Depending on who you speak with, Brexit is either the sole reason for our current air travel chaos as airlines and airports struggle to fill the gaps ...

June 17th - Gatwick plans to cancel some summer flights

17 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Airline passengers booked to fly from Gatwick this summer could be contacted and told their flight has been cancelled.The Sussex airport, the second b...

June 16th - How to manage your holiday money

16 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With sterling plummeting on the foreign exchanges, it's more important than ever to manage your holiday money.Choose a payment method with no foreign ...

June 15th - Rail strikes in June

15 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

During the planned nationwide rail strikes for three dates in late June, only limited passenger train services will run – most of them on ...

June 14th - Heathrow Terminal 4 opens

14 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a move that shows the swift recovery of the aviation industry after the worst of the coronavirus pandemic, Terminal 4 at London Heathrow airport re...

June 13th - Compensation for flight cancellations and long delays

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Under the European air passengers’ rights rules, if your flight arrives 3 hours or more late behind the published schedule, or if it is cancelled, t...

June 10th - Crew fatigue on flights has hit the headlines

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Aviation, especially in Britain, is incredibly safe. When the boss of Wizz Air appeared to suggest too many of his people were staying away because of...

June 9th - European air passengers’ rights rules, a reminder

09 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's episode is about European air passengers’ rights rules – and the curious way that the arrival time of a plane is defined.Entitlement to hu...

June 8th - Rail strike likely to go ahead in June

08 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The train strike for later this month is very likely to go ahead. This near-certainty applies to all three national rail strike days – 21,...

June 7th - Flight cancellation crisis continues after bank holiday

07 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

With half-term hostilities over, I fondly imagine the airlines would have a chance to get everyone home who was caught up in the hundreds of short-not...

June 6th - London hit by tube strike...again

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

London is once again gummed up by a Tube strike involving members of the RMT union.Transport for London, which runs the Underground, is accused by the...

June 2nd - A trip to Burghley House

02 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I took a trip to the stately home of Burghley House, which reminded me of the virtues of the Midlands. It's a wonderful part of the world, but once ag...

June 1st - The world's best-ever rail deal?

01 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Could this be the world's best-ever rail deal: unlimited travel anywhere in Germany by rail, bus, tram or U-bahn for the whole of June for €9 (£7.7...

May 31st - What is Brexit's role in the present travel chaos?

31 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We need to talk about Brexit – and its role in the present travel chaos. Of course Amsterdam and Dublin airports are seeing long queues, but leaving...

May 30th - A User's Guide to the Elizabeth line

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As London's ferociously expensive new railway begins its first full week, I've been looking deeper into the benefits of the project formerly known as ...

May 27th - The shaky state of aviation

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's been a horrific week for the state of aviation as scores and scores of flights have been cancelled last minute for a multitude of reasons. Accord...

May 26th - As Easyjet cancels flight because of IT issues, here's your rights

26 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Easyjet is having a nightmare today, having to cancel dozens of flights as IT failures ground its fleet. It's a good time to remind you of your rights...

May 25th - Railway workers threaten biggest strike after union vote

25 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Railway workers have voted overwhelmingly to strike in a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions, the RMT union has announced. I let you ...

May 24th - The Elizabeth Line begins service

24 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

After years of delays, spiralling costs and a name change, Crossrail, now the Elizabeth Line has finally begun service today and I'm one the first tra...

May 23rd - Spain drops hard-line approach to unvaccinated British visitors

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Just ahead of the half-term week for many UK schools, Spain has dropped its hard-line approach to unvaccinated British visitors. Now any unvaccinated ...

May 20th - Scotrail's Schedule Shredding

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Scotrail is having a terrible time of it, having to slash one-third of trains across the nation from Monday. I look at the reasons why they have ...

May 19th - What's really happening with travel disruption of Jubilee weekend

19 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Ahead of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee weekend, there are reports of travel chaos for people travelling to the capital for the celebrations. I can see ...

