Simon Calder's Independent Travel Podcast

I'm interviewing Mark Tanzer the CEO of Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) to discuss the travel industry and the European entry-exit system. According to him the travel industry appears to be recovering steadily from the pandemic. Investors are looking to join the industry, people are continuing to prioritise experiences and travel agents could make a comeback.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday.

Most airlines overbook their seats, in fact you and I have probably both flown on an overbooked flight. How do you feel about that? I don't mind at all, I think it's great that you can ask an airline for a last minute flight and they're more likely to give you a seat, worrying about the specifics later on. Here's how I benefit from overbooking.

I've been travelling on the Eurostar for nearly 30 years now since it's launch in November 1994. But recently, I've been finding that the eye-watering prices has meant I've rather fallen out of the habit. In this episode though I take a look at Eurostar Snap, which is a ticket scheme aimed at making the most of an opportunity for the right price.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Sign up here to have it delivered every Friday.

Snap up a Eurostar bargain? I’m back at London St Pancras International, home of the Channel Tunnel rail firm, with an exploration of the new discount tickets for passengers prepared to book late and have no choice about the departure time on the day they choose to travel.This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday.

It's Travel Desk Tuesday which means we're interviewing Annabel Grossman, Global Travel Editor for The Independent, who says that when asked about her favourite place to go in the world she keeps thinking of Pembrokeshire. From St Davids to Tenby to some of the most beautiful coasts in the world the county has a lot to offer.This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday.

SAS airlines recently made the shift from Star Alliance to Sky Team. Rhys Jones, writer at Head For Points, explains what that actually means. Rhys talks us through how alliances work and why they exist, as well as what 'codesharing' mean in airline lingo.This podcast is free, as is The Independent's weekly travel newsletter. Subscribe here to have it delivered every Friday.

As we enter the cusp of winter you might assume that travellers are reducing however according to my guest, Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of advantage today people, who have the option, are increasingly choosing unconventional times of the year to go away.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Get all the latest travel info by signing up here.

Today I'm speaking to Alastair Willson, Chief Executive of Ascend Airways. His airline help other airlines overcome operational difficulty by supplying the aircraft and the cabin crew for them. As the industry becomes increasingly seasonal, with there being a huge difference between the number of summer flyers compared to the winter, Ascend Airways can step in for these disparities.This podcast is free, as is Independent Travel's weekly newsletter. Get all the latest travel info by signing up here.