Little-known plane rule means Brits risk being hit with £53 fines onboard
Sun-seeking Brits face being slapped with a substantial penalty for violating a stringent and unusual new plane rule.
Despite suffering through a scorching hot summer that has caused destructive wildfires and new curfew rules in one popular resort, Turkey remains one of the most beloved holiday destinations among Brits. In 2024, approximately 4.43 million British tourists visited Turkey. This number represents a significant increase, with a 16.6% rise compared to 2023, according to Travel Gossip.
Those who do head to Turkey would be wise to pay heed of a new law. The nation is taking a firm stance against impatient flyers who can't contain their enthusiasm. The Turkish Civil Aviation Authority has declared it will begin issuing sanctions against those who unbuckle their safety belts and rise from their seats before the aircraft has completely halted.
"According to the regulation, airlines are obliged to remind passengers to fasten their seatbelts during and after landing until they reach the parking position and to explicitly point out that any infringement will be reported to the aviation authority, and a fine will be imposed," the aviation authority announced.
Travellers who grab their cabin baggage before the seatbelt signal has been extinguished will now face a €62 (roughly £53) penalty.
The new rules target not only those who unfasten their seat belts early, but also those who move to the front of the plane without waiting in line. According to the SHGM, those who 'move to the aisle after the seat belt light goes off before the passengers in the front seats exit' may also face penalties.
Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey, has reportedly revised its in-flight announcement to alert passengers about a hefty fine for unbuckling seatbelts prematurely. The airline's message warns that those flouting the rules will be reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation via a Disruptive Passenger Report, followed by an 'administrative fine' in line with 'applicable legal regulations'.
Confirmation is pending on whether other carriers will follow suit with similar cautions for flights landing in Turkey. Regardless, it's probably best to remain seated until you're certain it's safe to unfasten your seatbelt.
The announcement has ignited a fiery debate among travellers online, with many expressing concerns that this rule could exacerbate delays and prolong the disembarkation process. "There are umpteen reasons why I have been put off flying - for good," one individual lamented. "This is just another one of them."
Another person echoed the sentiment, exclaiming: "For goodness sake, I just want to stretch my legs, is that a crime?" while another speculated: "I suspect airlines will start charging us to board first and leave first, just like they do with everything else."
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Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
where Tom added the pair took part in "prayers and pints at the idyllic Church-owned inn in the Highlands".
A video shows Ben and Tom on their 1,000-mile tandem bike challenge during which they ate, drank and slept in pubs. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Two comedians have completed a 1,000 mile journey from Land's End to John O'Groats on a tandem bike to save British pubs - stopping at nearly 100. Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, together known as the 'Thinking Drinkers', finished their 'Great British Pub Ride' on July 3. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The pair began their journey on a two-wheeled, two-man tandem bike on Friday June 20 - and for two weeks only ate, drank, slept and stopped in British boozers. They decided to embark on the adventure after learning from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) that around six pubs are closing every week in the UK. Tom said: "We've always loved pubs but the overwhelming warmth, generosity and goodwill that we've received on this journey has blown us away. 'It's been an incredible experience and we've met so many wonderful people on both sides of the bar'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad During the two-week pub pilgrimage, Tom and Ben cycled over 1,000 miles in total - and they visited at least four pubs every day. The pair said they had a wild experience, as they bumped into 'The Stig' in his local, enjoyed their first ever 'Wigan Kebab', stumbled into a thrash metal music festival in the highest pub in Scotland, and had some cake at the remotest pub in mainland Britain. Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, together known as the 'Thinking Drinkers' at John O'Groats on their Great British Pub Ride. | Deft Productions / SWNS Ben and Tom rode on a tandem bike which they borrowed, yet had 'hardly ridden', from a man they met down the pub. Ben said: 'It's been a brutal bike ride, full of ups and downs, but it's nothing compared to the very real challenges facing the people running pubs up and down the country. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'People think pubs are just a place for a pint but, from Cornwall to the Cairngorms, we've seen that they are so much more than that - one in three visits to a pub doesn't involve an alcoholic drink. "At a time of increasing isolation and a growing mental health epidemic, pubs are proven antidotes to loneliness where people can forge genuine social networks - not online ones.' On their journey, Ben and Tom encountered publicans who provide yoga classes for the local community, warm spaces in winter for the elderly, barbershops and package delivery services - to name but a few. The pair said some of their favourite pubs they visited were the Salutation Inn, in Ham, Berkeley, as Tom described the boozer as a "wonderful wet led pub with great drinks and a lovely guy running it". Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham, together known as the 'Thinking Drinkers' at Havener's Bar and Grill in Fowley, Cornwall. | Deft Productions / SWNS The most remote pub in Britain His other favourite was the Crask Inn, in Lairg, the most remote boozer in Britain - where Tom added the pair took part in "prayers and pints at the idyllic Church-owned inn in the Highlands". Ben said he loved the Barkley Tavern, in Springfield, Wigan, because "the owner Debbie and her family breathed life back into a derelict boozer and provide so much help to their local community". He said: "I also enjoyed the Old Success Inn, in Penzance, as it was a cracking Cornish pub overlooking Sennen Cove - where our adventures began with some morning yoga on the terrace. "An instant hit was also the Kings Arms in South Zeal: a classic traditional village pub filled with welcoming locals and a lovely atmosphere." Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ben and Tom said their ride helped them to understand the day-to-day difficulties publicans and landlords face; ranging from ever-increasing energy bills, business rates, impractical environmental levies and industry taxation levels far in excess of other European countries. Tom said: 'The costs for pubs to simply do business are far too high - based on turnover and profit, no other business sector in the economy is taxed so heavily and unjustly.'
