Sensational South Africa

Sensational South Africa

Our ‘top three’ South Africa tour offers you a wonderfully diverse experience of a remarkable country. We’ll head out to spot the Big Five and other local inhabitants on a 4WD safari in the renowned Kruger National Park. Then we’ll travel the dramatic Garden Route coastal road, before taking a cruise across the wildlife-rich Knysna lagoon. Finally, we’ll end our South Africa holiday with four nights exploring beautiful Cape Town, including Table Mountain and Boulders Beach (where characterful penguins waddle across the sand).

LAUNCH FROM MORE THAN 100 LOCATIONS

LAUNCH FROM MORE THAN 100 LOCATIONS

Nobody offers more locations for hot air balloon rides near you than Virgin Balloon Flights – the UK’s only nationwide passenger flight operator. Enter your town, postcode or county into our location search above to find our closest hot air balloon locations to you. Launching from more than 100 launch sites across the UK and with new flight dates released for booking every single week during the flying season, your unforgettable balloon flight experience is never too far away. Rising majestically into the air before drifting through the skies with the world at your feet, only the sounds of nature and the occasional blast of the burners for company, there is no better way to take life higher than our unforgettable hot air balloon rides. From Angus in Scotland to Liskeard in Cornwall and Abergavenny in Wales to Norwich in the east, our big red balloons are an iconic sight in the skies from spring to autumn. The UK’s No.1 passenger balloon rides provider, Virgin Balloon Flights is the only nationwide operator and has more hot air balloon launch sites near you than any other company. We’ve been making dreams come true by taking you up, up and away since 1994, with more than a million passengers experiencing the airborne adventure of a lifetime with us so far. Wherever you choose to fly with us, a breath-taking Virgin hot air balloon flight will be an experience you will never forget.

Emirates gears up for busy summer holiday travel period

Emirates gears up for busy summer holiday travel period

Dubai, UAE: 30 June 2021 –Emirates is expecting more than 450,000 passengers to travel from, to and through Terminal 3 at Dubai International Airport over the course of the next two weekends on over 1,600 flights. The busiest days for the airline will be the next two weekends, 2-3 July and 9-10 July, although high passenger traffic is expected to start today, and will run through 12 July.

In addition, close to 100,000 passengers will be arriving into Dubai on Emirates flights to start their summer holidays during that same period.

All Emirates and DXB touchpoints are fully prepared to manage the increase in passenger traffic, with measures and protocols in place designed to enhance safety as customers move through Terminal 3. Along with industry-leading contactless technologies and biometric journeys, Emirates customers can travel with assurance that the airline and its partners have spared no effort to make the airport journey as safe and smooth as possible.

This includes robust and consistent cleaning protocols for high traffic areas such as seats and handrails; modern cleaning technologies for surfaces in Emirates’ dedicated lounges keeping them germ free for longer; social distancing measures through floor markings, signage and airport employees safely managing the flow of passengers; hand sanitising stations as well as Plexiglas partitions at Emirates check-in desks and in Emirates Lounges, amongst numerous other measures.

Customers are strongly urged to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their flight departure to avoid delays. Passengers are encouraged to build in extra time for their journey with expected heavy road traffic coming into Terminal 3.

Customers are also reminded to review the latest travel requirements to their booked destination, including whether forms, vaccination certificates or negative PCR tests are required on the Emirates Travel Hub, which has the latest information for every country on the airline’s route network.

Customers can physically check-in and drop off their luggage at any Emirates counter 24 hours before departure.* All passengers physically checking in at the airport are requested to check in no later than 3 hours prior to departure. Customers who present themselves less than 60 minutes prior to their scheduled flight departure will not be accepted for travel. They can also check in online 48 hours to 90 minutes before flight departure. Those who opt to check-in online are reminded to visit the Emirates check-in counters or contactless kiosks to complete the required travel documentation checks and formalities.

Customers are also advised to make sure they get to their boarding gate on time. Gates open 90 minutes before departure, boarding starts 45 minutes before each flight and gates close 20 minutes before departure. If passengers report late Emirates will not be able to accept them for travel. Check-in and gate closure timings are strictly followed for on-time departures.

A touchless, paperless experience for smoother journeys

Emirates customers can look forward to an easier and hassle-free airport experience with contactless check-in, its biometric path and enhanced digital verification of Covid-19 medical information. The airline has sharpened its focus on technologies and services that optimise passenger processing to minimise queues, for a fast-tracked experience that prioritises safety and efficiency.

Significantly reducing wait times, Emirates’ contactless kiosks are completely controlled by personal mobile devices without the need to touch the screens; providing another way passengers can enjoy a safe and efficient pre-boarding experience. Along with check-in, customers can choose seats on board, drop off their bags, and even pay for ancillary products like extra baggage.**

Customers can also utilise Emirates’ biometric path for a contactless journey via 18 check-in desks and 7 biometric boarding gates, with virtually no document checks and less queuing.

Emirates is also leading the way in providing more ways for its customers to fulfil their pre-departure health requirements through digital verification. Customers flying between Dubai and London, Barcelona, Madrid, Istanbul, New York JFK, Moscow, Frankfurt, Charles De Gaulle, and Amsterdam can also now use the IATA Travel Pass to manage their COVID-19 travel documentation, including vaccination and latest PCR test results. The airline is progressing on plans to roll-out the IATA Travel Pass solution across its global network this summer.

In July, Emirates will also connect the Alhosn app with its check-in systems, in addition to its existing integration with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Customers will have the advantage of digital retrieval and verification of COVID-19 medical records for a paperless experience regardless of where in the UAE they had completed their vaccination, or COVID-19 PCR and antigen tests.

Emirates will also be reopening its dedicated First Class Lounge in Concourse B for its customers on 1 July to cater to the surge in passenger demand, particularly in the premium classes. With a seating capacity for 540 customers and more space between seating and dining areas, the First Class Lounge will offer a luxurious retreat before departure.

*Except for flights to the USA

**The contactless kiosk service is available to all destinations except to the US, Canada, China, India and Hong Kong due to additional requirements from these destinations.