May 18th - A summer like no other for pricing of holidays abroad

18 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A summer like no other. Never before have I seen such extremes of pricing for holidays abroad – including a Ryanair trip from Stansted to Pisa that ...

May 17th - In praise of train operator apps

17 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The sermon today is Smart Save. Never heard of it? Well, it’s the name given by LNER, the train operator on the East Coast main line from London to ...

May 16th - Fact-checking the latest train fare-bashing news story

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A Sunderland football fan is travelling to London via ­Menorca to watch a match at Wembley, as it’s cheaper to fly on a budget airline th...

May 13th - The trains, they are a-changing

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On Sunday the rail schedules in Great Britain will undergo their usual summer update – with winners and losers across the nation.Of course this podc...

May 12th - The Foreign Office comes to their senses on passports

12 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Since Brexit, the rules on passport validity for British visitors to the European Union have tightened. But the UK government tells tra...

May 11th - The busiest day of the year for the number of available airline seats revealed

11 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Friday 12 August will be the busiest day of the year for the number of available airline seats, a leading analyst has predicted.John Grant, chief anal...

May 10th - In praise of overbooking

10 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's sermon: in praise of overbooking. Selling more tickets than there are seats on an aircraft can be a real benefit. When airlines do it right –...

May 9th - Could Ireland's public transport fare plans be the blueprint for the UK?

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Back to the future on the railways: for the first time since 1947, fares across Ireland on trains and buses have been cut by 20 per cent. It follows t...

May 6th - Sale of the half-century is upon us for European rail enthusiasts

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Two bits of good news has put a spring in my step into the weekend. Overnight Ryanair has aligned with the actual European rules on passport validity....

May 5th - Passport validity for Europe

05 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's all about passport validity for Europe. The only subject, it seems, in town. Sometimes it feels that I'm on my own in wanting to make sure people...

May 4th - The Elizabeth Line gets its debut date

04 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The Elizabeth Line, or long known as Crossrail, finally has a live date for trains to commence carrying passengers from the 24th May. Initially the gr...

May 3rd - The joys of staying in a backpacker hostel, from a lovely village in the hills above the Algarve.

03 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm coming to you from beautiful Carrapateira, a little village in the Algarve hills overlooking the southern coastline of Portugal. To get the ...

May 2nd - Off the beaten track in Portugal

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I love Lisbon, one of Europe’s most beautiful capital cities, and the locations on its western flanks – in particular Cascais, Estoril and Sintra....

April 29th - Portugal via Gatwick

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Good afternoon from Funchal, Madeira. Today I'll be speaking about how the travelling experience was from Gatwick to Portugal - and the joys to be fou...

April 28th - Diversionary tactics: Life as an air passenger

28 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As a planeload of Virgin Atlantic passengers from Johannesburg find themselves flying away from London to refuel in Durban, my thoughts about how dive...

April 27th - On The Buses and looking at the future of intercity bus travel

27 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

For many, the thought of getting a bus between Britain's cities is the option of last resort and some would say buses have no future in Britain's infr...

April 26th - Passports, Please

26 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us are digging out our passports again only to discover that they're not valid for as long as we thought. The Home Office is reporting an 'unp...

April 25th - Cruises Look To The Future After Their Dismal Past

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I'm on the Celebrity Beyond, a new cruise ship set to launch imminently and take its floating residents around the Mediterranean. It's a bold move, la...

April 22nd - The Great Rail Row

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I'm discussing the context around the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham's tweet showing high-end train tickets from Manchester to London...

April 21st - Will Great British Railways Put The Great Back Into British Rail?

21 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In May 2021, the government announced its plans for the biggest reform to the railway in three decades, bringing it back together, after years of frag...

April 20th - How safe is Sri Lanka right now?

20 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Sri Lanka is a beautiful country full of discoveries to be made - but the political and economic situation at the moment is giving many of you second ...

