4/24/2010 Med cruise: Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your Ears

[skoi]

That's right, you have the Iberia tickets, too. Like we have the double set with US Air, which we're using. I forgot.

I'd love to transfer my Brit air to anyone who could use them, but they're for tomorrow night.

I don't even know if it's canceled. I haven't checked.

Julie

 

[linkandclover]

That's right, you have the Iberia tickets, too. Like we have the double set with US Air, which we're using. I forgot.

I'd love to transfer my Brit air to anyone who could use them, but they're for tomorrow night.

I don't even know if it's canceled. I haven't checked.

Julie

Julie,

Go online to check your tickets with BA. They say if your flight is confirmed or not. You then have the option to get a refund so that they have tickets available to those who need them. Maybe if we allow ours to get in to circulation we can help. They refuse to allow direct transfers but if we post our point of departure maybe someone will get lucky.

 

[skoi]

Julie,

Go online to check your tickets with BA. They say if your flight is confirmed or not. You then have the option to get a refund so that they have tickets available to those who need them. Maybe if we allow ours to get in to circulation we can help. They refuse to allow direct transfers but if we post our point of departure maybe someone will get lucky.

My flight is canceled and I'll be putting in for a refund as soon as I get back to the site.

Our departure is from Philadelphia 6:25 (I think), to Heathrow and then on the 9:30 AM to Barcelona. We were due to leave tomorrow night.

So I'm canceling now.

JUlie

 

[linkandclover]

We submitted for our refund. That was easy.

 

[mrosen]

I am sorry to hear for those of you that have had flights cancelled. I hope things work out so you make the cruise. This is so stressful.

For those of you on flights later this week, good luck. Hope you all make the cruise.

We are still anxiously waiting. Our flight to Spain through London has not been cancelled yet. American Airlines delayed our flight tomorrow night to London by a few hours already (we hope this is not the start of bad news). American has no option to get us on a direct flight to Barcelona, we keep checking by calling them regularly and they keep saying nothing is available this week. They did tell us that our flight has been delayed tomorrow as they are working to get planes back from London to the US. Crossing my fingers this all comes together and we can take off, land in London and our flight from London to Barcelona doesn't get cancelled. Most nerve racking experience and is an emotional roller coaster ride.
Unless our flight is cancelled, they won't consider changing airport destinations for us so we continue in a wait and see mode.

We are packing our suitcases tonight. If we land in Barcelona before the cruise, I will be so HAPPY.

 

[mrosen]

Thanks for the offer - but I don't think this will work. British Airways was less than helpful when I spoke with the person on the phone. I hesitate to book anything with them because they indicate on their website that because many of their planes are out of place, it may take several days for them to get things back up and going at a regular rate. I'm still looking - trying to get creative. We're keeping our fingers crossed but have basically decided that if we can't find anything by Wednesday morning then I think we're stuck stateside.

I hope something works out for you and you make the cruise! I'm sorry about what has happened to you.

 

[NC_Tink]

I hope something works out for you and you make the cruise! I'm sorry about what has happened to you.

I hope it all works out for you!! I haven't heard about what's going on in London tomorrow, but hopefully it will reopen and American is able to fly in. If Amsterdam airport opens - we might have an opportunity to fly through there - but we'll see. I'm not holding out much hope any more.

 

[mrosen]

I hope it all works out for you!! I haven't heard about what's going on in London tomorrow, but hopefully it will reopen and American is able to fly in. If Amsterdam airport opens - we might have an opportunity to fly through there - but we'll see. I'm not holding out much hope any more.

Easier said than done but think positive thoughts. I'm hoping this works out for you and your family that something comes together to get you to Barcelona in time.

 

[skoi]

Never thought of Amsterdam. Did you look at Morocco? Seriously. I don't know if Royal Air Maroc has any flights this week, but they go non-stop from JFK to Casablanca, and it's not that far to Spain. It's very easy to travel from Casablanca to Tangier, then onto Spain.

Seriously- if anyone is thinking of trying that, let me know.

Julie

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Never thought of Amsterdam. Did you look at Morocco? Seriously. I don't know if Royal Air Maroc has any flights this week, but they go non-stop from JFK to Casablanca, and it's not that far to Spain. It's very easy to travel from Casablanca to Tangier, then onto Spain.

Seriously- if anyone is thinking of trying that, let me know.

Julie

Julie, that's plan b or c for us, but I'd love to know some details!

 

[salboz]

Just got an email from British Air indicating that they intend to resume long haul flights tomorrow evening and asking that anyone that can reschedule, please do so in order to get more passengers home.

