Brexit. We don’t really like talking about it but secretly we are all worried about it. As of right now, many of us may be booking flights back home for Easter break or booking flights for holidays, some may be wondering what would happen to travel after 29thMarch 2019 when UK leaves the EU.
Rest assured, planes will still be flying from UK to the EU, regardless of whether Brexit happens. The UK government has also offered similar assurances to EU airlines. Similarly, ferries, coaches and trains would also be running per normal after Brexit. The Eurostar is still protected by EU regulation on rail passenger rights, which has been brought into UK law. Whereas driving abroad, if there is no deal, British licences may not be valid in the EU. This would mean that an International Driving Permit (IDP) is needed, which costs £5.50. this might be needed for hiring a car. The Association of British Travel Agents offered advised that: “there is nothing to suggest that you will not be able to continue with your holiday plans after 29 March. Even in a no deal scenario, the European Commission has said flights to and from the UK will still be able to operate.” So there is no need to worry too much about whether flying from the UK to the EU.
While booking a flight might not be the ‘biggest’ problem after Brexit, there may be some changes we should all be wary about happening.
It is certain that British citizens do not need to get visas to travel into the EU, though would still need to pass through passport control when entering the EU. However, British would need to apply for a visa waiver to travel to member states after Brexit, regardless of a deal. Furthermore, British citizens would need to be in the non-EU citizens queue for immigration. This may mean longer waits at the airports. There is also a possibility that the Schengen arrangement, where controls for border crossing between member states have been removed, will end and border checks may be re-introduced. It may not happen right away but there may be a possibility.
The pound is weaker and holidays have become more expensive. Before June, investment bank Goldman Sachs predicted that a vote to leave the EU could hit sterling by as much as 20 per cent, with the pound dipping as low as $1.15 against the dollar and €1.05 against the euro. If you are worried about a weaker pound, you can lock your exchange rate with a currency card. But not to worry, not all of the EU uses the Euro, and inflation in most holiday destinations in Europe has been negligible since 2016. So you should be able to go as far as you could have before.
As for roaming, Culture Secretary Jeremy Write has confirmed that ‘mobile operators will still be able to implement roaming charges if they wanted to’. Fortunately, just because they might be allowed to reintroduce roaming charges, they may not do so. BBC states that Three, EE, O2 and Vodafone has no current plans to bring them back.
There is not too much to worry about for travelling after Brexit. But if you are still worried, there are many things you can do to Brexit-proof your next trip within the EU. Whether it be to book an all-inclusive trip, researching your destinations and doing your homework, Brexit-smexit travel still goes on.
