News Alert: Volcanic ash halts European flights, ripples felt globally

[Flightman]

I work at Heathrow and the latest from NATS ( which is the UK's version of your FAA ) is below:

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Friday April 16, 1445

The cloud of volcanic ash continues to move south through the UK and the eruption in Iceland continues.

Following a review of the latest Met Office information, NATS advises that restrictions preventing flights in controlled airspace over England and Wales will remain in place until 0700 (UK time) tomorrow, Saturday 17 April, at the earliest.

I've been hearing, unofficially, that's it is doubtful we will be open before Sunday evening.

 

[DUHgreg]

Wikipedia has an interesting article about a BA plane that flew through a volcanic ash cloude a few years ago:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Airways_Flight_9

There is also a TV documentary about it.

The scary thing is, this volcano could go on for years... Maybe we see a comeback of transatlantic oceanliners...

Saw the documentary last year. Did a great job conveying the emotions of the passengers and flight crew and the work done to get the aircraft down safely. (Had no idea this had happened, so did not know it had a good ending. Scared the heck out of me.) It wasn't until after landing that anyone made the connection to the volcano. No doubt the current grounding of flights is the result of Flight 9 and its aftermath.

 

[FireDancer]

Problem is that it is the end of the Easter holidays, so people are trying to get back for the start of term!

Luckily in Europe, unlike here, you guys have a decent rail network to serve as a backup. I'm sure the train through the chunnel has been at capacity for the last 48 hours.

As bad as I feel for the people stranded I have no sympathy for the scum bag airlines with all their baggage and fuel fees that they rape us with now.

 

[Becx N Gav]

Luckily in Europe, unlike here, you guys have a decent rail network to serve as a backup. I'm sure the train through the chunnel has been at capacity for the last 48 hours.

As bad as I feel for the people stranded I have no sympathy for the scum bag airlines with all their baggage and fuel fees that they rape us with now.

Eurostar is fully booked until Monday (or through Monday ). The ferries which normally charge £20 for foot passengers are now charging £50 and places are limited. We looked at various trains from ports in France to Barcelona and they are around £300 same as renting a car to drive the 1000 miles. I just hope it dissipates and things get back to normal, don't want to watch the news anymore. I feel so bad for people stranded, some without cash and credit cards But as people have said better people are stuck on the ground than falling from the skies

 

[chirurgeon]

I have talked to a couple of Brits here at WDW and they aren't sure when they are going to be getting home. The one dad I talked to today was staying off site and didn't have a computer. He hadn't been able to get through to his airline on the phone. I suggested he go to Guest Services and see if they could get online for him.

Kim

 

[disneyholic family]

there are quite a few people on the Dis UK Trip Planning board who've been affected - those who are in orlando and can't get home, and those stuck in the UK who are seeing their vacation days disappearing before their eyes, as they can't fly out to florida...


we have freight that was supposed to be in germany yesterday that's stranded in california....don't know when it will be able to fly there....

i wonder how insurance covers situations like this when it's force majeure...

 

[disneyholic family]

what happens to people who made reservations using DVC points and then can't get to florida?

 

[Flightman]

UK Airspace is now closed until 01:00 Sunday, except for a limited number of flights from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This is becoming a nightmare for those people stuck in Florida, or unable to start their holiday. I read on a UK Disney forum today of a family whose insurance runs out tomorrow, the son's insulin is almost finished, and they have maxed out their credit cards.

 

[15isto2]

UK Airspace is now closed until 01:00 Sunday, except for a limited number of flights from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This is becoming a nightmare for those people stuck in Florida, or unable to start their holiday. I read on a UK Disney forum today of a family whose insurance runs out tomorrow, the son's insulin is almost finished, and they have maxed out their credit cards.

Just wondering which forum it was on, could you post me a link?

Worryingly its possible that some insurance companies will not cover for the extra costs so some people may be several thousand out of pocket

 

[disneyholic family]

UK Airspace is now closed until 01:00 Sunday, except for a limited number of flights from Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This is becoming a nightmare for those people stuck in Florida, or unable to start their holiday. I read on a UK Disney forum today of a family whose insurance runs out tomorrow, the son's insulin is almost finished, and they have maxed out their credit cards.

i assume you're referring to their travel medical insurance....once you get to the end of the time, you usually can't renew...
definitely a nightmare situation..

Just wondering which forum it was on, could you post me a link?

Worryingly its possible that some insurance companies will not cover for the extra costs so some people may be several thousand out of pocket

on the DIS UK Trip Planning board someone who's stuck in florida and can't get home posted that their insurance is refusing to cover their hotel costs...

 

[izzie-wizzie]

Eurostar is fully booked until Monday (or through Monday ). The ferries which normally charge £20 for foot passengers are now charging £50 and places are limited. We looked at various trains from ports in France to Barcelona and they are around £300 same as renting a car to drive the 1000 miles. I just hope it dissipates and things get back to normal, don't want to watch the news anymore. I feel so bad for people stranded, some without cash and credit cards But as people have said better people are stuck on the ground than falling from the skies

Im so not surprised about Eurostar and Ferries

Its all pretty crazy, who knows how long it will last for - i have a friend who was meant to fly on Thursday to start a summer long holiday rep position in Turkey, but she's still in Scotland. Feel so sorry for her as she's been looking forward to this for so long.

 

[disneyholic family]

Jo on the UK Trip planning board just posted on FB that the earliest flight they can get out of the US back to the UK is next saturday and that's if they fly out of atlanta...
the earliest flight they could get back home from orlando was on the 28th, so they opted for atlanta and 'only' waiting another week to leave....

so they're stuck for at least a week and they'll have to get themselves to atlanta for the flight...hopefully, things won't get worse and they'll actually be able to get out.....

 

[Flightman]

Just wondering which forum it was on, could you post me a link?

Worryingly its possible that some insurance companies will not cover for the extra costs so some people may be several thousand out of pocket

Certainly, it was on thedibb.co.uk

 

[wishspirit]

For those stuck in Orlando or know those who are and are running out of insurance or money, I would contact the British Embassy as soon as possible! They might be able to help you extend your insurance etc better than Disney can.

 

[disneyholic family]

For those stuck in Orlando or know those who are and are running out of insurance or money, I would contact the British Embassy as soon as possible! They might be able to help you extend your insurance etc better than Disney can.

i was just reading the stranded traveler stories on the BBC website..
the British Embassy in india hasn't been helpful to Brits stranded there....

 

[Becx N Gav]

i was just reading the stranded traveler stories on the BBC website..
the British Embassy in india hasn't been helpful to Brits stranded there....

And yet they charge enough for passports (which I assume at least goes towards the money they have to help people)

It's the catch up as well as what is happening right now, even if flights get going again they are in the wrong place which will delay things further

 

[disneyholic family]

just saw a travel expert on the BBC this morning....(or maybe it was Sky - i was switching back and forth between the two)..

he said that all stranded passengers should be sure to hold on to all of their receipts...

he said the airlines are responsible for reasonable food expenses and possibly also hotel expenses and that everyone should hold onto all of their receipts to try to get it back later...