The increasingly globalized world is opening up opportunities for societies and individuals that not so long ago were considered a futuristic thought experiment. However, humans have already become accustomed to most of the amenities that an open world brings with it. (Air) travel is one of these comforts. It is enough to be equipped with a mobile phone and a credit card – that’s all it takes to organize a trip, no matter where you go. The flight has been booked via the app, the accommodation has already been reserved for holiday apartments via a community marketplace and the route for the city tour has been marked out on Google Maps. Only a few clicks – or so it feels – separate us from our next trip.

The busiest day since the beginning of air travel

But today, on World Tourism Day 2019, we want to pause for a moment, reflect and appreciate what a logistical masterpiece is actually behind all this. This year’s World Tourism Day is under the motto “Tourism and Jobs”: According to the World Tourism Organization UNWTO, the aim is to focus on the often underestimated role of tourism as a job engine. One in ten jobs worldwide is accounted for by tourism. This manpower is also needed to coordinate 205,468 flights in just one day – that’s how many passenger planes took off last year on the busiest day of the year, July 13, 2018. All passengers who flew on this day fill a total of 36 Olympic stadiums (2.7 million people) – a world record. By 2035, experts predict a total of 40,000 aircraft that will be in the air at the same time – more than twice as many as the current record.

All these approximately 200,000 flights covered a total of over 3 million kilometers. That’s a distance as far as from the Earth to the moon and all the way back again – 4,000 times. The longest flight in 2018 was around 14,000 kilometers – from Los Angeles to Singapore. Our editorial team came across the following infographic, which visualizes these and other figures and provides other exciting, entertaining airport and travel data:

More about travel at Horizn Studios.

The graphic makes it clear that not everything always works as smoothly as passengers might like. There are some delays, flight cancellations, suitcases get lost or other annoying things happen that spoil the holiday mood a bit. However, given the numbers listed here, it is almost a miracle that flying is such a reliable and efficient way to travel. It may help to think about how many flights have already taken off on time in the past when a large “delay” appears in red lettering on the display board at the gate.

Happy World Tourism Day!

Each of us has certainly experienced this situation several times. The long-awaited vacation is only a few days away. Although the anticipation is huge – the last days before departure are very stressful. There are various reasons for this. On the one hand, you think about whether you have thought of everything you need when packing and whether the apartment is well taken care of in your absence.

However, another factor is also planning the journey to the airport. Since you often can’t rely on the punctuality of the trains, more and more travelers decide to book a parking space near the airport. This offers a cost-effective alternative to the airport taxi and you can load your suitcases in peace and quiet and set off for your holiday.

Parking at Munich Airport

In order to get a more detailed picture of “parking at the airport”, we booked a parking space at Munich Airport via the provider Parkos. The provider compares the listed parking providers and checks whether there is capacity available in the desired booking period.

So in order to use the service and be able to park at Munich Airport, we first informed ourselves about the different parking spaces (especially about security) and finally reserved a parking space for the required period. This is guarded around the clock, fenced in and secured with camera systems. Cancellation of the parking space would have been possible free of charge up to 24 hours before the booked time.

Arriving at the sufficiently signposted parking lot, we were already welcomed by an employee. After checking our reservation, we were assigned a seat and we safely locked the vehicle after taking out the luggage. The employee helped us transport the luggage to the shuttle bus. Our children got a free soft drink, quickly went to the existing toilet again and off we went with a good feeling towards Munich Airport.

Including shuttle transfer (took just under 12 minutes) to the departure hall, we were able to book the parking space for a cheap 54 euros for a parking period of one week.

When our vacation in Croatia was over much too quickly a week later, we called the parking provider after we had taken the luggage off the conveyor belt. After a short time, the shuttle bus came and brought us safely to our car. In general, it can be said that parking at the airport is a cost-effective alternative to the typical airport taxi. Of course, travelling by train is generally cheaper, but it is much more relaxed to travel with your own car and not have to carry your luggage around with two children. In addition, one is not dependent on the punctuality of public transport.

