August 18, 2010...Can't wait for the MAGICal Mediterranean!!!

[Vicky29]

Just spoke to Easyjet (our airline), she says it isn't looking good for our flight. Almost all of their flights to spain seem to be being cancelled at the moment. Apparently the air traffic controllers are striking randomly, giving only 12 hours notice of their strike. Se said it was predominantly french air traffic control (typical we were stuck there for three days a couple of years ago because they were on strike), though other countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy were also joining in to a lesser extent. I Don't think I can risk travelling on the same day like I was planning to, even though the flight arrives in Barcelona at 11.00a.m. so allows time for delays, as it looks like here things are being cancelled rather than delayed. Now in a dilemna - whether to transfer our flight with them to the day before (which actually at the moment probably wouldn't help as they all seem to be being cancelled). Or the option which appeals at the moment - book a Monarch flight from Manchester for the previous day, leaving the Easy Jety flight intact - at least then I have two chances of getting there. Kate does you OH have any inside info/ advice?

 

[jel0511]

Just spoke to Easyjet (our airline), she says it isn't looking good for our flight. Almost all of their flights to spain seem to be being cancelled at the moment. Apparently the air traffic controllers are striking randomly, giving only 12 hours notice of their strike. Se said it was predominantly french air traffic control (typical we were stuck there for three days a couple of years ago because they were on strike), though other countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy were also joining in to a lesser extent. I Don't think I can risk travelling on the same day like I was planning to, even though the flight arrives in Barcelona at 11.00a.m. so allows time for delays, as it looks like here things are being cancelled rather than delayed. Now in a dilemna - whether to transfer our flight with them to the day before (which actually at the moment probably wouldn't help as they all seem to be being cancelled). Or the option which appeals at the moment - book a Monarch flight from Manchester for the previous day, leaving the Easy Jety flight intact - at least then I have two chances of getting there. Kate does you OH have any inside info/ advice?

Did Easy Jet say this was for today? I just checked Air France from CDG as that is what we're flying and all flights into BCN today are currently on time. None cancelled.... Kate we really need your OH's expert analysis here......

 

[K8T]

Just spoke to Easyjet (our airline), she says it isn't looking good for our flight. Almost all of their flights to spain seem to be being cancelled at the moment. Apparently the air traffic controllers are striking randomly, giving only 12 hours notice of their strike. Se said it was predominantly french air traffic control (typical we were stuck there for three days a couple of years ago because they were on strike), though other countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy were also joining in to a lesser extent. I Don't think I can risk travelling on the same day like I was planning to, even though the flight arrives in Barcelona at 11.00a.m. so allows time for delays, as it looks like here things are being cancelled rather than delayed. Now in a dilemna - whether to transfer our flight with them to the day before (which actually at the moment probably wouldn't help as they all seem to be being cancelled). Or the option which appeals at the moment - book a Monarch flight from Manchester for the previous day, leaving the Easy Jety flight intact - at least then I have two chances of getting there. Kate does you OH have any inside info/ advice?

Just had a word with OH. He is putting a call into the airlines as we speak. A large part of our travel company is 'moving' aircrews throughout the UK, so they may have more information on the inside.

Initial indications show that it is Easy Jet who is worst affected, but that is usually normal, any problems and it is the 'budget' lines who get knocked back first. Monarch are not showing any problems yet. However, the dates proposed do not affect either of us at the moment.

This is our contingency.

1,137 miles to Barcelona through France, so if we work on average 50mph that is 22 hours, add two or three hours for tunnel crossing, add a number of stops on the way, maybe an overnight - we could do it in 30 hours. If we get 12 hours notice of a strike (previous notice period), we could set off on the 16th August (day before we are supposed to travel), which will give us 48 hours at least to get there for the afternoon of the 18th, so it is doable! We have driven to Austria a few times, through Germany, and although it isn't pleasant, it can be done, not sure how dd would deal with it, need the DVD and afew new films!!!

Not sure I would want to do this, so lets hope that we are lucky. Personally, though, I wouldn't ever want to risk an Easyjet flight, same day as the cruise, but speaking to Iglu in the past, I believe that is the flight they book you on, if you book through them - whether it becomes their responsibility to get you to the ship, I am not sure.

The alternative is to pick the ship up in Malta, but flights to Malta are not cheap, either from the UK, or Barcelona.

