OTish: is the eruption affecting you?

[Tara]

I'm just curious about how many posters and readers here have been affected by the ash cloud over Europe.

I was supposed to go to Newcastle this week for work. I was going to fly from JFK to London today and then train to Newcastle, but of course that was out. I had another reservation for tomorrow from JFK to Dublin to Edinburgh (and then I guess train if we could get on one or car to Newcastle) but that's been canceled, too. The only thing we could get for Tuesday was JFK to Frankfurt on Singapore Air, then KLM to Amsterdam and then Newcastle. These are literally the only flight we could manage to book as of Friday night or into the wee hours of Saturday.

I'm a little worried that I'll get over there and conditions will worsen and I'll be stuck! On a less critical note, I very carefully selected my flights in the first place so that I'd have flatbed seating. If someone else is footing the bill for business or first class, why not make sure it's in actually comfortable? (actually, the flights I found were cheaper than the ones the agent handling the travel suggested by about $2,000!)

Anyone else? I'm figuring there are plenty of people at Disney who can't return home to Europe - wonder how/if Disney is helping them out, since I'd imagine many people are having to extend their hotel stays.

What about you - any of you affected?

 

[Clare D]

There are quite a few people who are posting on the UK trip report boards who are stuck in Florida at the moment. Luckily my dad was able to fly home from Orlando on Wednesday evening but then was re routed to Gatwick instead of Manchester.
There have been test flights done by British Airways, KLM and Lufthansa and the European airspace people are saying it is ok to fly but currently there is no flying within British airspace until a review later tonight.
It is really strange as we usually see planes most of the day but the skies are empty.
The Government are looking as sending Navy ships to Spain to evacuate stranded tourists. Airports in Southern Spain are still open and they may look at tourists flying there to get them home.
If it does continue they believe that our shops will soon start to run out of fresh produce that we have to fly into the country. Fingers crossed it gets sorted soon.

 

[fitnessmouse]

It is affecting quite a few people who are supposed to be going on the first DCL Med Cruise this saturday.

 

[emmabelle]

Our high school has a sponsored trip to France and they got out on Weds night. My DD's four closest friends are in Europe now. So glad my DD is home, because I'd be a mental case worrying about it.

 

[Virtucomp]

My DS was supposed to leave Friday for a trip to France. They had planning this for a year. Now it is pushed to Wednesday. I fear if the ash does not clear it will be cancelled.

I would like to see the airports open and operating for a day or so before I load my son on a plane to test the air.

 

[Tara]

Looks like we might get out for our trip tomorrow after all - just in time because tomorrow is really our last window of opportunity. And I'm not a nervous nelly sort of traveler, but I have to admit I haven't fully decided if I'm going to get on the plane!

 

[Jestocost]

Not directly, but anyone who has to get hold of someone at an airline with significant European operations is going to have a nice wait to talk to them. United fouled up my domestic travel yesterday and it took forever to get someone on the line to get me rebooked on their next flight to my destination (as opposed to the flight four hours later that they kindly auto booked me on).

 

[eliza61]

Not yet but it does have me on pins. I have a flight out from JFK to Paris stopping over in Reykjavik Iceland. Out of 10,000 flights at JFK, I pick the one that stops at an active volcanoe. Luckily I still have a month to go so hopefully things will die down.

 

[maxiesmom]

So how exactly does someone deal with being stranded like that? I could never imagine having that much extra money that I could pay for an extra week or 2 in a foreign country. Do the airlines offer any kind of assistance at all?

 

[Hannathy]

Not that it compares with people being stranded but my DD's prom dress is somewhere stuck in all this mess. And I believe to a HS senior girl she would probably rather I be stuck over there than her prom dress! She still has 2 weeks but I'm getting nervous because I don't want to have to be out last minute trying to find another dress (and footing the bill)

 

[msmayor]

So how exactly does someone deal with being stranded like that? I could never imagine having that much extra money that I could pay for an extra week or 2 in a foreign country. Do the airlines offer any kind of assistance at all?

As in financial assistance? It would be VERY rare. Maybe a few discount coupons for hotel rooms but aside from waiving the re-ticketing fees for your canceled/delayed flights you are on your own.

 

[Virtucomp]

Great News!

DS got to Paris 7:30 AM this morning! The flight was moved from last Thursday. He now gets to tour the country for a week.

Hopefully that volcano stays quiet for the trip back home.