So when should you make your Easter getaway? Best times to travel
After a winter of discontent marred by mass strikes, passenger delays and cancellations, travel experts have given their top tips for a smooth Easter getaway.
Drivers are warned to expect severe queues on the roads – with up to 17 million leisure trips by car predicted to be made over the Easter bank holiday weekend.
Britain’s airports are also predicted to be busier than ever, with industrial action at Heathrow Airport adding to pressure on flights carriers.
Justin Penny, head of aviation at Flight Centre said: ‘With the Easter holidays now upon us and around 6,260 departures planned over the 10-day strike at Heathrow airport there is naturally some nervousness about long delays and horrendous queues.
‘The long-weekend getaway is predicted to be busier than ever, Thursday in particular.
Mid-mornings is also when airports are busiest, which means travelling first thing in the morning (pre-9am) will give you the biggest chance of having a smooth experience.
Britain’s airports are also predicted to be busier than ever, with industrial action at Heathrow Airport adding to pressure on flights carriers (Pictured: stock image)
Drivers are warned to expect severe queues on the roads – with up to 17 million leisure trips by car predicted to be made over the Easter bank holiday weekend
‘I would suggest not getting to the airport too early – airport advice says to arrive three hours ahead for international and two hours before for domestic, which is plenty.
‘We’re hearing of queues forming because travellers are panicking and arriving early, causing log jams well before their flights.’
WHICH ROADS TO AVOID THIS EASTER BANK HOLIDAY
Here’s Select’s brief look at some of the areas – and times – to avoid at the beginning of the Easter break:
M1 (Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, South Yorkshire, Derbyshire)
Three lanes shut northbound between J14 and J15 (Milton Keynes, Northampton).
10pm to 6am, April 3-5.
Three lanes shut southbound AND northbound J15A-J15 (Northampton, Rothersthorpe)
9pm to 6am, April 3-5.
Four lanes shut on the same section of motorway from 9pm to 6am, April 16-17.
Four lanes shut southbound J31-29 (Sheffield to Chesterfield)
8pm to 6am, April 2-3.
M3 (Surrey)
Three lanes shut westbound between J2 and J3 (Gatwick, Woking)
8pm to 6am, April 3-6.
M4 (Berkshire)
Three lanes shut westbound between J12 and J13 (Reading, Newbury)
9pm to 6am, March 31 to April 1.
M5 (North Somerset, Gloucestershire)
Three lanes shut southbound between J19 and J20 (Portishead, Clevedon)
9pm to 6am, April 2-6.
Two lanes (of three) shut northbound and southbound, J11-J13 (Gloucester, Stroud)
8pm to 6am April 3-6, April 11-4.
M6 (multiple locations)
All lanes shut southbound and northbound at J17/J18 (Northwich, Congleton, Cheshire)
10pm March 31 to 5am April 1.
Three lanes shut northbound J10-J11 (Walsall, Cannock)
9pm to 6am April 1-2.
Three lanes shut northbound J39-J40 (Shap, Penrith)
8pm to 6am, April 2-3.
M18 (South Yorks)
Three lanes shut southbound J1 (Rotherham)
9pm to 5am, April 3-4.
M20 (Kent)
Three lanes shut eastbound J9-J10 (Ashford)
8pm to 6am, April 3-4.
M23 (West Sussex)
Three lanes shut southbound J11 (Crawley)
8pm to 6am, April 2-6, April 11-13, April 14-15.
M25 (Surrey)
Four lanes shut for emergency barrier repairs clockwise J14-J15 (London Heathrow)
10pm to 6am, April 1-3.
M40 (Buckinghamshire)
Four lanes shut southbound J2 to J1A (Beaconsfield, Heathrow)
10pm to 6am April 3-6.
M56 (Cheshire)
Three lanes shut eastbound J14-J12 (Chester, Runcorn)
9pm to 5am, April 3-6.
M62 (West Yorkshire)
Four lanes shut eastbound J28-J29 (Leeds)
8pm to 5am, April 2-3.
The youth travel brand owned by Flight Centre, StudentUniverse – the world’s largest student and youth travel marketplace – encourages passengers on a budget to go for ‘flexible’ options when booking flights.
