The Spain Diaries: No.1 - the BA experience

Recently, the jourknow went on his second holiday this year to the sunny Costa Del Sol region of Spain, and following my previous diary format from my New Zealand adventures, I’ll be giving you a weekly insight into just a few of the sights and smells from my holiday in the sun.

Now it’s always been said that as soon as you set foot in the airport awaiting your departure, your holiday begins. The duty free, the flying, the screaming baby sitting next to you - these are all experiences which kick off the start of your summers break, and my journey to Spain was no different.

Well, it was a little different. You see, it was actually quite nice for a change. Always being one to sniff out a bargain, I was lucky to book a flight out with British Airways from London Gatwick to Malaga for only £50. Having never flown with the national airline, I was quite looking forward to the experience, and was surprised that when I tweeted BA, they were kind enough to tweet me back, telling me they were looking forward to me travelling with them.

On arrival at the airport, the BA check-in was a dream. All you had to do was key in a few details into one of the self-service check-in desks, print off your boarding pass and hand over your luggage. With BA, you’re allowed 23kg of luggage (3kg more than most other airlines), along with a piece of hand luggage and an option laptop bag. Pretty good if you’re planning on taking a lot with you on holiday.

Thinking that I was going to spending ages in the queue, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had enough time to truly experience the joys of duty free. A lovely meal in Café Rouge followed by a quick spray of all the perfumes quickly passed the time, and before long I was sat comfortably my window seat, waiting for the plane to take off.

The BA experience on board was fantastic. The free drinks and light meal all come included with the ticket, so it was great to save some money rather then spend it on highly inflated prices you usually pay for on your low-budget airlines. The service was great too, with cabin crew very friendly, ensuring the flight was comfortable for all passengers on board.

It was refreshing to relax, unwind and enjoy the start of my holiday before my holiday really began, and I was really happy with the service provided by British Airways. Many people might think they’re expensive as a chartered airline, but surprisingly, their service was far cheaper then any no-frills airline.

And it certainly kicked off a holiday that was full of sun, swimming and lots of San Miguel!

Pictures courtesy of Wikipedia

Royal Mail to increase stamp prices by 30%

Today it was announced that Royal Mail will increase the price of a First Class stamp to 60p from April, along with other planned price rises.

Currently, the price of a first class stamp is set at 46p, however Ofcom - the post office regulator - has lifted some price controls on products, allowing Royal Mail to increase the prices. For first class stamps, the price will increase by 30%.

From 30th April, a second class stamp will increase from 36p to 50p, a 39% increase. There will also be increases to large stamped letters, air mail and business class post.

The news has angered the public, who over the last ten years ago, have seen the price of a first class stamp increase by over 100%.

However, Royal Mail described the plans as "necessary", after revealing that since 2006, there has been a 25% decline in the volume of post. Royal Mail worries that without the planned increase, the reliability of their service will remain vulnerable in the tough economic climate, and the advancement of technology.

From my point of view, I'm rather worried about these plans too. If you were to ask me a few years ago what the cost of a first class stamp was, I would have been able to tell you. Now, however, the prices seem to increase every year.

On the face of it, 60p might not sound like much, a point the Royal Mail chiefs were making today. OK, so it might be the same price as a chocolate bar, but that is not the point. Compared to other countries, the cost is ridiculously high, and the service is unrelible, despite Royal Mail being keen to point out that the price rise reflects an improvement in service and speed.

But does it? Who are they fooling. Since the last price increase, I've had mail lost, returned and delivered late. Last Christmas, I sent a package three months beforehand to New Zealand with the promise of guaranteed Christmas delivery. It didn't even make the New Year!

The customer service is appalling, and what with the Royal Mail and the Post Office acting as two separate companies, it's painful trying to solve a dispute like a late delivery.

The postal service still plays a vital role in the UK. The Royal Mail chiefs may argue that technology is forcing them out of business, but at the end of the day, there is nothing quite like receiving a letter in the post then an email. It's always going to be used, it just needs to wake up to the 21st century and think ahead.

With the government agreeing last year that 90% of the Royal Mail will be privatised - likely to happen by 2014 - the postal service remains in the spotlight. I'd like to think the Royal Mail will still be here for years to come, and I'm sure it will be. But it needs to focus on the public demands. Forget technology and investment, focus on the small things that matter. After all, it's an important part of our infrastructure that needs protecting.

Pictures Courtesy of Wikipedia