His new offering, ‘Little Red’, first took to the skies on March 31, flying from Manchester to Heathrow and will, today, begin service from Edinburgh – with Aberdeen set to follow suit on April 9.

‘So how does this domestic service differ from its competitors?’, we hear you ask.

Well, first up, it offers an alternative to passengers who have faced monopoly prices on domestic prices from Heathrow following the exit of bmi and the brand hopes to drive down fares as it competes with British Airways as it has done in the past.

Here are some of the other features we can also look forward to:

• Early morning flights to help business travellers make meetings in each of the three cities
• Increased capacity on each of the three routes to fly almost a million passengers
• Easier connections to destinations around the world
• Fares from £99
• Free 23kg baggage check-ins
• Pre-assigned seats
• Hot breakfasts on early morning flights
• Complimentary drinks and snacks, including exclusive miniature spirits, Irn Bru on Edinburgh-Heathrow flights and specially developed ‘Plane Crisps’ from Tyrells.

Meanwhile, the Airbus 320 themselves will be supplied by Aer Lingus, which has also signed a contract to supply the crew as part of a new partnership which both brands hope to develop in the future.

‘Welcome to the skies, Little Red’.

To find out more, or to check availability and prices, check out the website.

Pictured above is Little Red, courtesy of Virgin Atlantic.

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1) Skyscanner
Skyscanner is top of our list because it’s simple to use and unbelievably efficient at presenting quick results. Said to be Europe’s leading travel search site, the Skyscanner platform has recently been revamped and has a new look along with lots of user friendly functions. It has a number of search options which allow you to browse prices throughout the year to secure the best deals and covers more than 1,000 different airlines.

2) Tripadvisor
Tripadvisor, with integrated SeatGuru, is a great comparison site for picking the best seats based on internal airline seating maps. It features reviews from frequent fliers, shows real-time seat availability charts and will check alternative dates and airports to help you get the best fare. Not only that, but it flags up when business or first-class tickets closest to the economy price become available. You’ll even find related rail itineraries to coincide with your chosen flight.

3) Cheapflights
Launched by an avid traveller for avid travellers, Cheapflights offers information on the best value for money flights and even gives tips on baggage allowances, check-in times, nearby parking and airport hotels. It’s a simple platform but one that never fails to come up with the goods.

4) Fly.com
This is a great site for comparing economy, first-class and business fares across hundreds of airlines and major travel sites – all laid out in a really easy to read platform. Clever filters allow you to enhance your search and narrow down search results with direct booking links.

5) Momondo
Believe it or not, Momondo, which is owned by Cheapflights, used to be a search engine but has been developed to include city guides, car rental options and hotel availability. It has access to more than 500 different major travel sites, including most budget airline carriers. It helps you search multiple destinations simultaneously and will show you the cheapest air fares available at the time.

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If you’re confused by the wide choice of airline seats and classes on international flights and are worried about having an uncomfortable journey, perhaps you should be prepared what to expect for your money – it could help you book with confidence.

With this in mind, here’s our guide to what you can expect for your money when booking international flights:

• Economy
Economy flights are a great budget option if you don’t mind tight seating and a very basic cabin service. Don’t expect much leg room or many free drinks. You will usually have to pay for anything over and above the basic service, such as alcohol and additional snacks.

• Premium Economy
Expect to pay around £100 more for Premium Economy, which guarantees reclining seats and extra leg room which can make all the difference to a comfortable journey and help you arrive refreshed and relaxed.

• Business Class
Business Class is at the top end of the market and will generally set you back up to five times more than Economy. Seats, which often recline flat, are fewer and more spaced out with ample leg room and a better standard of wining and dining and entertainment on board.

• First Class
Fly First Class if you want the ultimate in luxury and an unbeatable VIP service. Expect just a few seats in the cabin and to pay up to three times more than in Business Class.

But however, or wherever, you’re travelling, be sure to change your currency before you reach the airport, where you’re likely to incur extra costs, including commission and hidden charges.

By shopping around well in advance, at the likes of MyTravelMoney.co.uk, you could make some serious savings to give you extra cash for the trip.

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But if you’re not sure who to get on board with, read up on which airline flies to Bermuda from where and the extent of its services first:

1) Delta
Getting a first bag on free and priority boarding are not to be sniffed at with Delta, which flies directly from the UK to Bermuda. What’s more, the airline has a great website which makes it really easy to book.

2) American Airlines
American Airlines operates a direct non-stop service to Bermuda from JFK New York and General Edward Lawrence Logan International in Boston once a day. If you’re already in the States, this airline is probably one of your best options.

3) Continental Airlines
This airline, which offers great late deals and lots of added information, flies daily – direct from NYC Newark. Again, only good if you don’t mind flying to the US first and changing carriers.

4) AirTran Airways
AirTran offers a daily non-stop service to Bermuda from Baltimore-Washington in the USA since summer 2011.