Sam Willan of StudentUniverse said: ‘It’s important to be flexible where you can – the more flexible you can be with your dates, the more likely you’ll be able to save when booking.
‘When searching for flights, make sure to tick the “flexible’ box and select the widest parameters you can.
Also consider booking two one-way flights, instead of one return flight – a little extra legwork during the search can sometimes save you quite a bit of money!’
According to Expedia’s 2023 Air Travel Hack reports, travellers who book domestic flights on Sundays instead of Fridays tend to save, on average, around 20% on domestic flights and 10% on international flights.
For motorists wishing to avoid traffic jam hell – locations such as the M1 near Sheffield, the M3 in Surrey, and a significant emergency barrier repair site on the M25 near London Heathrow – have been identified as routes to avoid.
Graham Conway, managing director at Select Car Leasing, says: ‘When you know you’ve got a long journey to make, it’s tempting to let the daytime traffic die down and to instead set off later in the evening.
‘But motorists need to be aware that if they adopt this strategy they risk running into the dreaded overnight roadworks planned by National Highways, which typically start at around 9pm and last until the early morning.
‘Over Easter, there are roadworks that have the potential to shut all lanes of major motorways, necessitating what’s often a nightmarish – and wholly unexpected – detour.
‘Be wise to the risk, particularly if you’re travelling with young children and pets, and check the Traffic England list of planned roadwork long before you set off.’
Major roads in south-west England and some in the Home Counties are also likely to experience the worst congestion on Good Friday, according to the RAC and transport analytics company Inrix.
More than double the normal traffic levels are predicted for the A303 westbound near Stonehenge in Wiltshire, the M5 south between Bristol and Bridgwater, and the M25 anticlockwise between Hertfordshire and Surrey.
Queues are likely to be increased by engineering work on the railways, including the closure of London Euston station.
A survey of 2,400 UK drivers commissioned by the RAC suggested 2.7 million car journeys have been planned for Good Friday and Easter Sunday by drivers embarking on day trips or overnight stays.
Saturday and Easter Monday are expected to be slightly less busy, with 2.3 million separate getaway trips on each day.
Many people may be waiting to see what the weather has in store as there is potential for another seven million trips to be staggered throughout the long weekend.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘With many people keen to make the most of the double bank holiday this Easter weekend, we’re expecting the customary jams across parts of the road network to make this Good Friday a bad Friday for drivers, especially those who are planning on covering longer distances.
‘Traffic volumes could be even higher if the sun chooses to make a welcome appearance.
‘The South and West are the areas to watch as they’re home to some vital roads responsible for carrying vast numbers of people to the holiday destinations of the West Country.
‘Our advice to anyone heading that way is to get on the road as early as possible on Good Friday, or travel on a different day entirely.’
Inrix transportation analyst Bob Pishue said: ‘We expect a large jump in holiday driving, with most congestion occurring on major roads around urban areas and popular destinations.
‘Nationwide, we anticipate travel times during the holiday weekend to increase about 25% compared to normal.
‘Knowing when and where congestion will build can help drivers avoid the stress of sitting in traffic.’
Mr Dennis urged motorists to give their vehicles ‘a bit of TLC before setting out’, such as ensuring tyres are properly inflated and checking levels of oil, coolant and screenwash.
National Highways will temporarily remove more than 1,400 miles of roadworks on England’s motorways and major A-roads by 6am on Thursday until Tuesday April 11.
That means more than 98% of its road network will be free from roadworks.
Network Rail is carrying out more than 600 engineering projects on Britain’s railways over the Easter weekend.
No trains will run to or from London Euston between Good Friday and Easter Monday as the West Coast Main Line will be closed up to Milton Keynes Central.
This will disrupt Avanti West Coast and London Northwestern Railway services, and Caledonian Sleeper trains will use London King’s Cross.
Track and signalling modernisation work on some lines into London Victoria means Southern and Gatwick Express services will not call at the station during the bank holiday weekend.
Some trains will be diverted to London Bridge.
Network Rail said it often schedules major engineering work for bank holidays to minimise disruption for passengers as fewer people travel during those periods.