Hurricane Matthew

my thoughts are with all in the Caribbean who are being impacted on by Hurricane Matthew. I am also (selfishly perhaps) thinking ahead to Saturday and our flight to Miami. If the hurricane does move towards Florida, just wondering what would happen in the event of a cancellation. Does the flight get cancelled completely or delayed until it is safe to depart? I know this question is the equivalent to 'how long is a piece of string', but just trying to understand what the impacts might be. We have 2xG's so wonder would be down the pecking order when it came to re-booking on flights when flights were running again.

VS will cancel the flight rather than risk having a plane, the passengers and the crew in the wrong location. Rebooking will then happen on the next available flight.

But do take a look here. If Matthew continues on its forecast trajectory it's more likely to be over the Carolinas by Saturday pm. It's the Friday VS flight I'd be more concerned about.

Thanks Slinky....agree, but there are so many conflicting forecasts at the moment and very unpredictable in nature... fingers crossed that by Saturday we will be OK...

Keep an eye on the DL and AA websites (even though you are flying VS) if they start to offer flight waivers - especially on international flights to/from MIA - then chances are VS will soon follow (but not necessarialy immediately).

Yes, the key is to be on the ball and try and find out if flights are being cancelled before VS tell you. Because as soon as they announce it, hundreds of passengers will be calling up at the same time trying to change their plans, particularly if MCO is cancelled as well as MIA. And you really don't want to be at the back of the queue.

Thanks for the replies to this thread. Due to fly back with the family from Orlando to Manchester on Friday night, this threat of a hurricane is starting to feel more real.

it does seem as if the forecasts are leaning towards it reaching Florida, compared to a few days ago. let us know how you get on and fingers crossed for you that you won't encounter too many delays.

Keep an eye on the DL and AA websites (even though you are flying VS) if they start to offer flight waivers - especially on international flights to/from MIA - then chances are VS will soon follow (but not necessarialy immediately).

Just read on VS website that they are offering free changes for flight to, from or through MCO and MIA on Thursday and Friday.....

Currently the hurricane is forecast to reach Florida north of Miami on Thursday evening and then move up the coast. Tropical storm warnings are in place for Miami on Thursday to Saturday morning. I think the OP will be OK for Saturday, but others flying on Thursday and Friday should start to plan for disruption - especially for Orlando where I think there may be a greater degree of disruption than at Miami.

Thanks for the updates guys, it's a real dilemma in the sense that our hire car and hotel booking end on Friday to coincide with the return flight.
Given the situation I guess we need to be proactive and extend car hire and hotel for a further 2 or 3 days rather than wait for an official cancellation.
And also guessing ,y new timeline depends on when we're able to get a return flight back to the UK, just out of interest how long does it typically take for the airline to catch up with all the displaced passengers

Thanks in advance.

Andy

just out of interest how long does it typically take for the airline to catch up with all the displaced passengers

Impossible to say as it depends on how many flights are disrupted and how many passengers are affected. It also includes the availability of landing slots at both airports and the availability of crew etc

Luckily it's not 1/2 term at the moment though !

Thanks for the replies to this thread. Due to fly back with the family from Orlando to Manchester on Friday night, this threat of a hurricane is starting to feel more real.

Really feel for you. There are so many unknown factors & one doesn't want to jump too soon - but, suddenly, time can be of the essence. Good luck with whatever you decide to do - & stay safe !

Best wishes
hiljil ( also anxiously watching progress of Matthew from the west coast of Florida!!)

We are flying to Atlanta on Friday. I am getting worried that we will be affected too. The website only says Miami and Orlando are affected at the moment. If the flights are being cancelled will they contact us before we get to the airport.?

We are flying to Atlanta on Friday. I am getting worried that we will be affected too. The website only says Miami and Orlando are affected at the moment. If the flights are being cancelled will they contact us before we get to the airport.?

I would think Atlanta may be too far inland. All the tracks I've seen show the eye still out to sea and on Friday should still be off the Florida coast as it is moving very slowly and will weaken as it heads north.
Fingers crossed you will be OK

Dick D

I seem to think the last time there was a major hurricane in the Orlando / Tourist area and people were stuck, a lot of the main hotels, Disney etc, extended everyone's reservations for a few days - I think FOC. I guessing that was probably the same for hire company's.

You would hope the same will happen, if necessary, this time.

David

We are due to fly LGW-MCO on Friday and are staying at a Gatwick hotel on Thursday night
I'm not sure what we should do to be honest
Any advice would be most welcome

We are due to fly LGW-MCO on Friday and are staying at a Gatwick hotel on Thursday night
I'm not sure what we should do to be honest
Any advice would be most welcome

Just keep an eye on the VS website. The latest update was at 19.13 yesterday (so there may be an update very soon) and allows people due to fly in the 6th and 7th to rebook but travel needs to be completed by the 12th October.

Only you can decide on whether or not to cancel your trip and that might depend on the attitude of the hotel you have booked with and your travel insurance provider.


http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/content/ ... -news.html

Tomorrow's Miami is cancelled but MCO still scheduled

Tomorrow's Miami is cancelled but MCO still scheduled

Not surprised based on the latest forecast which has a hurricane warning for Miami from Thursday to Friday then the storm is forecast to track out to see again before landfall in the Carolinas, so MCO currently looks like it will not be affected. But that forecast can still change.

Would expect MCO flights to take a more inland routing down the East Coast, over Georgia etc to stay west of the storm.

Our flight from Orlando to Manchester has been cancelled tomorrow (Friday)
Luckily we are on a flight on Saturday, so it's now time to sit tight and see where we are in 24hrs.
Quite surreal as the weather albeit a bit wet is calm, the local Walmart is out of bread and water and also low sticks on the wine shelf which is quite amusing

Latest on VS website:

7th October
VS73 / VS74 - MAN-MCO-MAN - Cancelled
VS27 / VS28 - LGW-MCO-LGW - overnight delay to Sat 8th
VS75 / VS76 - MAN-MCO-MAN - overnight delay to Sat 8th
VS71 / VS72 - GLA-MCO-GLA - overnight delay to Sat 8th

8th October
VS73 - MAN-MCO - overnight delay to Sun 9th
VS27 / VS28 - LGW-MCO-LGW - overnight delay to Sat 9th
VS16 - MCO-LGW - overnight delay to Sun 9th

Why on earth is vs15 landing today in Orlando at 5.20pm . I live here and we're under a massive Hurricane watch and everyone should be off the roads by 5.pm ?
So 300 plus people land and after clearing immigration and customs will get a car around 7pm . They then have to find there hotel or vacation home ???

I'm very surprised VS15 is arriving in Orlando today at 5.20pm local time. I live in Orlando and the local media has advised everyone to be home and off the roads by 5pm. So virgin lands at 5.20 people won't get cats and buses till around 7 pm. I think this is a minor error of Judgement and timing !

I'm very surprised VS15 is arriving in Orlando today at 5.20pm local time. I live in Orlando and the local media has advised everyone to be home and off the roads by 5pm. So virgin lands at 5.20 people won't get cats and buses till around 7 pm. I think this is a minor error of Judgement and timing !

On the flip side, there will be people booked on the return sector who are probably glad to be leaving just as Hurricane Matthew hits the area rather than be delayed for 48hrs+ and contend with hundreds of others whose flights were cancelled. Thomas Cook are also operating today I see.

Fingers crossed everyone stays safe.