Domestic connection affected by ash?

Ok so I am a glass half full person on occasions but have just thought of something that might disrupt my summer hols plans. I am travelling on the VS43 to Las vegas on 18th June and have booked to fly from Aberdeen to Gatwick with Flybe the day before as it is the only airline now flying to LGW from ABZ. I am now worried that the ash cloud will ground me in Scotland meaning I miss the Virgin flight. What would Virgin do in these circumstances? A single fare to vegas is currently over £1000 in economy the few days after my booked flight? Would they place meo on another flight free of charge or turn me away because it wasn't thir problem?

[honey lamb]

If you are on separate tickets it will be treated as two separate trips and you're on your own!

Anne

Been going through the same and honey lamb is correct, If 2 seperate bookings then your on your own. Have spoken to various people at the flying club (would have thought because of the current situation, there "might" have been some give and take) but they have confirmed if you miss your outbaound, your inbound is also cancelled, so you couldn't even get a one way out.

We are slightly closer than Aberdeen (in the Borders) and usually go down the night before and stay in the Hilton, but this year are unable to do that, so its a choice of first shuttle down from EDI (which leaves little slack time if something goes wrong) or try and get a flight from MAN and drive down there.

Have booked shuttles to lgw which weren't that expensive so could be lost, but cant make up my mind about main flight, and of course the closer it gets the more expensive it gets.

The only other option for yourself would be to try and book train tickets that weren't that expensive in case they weren't used, but you would have them as a backup.

Not a lot of help - sorry

David

Ok you have a month to go.

the ash cloud is coming and going but no one knows how often and when plus it depends on which way the wind blows too.

Also, and this works in your favour, after testing engines, they have just upped the limit on the concentration of the ash planes can fly through.

As a back up you might want to check how much the train fare is from Aberdeen down to London then London to LGW (split journey might be cheaper than a through trip)

Depending on how much that it might give you peace of mind - especailly as you will still get advanced cheaper tickets and cheaper 1st class too. depends on how much you want to 'loose' either on an unused plane or train ticket to give you peace of mind.

Have a play on National Rail and see what it comes up with

At the moment http://www.thetrainline.com is showing just under £60 a single, standard class, ticket for the 17th June - as it's an 8.5 hour journey from Aberdeen to Gatwick there's no way to make the VS043 on the same day.For this price the only change is in London itself with the walk across the road (or under the road) from Kings Cross to St Pancras; there are slightly cheaper options but these require a change at Edinburgh.

There's the Caledonian Sleeper - which might be fun and would combine the journey with the need for overnight accommodation. It gets into Euston just before 8 a.m. which would be fine if everything is on time but doesn't leave much contingency to get to LGW for an 11.30 flight. I can't get in to check the prices at the moment as the fares enquiry system seems to be doing the dying fly.

Hope this helps.

Paul

national rail is showing these ADVANCE fares at the moment

7.52 from Aberdeen is £ 54.50 second and £ 79.50 in 1st class
(the 9.07 with one change is the same)

the 9.52 is £ 54.50 standard and £ £ 79.50 in first

prices seam to go up and dopwn through the day but as this is such a long trip the options are limited.

[honey lamb]

My original post was a bit abrupt as I needed to be elsewhere. I can appreciate where you are coming from. If I have a VS flight from LHR before midday I always book the day before as the risk of the early morning flight not going out on time is too great. Even if it means hanging about a bit longer I will always choose the flight to LHR before the normal connecting flight, if you see what I mean. The one plane shuttles back and forth between Cork and LHR so for a late afternoon flight I always get the early morning flight to allow for a margin of error and I'll never forget the time when my flight the day before was so seriously delayed that I thought I would miss my on-going flight. I still need therapy for that. LOL!

As everyone has suggested, look into alternative ways to get to LGW even if it means leaving earlier than planned. You've shelled out a good bit to go to Las Vegas and although one doesn't want to lose out, it's better to lose on this side of the Atlantic than the mega-bucks you will have paid to go to LAS. Also keep a good look-out on the ash charts and pray for southerly winds!

Good luck with your trip

Why not phone VS and ask if they will quote to add your Flybe option to the PNR for your Virgin flight? Then, if the Aberdeen-Gatwick is cancelled, VS will put you on the next available? Although, of course, as we saw last month, the next available could be weeks away!

Thanks everyone, you have confirmed what I thought that I have to get to Gatwick by hell or high water or train at least! I did check train prices yesterday for yesterday and it was £129. My problem is I have a work commitment until 1pm so train would mean cancelling that. I'm just going to wait until nearer the time and hope my 5pm flight is fine and I can enjoy the Yotel and number 1 lounge before Vegas, LA, New orleans and Chicago!

The change in ash rules yesterday is hopefully going to make it unlikely that you will be affected - Flybe will be allowed to fly under the new rules from later today. I have not seen details of when other airlines will satisfy the requirements - hopefully BD will not be far behind as I am in a similar situation to you for flights on Saturday and next Thursday.