The Big Volcanic Ash from Iceland Thread

Meteorologists saying that winds could keep the ash cloud over europe for next 4 to 5 days

My daughter is in a much better position than most but having taken time off work if the re-scheduled flight doesn't leave on Monday (and in all honesty it's not looking likely) she will not be able to extend a second time. She will be gutted but at least she is on this side of the pond.

I imagine this will be the case for many and the flights after this week could well be light as more people simply can't rebook, those flying on business with flexible tickets may have already made other arrangements and many new pax will not be booking until they know for sure the flights will be back to normal.

VS UC call centre told me that they do cover hotel costs if you are stranded for a 3 star equivalent hotel upto a certain value per night (can't remember the figure but it was £100ish). You pay and then claim back from them after you get back.

You must take the first flight they get you on otherwise you are on your own for costs.

Don't know if this is a UC thing or across the board for VS.

What happens if you've booked a reward flight? Do the re-book/refund options apply?

I was on a K fare today but my husband was travelling on a reward with Amex upgrade.

We changed our for next week with no charges but obviously there has to be the relevant code available.

Jilly

We're due to fly next Saturday - if the situation continues, then I suspect our chances of re-booking are vanishingly thin in the few days after that. Which would leave us little chocie but to refund. Thanks for letting me know that you were able to alter reward flight date with no charge, but will they do a refund of airmiles if the worst scenario happens? Is this something I should be calling them about in advance? Or maybe I'm panicking too soon?!

Fingers crossed that this is accurate:

VH have just told me that should our flight to Grenada be cancelled then the holiday will also be regarded as cancelled (there will not be any required hanging around waiting/hoping for a rearranged flight).

We will then have 7 days from the intended departure date (22nd April) in which to rebook the holiday. If we rebook to go when the holiday is more expensive than that currently booked then VH will take care of the difference. Otherwise we will get a full refund.

The Grenada/Tobago flights are only once a week. Those VH holidaymakers due to return overnight from Grenada last Thursday/Friday are being put up in Grenada, typically in the same hotels, at Virgin's (whether VH or VS) expense.

We now await various weather forecasts and NATs view of things on Wednesday with considerable interest.

Given the SYD-HKG routes are still running are pax with a through ticket to LHR being given the choice to stay in SYD or do they have to fly to HKG and then wait for the first available flight back?

[Darren Wheeler]

VS are advising all pax on the SYD-HKG route not to leave until the UK leg is running.

Latest news

[Neil]

Given the SYD-HKG routes are still running are pax with a through ticket to LHR being given the choice to stay in SYD or do they have to fly to HKG and then wait for the first available flight back?

VS are telling pax going back to London to stay in SYD and not to travel to HKG.

When we were delayed on a VH in Antigua for 27 hours VH looked after everything and we were put up in a nice hotel, (the "better" the flight class you were in the better the hotel, going PE was worth it).

However people on a VS flight only had to make their own arrangements.

I would imagine people stranded on VH packages are being looked after quite well .

Just rec'd an email from my sister who I enrolled as my PA overnight to get hold of Virgin for me.

She got hold of them after an hour and one of the things she came back with was:-
'Virgin will pay comp as follows:_ 3* or under hotel; breakfast $10; lunch $15; dinner $20. Everything must be receipted. Car hire not covered. When you're back you have to send all receipts to Customer Relations for reimbursement'.

Hope that is accurate

[Nottingham Nick]

Ouch! B) That is a potentially massive bill for VS, BA et al.

I wonder if they have any type of insurance contingency for this type of event? If not, I can see this episode sending some carriers to the wall. :#

Nick

UC reservations told me they have insurance to cover the hotels etc.

I assume other airlines do as well, but it could send some insurance companies to the wall!

Lufthansa have just sent 3 x 747s and 2 x 346s from MUC to FRA, presumably to get them in the right place for their operations.

I wonder what this means?

Well, I've just got off the phone with Flying Club and our situation is we're booked on VS05 this Thursday on a z ticket (bought in the sales). So this means no changes without paying the fees and upgrade charges or cancelations. Didn't ask how much this would be as I think I'd rather wait it out at this stage as our holiday dates are fixed.

So now we have to wait and see if we are going on Thursday or not. The rules regarding refunds etc. only kick in when the airline cancels the flight so if we go, great, if we don't we'll take the refund and rebook for later in the year. No real hardship there then.

I have however taken the precaution of cancelling everything else where there is a cancellation fee looming, car, hotels etc., as we can rebook these fairly easily if we do go.

My nightmare though would be to go to Heathrow on Thursday (we're actually staying in the Marriott on Wednesday night) spend all day there and then have the flight cancelled, that would just be a day wasted. If it happens though we'll go home jump in the car and use the flexible ticket I bought for the tunnel yesterday to go to Italy. Can't waste valuable holiday time can we.

