The writing's on My Bathroom Wall: March 24th travel news

33 British Airways throws in the towel while snatching away free food and decent legroom

Once upon a time it seemed that legacy carriers could co-exist with the bare bones service concept offered by Ryanair, Easyjet and the like. But no more - BA, and other traditional airlines, have been busy cutting service and adding seats to compete with them.

Norwegian, Scoot and 'Air Asia X' have shown that long haul low cost works too and have forced BA to salami slice the long haul flying experience too - adding in 10 seats to the Boeing 777, charging for hold luggage in economy, and even cancelling an amuse-bouche with First Class passenger's first drink for heavens sake!

Via its parent company IAG, which owns BA, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus, it's latest airline venture is a new if-you-can't-beat-them-join-them airline called 'Level'. It will fly long haul and low cost from Barcelona.

  Level launches in June with flights from Barcelona to Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Punta Cana and San Francisco (Oakland), with fares from USD149 one-way.
33 Nordic Cuisine sees Michelin stars

Iceland has received its first ever Michelin star, with the awarding of the award to Reykjavik's Dill restaurant. In the heart of the city and founded by chefs Chef Gunnar Karl Gíslason and Sommelier Olafur Orn Olafsson, the restaurant seeks to rediscover Nordic culinary roots. Focussing on Icelandic produce Dill offers a new seven course menu each week, for 13,900 Icelandic Krona (£100). 

And the same goes for the Faro Islands. Ten kilometers across the tip of the peninsula from the cute Faroe-ese capital of Tórshavn is KOKS restaurant, an airy hillside venue with great sea views that specialises in seafood and offers a 17-course tasting menu for 1,400 Danish Krone (£162).

  See Dill and Inspired by Iceland Inspired by Iceland. And Koks KOKS and Visit Faroe Islands
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MTV supercharges Gibraltar's festival

MTV is partnering the Government of Gibraltar to rebrand the music festival formerly known as the 'Gibraltar Music Festival'. MTV's youthful brand reaches about 785 million households, and promotion of the inelegantly named 'MTV Presents Gibraltar Calling' is expected to boost the number of festival goers over the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of September. Headliners include Clean Bandit, Craig David and Steve Aoki, plus  Bananarama, Midge Ure and Village People.

 

Gibraltar is often overlooked by visitors to Spain's south coast, but the Rock itself is reason enough to visit - for it's caves, battlements museum, monkeys and cable car - plus there's history and querk galore. As Brexit looms expect the territory to regain the limelight for many of the wrong reasons, so visit now to experince the new airport terminal and hassle free border with Spain. Buy festival tickets via Gibraltar Calling. For general Gib info, see Visit Gibraltar


33 Kong's Skull Island new location tours
The much anticipated - that is what they say isn't it - Skull Island slice of the King Kong story was filmed in Vietnam. The sweeping scenery has inspired tour operators to concoct trips to the area pegged to old hairy shoulders latest outing. Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts visited Iceland, Hawaii, Australia and Thailand before plumping on Vietnam; and shot in Halong Bay and the Tam Coc Caves.
 

The Experience Travel Group have a two-week Skull Island Location Holiday from £3,557, including flights from London with Vietnam Airlines, accommodation, guiding, transport and some meals. At the budget end of the scale, just grab a flight to Hanoi and take the bus to Halong Bay - there is a good backpacking scene, which surely will include nightly showings of the film in al fresco bars, and locals offering cheap local tours to filming locations. 


34 London's Westminster attack & laptop ban

The terrorist attack near to the Houses of Parliament is a shock for London, but ignore the scare-mongering coming out of the USA. One tube station and several roads adjascent to it were closed for a few hours, but the city carries on as normal. See Visit London to learn more about why London attracted 36.7 million overseas visitors last year.

Banning electronic devices from the cabins of flights heading from Turkey, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia to the UK appears at first sight ill conceived. The measures are likely to last for some months, so check the rules before flying to the US or UK from the Middle East and be sure to pack you devices in a secure hold bag before you reach the airport - as there will likely be confusion at check in and through security.

And in the interim, check with your insurer to see if laptops and tablets are covered from loss or theft whilst flying, as Allianz Global Assistance UK does.