Our tip:

Use the time until departure and arrive early at the car park. So you have the opportunity to spend a few more nice hours in Munich . Visit the Frauenkirche or relax in the English Garden before your flight.

 

 

With the kind support of Parkos

Soon the time has come. The nights are getting longer and the days are getting shorter. It’s getting cooler outside day by day and Christmas is getting closer and closer. And the skiing holiday is not far away. But a trip to the snow-covered mountains should also be well planned to spend fun and relaxing days.

The right ski area

The high season in ski resorts is in the months of January and February. Most Germans spend 5 to 7 days a year on the slopes. The most popular are the numerous ski resorts and regions in Austria (for example the Gastein Valley). But ski holidaymakers also get their money’s worth in Switzerland and the German Alps. Smaller ski resorts in Germany, for example the Rhön, are more suitable for a day trip or a weekend trip.

Now the question arises as to which ski area is best suited for the upcoming holiday. Before planning, it should be considered whether the area should be suitable for beginners, how many kilometers of slopes should be available, whether the area is suitable for children and families, whether there are good opportunities for après-ski parties or whether wellness and relaxation are in the foreground in addition to skiing. In the largest ski areas, for example the Zillertal or the Wilder Kaiser in Austria, all wishes are covered: The ski regions are family-friendly, there are over 500 kilometres of slopes, there are wellness hotels and après-ski parties in every village.

Hotel or holiday home?

When looking for the right accommodation, there are some basic criteria that should be considered, for example whether you want to cater for yourself on holiday or prefer to eat in restaurants or the proximity to a slope or a ski lift. Especially if the journey is by public transport, it is advantageous if at least one ski lift can be reached in a few minutes. In this way, the valuable days can be fully enjoyed without having to accept long travel times to the nearest ski lift.

A hotel often offers the advantage that a wellness area with a sauna or swimming pool can be used free of charge. In addition, many hotels in ski resorts offer half-board meals, sometimes even all-inclusive. So you don’t have to cook yourself on a ski holiday. Every morning a delicious breakfast is ready and offers a good basis for the day on the slopes. Most of the time, the hotels are not as remote as individual mountain huts and shopping facilities or restaurants can be reached more quickly. Après-ski parties are also more likely to be found in villages.

However, even a lonely mountain hut offers its own charm. These accommodations are particularly suitable for travel groups between 6 – 10 people. Although you have to take care of your own food, the peace and seclusion are a unique experience. It is impressive to wake up in the morning in a white winter landscape, not to hear any cars and to look down into the valley, where the first lifts are already transporting ski holidaymakers to the slopes. Nothing stands in the way of your own après-ski party on your own balcony after an exciting day in the snow. Loud music certainly doesn’t bother anyone here.

Packing your bags for your ski holiday

When the ski holiday is just around the corner, you have to pack your bags. Ideally, in such a way that nothing is missing on a ski holiday and travellers can enjoy the days without missing anything. The most important thing is, of course, warm clothing and ski or snowboard equipment. Be sure to pack:

• Long underwear
• Ski clothing (pants, jacket, scarf, gloves, thick socks, functional clothing)
• Sunscreen
• Clothes for going out or partying
• Pyjamas
• Jacket and ski pants to change
• Waterproof and snowproof shoes
• Skis
• Snowboard
• Appropriate shoes and poles
• Ski goggles

If you have never skied or snowboarded before and do not have your own equipment, you can of course rent it from some providers in the ski area. However, it is often more advisable to equip yourself with used equipment, as the rental prices can be quite expensive for several days and used items are offered cheaply. The research is worthwhile in any case.

In addition, ski vacationers should think in advance about whether all their luggage can be stored in the car. Otherwise, roof racks or trailers can be rented. However, this should be done early. Snow chains for the car are also important, as certain areas in ski areas cannot be reached otherwise. Especially when renting a remote mountain hut, snow chains are indispensable.

More tips

The high season in most ski resorts is at the beginning of a new year. There are still holidays all over Germany at this time and almost all ski areas are well attended. Of course, the actual ski season starts much earlier. Depending on the altitude of the ski region, as early as October or November. The ski season can last until early May in alpine locations. In almost all ski areas there are also snow cannons, which ensure that all holidaymakers get their money’s worth and can use the slopes even when there is little snowfall.

