Where can my Texan friend and I meet up for a holiday?

Simon Calder answers your questions on adventerous getaways, airport security and package holidays

The Azores possess some of the finest natural landscapes in Portugal (iStock)

Q My friend lives in Austin, Texas, and I live in Esher, Surrey. Where is a warm country halfway between Austin and Esher?

Jamela K

A Looking at the most direct path between Esher and Austin, the halfway point is on the Labrador-Quebec border in northern Canada. Even in the height of summer, you could not describe this area as warm. So I have instead looked at locations that you can reach from London Heathrow or Gatwick airports (the closest to Esher) and from the Texas state capital.

Florida is one obvious location, though much closer to Austin than to Esher. You can both choose from direct flights to Miami, Orlando and Tampa. The last of these is the ideal choice, with Anna Maria Island just off the Gulf Coast – a particularly good location. Timing is everything, though, and I would not recommend Florida between April and October. The same caveat on timing applies to the Caribbean; if your friend is a US citizen, she would not be able to go on holiday to the biggest and most interesting island, Cuba.

To reach anywhere further east will be trickier from Texas. The island of Bermuda would make a good option and requires one change from Austin. It is, though, extremely expensive. In contrast, the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores is remarkably inexpensive.

You can fly from London Gatwick to the main city, Ponta Delgada, in around four hours on Sata Air Azores; your friend will have a longer haul, on United to New York Newark in about 12 hours. The city is on the main island, Sao Miguel, which has more than enough to entertain you for a week or two – though good beaches are in short supply.

Portugal is also the answer if you seek a mainland location with better beaches: Lisbon is easily accessible from the US, involving a single change of plane from Austin. There are many daily flights from Heathrow and Gatwick. The resort of Estoril, just half an hour from the Portuguese capital, would make a good choice.

With passenger numbers rising ahead of the Euro 2024 football championships, it appears ministers have reverted to the old rules to avoid mounting chaos at airports (iStock)

Q Why have the airport security rules changed yet again in the UK?

Matt C

A On Friday evening, the Department for Transport ordered a U-turn on airport security rules. The six airports that have successfully installed sophisticated new scanners have been ordered to revert to the old rules on “liquids, aerosols and gels”. Passengers are limited to carrying 100ml containers once again, rather than the previous restriction of two litres.

The surprise reversal affects a relatively small number of travellers. Only 6 per cent of passengers in total use the affected airports: Aberdeen, Newcastle, Teesside Leeds Bradford, Southend and London City. But it is a backward step in an aspect of travel that we all imagined would steadily improve.

Why is it happening? The government says only: “This temporary move is to enable further improvements to be made to the new checkpoint systems.” After talking to various sources in aviation, it appears that the extremely expensive new kit isn’t performing as planned. The basic idea is sound: that security staff get a very clear picture of what’s inside the passenger’s cabin bag, and whether it might present a threat. But it appears that the “reject rate” has been very high.

My understanding is that innocuous substances like sunscreen have been triggering alarms, requiring officers to conduct a hand search. Once a bag is “pulled” for a secondary search, everything slows down. This appears to be happening at a number of airports. On two recent occasions, I have been placed in a lane for the new scanners. Both times, because the security search was so slow, I went from having bags of time to sprinting for the plane.

With passenger numbers rising, especially ahead of the Euro 2024 football championships in Germany, it appears ministers have taken the decision to revert to the old rules in order to avoid mounting chaos at airports. This is just a temporary move, we are assured (just as we were in 2006 when the 100ml liquids limit took effect). But I imagine the restriction will be lifted in September or October, after the summer rush.

Circumstances change all the time – it’s best to let your travel company know (Getty)

Q I booked a two-week package holiday for two adults and two children. We have paid for the whole trip and are due to travel next month. Unfortunately, I am having relationship issues and my partner is not now coming. I don’t want any money back. But should I let the holiday company know, and do you think I would have to pay more?

Name supplied

A I am really sorry to hear about these sad circumstances. While this will be of little consolation, it is a very common situation.

My first recommendation, if it is right for you: find someone else who will take your partner’s place. One of the most valuable aspects of buying a proper package holiday (flights and accommodation in the same transaction) is that you have the right to change one or more names on the booking. Online travel agents can make this process tricky or impossible. But the mainstream package holiday companies – Jet2 Holidays and Tui – are, in my experience, helpful. They may not always volunteer the option, regrettably, but once you mention a name change they should expedite it for a payment of around £50 – a fraction of the cost of the holiday.

It may well be that you are unable to find a family member or friend to join you, or simply prefer not to take the “new person” route. Your question about letting the holiday company know is a good one. Technically if a party changes size, the whole package is repriced. Obviously you would be saving the holiday firm the trouble of taking a fourth person, and so morally there should certainly be no increase. Because of the odd way the travel industry works, though, in some circumstances, it is theoretically possible for the price to rise (I have heard of this happening occasionally on cruise bookings).

In your case, though, I strongly recommend you let the holiday firm know. You will be doing them a favour by allowing them at least to resell the aircraft seat again. You may actually be due a small refund, at least for airport and government fees and taxes. If the company dares to ask you for any more, let me know and I will take up the case on your behalf.

Email your question to s@hols.tv or tweet @SimonCalder