Demand and air fares have soared in travel's quietest month

Simon Calder’s Travel Week [The Independent]( November 18, 2022 [View in browser](   [The Independent]( [The Independent]( As the bus swerved through the tunnel beneath the western end of Heathrow airport’s apron, I gripped the handrail ever tighter and agreed with a fellow passenger that at least we would get a seat on board. Purple patch: the view from an island ferry in Singapore One sign that UK aviation is getting back to full stretch was that last Friday night’s British Airways flight BA11 to Singapore was parked out on a remote stand requiring a bus transfer from Heathrow Terminal 5. If you see "A10" next to your flight, be warned that it is not so much a departure gate as a bus terminal, taking passengers out to the planes that are surplus to the number of available airbridges. When I climbed the stairs and headed for the back of the Boeing 787, optimism about the seat on board looked misplaced. My seat was 44G, in the row at the back for just three. Normally this is a good location, because you can recline your seatback without fear of upsetting someone or their drink. Yet my fellow “44ers” and I discovered on arrival at the row that there were, regrettably, no seats. The foam mouldings that belonged where one’s bottom usually goes were stacked above the headrests. Happily, before departure a couple of engineers came on board and fitted seat covers. Shuffling us into other seats would not have worked because the plane was rammed – which, for mid-November, is extraordinary. For decades I have urged anyone with a bit of flexibility to travel in the 11th month. You will enjoy the lowest fares and the most space, I insisted. Yet booking a week ahead I paid £1,341 return to Singapore – about three times more than on my previous round-trip. And that even includes a stop in Doha on the way back; whatever you might have heard, planes to Qatar for the World Cup are not all full, and changing there saved me a couple of hundred pounds. After the horrors of Covid and the near-shutdown of UK aviation, British Airways and other airlines are enjoying a purple patch with supply and demand in alignment – spelling full planes and high fares. Normally in aviation, supply exceeds demand, spelling bargains for travellers who are flexible. The airlines of the People’s Republic – Air China, China Eastern and China Southern – normally provide lots of capacity to destinations across Asia and set the floor on fares. But they are absent because of President Xi’s “dynamic zero” Covid policy. And prices are soaring. Before too long, other carriers will boost flights to try to cash in on strong demand and fares to Asia will subside. Which helps explain why the new route British Airways announced this week is from Heathrow to Cincinnati, Ohio. The airline faces no direct competition and will also receive a wad of cash from the city’s coffers – making the Midwest a more profitable bet than expanding capacity to south-east Asia by reopening routes to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. You have to be careful where you put your seats.   [Get inspired...]( How to booze cruise]( The joy of a French shopping trip by ferry remains, even after Brexit changed the rules of the game [I'm an image]( [Pembrokeshire's best hotels]( Where to stay for Welsh coastal charm [I'm an image]( [Germany by train]( A new bargain monthly rail pass is the perfect excuse to plan the perfect itinerary Tip of the week: ‘There’s a bit of weather ahead’ If the captain of your flight warns of “a bit of weather ahead”, she or he is seeking to reassure you. Nancy Jackson of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) says: “For pilots the word ‘weather’ means something in the air which, if you had a choice, you would rather avoid for operational or passenger comfort reasons. “Thunderstorms are challenging and are worth avoiding, especially near to the ground. If necessary storms can usually be landed in or through, but the resulting rather violent ride would be enough to put a nervous passenger off flying again. That’s not what we want.” [Read pilots’ accounts of the weather they try to avoid]( PICK OF THE WEEK: VISIT SAUDI Create a fully customized day-by-day itinerary and discover the hidden gems of Saudi. [Plan your trip here]( Deal of the week: Folkestone-Calais for £48 return [Eurotunnel]( is running a £48 return promotion next week – but to qualify you must create a [“My Eurotunnel” account]( by Sunday 20 November. Once done, you should be offered some Black Friday specials for purchase from 25-28 November. One specific promise is for a same day/overnight return for a vehicle and passengers between Folkestone and Calais for £48. Travel is between 1 December 2022 and 29 March 2023, though Christmas/New Year and February half-terms are likely to be excluded. [The best destinations to explore in Northern France](   Question of the week: Day flights to Australia Q Just back from Australia with awful overnight flights both ways. Is it possible to break up the journey to and from Sydney using only daytime flights, with stays in hotels in between? A Yes. Take the [Emirates]( 9.10am departure from London Heathrow to Dubai, arriving at 8pm, a civilised time for some supper and a decent hotel for the night. Next morning, Emirates has a 10am departure that reaches Singapore at 9.25pm. Another overnight and you will be ready for the 10.15am flight on [Scoot](, the Singapore Airlines budget subsidiary, for a 9pm arrival in Sydney. Flying home using daytime flights is easier because the time zones work in your favour. A good travel agent will create an itinerary that works best for you. [Read our ultimate guide to Australia]( STAT OF THE WEEK 11 The number of rail firms where train drivers belonging to the Aslef union will strike next Saturday, 26 November. [Our comprehensive guide to the current rail strikes]( What you might have missed... - Celebrating diversity: [Germany sends message to Qatar with special World Cup plane]( - Midnight train: [New sleeper service to link Prague and Zurich via Germany]( - Iceland ahead: Reykjavik rated as safest city for travellers]( SIMON'S DIARY       Every day from Monday to Friday I tackle a top travel story, or explore a topic in more detail than usual in ‘Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast’ – available free on [Spotify](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Pocket Casts]( or [Acast](.         Every day from Monday to Friday I tackle a top travel story, or explore a topic in more detail than usual in ‘Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast’ – available free on [Spotify](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Pocket Casts]( or [Acast](.         I find the easiest way to rush out stories is to tweet them. It’s also an easy way to contact me. My direct messages are open and I read all DMs, though regrettably I can’t respond to every one. Let me know your thoughts [@SimonCalder](         I find the easiest way to rush out stories is to tweet them. It’s also an easy way to contact me. My direct messages are open and I read all DMs, though regrettably I can’t respond to every one. Let me know your thoughts [@SimonCalder](         Each Saturday and Sunday I take questions live at 5.30pm British time on Instagram Live – from wherever I happen to be in the world – so please do come and say hello. Follow me on [@Simon_Calder](         Each Saturday and Sunday I take questions live at 5.30pm British time on Instagram Live – from wherever I happen to be in the world – so please do come and say hello. Follow me on [@Simon_Calder](         Or you can find me on TikTok. Come and have a look at what I have been up to as I bring you top travel topics and report on the latest changes in a minute or less via [@caldertravel](         Or you can find me on TikTok. Come and have a look at what I have been up to as I bring you top travel topics and report on the latest changes in a minute or less via [@caldertravel](   INDYBEST / [TRAVEL BEST BUY]( [10 best sleeping bags for camping, festivals and trekking adventures]( From kids’ options to cocoons for two, these will ensure the happiest of campers. 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