Given the minimal amount of interaction you have with staff at the boarding gate, it would be very difficult to tell if someone is drunk.  Especially if they have just been drinking at the airport and the alcohol isn't fully in their system yet.

How about a breathalyser test as part of the boarding procedure...

Within the EU^» (European Union - about) (and for certain other flights, e.g. those operated by EU airlines flying into the EU), airlines are legally required to pay for overnight accommodation and food/drink if such an additional stay becomes required.  This is regardless of reason.  Contrast that with the railways.

However, many airlines are not willing to arrange this themselves, or come out with excuses like "nothing available nearby".  In these cases, the passengers should arrange their own and take legal action upon their return.  Of course, not everyone can afford to pay for the extra accommodation, especially as short notice hotels are rather expensive, or be willing to sue the airline.

Reports elsewhere suggest all the passengers were accommodated in hotels.

Additionally, if the fault is that of the airline, additional compensation may be due.  This is often higher than the original fare, especially for short haul flights.

The unfortunate issue is when people can't get back in time for work.  I fly regularly now, often the night before I'm due back in work, but have a very flexible job, so never really worried about this.  If I need to, I can work remotely or book last minute leave.  Of course not everyone has this flexibility.

I use Hull Trains, through whichever cashback site is offering the best rate at the moment.  Nectar points are also earnt.

3.1% at imutual (http://www.imutual.co.uk/first-hull-trains) - they're a much smaller site with more personal service.

Looks like a great system for those who have to make last minute travel plans.  Although I imagine a smartcard (or even a contactless payment card) could possibly be used in a similar way, without all the hassle of apps.

However, I really wish these types of innovation were implemented on a national scale.  Just look at how disintegrated the current smartcard system has become.

I'm unable to decide whether to renew my 16-25 railcard now at the discount, or wait until the very last minute just before my 26th birthday (in June) at the full price.

I have two lots of travel before then, both reimbursable by my employer, so I don't really need the discount for these.  Several longer leisure distance trips planned, but all later in the summer.

Hmm, thinking the full price purchase in June will probably be the best option.

From the Cambridge News

I concur.

The owner (Mike) helped me out when Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) muddled up multiple journeys on the same day.  Neither my local station or the Oyster helpline were able to compehend what journeys I had actually made (despite touching in and out correctly, plus all the pink validators at interchange stations) or why I was charged as I was.

Mike explained this was due to an emergency OSI (out of station interchange) which linked three journeys into one.  But as the maximum time limit expired several times through this one long journey, I ended up being charged four incomplete journey maximum fares (around 4x^7, instead of 3x^1 fare for the actual journeys made).

My understanding is that fare calculation is much better on contactless cards as journeys are processed in the back office, where there is no time constraint on computing what the correct fare should be.  As it stands with Oyster cards, the barrier calculates your fare on the touch.  A full calculation would potentially cause congestion at the gateline.  I'm told Oyster will also be switching to the back office processing at some point, but not sure when this will start.

That seems like rather good service.

I'm still waiting for a RTV from Southern for a journey in September 2013, where not only was I delayed by >1 hour, but ended up paying a Zone 1-6 fare instead of Zone 2-6 on Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services).  They initially refused the claim as my departure time was not listed on the National Rail Timetable.  As I took a London Underground service from a station with both tube and mainline services, of course it would not show (this was verified by my Oyster statement showing a LUL^▸ (London Underground Ltd)-NR^» (Network Rail - home page) interchange at Shepherd's Bush).  They agreed to pay but nothing was received in the post.  They then offered to credit it to my online account.  Nothing turned up.  I moved house and forgot about it for a few months.  Southern then ignored me whenever I emailed about it, so referred to London Travelwatch.  They couldn't help as I didn't have any correspondence saved.  Southern phoned me following this and left a voicemail message, I phoned them back and they never got back to me.  Given up now and a really poor experience of how to treat your customers.

Also 9/11.  A few of them were quite easy from the general shape, but the last maps proved quite difficult, with most being guessed just by luck.

Water and other soft drinks can be quite pricey at some airports, compared to the railway.  I've paid ^2.60 for a small bottle at Nice

Fortunately, most airports still have potable water taps in the terminal where bottles can be refilled (empty bottles of any size are permitted through security).  Obviously Stansted is the exception to this, where all the water fountains (except one, which is fairly hidden) were removed during the recent "improvements".

This is the huge risk with the split flights method - the airline has no responsibility for you or the second flight, if the first one is delayed.  That ^7 saving could soon become expenditure on a last minute hotel and new flight home.

However, if the second flight is delayed/cancelled and you are stranded abroad and EU261 applies to your flight, the airline has a duty of care towards you (meals, accommodation, phone calls, etc)

Thanks for all the South Kensington suggestions.  There are plenty of places to consider.

I hadn't thought of Travelodge or Premier Inn.  They (and all the other cheaper places) aren't available at the travel agency that we are recommended to use.

An interesting article from MoneySavingExpert.com suggesting that two flights plus all the connections is far cheaper than a single rail ticket from Sheffield to Shenfieldhttp://www.moneysavingexpert.com/deals/deals-hunter/2016/01/26/flew-home-via-berlin-cheaper-than-train/

Can anyone recommend a hotel near South Kensington station (or within a short commute) that costs less than ^147 (about ^111) per night, including breakfast, in early April?

My employer has a maximum level that isn't quite compatible with London pricing.  I've already had one expensive booking over the limit this year, so don't want to keep having to get special dispensation to overspend!

Very rarely, the GX does use Southern platforms at Victoria, and vice versa.  Cue complaints people get charged too much.