For beginners it is more recommended not to ski in the high season, as there are many skis and snowboarders on the road and unfortunately not everywhere is taken into account.

In addition, the cost of a ski holiday can quickly increase if you don’t consider beforehand that ski passes have to be purchased for each day, which can cost up to €50 a day in some areas.

If the ideas of the young environmental activist Greta Thunberg appeal to you, then LuggageHero.com has a few practical suggestions for you. After all, instead of flying, the 16-year-old traveled by sailboat from her home country Sweden to New York this year to participate in the United Nations Climate Action Summit on September 23. The UN Youth Climate Summit will also take place on 21 September.

As a climate activist, Greta is also the face of the phenomenon “flygskam” (“flight shame”). It stands for a growing movement of people in Europe and North America who are advocating a reduction in air travel in order to reduce their harmful impact on the climate. The burning of kerosene releases greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and thus also contributes to global warming.

In terms of the level of emissions generated by aviation, Germany ranks 3rd in Europe and 7th worldwide. In 2018, a total of 18.26 million tonnes of CO₂ were released in Germany – an increase of 14% compared to the previous year. In the global ranking, Germany is thus behind Spain and Japan.*

According to the Air Transport Action Group, air traffic caused emissions of about 895 million tons of CO ₂ worldwide in 2018, out of a total of over 42 billion tons globally. According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the aviation industry is thus responsible for about 2 percent of all man-made CO₂ emissions. These emissions can have devastating effects on our environment. As air traffic continues to increase, the losses will also continue to grow. But it’s not too late to do something about it.

Here are some tips on how to reduce your carbon _{footprint without giving up travel.} Because: Every small step can help!

Avoid short trips

For example, if you are If you are travelling to Warsaw by car instead of by plane, you can use the CO₂ reduce emissions by more than 40%. A flight between the two cities would release 112.2 kilograms, a car journey would release 67.3 kg and only 51.8 kg if the train was used.**
It is also said that journeys of up to 965 kilometres (600 miles) can be covered more energy-efficiently by train, bus or car than by plane.

Choose direct flights

Non-stop flights save a lot of energy because more kerosene is consumed during take-off and landing than when gliding at cruising altitude. In fact, about 25% of the fuel is consumed during take-off, and at high altitudes the flight becomes much more energy-efficient. In short, changing trains is double stress – for you and for the environment.

Fly less long-haul routes

In terms of fuel efficiency, the ideal flight length is about 4,800 km (about 3,000 miles). For longer flights, more kerosene has to be carried, the aircraft becomes heavier, flies less efficiently and the CO₂ footprint grows.

Relax during your travels

Fly less often and stay longer in the holiday country. This will allow you to get to know the area better. And that’s what travel is all about, isn’t it?

If possible, use “green” airports

How does an airport become “green”? Through things like smart recycling systems, sustainable building design, low noise pollution or environmentally friendly airport vehicles. Examples of such airports are Boston Logan International Airport, Zurich Airport or East Midlands Airport in Great Britain.

Book Economy Tickets

If there are more passengers on the plane, it is more energy-efficient. This is because more people can be transported in the economy sector than in business class. There, the seats are wider, more space is needed for the individual travelers and their luggage.

Pack less

The heavier your luggage, the more the plane weighs. This requires more energy. So just take less with you on the trip, it’s more convenient anyway.

Avoid plastic or use it several times

Refrain from using plastic at the airport and on the flight. This applies, for example, to straws, stirrers or cups. If you use a plastic cup during the flight, use it several times. You can even bring your own provisions and thus completely dispense with all the plastic parts that an airplane meal entails.

Look for travel companies that rely on CO₂ offsetting

Some tour operators routinely offer CO₂ offsetting for their trips. Look for vendors that offset not only the impact of their customers, but also the impact of their operations.