April 19th - The Great British Rail Sale

19 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

More than one million train tickets are being slashed to as much as half-price in the “Great British Rail Sale”, and it is attracting a lot of int...

April 18th - Homage To Waterloo

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Happy bank holiday! Chances are if you're travelling by train you might be passing through London's Waterloo station. It's the UK's busiest train stat...

April 15th - The Complications Of Heading North In The UK

15 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I am at London's Kings Cross, the only way to get to Scotland by rail this Bank Holiday.  Of course travellers should always choose train o...

April 14th - The Joys Of Going Against The Flow

14 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The great Easter getaway is most definitely on. I've been to hubs across the capital today to witness for myself the scenes of queues and hordes of pe...

April 13th - How To Make Getting Away Less Stressful This Easter

13 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Looking ahead to the Easter rush, we've unfortunately got a forecast of chaos potentially looming. Public transport works are happening on all the usu...

April 12th - Unexpected Extras In The Billing Area.

12 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today I’m lunching at the Da Pietro restaurant, facing the exquisite cathedral facade in the city of Como. How did an ambitiously priced €10 side ...

April 11th - Uphill Above Lake Como In Northern Italy.

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On this fine Spring day I'm hiking The Brunate Trail in Como, the Northern city in Lombardy, Italy, coveted by celebrities and holiday-makers alike. I...

April 8th - The Joys Of The Airport Hotel.

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I’m in heaven, or at least as close as you can get to it within the UB7 postcode: room 177 at the Thistle Heathrow Terminal 5 hotel, looking out acr...

April 7th - Spain Reverses Announcement On Opening Up To Unjabbed Travellers.

07 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An important correction on yesterday's podcast. In an extraordinary reversal of an announcement made on Wednesday, Spain has withdrawn its promise to ...

April 6th - Spain Opens Up To Unvaccinated British Visitors

06 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Britain's most popular destination to escape to, Spain has dropped restrictions around vaccinations and tourists from Britain as the great reopening g...

April 5th - American Travel On A Budget

05 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The cost-of-living crisis is forcing many people to cut back on their spending, and holidays tend to be one of the first things to get the chop. Howev...

April 4th - Cancelled Flights Are Devastating Hundreds Of Easter Holiday Travel Plans

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As normality returns and restrictions are eased, the UK’s two biggest airlines are finding it hard to cope. There are widespread cancellations by ea...

April 1st - Airlines And Airports Sound Warning Over Queues

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Airports and airlines are under pressure at the moment, with passenger numbers soaring and staffing issues leading to crowds, confusion and cancellati...

March 31st - Reflection Of My Travels Through The Baltic States

31 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I'm at the end of my week of travel across the Baltic states where I've encountered the most majestic scenery, vibrant cities full of history and with...

March 30th - The Joy Of Taking The Bus Round Eastern Europe

30 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Right now is a fine time to the a stranger in a strange land – that is both friendly and safe - and as I continue my journey around eastern Europe I...

March 29th - Oh I Do Like To Be Beside The Baltic Seaside

29 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

I do love to be beside the seaside, and it's been a while. To my right, the waves are breaking; to my left, a beautiful pine forest. The sand is incre...

March 28th - A New Lease Of Life For Gatwick?

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Reporting for you from the newly reopened South Terminal at Gatwick, de-mothballed after almost two years. This summer the competition to Europe from ...

March 25th - The Government Response To The P&O Ferries' Mass Sacking

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The government has vowed to make P&O Ferries "undo" its the mass-sacking of 800 of its workers. Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, said the fe...

March 24th - The World Is Opening Up To Travel, But At Not All At The Same Speed

24 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world is slowly reopening, as more countries drop their covid-era restrictions. Some like Singapore, South Korea and South Africa are dropping the...

March 23rd - Air New Zealand plans to launch one of the longest flights in the world, connecting New York with its hub in Auckland.

23 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Air New Zealand is planning to launch one of the longest flights in the world, a direct track from New York to Auckland. From 17 September, the carrie...

