Travel Guides & Articles
Europe Travel: ETIAS explained: Why the EU just tripled its travel authorisation fee |

In a significant update that could affect millions of travelers, the European Union (EU) has announced that it will triple the cost of its upcoming travel authorisation scheme—the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). The fee, which will now cost €20 per applicant, is almost three times higher than the initial fee. While the increase may appear steep, the EU defends the move as necessary to cover rising operational costs and bring the fee in line with similar systems worldwide.According to the European Commission, the decision stems from inflation, infrastructure costs, and additional financial pressures on EU programs, including defence, agriculture, and border security. By raising the ETIAS fee, the EU hopes to maintain the system’s long-term sustainability and fund a broader range of priorities that individual member states may not be able to support on their own.Read more: These are Visa free for Indian nationals? Check this out for monsoon holidays
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS will be a mandatory travel authorisation for citizens of visa-exempt countries, such as the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Australia, who plan short-term stays in the EU. Once implemented, it will apply to travel across the 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.Designed as an online, user-friendly system, ETIAS will allow most applications to be processed in minutes. Approved permits will be valid for three years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and will allow multiple entries within that period.
Who is exempt?
To ease the burden on families and older travelers, children under 18 and adults over 70 will be exempt from the €20 fee. These exemptions aim to encourage personal and family travel without adding significant costs for those on tighter budgets or fixed incomes.
How will this impact tourists?
While the fee hike may frustrate some travelers, its real impact is expected to be minimal. Moreover, ETIAS offers perks such as faster border checks, digital processing, and enhanced security, making the travel experience smoother and more secure.Read more: 5 places in the hills that feel like a Yash Raj setThough the fee has been confirmed, ETIAS has yet to go live. Initially slated for an earlier launch, the program is now expected to roll out by end of 2026. The delay provides time for airports, border agencies, and travelers to prepare for the system’s full implementation.Despite delays, the EU remains confident that ETIAS will modernize border control, help identify security risks, and enhance the travel experience. Officials say that as international tourism continues to rebound post-pandemic, such systems are vital for managing growing travel volumes efficiently.
Travel Guides & Articles
Redditor who travels 100+ days a year for work shares 11 tips for smooth trips

If your new desk job isn’t too tedious and you happen to travel for work, catch many flights to new destinations, then brace up because travel in reality is a lot more than just simply rolling into the airport and jetting off celeb-style. No, in practice, there’s a lot of juggling between different priorities, like running between airport gates or battling a jet lag headache.
ALSO READ: Want to travel cheaper? 11 hacks to cut hidden costs on your trip
Responding to a similar issue of how frequent work flights can be hectic, a Redditor who travelled over 100 days a year for work, posted on the subreddit casual conversation about his go-to work trip tips that prevent any hassle because his precautionary measures anticipate them beforehand.
11 tips for work flights
Flying has its own hurdles (don’t get distracted by the measly lounge discount), which makes it essential to have a checklist on hand to avoid the stress of last-minute inconvenience.
The redditor revealed that they gained ‘experience’ by the ‘repetition’ of taking flights for work. They posted 11 tips, which cover everything from airport essentials to hotel hacks.
The first one specifically ‘may sound like your parents,’ as the Redditor noted, because it may sound like advice from your parents, but certain hacks, even if they are old-school, are still worth paying attention to because they are still relevant for solving real problems.
The list they shared also included tips concerning hotel bookings and hygiene aspects:
1. Leave early:
I know this sounds like your parents, but I would rather have an extra 90 minutes to kill at the airport than have a traffic jam or a detour make me miss a flight. I can still work in a booth/chair at the airport if I need it. Yes, I’ve heard the argument of the “hours gained/lost” by waiting, but if it’s a difference of working for an hour at home or at the airport with no ‘stress’, then choose the latter.
2. Spray hand sanitiser:
Spray hand sanitiser, not aerosol, from a pump. Good for your hands, a public toilet seat in an emergency or the random sticky surface in the rental car.
3. Sanitising wipes:
Never turn down the sanitising wipes on the flight. See number 2. I personally use them for my noise-cancelling headphones or backups for the above.
4. Noise-cancelling headphones:
Noise-cancelling headphones with an audio jack. Don’t just rely on the Bluetooth working on the flight.
5. Get a battery pack:
Buy a battery pack. When you absolutely need a plug in the airport, you’ll never find it. Even better if you rely on your laptop for work, buy one that can output 65-100 W from a single line (not combined output). Yes, they are heavier, but take out the guesswork.
6. Use clothes hangers with clips:
Use the clothes hangers with the clips in the hotel to hold the blackout curtains together.
7. Hack for light sleepers:
If you’re a light sleeper, get the highest floor in the hotel. No kids running the hall on the floor above.
8. Get habituated to background noise while sleeping:
Learn to sleep with background noise. I use an app on my phone at home and on the road. Same app, same white noise sound.
9. Travel with advil:
I travel with Advil/tylenol and 4 mucinex. If I hit a wall, then I can make it through a couple of days until I can get home or to a pharmacy without having to panic.
10. Utensils for food on the run:
Grab a couple of the wrapped utensils from a fast food place, a few napkins and a couple of straws. Nothing more frustrating than getting food on the run and then trying to eat your pasta without silverware or a to-go cup and no straw.
11. Add large carabiner:
Add a large carabiner to your backpack (6” ‘stroller hook-sized). You can use it to hang your bookbag from stall walls or in a variety of places if there’s no hook. Also comes in handy for water bottles or ball caps, or even a grocery bag when you’re running out of hands.
What other things do you need to keep in mind?
The other responses also confirmed that arriving at the airport on time does help reduce the stress of rushing and worrying about missing a flight.
They also shared plenty of other useful tips, like travelling with an eye mask and earplugs if you need to sleep on the plane or get a noisy co-passenger.
One user also mentioned downloading the apps for all the airlines and hotel chains they use, and even saving any contacts one may need after landing. This precaution is because sometimes the airport navigation stress can get to your head and make you panic, hence this keeps your things sorted as you land.
But not all the tips are foolproof. One response recounted how booking a room on a higher floor backfired, and they ‘regretted’ when it was right above a noisy bar or nightclub. So while some tips are objectively helpful, some others need to be modified as per your specific situation.
Note to readers: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them. This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional advice.
Travel Guides & Articles
Air India Express Starts Daily Direct Flight Between Dehradun and Bengaluru