Wales Online
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Wildfires alert to Brits travelling to popular Mediterranean hotspot
Wildfires alert to Brits travelling to popular Mediterranean hotspot The UK Foreign Office has issued a warning to Brits travelling to a popular holiday destination in the Mediterranean this summer, with travellers urged to take action if they're caught in a wildfire Greece is already experiencing wildfires (Image: Kostas Metaksakis/Anadolu via Getty Images ) Holidaymakers heading to a popular Mediterranean destination have been cautioned about the potential risk of wildfires throughout the summer. The Foreign Office's travel advice for Greece has highlighted that wildfires are a common hazard from April to October. The fires are due to soaring temperatures. Officials say several fires have already reported in parts of the country. Parts of the Greek mainland and surrounding islands have experienced wildfire outbreaks due to an early summer heatwave across the region. A spate of wildfires broke out last week in Achlia on the island of Crete on Wednesday. Fires being contained across the weekend in Greece However, before the start of the weekend, the Hellenic Fire Service confirmed that it was mostly contained. Despite this, the villages of Tsakeoi and Limnionas on the island of Evia had seen residents evacuated due to a blaze that started late last Friday. Evia was previously placed on a list of several regions in Greece that were placed on high alert due to the risk of wildfires being exacerbated by high winds. In the European continent overall, eight deaths have already been linked to an outbreak of wildfires across the region. Article continues below UK Foreign Office guidance for traveller safety in Greece Official guidance from the Foreign Office states: "There is a high risk of wildfires during the summer season from April to October. Ensure that your mobile phone is registered to receive emergency alerts to be warned of wildfires near your location." It also highlights that wildfires are 'highly dangerous and unpredictable' and that tourists should help avoid starting any by not leaving their litter, especially glass and cigarettes which have been linked to starting wildfires. Furthermore, Brits could commit a criminal offence in Greece by starting a wildfire, even if it's unintentional. The Foreign Office also advises travellers to do the following: Article continues below
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Major UK airport travel chaos planned as hundreds threaten to walk out
Brits jetting off during the busy summer holidays have been issued a stark warning as 450 staff members across three separate companies are threatening to strike at a major UK airport UK holidaymakers could face significant disruption if 450 workers at one UK airport plan to go ahead with strike action. Unionised staff members at Glasgow Airport - Scotland's second largest hub - have been embroiled in disputes around pay and working conditions for months, with an overwhelming 98.7 per cent of members backing industrial action. The strikes, which could take place in weeks during the busy summer holidays, involve three separate companies based at Glasgow Airport: Swissport, ICTS Central Search, and Glasgow Airport Ltd. The looming threat comes after 100 workers from Glasgow Airport Ltd (including airport ambassadors, airside support officers, engineers, and managers) rejected a four per cent increase. Unite points out that the company made a staggering £40.65 million in its 'latest recorded accounts'. Around 250 ICTS Central Search workers are also stuck in an on-going dispute due to understaffing, working conditions, and pay. These staff members worth with passengers directly in the security search area - meaning any strikes could spark long delays. Lastly, 100 workers at Swissport - the country's largest ground handler - are in dispute over 'working rotas and work-life balance, plus health and safety concerns'. A consultative ballot on a new offer has been made by Swissport to address the issues raised - which will conclude on Monday, July 14. "If this offer is rejected, Unite will move to open a full industrial action ballot," United the Union said. "Swissport made £17.6m in its latest recorded profits. On the flip side, a dispute involving 300 Menzies Aviation workers - which the Mirror reported about here - has now been resolved. It comes after the union negotiated a deal which establishes a four per cent minimum increase in pay for new starters, and up to 10 per cent for workers depending on their grades. 50 Falck firefighters who perform fire safety functions at the airport have also come to an agreement after being offered a basic wage increase of 4.5 per cent. "Employers at Glasgow Airport will not get away with underpaying or mistreating Unite's members," Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said in a statement. "Hundreds of workers are involved in disputes at the airport. Summer strike action which would ground planes and passengers remains on the cards. These highly profitable companies can easily afford to put the minds of the travelling public at rest by making fair offers to workers." Last year, it was reported that Glasgow Airport handled a whopping 8,067,685 passengers in 2024 - a 9.63 per cent spike compared to the year before. The hub flies to 82 destinations in 28 different countries, and offers 20 domestic flights. If workers at all three companies go ahead with their vow to strike - it's clear the school holiday season will quickly turn into chaos. A spokesman for Glasgow Airport told the Mirror: "We are reviewing the ballot results and remain open to finding a sensible resolution." Similarly, a spokesperson for Swissport said: "Our priority is the safety and wellbeing and fair treatment of our workforce, alongside maintaining high standards of service for our customers and we remain committed to working constructively with Unite to find a fair and sustainable resolution." Do you have a story to share? Email us at yourmirror@ for a chance to be featured.
