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Unfortunately, if you're travelling from the States or Canada
then some degree of jet lag is almost inevitable on a long-haul flight to London. That said, there
are a few simple things you can do to reduce fatigue during your flight. Before setting off make
sure all your personal and business affairs are in order. Worrying about what happens at work
while you're away doesn't bode well for a relaxing trip. And, don't pack at the last minute! A decent
night's sleep is essential, especially if you're driving to the airport!
In the same way that long distance runners take on water during a race, fluids
are essential on a long-haul flight. Water is better than coffee, tea or fruit juices. Alcohol is a
big no no as it takes less time to become intoxicated in the air than on the ground (this may
appeal to some though). That said, if you do indulge, stick to white wine, gin or vodka rather than
red wine, Port or whisky.
Taking off shoes will ease the pressure on your feet, while a travel pillow,
night shade and ear plugs all increase your chances of getting some quality sleep during the
flight. Moreover, in light of recent public concern about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) medical
experts now advise passengers to take an aspirin and stretch their legs regularly. If this means
inconveniencing others by getting out of your seat then so be it. A number of
companies now also produce 'compression socks' which are designed to create a massage effect
for the legs, thus reducing the likelihood of blood clotting. For more information visit the Scholl
website at www.schollflightsocks.co.uk or www.activahealthcare.co.uk
(both are UK based, although similar products should also be
available in North America, Europe and other overseas territories).
Oh, and before we forget, try not to look at your watch too often during the
flight. Psychologically it's bad news as it reinforces your usual body cycle (e.g. at midnight I
always go to sleep). Taking a nap when you need really to, rather than when routine dictates is the
key here. Finally, there are tablets available which claim to provide an effective remedy to jet
lag. Sleeping pills are definitely out though, as they are similar in form to anti-histamines and
dehydrate you even more.
A very useful 'Airline Seat Guide', giving you the lowdown on which carriers
offer the best seat
pitch dimensions (and seat width) can be found at: www.airlinequality.com. It's interesting to note that, for certain British
airlines, legroom (in economy class) can be up to three inches less
than competitors such as Air New Zealand, American Airlines and Continental. In addition, for transatlantic flights, check out www.seatguru.com - another excellent
resource.
Left Luggage in London
All of London's airports have left luggage facilities, whilst most major
railway stations also have a left luggage desk/office. For further information call the following
numbers:
Gatwick Airport - both the North and South Terminals have a left
luggage facility. For further
information visit the Excess Baggage
Company's North Terminal desk (on the check-in concourse),
open from 5am-9pm daily or, for the South Terminal, the 24hr desk located in arrivals.
Alternatively, call them on: 01293 569 900.
Heathrow Airport - each terminal has a left luggage facility, with
opening hours from 6am-11pm (Terminal 1),
6am-10.30pm (Terminal 2), 5.30am-10.30pm (Terminal 3) and 5.30am-11pm Terminal 4. For further
details contact: The Excess Baggage
Company, Tel: 020 8759 3344.
Stansted Airport - a left luggage facility is located
in Zone G adjacent to the Monsoon retail store. Operated by OCS, tariffs are 0-6 hours £4 per item,
6-24 hours £4.50 per item, and over 24 hours £4.50 per item per 24 hours or part thereof.
Call: 01279 663 213 for further details or e-mail: stnadmin@transport.ocs.co.uk.
In the event that valuables are lost (or stolen)
during your stay in London then a report should be made immediately to the police. In the case of
lost passports/visas both the police and your country's embassy or high commission in London should
be contacted. Enquiries about items left on trains or at overground stations can be made by
calling: 0207 7928 5151. Alternatively, for belongings lost on the bus or Tube visit:
Lost Property Office - 200 Baker Street, Marylebone, NW1 (Baker Street
Tube), Tel: 0845 330 9882. Alternatively, fill-out a lost property enquiry form online by
visiting: www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/contact/lostproperty/default.asp.
In addition, Transport for London (TfL) have a dedicated Lost Property page at: www.tfl.gov.uk/contact/871.aspx.
For property lost at one of London's airports contact:
Gatwick Airport - operated by the Excess Baggage
Company, Gatwick's
Lost Property Office is open from 8am to 7pm Mon-Sat, 8am-4pm on Sunday, Tel: 01293
503 162, Fax: 01293 504 310, or E-mail: gatwick.lostproperty@excess-baggage.com
(office located in the South Terminal);
Heathrow Airport - for items lost between the point of check-in and
collection (for Terminals, 1, 2, 3 and 4) contact the relevant airline direct. After 24 hours, lost
property is taken to the airport's Lost Property Office, Tel: 020 8745 7727 (open: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri
and 8am-4pm Sat/Sun);
Luton Airport - to contact the Lost Property Office at Luton call:
01582 395 219 or E-mail: lostproperty@london-luton.co.uk;
Stansted Airport - OCS Ltd. handle property lost or found at the
airport (for items lost between the point of check-in and collection contact your airline direct).
If a lost item is found within 24hrs, no charge is levied and the item can be collected from the OCS desk at Zone G
(adjacent to the Monsoon retail store). For all other
collections (items are stored for 3 months) contact the Lost Property Office,
Zone F (short stay car park - adjacent to the terminal building). Opening hours
are 9:30am-4:30pm daily. For further
information call: 01279 663 293 (also 9.30am-4.30pm daily).
Finally, a useful website for tracking down your lost items (which is
run in partnership with Surrey Police can be found at: www.virtualbumblebee.co.uk).
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