The other travel stories of the week...
EasyJet bag drop starts
EasyJet has launched online check-in and airport bag drops for passengers with hold baggage. The airline joins other carriers at Irish airports, such as Ryanair and Aer Lingus, offering online check-in for all baggage. EasyJet will still offer check-in desks, and says it will not charge for either method of checking in. Meanwhile, Aer Lingus is offering to carry skis, snowboards, boots and poles free for passengers who book before Monday for ski trips early next year.
‘Don’t fleece’ football fans
South Africa has urged its hotels, restaurants and airlines not to scare off tourists by profiteering during next year’s football World Cup, when 500,000 fans are expected to spend up to €575 million. Some hotels are said to want to charge as much as €170 for a €70 room. “We are extremely concerned. It would be like killing the goose that laid the golden egg,” said tourism official Calvyn Gilfellan.
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Number in millions, of nights residents of the Republic spent away from home in Ireland last year. The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation says growth in domestic demand accounted for 90 per cent of new business for hotels.