Use providers for climate compensation

With non-profit providers for CO₂ offsetting, you can offset the climate impact of your flight. The money you pay into this is invested in projects that save energy or reduce emissions in other places. These include subsidies for low-consumption cooking stoves in Africa or local, environmentally friendly energy production. Some airlines also cooperate with such programs. Check beforehand what the money will be used for.

Refrain from flying for a year

The Swede Maja Rosén calls on people to resolve not to fly for a year – in 2020. Last year, she founded We Stay on the Ground to inspire activists around the world to get involved. Anyone can participate, but a “national pledge” is only considered official if at least 100,000 people from a country are present. There are currently active campaigns in Sweden, Germany, the UK, Denmark, Belgium, France and Canada.

Keep your feet on the ground

Of course, they can also be very consistent and not fly at all, like Greta and others. Simply use alternative transport options such as trains, buses, bicycles or cars (preferably in a carpool).

Seien Sie dabei – Join the Movement

It doesn’t matter whether you give up flying altogether, change a few of your habits or continue as before for the time being: you can always stand up for the environment. These include supporting research and development for greener aviation, advocating for energy-efficient public transport and electing local, regional and national politicians who are committed to the fight against climate change. Every small step helps!

LuggageHero.com is a worldwide network of safe, accessible and affordable luggage storage locations. These are located in local shops, cafes and hotels. Since launch, customers have booked over one million hours of luggage storage at over 1,100 locations in Europe and North America. LuggageHero is based in Copenhagen and already offers its service to travelers in 30 major cities worldwide. The company is one of the ” Hot 25 Travel Startups 2019” according to Phocus Wire and has been recommended by leading media such as the New York Times, Lonely Planet or CNBC.

Have you ever thought about going on holiday or taking a flight with only a carry-on suitcase? With a few restrictions on weight and size, this is no problem at all for shorter trips. In addition to choosing a suitable suitcase, you should also find out about the common rules and regulations on the subject of hand luggage.

For example, the airlines’ rules on weight and size are particularly important and in this regard you should strictly follow the guidelines given by the airlines. You should also familiarize yourself with the rules for taking liquids on the plane. Furthermore, you should also pay attention to the regulations about the permitted and prohibited items in hand luggage. That’s why we’ve summarised the most important rules, rules and regulations for you here. This should make your next flight much more relaxed, as you will know all the important information after reading this article.

Size & Weight

There is no uniform regulation on the size and weight of hand luggage on the part of the airlines. Rather, each airline has its own maximum values, i.e. Before each flight, you must find out the maximum size of the carry-on suitcase and how heavy. Below is an overview of some airlines:

Airline	Size & Weight (hand luggage)
British Airways	56 x 45 x 25 cm & 23 kg
Condor (TUIfly)	55 x 40 x 20 cm & 6 kg
easyJet	56 x 45 x 25 cm & no restriction
Iberia	56 x 45 x 25 cm & no restriction
KLM	55 x 35 x 25 cm & 12 kg
Lufthansa (Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, Swiss)	55 x 40 x 23 cm & 8 kg
Ryanair	40 x 20 x 25 cm (for an additional fee: 55 x 40 x 20 cm & 10 kg)
SAS Scandinavian Airlines	55 x 40 x 23 cm & 8 kg
Turkish Airlines	55 x 40 x 23 cm & 8 kg
Wizz Air	40 x 30 x 20 cm (for an additional fee: 55 x 40 x 23 cm & 10 kg)

 

As can be seen from the table, the dimensions differ by only a few centimeters. Likewise, the permitted weight does not differ so much from each other and is usually in a range of 6 to 10 kg. A carry-on suitcase with a size of 55 x 40 x 20 cm is a good compromise or, to be on the safe side, the dimensions of 55 x 35 x 20 cm would also be good. With the first size specification you can get away with most airlines, as it is exactly the required dimensions or With a size of 55 x 40 x 20 cm, they are even below the maximum dimensions required by some airlines. The second proposed suitcase size would be suitable for airlines such as KLM, which allow a maximum of 55 x 35 x 25 cm. With the second size you can get through almost all airlines, but you would also have a little less storage space available with such a suitcase.