5) jetBlue
Flights from JFK New York and from Boston jet off once a day and are perfect if you don’t mind connecting or making a pit-stop in the Big Apple first.

6) Delta Airlines
Delta does a great daily service from William B. Hartsfield Atlanta and General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airports in the USA.

7)US Airways
US Airways flies directly, of course, from the US airports of Baltimore-Washington, General Edward Lawrence Logan, Charlotte-Douglas, Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, La Guardia (New York) and Washington DC – although some of the flights are seasonal.

8) WestJet Airlines
This airline, which celebrates its 16th birthday this year, is only suitable if you’re flying to Bermuda from Canada but flies direct from Toronto regularly.

9) Air Canada
If you’re flying from the States, Air Canada is a really good option. It’s the largest full-service airline in Canada and flies between Bermuda and Toronto daily and from Halifax in the USA once a week. It’s the largest provider of flights between the US and Canada and is pretty big on good service and quality.

10) British Airways
The UK carrier is, of course, one of the world’s most popular airlines and flies between Bermuda and London Gatwick between the peak holiday months of March and October. Don’t expect to get overly cheap flights however, as the provider prides itself on high end service.

Whichever airline you fly with, make sure you do your research on currency as well. MyTravelMoney.co.uk can help you get the best deals – all day, every day.

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In fact, there’s so much to do at Canada’s foremost airport, you might wish you had more time. Try some of these suggestions on for size:

1) Go online and work, surf, or keep in touch with family and friends because Vancouver is one of the few airports in the world to offer free unlimited Wi-Fi throughout.

2) Chill out at the Pacific Grill, where you can get a British-style plate of fish and chips, as well as gourmet soups and sandwiches, while watching the aircraft take off.

3) Visit Voyages bar and enjoy a pre-flight tipple, which include ice cold beer, cocktails, fine wines and champagne.

4) Grab your caffeine fix before the flight at Tim Horton’s, a great coffee and donut stop – perfect for refuelling.

5) Make for Cinnabon and the world’s best cinnamon rolls. They’re to die for!

6) Check out Globe, the airport’s award winning signature restaurant, for floor to ceiling views of the airfield and gastronomy that’s out of this world.

7) Pick up some DVDs at Virgin before you leave and visit Daniel Le Chocolat Belge for some gorgeously-wrapped gifts to take home.

8) Stock up on duty free perfumes and aftershaves or visit the West Coast Liquor Store for some souvenirs.

9) Visit The Fairmont hotel, which has its own spa, within the airport for a spot of pampering and revitalisation to protect against the dry cabin pressure.

10) Hang out in the Plaza Premium pay-per-use lounge, which is open to all passengers regardless of ticket type or class. It’s good for taking a nap, freshening up, watching a bit of telly or having a bite to eat from the buffet.

Prior to jetting off, try out our travel money comparison tool for the best tourist exchange rates.

The post Waiting for a flight? 10 Things to do at Vancouver International Airport appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.

Once you’ve booked your flights for the much-needed family holiday you’ve all been dreaming of, you’re probably wondering how on earth you’re going to keep the kids entertained on-board. Well, it’s pretty simple. Just follow these sure-fire tips to happy travelling and you should be able to sit back and relax and enjoy the in-flight entertainment:

1. Take lots of travel games for the flight and be sure to pack them in your hand luggage. Magnetic versions of Snakes & Ladders are ideal for younger kids, while older children can while away the hours playing chess or backgammon with dad.

2. Pick up some comics or magazines at the airport which will keep the kids busy for at least half an hour. Basically, the more things you can arm yourself with to hold their attention, the better!

3. Pack some bumper colouring books and pencils for the younger ones and more challenging word searches, crossword puzzles, Sudoku and logic problem books for teens.

4. Provide plenty of drinks and snacks throughout the flight and make sure you pick them up before you reach the departure gate as they’re always really expensive on-board. You do need to buy them after security, however, as any liquids will have to be binned as part of the luggage search.

5. Encourage your children to nap on the flight so they’re refreshed to take on the rest of the trip at the other end.

6. Talk about what you are going to do when you get there which will build up their anticipation and make the flight feel like less of a chore.

7. Quash their popping ears with lollypops and boiled sweets, or chewing gum for the older ones.

8. Take hand santiser, or baby wipes, with you – the water on-board the aircraft (i.e. in the toilet) comes from the holding tank and generally isn’t that clean. You don’t want to start your holiday with tummy bugs.

9. Think about the potential for nausea beforehand and either invest in some acupressure bands, which you can get from most pharmacies, or some children’s travel sickness medicine.

10. If you’re child has had a cold or sinus infection recently, get them to use a Vick inhaler before the plane takes off to avoid any sore heads as the altitude and cabin pressure increases.

Finally, make sure you’ve done a travel money comparison before you hit the airport, where the rates at the last minute kiosks can be astronomical.

Happy travelling!

The post How To Keep The Kids Happy On International Flights: 10 Top Tricks appeared first on MyTravelMoney.co.uk.