The Big Volcanic Ash from Iceland Thread

Hey all, new here just reading things. Getting worried as family flys to MCO on 29th VS027. I really hope things are better by then.

Oh, now would be a good time to upgrade those age old entertainment system...... )

Off to Dubai next Friday hopefully.
Not a lot we can do but wait I guess.

[Nottingham Nick]

From BBC news site. Flight ban in force until at least Sunday morning 0100.


We are supposed to be flying to BOS Thursday and our flight is still fairly open down the back, it is showing about the same availability as it was a week or so ago - I would have thought that the knock on effect of stranded pax would have used up all of those seats by now. ?|

I guess a lot of people must be opting for refunds.

Nick

[Bazz]

...I suppose I go right to the back of the queue for a return flight...

Priority will be given to getting pax back from abroad, the costs to airlines of keeping pax in hotels and feeding them dictates this is always a high priority.

Empty aircraft will be dispatched to return pax providing there is enough slack in the system. Several empty aircraft have managed to get away from the UK although I don't think any of those were VS.

[Nottingham Nick]

..... the costs to airlines of keeping pax in hotels and feeding them dictates this is always a high priority....

Are airlines paying for pax to stay in hotels? I thought I had read on here, and other boards, that people were having to fend for themselves. That was certainly the impression I got from the TV news last night. A family were interviewed in a foreign airport saying that the delay was costing them a fortune.


Nick

Supposed to be working in Belgium again next week - wonder if my flight'll leave Brizzle on Monday!

Cheers
Michael

[Bazz]

Unless the weather pattern changes Michael, you will be staying home... ...shame - not!

Unless the weather pattern changes Michael, you will be staying home...

Looks that way doesn't it?

...shame - not!

Oh I don't know - it's at least better than going to the crappy office!

Cheers
Michael

[Bazz]

..... the costs to airlines of keeping pax in hotels and feeding them dictates this is always a high priority....

Are airlines paying for pax to stay in hotels? I thought I had read on here, and other boards, that people were having to fend for themselves. That was certainly the impression I got from the TV news last night. A family were interviewed in a foreign airport saying that the delay was costing them a fortune.


Nick

Different airlines have different policies Nick but even if they are not paying for the pax extra stay, the priority is still to return pax back home.

Funny how on the news they only show the passengers whos airlines don't pay for their hotels. Of course an annoyed, upset passenger makes for a better story than someone who's getting 5* treatment and enjoying an extra few days on holiday.

Hello another newbie here too, we're due to fly to Barbados on 4th May and I am already having a panic that we won't make it.

I don't have the greatest track record with flights. Last time I flew to USA my AA flight was cancelled and we ended up going to JFK via BOS. And a couple of months before that we had a 27 hour delay getting out of Antigua, which Virgin dealt with wonderfully.

The later Met Office picture seems to show the southern part of the ash cloud moving a little eastward ... pray for more wind!

Regarding obligations of airlines in situations like this, Simon Calder put it very simply on BBC Breakfast earlier: "All EU based airlines are legally obliged to honour a passenger's return sector", ie. get you home. Hence the family many of us have seen in the news diverted to Brussels en route back from USA on Delta Airlines were dumped there and told to find their own way home, but of course can't. Had this been an EU carrier Calder confirms the law states the airline must cover the cost of fulfilling your return sector.

Maybe we should all go outside and do what we can...blow in an easterly direction.

Reported that VS staff had to call Police for protection

Different airlines have different policies Nick but even if they are not paying for the pax extra stay, the priority is still to return pax back home.

It will soon become time to worry about the effect of this on Virgin finances - while airlines have a duty to get people home (and I believe that applies to airlines flying into Europe, so if Delta dump you in MAD they should still be responsible for the the MAD to London journey if that was your final destination) the effect on Virgin could be more substantial because of all the people on VH packages. My understanding is that if you are on a package, the tour operate does have to continue to put you up (happy to be clarified). If this is the case, then the VH part of Virgin Group will be shelling out cash, while VS loses cash. It's going to be bad ...

[Darren Wheeler]

I wonder if the Government will have to step in an start repatriation via liners?

Just had a text message - VS005 to MIA cancelled tomorrow.

[Bazz]

If it continues may we see the government have to step in to bail out BA or VS?

I wonder if the Government will have to step in an start repatriation via liners?

Any idea how many people are involved?
And how few liners will be available?

Just the thing for the middle of an election!

If it continues may we see the government have to step in to bail out BA or VS?

I see this as more co-ordinated EU action - not sure if unilateral action by one state would be considered anti competitive. But if it does go on, then I would guess yes.

I can't recall directly what VS's revenue is, £2.5bn a year or £7m a day ... this is going to erase profits, soon lead to job losses and more unless there's help from the weather, the volcano or someone. Which makes me surprised that no political party has anything to say on the matter.

[Pete]

Different airlines have different policies Nick but even if they are not paying for the pax extra stay, the priority is still to return pax back home.

It's been confirmed to me that whilst it is a priority to get stranded passengers home, that doesn't mean they are throwing passengers out of confirmed seats. After all, that just creates a new problem for the next passenger, and then you have double, triple, quadruple the problem as it ripples along. Modus operandi for all airlines in these situations is to re-book passengers wherever there is capacity, and for these extreme situations (just like when hurricanes have stranded passengers), do their best to put on additional flights to get people home.

Simon Calder contradicted himself a bit on BBC Breakfast this morning, first by saying if you're on a package then the whole thing is safe, but 'DIY' bookings are your responsibility (which is how I understand the situation), and then suggesting a family stranded in Tenerife should send all their additional credit card bills to Ryanair. Methinks Calder is suffering from lack of sleep, since there is no way Ryanair are going to cough up for hotels, food and expenses. The EU regulations seem pretty clear on this - for situations outside the control of the airline, there is no compensation due. However, as you have bought a ticket, it is still their responsibility to get you to your destination on the next available flight (or, I believe, on an available flight in the future that is convenient to you). I suspect under these circumstances all types of ticket would also fully refundable, should you chose to abandon plans to go away.

[Bazz]

Quite right Pete, that would prolong the problem and inconvenience many more pax. I hope I did not create that impression with my earlier post?

[Nottingham Nick]

Just seen another new report on Sky News featuring a passenger who is more than happy to have his stay in Italy extended, and says he is being put up in a very nice hotel.

This backs up the earlier post by Lizz about upset passengers making a better story. It comes to something when Murdoch news is more objective than the BBC. n(

Nick

[Bazz]

Deadline moved again, now 01.00 Sunday. I don't think this will be the final time either.