TIPS: What to do if you're travelling over Christmas

Tuesday 19 December 2023

If you're getting ahead of your wrapping before jetting off for Christmas this year, make sure that gifts are packed in your hold luggage – as Jersey Airport has warned that wrapped presents in hand luggage may need to be opened and inspected.

Getting to the airport two hours before your flight is also among the festive travel tips issued to passengers who’ll be using the airport in the coming days.

Jersey Airport warned that there are a large number of busy flights scheduled, including charter flights to Madeira, and recommended that travellers allow extra time before flights during the busy "getaway" period leading up to Christmas.

Festive travel tips include:

• Presents packed as hand luggage should not be wrapped as they may need to be inspected; wrapped presents should be packed in hold luggage only.
• Get to the airport two hours before your flight.
• Those seeking to travel with Christmas crackers should check in advance with their airline, while party poppers are prohibited in both hold and hand luggage.
• New security scanners allow passengers to carry up to two litres of liquid in hand luggage; liquids, laptops, tablets and other electronic devices need not be taken out of hand baggage.
• Passengers should check baggage rules and security regulations before travelling, and book special assistance – if required – in advance.

The busy period is expected to have an impact on car parking, with the option for motorists to use the overflow car park, which is first on the left after driving into the airport and works in the same way as the long-stay car park.

There is also advice that anyone fetching friends or family members may park for free in the long-stay car park for 30 minutes – this follows cases where some motorists have received fixed-penalty notices after picking up passengers at the bus stop adjacent to arrivals.