Air India Express has commenced operations from Dehradun Airport with the launch of daily direct flights to Bengaluru. The first flight on the Dehradun–Bengaluru route was flagged off by Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, in the presence of other dignitaries.
Welcoming Air India Express to Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister, said, “The start of Air India Express services from Dehradun marks an important milestone for civil aviation in our state. Enhanced connectivity to Bengaluru will provide a significant boost to tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in Uttarakhand, while also strengthening links for students, professionals, and entrepreneurs with one of India’s most dynamic cities. We welcome Air India Express and look forward to the positive impact this connectivity will bring to our people and economy.”
With this launch, guests from Dehradun gain convenient one-stop connectivity to 18 destinations including Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, North Goa, Pune, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam through Bengaluru.
Flight Schedule from September 15, 2025 (All timings are local) |
||||
Departure |
Arrival |
Departure |
Arrival |
Frequency |
Dehradun |
Bengaluru |
16:30 |
19:30 |
Daily |
Bengaluru |
Dehradun |
12:50 |
16:00 |
Daily |
Commenting on the occasion, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “We are delighted to commence operations from Dehradun, our 58th station, with daily direct flights to Bengaluru, our largest domestic hub. This is the third new station launched this month, following Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, underscoring the rapid expansion of our network. The new route not only connects Uttarakhand directly with Bengaluru’s economic and educational hubs but also offers convenient one-stop connections to 18 more cities across India. With our fleet now crossing 115 aircraft, we are scaling up, building a stronger, more accessible network that reflects the aspirations of modern India.”
As part of its ‘Tales of India’ initiative celebrating the country’s diverse art and culture, the new Boeing 737-8 aircraft deployed to operate the first flight from Dehradun proudly features a livery inspired by ‘Aipan,’ Uttarakhand’s traditional art form of floor and wall paintings.
Travel Guides & Articles
IndiGo and AEGEAN Launch Codeshare Partnership to Enhance Connectivity Between India, Greece, and Europe, ETTravelWorld

IndiGo, India’s largest airline, and AEGEAN, Greece’s flag carrier, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a codeshare partnership aimed at strengthening connectivity between India, Greece and Europe. The cooperation, subject to regulatory approvals, will enable both airlines to place their codes on each other’s flights, broadening travel options and offering integrated itineraries for customers.
As part of their expansion plans, IndiGo has announced direct services to Athens beginning in January 2026 with six weekly flights. AEGEAN, in turn, will commence operations to India from March 2026, starting with five weekly flights to Delhi and later adding three weekly flights to Mumbai.
Under the proposed agreement, AEGEAN’s “A3” code will be placed on multiple IndiGo routes across India and South Asia, giving AEGEAN passengers improved access to the region. IndiGo’s “6E” code will be added to AEGEAN’s European and domestic services from Athens International Airport, enabling Indian passengers to connect seamlessly to destinations across Greece and wider Europe. The partnership will also provide benefits such as through check-in for passengers travelling on codeshare itineraries.
Commenting on the agreement, Pieter Elbers, CEO of IndiGo, said: “We are pleased to announce our partnership with AEGEAN, marking a significant step forward in our mission to give wings to India and enhance global connectivity. This collaboration enables our customers to conveniently book seamless itineraries on an expanded, integrated network across both airlines, including beautiful islands in Greece and other regional European destinations.”
Eftichios Vassilakis, Chairman of AEGEAN, added: “We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with IndiGo, one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world. This step expands AEGEAN’s footprint beyond Europe into one of the world’s most dynamic markets, strengthening the bridge between Greece and India. By combining IndiGo’s extensive domestic network with AEGEAN’s European reach, we offer passengers more choices and convenience, along with a seamless travel experience.”
The collaboration is expected to play a key role in boosting cultural, business and tourism exchanges between the two countries, while enhancing connectivity for travellers across South Asia and Europe.
-
Business3 weeks ago
The Guardian view on Trump and the Fed: independence is no substitute for accountability | Editorial
-
Tools & Platforms1 month ago
Building Trust in Military AI Starts with Opening the Black Box – War on the Rocks
-
Ethics & Policy2 months ago
SDAIA Supports Saudi Arabia’s Leadership in Shaping Global AI Ethics, Policy, and Research – وكالة الأنباء السعودية
-
Events & Conferences4 months ago
Journey to 1000 models: Scaling Instagram’s recommendation system
-
Jobs & Careers3 months ago
Mumbai-based Perplexity Alternative Has 60k+ Users Without Funding
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months ago
Happy 4th of July! 🎆 Made with Veo 3 in Gemini
-
Education3 months ago
VEX Robotics launches AI-powered classroom robotics system
-
Education2 months ago
Macron says UK and France have duty to tackle illegal migration ‘with humanity, solidarity and firmness’ – UK politics live | Politics
-
Podcasts & Talks2 months ago
OpenAI 🤝 @teamganassi
-
Funding & Business3 months ago
Kayak and Expedia race to build AI travel agents that turn social posts into itineraries