Volcano and flight disruptions in Europe

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

From today's (4/16) newswires:

"LONDON – Volcanic ash blanketed parts of rural Iceland on Friday and left a widening arc of grounded aircraft across Europe, as thousands of planes stayed on the tarmac to avoid the hazardous cloud.

Eurocontrol, the European air traffic agency, said the flight disruptions that upended travel in Europe and reverberated throughout the world Thursday were even worse on Friday. Half a dozen European nations have closed their airspaces, the cloud was drifting east, about 60 percent of European flights were not operating and delays will continue into Saturday, it said.

"We expect around 11,000 flights to take place today in European airspace. On a normal day, we would expect 28,000," said Kyla Evans, a spokeswoman for Eurocontrol. "The cloud of volcanic ash is continuing to move east and southeast."

Ice chunks the size of houses tumbled down from a volcano beneath Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull (ay-yah-FYAH'-plah-yer-kuh-duhl) glacier Thursday, as hot gases melted the ice. The volcano began erupting Wednesday for the second time in less than a month."

Hope no one here has any disruption in travel/vacation plans because of this. For all of our European friends - please stay safe. From what I've read, the biggest concern is that this eruption may trigger an eruption of the much larger nearby volcano and cause a great deal of problems.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

My parents are going to Ireland next Friday. I haven't seen any estimate of how long this ash cloud is expected to be a problem, has anyone else seen that info?

[jlwquilter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlwquilter]

It has effected us. We were supposed to fly out of Miami direct to Paris yesterday... 6:15pm flight on American. Got the call at 12:30 or so that the flight was cancelled. Given a special number to call to re-book flgihts. Called within half an hour (had to wait for DH to get home to discuss as it's his business trip that is the reason we are all going). I was very happy to at leas know the flights were cancelled before leaving for the 2 hr. trip to the airport. Much easier to deal with all of this while still at home instead of crouched in some corner of the airport trying to make phone calls, work a laptop, etc.

Waited on hold 28 minutes (aren't cell phone great for tracking such things??). Rezzie clerk wasn't really aware of situation (but she was after my call) and the very next flight we could book was leaving Sunday, now connecting thru JFK, adding 5 hrs. to trip time in each direction. Everything else was already booked solid. Frankly, I was thrilled by then to get those flights!

DH who HAS to be there for Monday, if at all possible, was able to book OUTRAGEOUSLY priced business class tickets, leaving tomorrow noon-ish, connecting thru JFK, arriving early morning Sunday. Thank God the company pays for that. We are talking just under $10,000!!! If this was a gas station they'd get hit for price gouging! DH is now hoping, which seems likely if things continue as is, his flights will hold.

Fortunately the apartment we have rented thru an agent was able to go with this new situation. We were able to simply slide our reservation back 2 days at no cost. This could have been a real nightmare but we got lucky there.

We did pre-order and pay for Disneyland tickets, only good for the specific day... in this case Sunday. We won't be there. I have emailed the company (FNAC) and am waiting to hear of they can make an exception to the no change policy and re-issue the tickets for next Sunday instead when we could indeed still go. If so great, if not we'll be out $200. Not great but not the end of the world either, given the situation.

I do extensive planning for trips. Really extensive. While this glitch has thrown everything up in the air, my planning (and a dose of good luck!) is allowing everything to fall back into a very workable new plan.

And all very minor as compared to what others are facing, especially in Iceland.

Philsfan.... some airports are already opening for a few flights. It seems that if things continue as they are things will be back to normal by the end of the weekend, as far as full flight schedules being back on. Your parents should be fine.

Now, if the volcano erupts again like it just did.... all bets are off!

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

I just flew home from a business trip through Frankfort yesterday. The pilot told us that we'd be taking a more southerly route to avoid the ash. I had no idea that flights from other airports had been canceled yesterday until I arrived home. I am so grateful that I was able to get home. Today I hear that Frankfort is also closed. What a mess!

Sue

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

My parents are going to Ireland next Friday. I haven't seen any estimate of how long this ash cloud is expected to be a problem, has anyone else seen that info?

Nobody is able to say with certainty, but the latest news in the UK is that Scottish and Irish airports may be partially open later today or early Saturday. English airport, with the possible exception of Newcastle won't be reopening before Saturday 07:00 at the earliest.
The variables of amount of ash being pumped out and wind direction make it near impossible to give precise answers. Latest graphic showed Scandinavia and much of western Europe affected to a greater or lesser degree.

