The quick-change artist

Concerned you'll miss that all-important connecting flight? Our seasoned flyer Simon Calder provides some top tips

- Simon Calder

"I have come late to long-distance flying," writes Neil White. "Until now, all of my travel has been direct flights: great, get on and go. This year, myself and the wife have booked a trip to Mauritius in place of Turkey. But this involves Emirates and a brief stopover in Dubai before continuing.

"Up comes the anxiety levels with questions such as:

• How do I go from A to B at the airport - or do I just sit on the plane?

• What happens if I miss the onward flight?

• What happens when luggage goes astray?

For me, this is a seriously tricky thing. Surely I am not the only person. Help and advice welcome."

As I am aboard an Emirates connection from Dubai to Birmingham right now, I feel attuned to Neil's concerns. His questions comprise a salutary reminder that it is all too easy for frequent flyers like me to make the unreasonable assumption that changing flights is straightforward for everyone.