So all in all we have a plan a and b in place and so we'll see what happens. I think I'd rather go to the States though as I was looking forward to getting my new iPad.

Having said all of that though I really feel sorry for people who have found themselves in situations that they can't get out of through no fault of their own, I think we'll be hearing a lot of sad stories over the coming weeks. No matter how bad things get for us, spare a thought for those less fortunate.

Maybe the political parties should start outlining what they are prepared to do if this situation continues. A lot of people are going to be out of pocket over this and you just know there are going to be comparisons with bailing out the banks.

So now we have to wait and see if this pesky ash cloud clears.

Miopyk 8D

[Darren Wheeler]

****UPDATE***

NATS advise that restrictions now in place until 07:00 Sunday 18 April 2010.

Next update due 21:00 tonight.

[Darren Wheeler]

At least something is moving...

Maybe the political parties should start outlining what they are prepared to do if this situation continues. A lot of people are going to be out of pocket over this and you just know there are going to be comparisons with bailing out the banks.

Miopyk 8D

Sorry but NO, why should my taxes bail people out?

The situation with the banks is totally different as the money 'given' to the banks was either loans (that are being paid back) or bought shares that will be sold at a later date for a profit

If say the Halifax had gone under then millions would have been affcted and not able to get their cash for months and that would have caused real hardship.

Anyway as far as the cloud of doom is concerned I am starting to get a little fed up of the 'tales of woe' on the news and the 'airlies wont tell us anythig' stories. The airlies can't tell you anythign because there is nothing to tell !

Tontybear,

I think most people who use this site are seasoned travellers so will accept the sitution for what it is and make the best of it.

Maybe the 'tales of woe' that you are hearing (I am not, as I am stuck in the US and they have had more coverage regarding a slight dusting of snow in Virginia !) are from less experienced travellers who maybe do not have the funds to cover this sort of issue.

I guess it is a perception thing. If you are laying on an airport floor or had your honeymoon cancelled then then you may have a more jaundice view compared to someone watching it on telly.

I would be happy for VS not to be able to tell me anything if I could actually get through to them, bearing in mind I am trying the Au line as an Au. I have just spoken to a car hire company to extend my car hire and they had heard from their clients that VS were the worst company at the moment to get hold of.

I am looking on the brightside - more time to top up the tan. Oh no, the weather forecast for the next few days is rain !

How are hotels dealing with it? Are they being nice to people that have prepaid bookings and letting them change their booking, especially as they may have people staying who can't get home and taking up those rooms?

I'm not a seasoned traveller, but being offensive to staff cannot be excused by inexperiance. Whatwould these people like for airlines to do??????

DO THEY SERIOUSLY THINK RISKING THEIR LIVES IS AN OPTION???


jackasses!!!!!!!!!!!

We have to look for the silver lining, we are not in immeadiate danger (sorry icelandic folk), we are not dying, i mean get a freaking perspective.... i will be upset if i cant travel, i'm not lying. but yelling at some poor sod who is only doing their level best is pissy.

WE CANNOT AVOID THIS, SO LET'S JUST JUST TRY AND BE NICE!! PLEASE

[Darren Wheeler]

It's not just a case of being out of pocket, but you have thousands of people stranded abroad with no immediate way of getting home and limit funds.

The days of hoping on the next Packet Steamer have long gone as has the Trans-Atlantic liner service.

Hi guys. Stuck in LA and virgins phone line cuts me off after 3 minutes or so. Am using 18008628621 number. Any advice?

Maybe the political parties should start outlining what they are prepared to do if this situation continues. A lot of people are going to be out of pocket over this and you just know there are going to be comparisons with bailing out the banks.

Miopyk 8D

Sorry but NO, why should my taxes bail people out?

The situation with the banks is totally different as the money 'given' to the banks was either loans (that are being paid back) or bought shares that will be sold at a later date for a profit

If say the Halifax had gone under then millions would have been affcted and not able to get their cash for months and that would have caused real hardship.

I take your point but it's the airlines and insurance companies that could end up going bust if this continues for an extended period, and then what? If this were to go on for months that could mean thousands if not millions out of work in the airline/travel industry.

Businesses don't have bottomless pits of money to go on forever, at some point governments would have to intervene like it or not. I'd just like to see what ideas they'll come up with.

Miopyk 8D

All tomorrow's (Sunday's) flights now cancelled, according to the website:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/pa ... /index.jsp

Hi guys. Stuck in LA and virgins phone line cuts me off after 3 minutes or so. Am using 18008628621 number. Any advice?

It's probably overloaded - try the US FC Au line, there'll be a wait, but it might eventually get through.