Lets up this is all 'pie in the sky' and it won't come to that. I will let you know if I hear anything.

If I can help with journal stuff, let me know.

Starting to think I should be a bit more organised by now - not printed out port info, or magnets, off to Mums (down South), on Fri for a few days, so not sure when it will get done either!!!

Saw Toy Story 3 yesterday, it is brilliant, I cried and DD cried!! We can't wait to watch it in 3D, it will be amazing.

Have a great day.


Did WK7D1 yesterday, 3 x 12 mins running, 2 mins in between. It was fine, still can't believe I am doing this - thanks Lori (or not!!!)

 

[graysm]

I wish you all the best of luck with your travels! I wonder if this will affect the travel for those coming from the US to Barcelona. We'll need to keep watch for this! It's always something! My car was just in the garage and I need a new ABS pump...for $1,200!!!! And right before vacation! Good thing everything is pretty much paid for (cruise, flights).

 

[mindelmouse]

Advice please! I am keeping my eye on the plane situation in Europe but my more immediate concern is my son. He wants to go to sleep away camp for next week and I'm very hesitant to send him. DH thinks he should go, since he is a scaredy cat about everything and he wants to do this. I'm concerned because he is ADHD, likes to defy authority and I'm afraid he'll get hurt there and we'll have to cancel our vacation. DH says I'm being irrational. He is after all only 9. I'm not even giving him sign out priveleges for the kid's club. Any advice from mom's who have walked this road before?

 

[bigbootee]

This is our contingency.

1,137 miles to Barcelona through France, so if we work on average 50mph that is 22 hours, add two or three hours for tunnel crossing, add a number of stops on the way, maybe an overnight - we could do it in 30 hours. If we get 12 hours notice of a strike (previous notice period), we could set off on the 16th August (day before we are supposed to travel), which will give us 48 hours at least to get there for the afternoon of the 18th, so it is doable! We have driven to Austria a few times, through Germany, and although it isn't pleasant, it can be done, not sure how dd would deal with it, need the DVD and afew new films!!!

Not sure I would want to do this, so lets hope that we are lucky.

We have a longer distance. If we start driving now....

 

[Goofy559]

My daughter has been to sleep away camp twice. While she doesn't have ADHD, she was (at the time) afraid of sleeping in the dark. Based on this experience, I think your best course of action is to speak to the camp directly about your son's ADHD and how they would propose to handle it. What would they do if he defied them? Do they have experience handling children with ADHD? In my mind, the answers to those 2 questions would be key to any decision. Also, if your son is as excited about Europe as it seems, perhaps a quiet chat outlining what could happen if he doesn't listen might help.

Ultimately (as I'm sure you know), only you can decide what is best for your child and his situation. Good luck!

 

[SettinSail]

Advice please! I am keeping my eye on the plane situation in Europe but my more immediate concern is my son. He wants to go to sleep away camp for next week and I'm very hesitant to send him. DH thinks he should go, since he is a scaredy cat about everything and he wants to do this. I'm concerned because he is ADHD, likes to defy authority and I'm afraid he'll get hurt there and we'll have to cancel our vacation. DH says I'm being irrational. He is after all only 9. I'm not even giving him sign out priveleges for the kid's club. Any advice from mom's who have walked this road before?

I always say trust that natural "Mother's Instinct". Anytime I have been hesitant or thought something would work out a certain way, it always did!
It's hard for Dads to understand this. Who knows your son better than you?
He may get upset in the short run, but the trip the next week will completely remove any memory of camp from his mind!

On the other hand, if Dad and son win and he goes to camp, he will be fine. Be sure to talk with the owners/counselors and ask for special supervision.
If you don't feel 100% comfortable after talking with them, don't do it!

Just my opinion,
Shawn

 

[Vicky29]

Hi Jel051,

I've been checking the easy jet site for the last few days, and the flights between Liverpool (where I am flying from) and Barcelona seem to have been cancelled more often than not:-( The easy jet lady said she had no idea how long the strike would go on for - only that it was ongoing. She said although they were sometimes able to pick up on rumours of the days the strikes would be held in advance, they don't get official confirmation until 12 hours before. She said one of the biggest resons for the disruption is that planes are getting trapped in other areas of Europe by the strike, so there are less planes flying to do the flights even in none affected areas. I guess by that token, they will probably be prioritising long haul flights, so you may well all be fine - fingers crossed.

