Icelandic Saga :(

[rynd2it]

Hi,

As many of the regulars on here know, we were planning a house-hunting trip for the upcoming couple of weeks with a stop-over in the UK.

The volcano put a stop to all that

Despite receiving voice-mails from the airline on the morning of departure assuring us all was fine and our flights were on time, when we arrived in Chicago from San Diego on Thursday (15th) afternoon we were told our flight to London was cancelled. Further enquiries told us that an onward flight was not possible before the 21st (!) and that was not guaranteed. We were offered the return to San Diego and decided to accept it, having to stay overnight in Chicago and fly back the following day.

It was the right decision, the airspace is still closed and I doubt we would have got a flight much before the 24th and even that is questionable. The next several hours were spent in numerous phone calls cancelling hotels, cars, rail tickets etc and I have to say that everyone we had to speak to so far was extremely helpful (with one notable exception - Europcar) and readily accepted cancellations and organized refunds.

However, three months planning has been nullified and we are back to square one. The research is still valid, now we have to replan the visit all over again and probably postpone our move. It is a bit of an emotional roller-coaster but thankfully, we are back in our own home - many others are not and probably won't be for several days.

Cheers


David

[cory.fuller]

Oh boy, what timing. I am supposed to leave on the 20th because my wedding is on May 16th. I just hope I get there before that date....

Such bad luck David, I thought you were travelling at the start of April. Hope that you can organise another trip soon.

We take so many things for granted, yet when technology fails us, we are helpless. Makes you think.

[dijid]

So sorry your plans fell through. Hope you get to reschedule soon.

[Bevdeforges]

I was beginning to wonder about how many folks we might have here on the forum with ruined travel plans. At least you got "caught" on the outbound leg of your trip. I know of several folks stranded away from home - who have no idea when they might be able to return. (One wonders how the various countries will deal with the inevitable visa issues that will arise!)

Also, if history is any indication (i.e. after the flight suspension that followed 9/11), it is going to take some time for air traffic to get back to anything resembling normal once the ash cloud disperses. I've heard that a couple (very smart) airlines are not taking any new reservations until the current situation gets sorted.
Cheers,
Bev

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by cory.fuller

Oh boy, what timing. I am supposed to leave on the 20th because my wedding is on May 16th. I just hope I get there before that date....

If you have a confirmed reservation for the 20th you may be OK - it's the rebooking that was our problem as we went to the back of the line.

BUT call the airline right up to the moment you leave home, good luck

David

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

I was beginning to wonder about how many folks we might have here on the forum with ruined travel plans. At least you got "caught" on the outbound leg of your trip. I know of several folks stranded away from home - who have no idea when they might be able to return. (One wonders how the various countries will deal with the inevitable visa issues that will arise!)

Also, if history is any indication (i.e. after the flight suspension that followed 9/11), it is going to take some time for air traffic to get back to anything resembling normal once the ash cloud disperses. I've heard that a couple (very smart) airlines are not taking any new reservations until the current situation gets sorted.
Cheers,
Bev

Hi Bev,

I got caught in the 9/11 situation as well - I was in Taiwan at the time - waited four days for a return flight. I hear some very smart airlines are already flying empty planes under 10,000 feet to position them ready for regular schedules.

Cheers

David

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by rynd2it

Hi Bev,

I got caught in the 9/11 situation as well - I was in Taiwan at the time - waited four days for a return flight. I hear some very smart airlines are already flying empty planes under 10,000 feet to position them ready for regular schedules.

Cheers

David

They have to be careful, as apparently the ban applies to the airspace above the various countries in total. Today we have seen a number of small private planes out at very low altitudes, but some guy was complaining on the radio this morning that the ban on flying also applies to helicopters, which aren't affected by the dust in the same way. (? I have no idea on these things.) Of course the gendarme helicopters are out and flying around today - but not in nearly the numbers as usual.
Cheers,
Bev

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

They have to be careful, as apparently the ban applies to the airspace above the various countries in total. Today we have seen a number of small private planes out at very low altitudes, but some guy was complaining on the radio this morning that the ban on flying also applies to helicopters, which aren't affected by the dust in the same way. (? I have no idea on these things.) Of course the gendarme helicopters are out and flying around today - but not in nearly the numbers as usual.
Cheers,
Bev

Helicopter engines are susceptible to the same damage but don't fly at anything like the altitudes where it's likely to be an issue, so they are probably safe, as are light aircraft.

David

[rynd2it]

Just a quick note to let you know, American Airlines gave me a full refund on my tickets and did not even charge for the wasted round trip SAN/ORD.

Thanks American

David