Euros yet to prove their worth; AIR PASSENGERS FEAR PRICES RIP-OFF AS 'HOLIDAY MONEY' DOES FOR ALL THE YEAR ROUND.

Byline: ALAN HARRIS

PASSENGERS flying to Europe from Birmingham Airport have mixed feelings about using the new euro for the first time.

While some welcome the common currency and its benefits, others say they aren't confident about spending it and fear a prices hike.

Dave Wing, Gary Payne and Kevin Baylis, who work for Silver Knight Exhibitions, in Arley, north Warwickshire, are strongly in favour of the euro.

The trio were flying to the Brussels Motor Show with European traveller's cheques and were looking forward to spending the currency.

Mr Wing, aged 46, from Nuneaton, said: "We travel all over the world so it will be easier for us because if we bring any float back, we can keep it and use it in another country. Plus, as long as we know how much a pint of beer is, then that's all that matters!"

Claudia Moscha, aged 17, from Rostock, Germany, was flying to Berlin after spending New Year in Telford, Shropshire.

She said: "I am not worried about using it. People should treat it like a holiday currency

"When you go on holiday, there will be no point in changing your currency any more. But everything is more expensive now."

A couple from Solihull flying to France, who didn't want to be named, were divided over the euro.

He said: "I'd rather have the euro and I'm not worried about using it. I know one euro is about 60p and I can work things out from there."

She said: "I fear it's going to be a rip-off because everyone is going to be rounding things up."

Rachel Maiden, aged 30, from Eindhoven, in Holland, was wary of using the euro upon returning home after visiting her relatives in Bewdley, Worcestershire, over Christmas.

She said: "I don't feel confident about using it and they have put the prices higher in Holland already.

"We've had enough time to sort it out but I don't know what a euro is worth yet, so I will find out when I get back."

Norbert Vogtmann, aged 47, from Meschede, near Borussia Dortmund, Germany, was totally against the euro.

He said: "I'm not worried about using it because it's pretty easy for us to convert. But when the money is changed, it's going to be a rip- off.

"The Deutschmark was a very good currency and they should have left it as it is.

"I think the euro is going down in value. Nearly two-thirds of our population didn't want it but there was no referendum."

CAPTION(S):

UNFAZED: Claudia Moscha; WARY: Rachel Maiden; ALL CHANGE: Shop assistant Marie Barnes accepts a 20 euro note at WH Smith's shop at Birmingham Airport; NO PROBLEM: Dave Wing, Gary Payne and Kevin Baylis reckon as long as they know the price of a pint of beer in euros, they'll be all right!