Volcanic Ash

[Travel Mum]

Just posting to vent as only you guys on this forum will understand my worry about this because anyone else would not understand why I'd be worrying about something so far away. For the last three days, Qantas and Jetstar have cancelled all their flights within, into and out of New Zealand including QF's Auckland to L.A.!! I have been feeling so sorry for the people affected, putting myself in their position.

Then today I hear that the volcanic ash may be around for several months! Look down at my ticker and see that 3 months could be considered several months! OMG, imagine after all this planning and dreaming about our holiday, it was cancelled due to this volcanic ash!! At a pinch, if we had enough warning that our domestic JQ flight to Auckland was cancelled, we could rent a car and drive the 8 hours to Auckland but, if our QF flight to LAX was cancelled, that would be a disaster for us. Throughout this cancellation by QF and JQ, Air NZ and other airlines have been still flying, just going safely below or around the ash cloud. Presumably QF is re-booking some of its pax onto the Air NZ Auckland to LAX flights when there is availabilty and, whilst they might re-book the 3 of us on revenue tickets, 2 of us are on frequent flyer tickets so there is no way Air NZ would accept frequent flyer tickets.

It's not a big worry at the moment for me, only minor really, and I know even that is worrying unnecessarily. However, of all the holidays for it to threaten - the one that has had the most research and planning put into it of all. Urgh!!

Oh and QF why can't you fly under and around the ash cloud when Air NZ is prepared to?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Caroline NZ]

I know exactly how you feel. Fingers crossed everything is okay by the time you travel. It must be so frustrating for everyone travelling at the moment. Combined with our earthquakes down here, life is pretty unsettling at the moment.

 

[WAMUMOF4]

I hadn't heard it was going to take a few months to clear Perth airport has just cancelled flights from 1:00pm today
We only have 45 days to go so i hope it does not take months because i have not paid our travel insurance yet so i guarantee we wont be covered for volcanic ash now
The same thing did happen last year so we will just send out last year it was only a couple of weeks. I must say i for one am happy that they are not flying through it i would much rather be on the ground than in a plane flying through the ash.
I would not want to experience what the people did flying over Indonesia through volcanic ash did a few years ago.
We just need Tinkerbell to get out her pixie dust and clear the skies for us

We all should be ok to fly by the time we leave
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/8261543/ash-cloud-to-come-around-again

 

[DVCAustralia]

I think Qantas is taking the right decisions, clearly it is not in their commercial interest to stop flying meaning that safety decisions have a higher priority. Whilst Air New Zealand (and Virgin Australia) have flown more this is based on flying at a substantially lower altitude than normal, in effect a calculated gamble.
Having said that hopefully it clears up soon and does not effect any of your flights.

 

[Travel Mum]

Yes, I agree it looks good for QF and their safety precautions but I actually have a lot of faith in Air NZ and do not believe for one moment they would take any risk with their passengers, crew or aircraft. I do believe it was costing them more in fuel to fly below the ash cloud and it does make me wonder if QF does not want to pay extra? Don't get me wrong, I'm not QF-bashing (I worked for them for years) but I just can't work out how two very saftely conscious airlines could make such different decisions