March 22nd - Flybe Flies Again: Everything You Need To Know.

22 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

On 5 March 2020, the UK’s largest regional airline collapsed. Flybe was mired in debt. Yet on 13 April 2022, the familiar Q400 aircraft in a purple ...

March 21st - The Sad News Of A Plane Crash In China – And Seeking To Put Aviation Safety In Perspective.

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

An airliner, operated by China Eastern Airlines, has crashed in the southern province of Guangxi while carrying 132 people on board. A rescue operatio...

March 18th - More From Dover

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In a sudden announcement yesterday, P&O Ferries made 800 of its UK seafaring staff redundant. The British shipping company plans to replace the fo...

March 17th - P&O Ferries Fire And Rehire

17 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Unions are threatening legal action against P&O Ferries after making 800 workers redundant earlier today. The company suspended its sailings after...

March 16th - Masks At Airports And On Flights

16 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The UK's leading airport, Heathrow, has ended the requirement for passengers to wear masks in the terminals. In a statement, the airport said it “st...

March 15th - A First Class Showing, But Can I Get Used To It?

15 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As I take a seat in the unusual (for me, anyway) surrounds of first class on my way to Crewe, I take advantage of the extra legroom and complimentary ...

March 14th - Budget Airlines

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Budget airlines are hoping to recover from the huge impact of the coronavirus pandemic by offering some incredible deals on flights. In fact, I've dis...

March 11th - Out On The Road

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

It's the eve of the centennial anniversary of the birth of literary legend, Jack Kerouac. The 'On The Road' author, who pioneered the radical beat gen...

March 10th - Travel Clinic

10 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast is rather unusual: taking as its starting point a selection of questions asked by readers of the Independent about travel. I not only ...

March 9th - Gatwick

09 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Gatwick airport, located in picturesque West Sussex, is ordinarily the UK's second busiest airport with flights to hundreds of destinations worldwide....

March 8th - Your Questions About St. Petersburg Cruises Answered

08 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

St. Petersburg is one of the biggest cities involved in cruise line tours, with many operators stopping along the way in the Russian city. But as the ...

March 7th - Today on the canals

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The UK boasts of 2,000 miles of canals and rivers, forming a tranquil network of inland waterways that span the length and breadth of the country. Tod...

March 4th - Concerns over travel to eastern Europe

04 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

As the Russian military invasion of Ukraine continues, many are feeling apprehensive about travelling in Eastern Europe. I look at how to navigate the...

March 3rd - Avoiding the train ticket price hike

03 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast comes from Runcorn railway station! Living the dream, in spite of the mega-rise in the cost of train tickets. This week train fares ro...

March 2nd - Railway engineering works

02 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

To help you plan your upcoming journeys, I give an overview of the rail disruptions to look out for and why they are happening.Of course this podcast ...

March 1st - Strikes Disrupt Travel Across The Capital

01 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Today's podcast comes to you from a rare London Underground train on a day when Tube workers are striking. I explain what the dispute is about, and wh...

February 28th - Your Questions On Travel Plans Following Aviation Sanctions On Russia

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The world has fundamentally changed in the last week as Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine has brought about unprecedented shifts in Europe and...

February 25th - The joy of the tram, especially in Melbourne

25 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Clean, green and convenient. Today I'm celebrating trams, and all the advantages they have over almost every other form of urban transport. And of all...

February 24th - Russia invades Ukraine

24 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Russia has launched a military invasion of neighbouring Ukraine. I give an overview of how the Russian military operations are affecting the European ...

February 23rd - The Thorny Question Of Cabin Baggage

23 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Before booking the tickets for your next flight, one thing you may want to consider is the many benefits of cabin baggage. If decanting your body wash...

February 22nd - Australia Is Empty

22 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Strict travel restrictions are having a huge impact on the number of tourists in Australia, and local businesses are feeling the hit. But I find mysel...