need to get to Bristol this weekend

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by mrypg9

I'm in more than two minds about whether to fly to London in the summer....I'm booked for a Conference in the first week of July.
Hotel and flight prices will be exorbitant - that doesn't worry me as I'm not paying - but it's security concerns that are bugging me.
I'm far from the nervous type, quite the opposite, but with all that's currently going on in the world and our compliance in so many 'bad' things I fear there will be some kind of incident, hopefully minor and prevented before harm is done.
Am I being paranoic?

maybe....................but just because you're paranoid it doesn't mean they're not out to get you

I think that unless you have to go or want to go for the Olympics themselves, that London would be best avoided this summer - afaic if only because it will be so horribly crowded

[Solwriter]

Sorry to hear about your Mum, Pesky.
Hope she's going to be ok.

As for cheap airlines, I've given up on trying to get the cheapest deal with any of them and have gone for a bit more convenience.
3 or 4 years ago, when there were still UK flights out of Granada airport, I looked at the chance of commuting between the UK and Spain at weekends, but gave up the idea as the costs, even then via budget airlines, were too high, taking into account fares at the UK end when landing at some ungodly hour and having to travel many miles from the airport to my destination.

But I agree, this year travel costs are worse and actual flight numbers are down. I have had to delay my trip to the UK until near the end of March, because the flight times I need, to fit in with my family at the UK end, aren't available until then.

[Solwriter]

Originally Posted by mrypg9

I'm in more than two minds about whether to fly to London in the summer....I'm booked for a Conference in the first week of July.
Hotel and flight prices will be exorbitant - that doesn't worry me as I'm not paying - but it's security concerns that are bugging me.
I'm far from the nervous type, quite the opposite, but with all that's currently going on in the world and our compliance in so many 'bad' things I fear there will be some kind of incident, hopefully minor and prevented before harm is done.
Am I being paranoic?

No you're not,
It's only natural, given the current emphasis on the 'T' word, that you would think this way.
But I do think it is going to be hell for anyone travelling via a major UK airport during the Olympics, because there will be security queues and hot, weary and disgruntled passengers, everywhere.

[bob_bob]

Mary if you don't travel because of a potential terrorist attack then 'they' have won without firing a shot

[mrypg9]

Originally Posted by bob_bob

Mary if you don't travel because of a potential terrorist attack then 'they' have won without firing a shot

Oh no, it's not that.....this is a woman who flew two days after 9/11 ...

I agree with you. I was thinking of what might happen in London, fearful for other people, not for myself.

******!!! I've just spilled red wine on my keyboard...it was good wine too...

[brocher]

Hope you get to see your Mum soon, Pesky. I don't think it's just Easter that's is causing the high prices. Prices were sky high back in February- which should be a quiet month, and even booking our upcoming flights months in advance, they were still way more expensive than last year.

Their does seem to be some problem with availabilty, too, as I had great difficulty getting "sensible" connections - never mind sensible prices!

We have very few options where we live, but last year, it was easy, even at shortish notice, to get flights from Aberdeen to Malaga, with a few hours connection time at Gatwick.

This year, half the offered options consist of Aberdeen - Heathrow - Madrid - Malaga, involve an overnight airport hotel, £1000 each way ECONOMY. My economy certainly doesn't stretch to these kind of prices - not to mention the sheer hassle of such a convuluted trip.

[brocher]

Mary, while I agree that it will be expensive and so, so busy around London this summer, I personally doubt potential terrorists would choose such an obvious target.

They will know that security will be at maximum around London, and if they choose to do anything, they would surely choose to target something/ somewhere way off the radar.

[brocher]

Ah, it's looking even better for flights UK/ Spain -

UK - "National Day of Strike Action 28 March 2012
(Remember 30 November Public Sector Strike? It's back.)
What's the weather going to be? Good weather will mean a good turn out. Last time everyone went Christmas shopping. This time the nation will be ready early and on time for the Easter bunny. We jest, but remember Heathrow and Gatwick were extremely organized. They urged airlines to cancel flights and bought in an army of volunteers. Less busy airports faired well."

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by mrypg9

******!!! I've just spilled red wine on my keyboard...it was good wine too...

I'm sure it will be very happy down there with the cake crumbs.

After a couple of days brewing you'll be able to sample wine and cake crumb stew!

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

I'm sure it will be very happy down there with the cake crumbs.

After a couple of days brewing you'll be able to sample wine and cake crumb stew!

shame it wasn't rum - she could have had bizcocho borracho!