Tropical storm Ernesto

Morning

TS Ernesto is near Barbados at the moment and it's current trajectory puts it near CUN on 7th or 8th Aug, potentially having been upgraded to a hurricaine.

I just wondered what would happen if it is over CUN on the 7th. We leave LGW at 11am ish, would VS still leave and see how close they get (maybe diverting to Miami or somewhere to wait it out) or would they just delay / cancel the flight?

I assume they wouldn't fly through it / around it?

Many thanks, R.

If there's a hurricane in CUN they will more than likely cancel the flight, as there's no point in setting off if they can't get to there destination safely.

However they can most certainly fly around it. This happens regularly.

Thank you for your response. If the flight is cancelled will they fly the next day or will they just cancel it totally?

I would check with the airline before you set off

And check your insurance although I'm not sure if they provide hurricane cover ... ?|

Hi Slinky, no they don't, act of God

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you Rachel. Theses storms are extremely unpredictable at best. It's still just under aweek away and could well change course or even disperse.

Thanks Ian, yes I keep thinking that.

As long as I can get there I'm happy to experience a hurricane first hand as I knew there was a risk booking Mexico this time of year and the hotels etc are prepared.

The worst outcome for me would be to be stuck at LGW. I was there during the Dec snow in 2010 and it was awful, we were with Thomson that time and were just left at the airport after the flight was delayed 24 hours, however I remember VS and BA just cancelling their flights and sending everyone home. That is the worst possible outcome, I would be heartbroken.

Yeah, must admit I'm a tad worried out that when I fly out on 20/11.

My last ever time at sea when I was in the Royal Navy, was in the North Atlantic just off the Azores. Winds were up to 120 MPH, waves over 50 foot. We have a wave crash onto our flight deck, bent it by nearly 5 degrees. We had a Navy Chaplain onboeard also...he stood on the bridge early one morning (4am) and started ranting how the Admiralty were putting our lives at risk! I was sitting at the helm thinking to myself, "cheers mate, you're meant to be the one raising out moral and with a direct line to him upstairs - and I don't mean RB lol.
not my favourite memory from my time at sea!!

Flew out to Turks and Caicos last year just as Irene was about to hit. When we arrived at MIA all flights to eastern caribbean cancelled, so we headed to our overnight in the MIA airport hotel. Next morning chaos with flights but somehow our afternoon AA flight went out. Very bumpy flight and arrived approx 4 hours after hurricane had left. Beaches hotel had sustained damaged, and had decided to close. Most of guests had left or were leaving. We then spent 11 days in that hotel with a capacity of over 2200 with les than 120 guest and for final two days we had the resort to ourselves. Therefore well worth making the effort to beat the storm and good luck with your flight. If it was cancelled it may be worth trying to get out with VS to Miami and then connect on when flights resume

Ian, really your stories make me feel sea sick just reading them! I get sea sick on a pedalo and my dad was a RN Lt Cdr, not sure what happened to me!

Paul S, thanks for the advice, I'd be happy in MIA, anywhere that isn't England will do me!

[Scrooge]

Thanks Ian, yes I keep thinking that.

As long as I can get there I'm happy to experience a hurricane first hand as I knew there was a risk booking Mexico this time of year and the hotels etc are prepared.

No you don't, you want to be as far away as possible from the thing, I've been through 3-4 (Ivan twice the sneaky storm) and they are not fun, a tropical storm, ok, have a storm party, a full blown hurricane you want no part off, especially in Cancun, that area is to flat to provide any type of protection, the storms come straight off the sea, not fun.

TSE brushed St Lucia this morning. The island took it very seriously.Now wet and windy.

the local news here is tracking it, it currently isnt showing to turn to sw florida more head across the gulf. their worst prediction currently is it may become a cat 1 hurricane.

miami wouldnt be the worst plaxce to be stranded

well its not great news, they are now saying high probability it will be a Cat 1 soon and impact Jamaica. they are forecasting being oveer Cancun between 0200 Tuesday and 0200 Wednesday. Thats local time here so +5 for BST. they say it could turn north to Lousiana but unlikely.

so sorry to be the bearer of bad news but its possible you may have a delay. i would suggest plan accordingly

Thanks Ian, yes I keep thinking that.

As long as I can get there I'm happy to experience a hurricane first hand as I knew there was a risk booking Mexico this time of year and the hotels etc are prepared.

Believe me - you dont want to be anywhere near a hurricane! Hurricanes are extremely dangerous and the naftermath extremely umpleasent. You have obviously never experienced a hurricane or you would have a very different attitude.

Flabound, what do you mean plan accordingly? Do you think I should book at hotel at LGW for Tues night?

Spill, I just want to go on holiday, my travel insurance will only give me £500 back for a holiday that cost me £4000.

I tried to upgrade my insurance this morning and they say I won't be covered as its a weather occurrence.

I don't understand what Virgin's responsibilities are. I was at LGW during the snow in 2010 travelling with Thompson and VS and BA cancelled all their flights and sent everyone home. We just had a 24 hr delay.

VS say that they are just getting a strong wind warning at the moment and told me not to worry.

Rachel, No one can predict how these storms/hurricanes will turn out but today's weather forecasters do keep us informed . . .and worried ii)

Remember this Is the hurricane season but very few flights get cancelled each year, on the Florida coasts this is normal weather conditions from June to October and they deal with. Obviously when these things hit land it affects flights coming in & out, which in turn can affect other flights if the plane was due to be used elsewhere.

Keep checking on http://www.weatherchannel.com, they're brilliant on tracking these things.

Your insurance seems somewhat minimal considering you're travelling long haul?

Port Charlotte during Charley was not fun , I can assure you. No electricity, so no a/c or lights. Food rotting in fridge. Loo flushed by water stored in bath. Only local radio to keep you informed about events. Would all the bottled water be enough ? A curfew. A visit to PT Charlotte Mall for food to be greeted by a scene from Apocalpse Now with helicopters and armed National Guard. The frightening drive to MCO for our flight with all road signs missing.... no, not my idea of fun at all.

I've learned some lessons regardless of how this turns out, number one being don't buy travel insurance based on price, read the terms of it properly AND if one is travelling to an area where hurricanes are a possibility then make sure there is provision in the policy.

Anyway que sera sera. Makes the OLCI worry seem rather pathetic now!

Direct travel can include hurricanes on the insurance. would it be cost effective to buy another policy asap?

Hi, tried that this morning, they only pay out if you buy the policy before the first warning.

Having made the stupid, flippant remark about just wanting to get there I have now 'googled' hurricane damage and the thought of being there with my little lad scares the hell out of me.

There was a reason I got a super deal on this holiday and that's because of this risk I suppose. There's nothing I can do but sit and wait and be grateful that I'm only worried about my holiday being ruined. When we visited the Riveria Maya last year I was quite shocked at the poverty so my thoughts will be with the locals if Ernesto hits.

[honey lamb]

Direct travel can include hurricanes on the insurance. would it be cost effective to buy another policy asap?

Not if you buy after a hurricane warning. On a similar vein, I have continuous multi-trip annual policy. It worked in my favour when an airline went on strike after I had bought the tickets and had the policy in place.

Most of the time we wonder why we buy insurance as 99% of the time we don't use it. I had considering downgrading my home insurance policy this year as well as my travel insurance. I didn't and then the flood struck

if this is positive news I dont knw. the latest forecast is ernesto still becoming a cat 1 BUT not hitting Yucatan until weds. SO you may well get there ok but wednesday could be 'fun'

The best site for tracking storms is http://www.wunderground.com/tropical.
Jeff Masters' blog is extremely informative.