We are visiting California in spring and would like to hire a campervan to see the national parks. What would be the best point of entry, and what should we expect to pay for two weeks? Are there any pitfalls? — Andy Thomas, Cardiff
Las Vegas is the best pick-up and drop-off point for a two-week holiday taking in the national parks in a loop, according to Stephen Hart, of Motorhome Bookers (020-7193 2873, www.motorhomebookers.com), which specialises in motorhome and campervan travel. San Francisco would be good if you wanted to take in the coast, although this would be a lot to do in two weeks. Two weeks in May cost from £450, excluding mileage, in a vehicle for up to four people. Unlimited mileage would cost an extra £217 if you book now.
When booking, ask if mileage allowance is included in the deal, and check insurance requirements. Mileage is often more expensive when arranged at the pick-up point rather than when you make your initial reservation. Insurance policies sometimes insist that you must stay in a hotel the first night after a transatlantic flight.
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Recently when I travelled to Manchester from Gatwick on a British Airways flight, I checked in online, which, as I had only hand luggage, was convenient. My only concern is that my boarding pass was all I had to prove my identity. How did BA know it was me travelling? In these days of high security, I find this situation worrying. — D. Copley, via e-mail
I’m sure the same thought has occurred to a lot of people — it certainly has to me. But BA assures me that online check-in does not compromise security. A spokeswoman explained that the most important checks take place at the security gates, where airport security staff check boarding passes.
In the case of domestic flights such as yours, BA has never routinely asked for proof of identity — making it no different from train operators, which do not demand to see your passport on journeys in the UK.
However, other airlines, such as Ryanair (0906 2705656, 25p/minute, www.ryanair.com) and easyJet (0905 8210905, 65p/minute, www.easyjet.com) demand photo ID on domestic flights.
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Earlier this year I used Opodo to book bmi flights to Bombay. Bmi cancelled and agreed to pay a refund. But even though I chased Opodo, it took more than three months for the payment to reach me — meaning I was out of pocket by about £1,000 for that time. Opodo said that this was the standard time it took airlines to issue refunds. — Nigel Davenport, London SW19
Although it takes only moments to debit your plastic, refunds are a different matter — especially if you bought your ticket via an agent, which wants to make sure it gets its money back from the airline before passing it on to you. This can be a lengthy process, mainly because agents pay airlines for tickets in monthly instalments and recoup money that is owed in refunds by reducing the next monthly payment after a refund has been requested and authorised by the airline.
The process should be quicker if you bought your tickets directly from the airline. The consumer body the Air Transport Users’ Council has asked airlines to issue refunds within seven working days (for credit card purchases) or 20 working days (cash or cheque purchases).
Last week, in your article about Slovenia, the writer talked about Ryanair flights to Klagenfurt in Austria for entry to Slovenia. I can’t find any details about the flights on the Ryanair website and am wondering if they have been discontinued. If so, is any other UK-based airline flying there? — Mike Akerman, Macclesfield
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You are right. Ryanair stopped daily flights from Stansted to Klagenfurt late last year, and we apologise for the error. No other UK-based airline is flying there, but the Austrian-based Styrian Spirit (00 43 5 0805 1212, www.styrianspirit.com) flies from Luton on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Prices start at £70, plus taxes and charges for a round-trip.
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