There are backpacks that can be expanded with the help of straps (drawstrings). A backpack with such drawstrings, for example, has the dimensions of 55 x 35 x 20 cm when the straps are tightened and can be expanded in size with open straps. With such a backpack, you would be ideally prepared for any airline and could pack more if necessary with an airline that allows a larger carry-on suitcase. By the way, there are also trolleys that can be expanded in a similar way.

Carrying liquids in hand luggage

Carrying liquids in hand luggage is a little easier, as uniform regulations apply. Compliance with these EU regulations is also not controlled by the airlines, but by security personnel at the appropriate security checkpoints.

You just need to remember the following two rules:

• Liquid containers (e.g. shampoo bottles) must not exceed the maximum volume of 100 ml
• All containers with liquids must be packed in a resealable and transparent bag

You should definitely follow these two rules so that nothing goes wrong at the security check. Package sizes that contain only small residues of liquids, i.e. less than 100 ml, but have a total volume of, for example, 200 ml, are still not allowed to be taken with you. It is not what counts how much is still in the packaging, but the original total volume is decisive. In addition, you should take the bag with the liquids out of the bag before the check, as the bag must be x-rayed separately.

The clear liquids include, among others: drinks, deodorants, gel, shampoo, creams. Products that have a cream, gel and foam-like consistency are also considered liquids. With food and cosmetics, you should therefore be careful whether it has one of the properties just described and, if in doubt, stow it in the liquid bag.

If you do not follow the rules on liquids, the consequences are not so serious – in the worst case, you will have to throw away the liquids.

Prohibited and permitted items on the aircraft

Finally, a few tips on which items are prohibited on the plane or in hand luggage and which you can take with you without any problems.

Typically, commercially available (small) electrical appliances such as smartphone devices, computers (notebook, laptop), tablet, electric shaver, mobile game console, camera, or an e-book reader are permitted. You can also carry power banks in your hand luggage if the capacity does not exceed 100 Wh or 160 Wh. Some airlines have slightly stricter regulations for 160 Wh power banks, so it is recommended to only carry those with a capacity of 100 Wh.

In principle, medication is always allowed in hand luggage, but there may be a few things to consider when preparing. In the case of liquid medication or syringes, you should have proof of need with you. For prescription drugs, such as narcotics, you must always carry a medical certificate with you.

Strictly prohibited items in carry-on baggage include dangerous items and weapons of any kind. For example, long pointed objects, rackets and tools are classified as dangerous objects, i.e. things that could be used as weapons. At Messer, there is an exception rule. As long as the blade length does not exceed 6 cm, you can take it with you in your hand luggage. When it comes to potentially dangerous items, you should always ask yourself whether you really need them in your cabin luggage. In case of doubt, you may be refused permission or at least lead to critical questions.

The items listed here are only an overview of the permitted and prohibited items in hand luggage. There can be no complete list, as security checks at the airport are subject to generally worded EU regulations that cannot list every item.

United Charity auctions dream trips for aid projects

Baden-Baden, 12.08.2019 – Spend the night in a 5-star luxury hotel and do good with it: United Charity, Europe’s largest charity auction portal, makes this possible, because several unforgettable dream trips and short trips are currently being auctioned off under www.unitedcharity.de . The best thing about it: The auction winners can not only look forward to a unique time, for example in the 5-star resort in Thailand but support important aid projects for children with their bids: Every proceeds will go to an aid organization, including dolphin aid, the children’s hospice network and the TRIBUTE TO BAMBI Foundation, without a cent deduction. If you don’t want to travel quite so far, you can bid on a relaxing break at The Ritz-Carlton Vienna or Gut Ising on Lake Chiemsee, among other places. Ten more dream trips for a good cause are already in the starting blocks.

United Charity auctions not only trips, but especially things and experiences that you can’t normally buy. 100 percent of the proceeds go to charitable organizations and institutions, especially for children. Since it was founded by Dagmar and Karlheinz Kögel in 2009, the United Charity gemeinnützige Stiftungs GmbH has been able to pass on more than 8.6 million euros to a wide variety of aid projects.