 

[skoi]

There's a train station right in airport at Casablanca, and you buy the tickets (they're cheap compared to train tickets here, I think first class tickets from airport into city and then the four hour trip to Fez for three of us was around $70.00)

You get off at Casa Voyageurs which while it's the main train station, doesn't look like it. Then you find the train to Tangier. From there you take the ferry and then up to Barcelona.

There are buses that take you over on the ferry, but I don't know for sure how they work. There are two companies that do that sort of thing: Supratours and CMT. I didn't take either, but they're nice I hear. We took the cheap rickety souk bus (which wasn't bad, I blogged about it).

There are also very cheap flights to Spain from Morocco.

You don't need a visa if you're a US citizen, it's easy immigration.

Most people speak very good French, and a few words of Arabic go a long way. The people in general were super friendly and the majority do like Americans very much.

Julie

 

[Disneyfalcon]

There's a train station right in airport at Casablanca, and you buy the tickets (they're cheap compared to train tickets here, I think first class tickets from airport into city and then the four hour trip to Fez for three of us was around $70.00)

You get off at Casa Voyageurs which while it's the main train station, doesn't look like it. Then you find the train to Tangier. From there you take the ferry and then up to Barcelona.

There are buses that take you over on the ferry, but I don't know for sure how they work. There are two companies that do that sort of thing: Supratours and CMT. I didn't take either, but they're nice I hear. We took the cheap rickety souk bus (which wasn't bad, I blogged about it).

There are also very cheap flights to Spain from Morocco.

You don't need a visa if you're a US citizen, it's easy immigration.

Most people speak very good French, and a few words of Arabic go a long way. The people in general were super friendly and the majority do like Americans very much.

Julie

Thanks, Julie! Did you make reservations for everything in advance?

 

[Giant talking head]

I want to wish everyone the very best wishes in getting to Barcelona. Keep trying -- I believe that things will open up.

We managed to book a secondary flight a couple of days ago that goes from Philly to Madrid to Barcelona arrives on Saturday morning. Our original flights were on British airways travelling through Heathrow on Saturday morning. I still have these tickets and our plan was to release one set on Thursday night and bank the air credits for future flights.... then this evening I read on the British airways website - a request for people travelling over the next 5 days to consider if the flight is essential and if not turn it in for refund. Soooo.... I spent the last hour and a half on hold with the travel agent to refund the seats for others to use... only to be told by the British airways rep that I have to call back after the airspace is open - so I will do that tomorrow for sure. Let's all hope that more seats open up and everyone makes the trip to Barcelona !!

 

[mrosen]

Our flight was just cancelled and American can find us nothing that gets us into Barcelona in time for the cruise.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Our flight was just cancelled and American can find us nothing that gets us into Barcelona in time for the cruise.

I'm sorry mrosen. Which flight were you on?

 

[mrosen]

I'm sorry mrosen. Which flight were you on?

AA 174 from RDU to Heathrow. We had a BA flight from Heathrow to Barcelona on 21st so had a short layover in Heathrow.

I've looked online myself and there is nothing. We can keep looking but not optimistic we'll find something that magically pops up. I have to go cancel our hotel now for few days before cruise in Barcelona.

 

[Disneyfalcon]

AA 174 from RDU to Heathrow. We had a BA flight from Heathrow to Barcelona on 21st so had a short layover in Heathrow.

I've looked online myself and there is nothing. We can keep looking but not optimistic we'll find something that magically pops up. I have to go cancel our hotel now for few days before cruise in Barcelona.

I'm so sorry. I hope you find something!

 

[skoi]

disneyfalcon-

We only had plane tickets. We just walked up to the ticket book for the train in the airport- which is right downstairs from where you come through customs.

I don't know what you can book online. We just went to the CMT office in Rabat when we took the bus- then when they didn't have a bus to the middle of nowhere town we were going (they would drop us off on the highway, but not in town), we just walked to the bus station and bought tickets.

Very confusing process. You need to find the right window for the city you want- because there are a handful of independent bus companies who run different routes- and men who hang at the station want to help you- for money. But the signs are in Arabic and French- so it's not hard to find the right city if it's a major one.

To get rid of over zealous men who wanted to "help" I used the line, "La shukran, kanzarnu al akh dial razulee." or- No thanks, we're visiting the brother of my husband. Cleared them off every time. Especially since ds looks very Moroccan, they tell me. Of course the kids thought that was a scream- saying it meant I was married to my Arabic teacher- who they consider to be another uncle. Kids- so strange.

So if you go that way- definitely look into cheap flights too.

Julie

 

[skoi]

mrosen-

So sorry to hear it. Hopefully something will come up.

What about Italy or Greece then taking the train?