 

[pixie08]

Yikes! Kate that is terrible. We are flying from JFK to CDg and then on the 17th from CDG to BCN. I really hope this does not affect anything.

 

[pixie08]

Dan called Air France, and seems well. They have said that in Spain if they have to they are going to bring in miltary air controllers to subsitiute. So hopefully we will all be ok!

We are leaving Paris on the 17th so if things do not look good our backup plan is the train.

 

[Vicky29]

Hi Kate,

Thanks for the inside information. Now trying to book a flight for the day before Need to fly after around 2.00 in the afternoon though, as my friend can't leave until after 11.00 in the morning. Think it may turn into a mammoth journey

 

[jel0511]

Mindy - I don't know your son so I really can't offer advice. Is your son on his meds during the summer and would camp give them to him? I'd call the camp and voice your concerns to the director and see what their advice is on the matter. I have complete confidence in the camp my kids go to, so if the director gave me a warm fuzzy feeling, I'd probably let him go. I actually made the suggestion to our camp director to include a similar program at our camp. I'd love for you to email me more information about the program at your camp!

 

[pixie08]

Here is the info from the Aug 7th thread. It looks like it's just Barcelona ATC's that are striking and just one day a week for the month of August. I believe that most of our flights will not be effected. I was concerned by Shawn saying Paris was included, as they just went on strike a week or so ago in Paris. I followed that strike closely, and Air France cancelled 0% of international flights and cancelled 20% of medium haul European flights. There were some flight delays, but most flights got off. I'm personally not too worried about this, as it looks like the dates coincide with any of our dates. We fly into BCN on the 17th and home on the 29th. What I can find, it looks like they went on strike around the same time as the french workers. It looks like this is being widely reported in Europe, not here.

phew happy I read this...I was freaking out We are also flying Air France. Are you also flying out the 17th?

 

[jel0511]

phew happy I read this...I was freaking out We are also flying Air France. Are you also flying out the 17th?

Yep, our flight leaves CDG at 5:50......

 

[pixie08]

Yep, our flight leaves CDG at 5:50......

Our flight is the 8:00...maybe I will see you at the airport!

 

[K8T]

Oops

 

[K8T]

Hi

OH spoke to the airlines, they didn't forsee huge problems and said that they usually get a few days notice prior to this sort of thing going on, which enables them to plan ahead, so we should know if a strike is planned and what day.

I also spoke to Monarch - a budget airline in Europe, they said they hoped that the issues would be all sorted by the time we travel and that it was too soon to worry about it. Again, she said that they would give travellers plenty of time to make alternative arrangements.

I guess it is just a case of wait and see what happens. Obviously International flights have priority over the small European flights, especially the likes of Easy Jet and Monarch. Fingers crossed it will all be OK.

Mary, I wouldn't worry about your Paris flight. If it came to the worse, you can very easily get a train from Paris to Barcelona, the rail system in Europe is very efficient!

Mindy, go with your gut instinct. I know it must be difficult because he doesn't know anything about the cruise and if he did, he probably wouldn't be so bothered about going to Camp! I am sure if will be fine there, ringing and chatting to the organisers is a great idea, I am also sure they have dealt with children with ADHD before and are trained to handle any situations that arise to avoid any confrontation.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow that DD's plaster comes off. She was at Sports Camp today and came home limping!!! Had fallen and hurt her knee. No way was I taking her to any hospital at the moment!!! Terrible Mother that I am, luckily it seems just a bruise (phew!). Mindy, I empathise with you!

Kate

 

[jstin]

We did 4 years in Landstuhl. I still have great memories of my time in Germany. Loved the carnival and nightlife.

We are at Ramstein, on our 5th year and have another 2 to go. We would stay here forever if we could.

 

[SettinSail]

We are at Ramstein, on our 5th year and have another 2 to go. We would stay here forever if we could.

Wow, that is great. We've been in Stuttgart for one year and I find it VERY challenging to live in Germany. Of course, we do not have some of the 'perks' that military families do. (and we don't have some of the hardships they do either so not comparing)

We have 2 more years to go with my husband's assignment and I hope it will get better. I may just be too old to start over in a new location

How are you guys getting to Barcelona? We fly German Wings from Stuttgart to Barcelona on Aug 16th.

Shawn