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

DH who HAS to be there for Monday, if at all possible, was able to book OUTRAGEOUSLY priced business class tickets, leaving tomorrow noon-ish, connecting thru JFK, arriving early morning Sunday.

Latest on all airports serving Paris is that they won't open before Saturday 07:00 at the very earliest. The timings for UK airports keep getting put back so I wouldn't put too much reliance on the booking made already.

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

Flights from Ireland to US left today except one from Shannon. Will check if inward flights are coming in.

G

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

I have a friend who is supposed to be leaving on Saturday from JFK to Paris. She's been planning this trip for two years, so is still hoping she can make it there. She'd rather have the problem at the tail-end of her trip (she's not too concerned about having to extend her stay.

[mas Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mas]

Here's a pretty good map showing what areas are affected

[falmouth3 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close falmouth3]

That map makes it clear why Irish airports are open today. I hope it stays that way - and gets better for the rest of Europe.

Sue

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

The overland travel situation in Europe is a madhouse. My flight today on EasyJet from Vienna to London was cancelled, but I anticipated that yesterday morning and turned in my rental car a day in advance in Salzburg. Incurring the €70 penalty to turn it in there instead of Vienna was well worth it in starting my overland trip as early as possible. The six direct rail connections to London that had been availible Thursday evening were all gone Friday morning when I got to the railway station in Salzburg. The unhelpful ticket agent said the first train he had to London was next Tuesday, because it would route through Paris and he already knew that there was nothing to Paris until Tuesday. Since all but one of the London routes I had seen the night before were through Brussels, I asked him to see if he could get me to Brussels and then on to the channel port at Calais, France or better yet on the Brussels to London Eurostar. He struck out on the Eurostar to London, but booked me as far as Calais on Eurostar from Brussels. There were people standing up in the aisles of each of the four train segments I was on between Salzburg and Brussels. They were selling tickets without seat reservations on all the trains. The last one was so overcrowded that the railroad would not let it leave the station in Cologne until they could coax enough passengers off to use other trains. That last one was the only one in which I had to stand up most of the way, fortunately. The Eurostar did not sell standing room tickets, but there were a few empty seats in 2nd class and quite a few in 1st class, so I asked the train manager enroute if I could buy the Calais to London segment, and was told if I could sit on a fold down seat between cars, I could stay on the train and they would not charge me for that. Thanks to Eurostar, I actually made it into London about seven hours earlier than my cancelled EasyJet flight would have landed. I had to overnight in Brussels but found a good deal on a hotel room two blocks from the train station on booking.com When I went to Gatwick airport to pick up my rental car, I stood there in awe for a while at the emptiness and the boards with all the flights marked cancelled.

The channel ferries I found out were even selling out of tickets for foot passengers. Some people bought bicycles in Calais so they could buy the only ticket class still availible, for cyclists. I even heard of a BA gold elite member wobbling on board a ferry on a child's bicycle as that was all he could find to buy. The ferries made cyclists actually ride on board.

At both the London and Brussels Eurostar ticket counters there were signs up that they were fully booked and not selling tickets. However, in London, British Rail did have Eurostar tickets to Brussels availible this morning, in spite of the signs at the Eurostar ticket counter.

I just hope things clear up for my trip to Ireland next Saturday!

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

The problem is bad enough in mainland Europe but at least there is the possibility of travelling by other means to airports in areas that aren't affected. For those in the UK the options are severely limited. As Carolinian has said, Eurostar claims to be fully booked for days ahead and even ferry options are limited.

Latest on the news here a few minutes ago was that there are concerns the problems could continue into the middle of the week. Has anybody got a big plug they can take to Iceland??

[Ireland's Call Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ireland's Call]

The overland travel situation in Europe is a madhouse. My flight today on EasyJet from Vienna to London was cancelled, but I anticipated that yesterday morning and turned in my rental car a day in advance in Salzburg. Incurring the €70 penalty to turn it in there instead of Vienna was well worth it in starting my overland trip as early as possible. The six direct rail connections to London that had been availible Thursday evening were all gone Friday morning when I got to the railway station in Salzburg. The unhelpful ticket agent said the first train he had to London was next Tuesday, because it would route through Paris and he already knew that there was nothing to Paris until Tuesday. Since all but one of the London routes I had seen the night before were through Brussels, I asked him to see if he could get me to Brussels and then on to the channel port at Calais, France or better yet on the Brussels to London Eurostar. He struck out on the Eurostar to London, but booked me as far as Calais on Eurostar from Brussels. There were people standing up in the aisles of each of the four train segments I was on between Salzburg and Brussels. They were selling tickets without seat reservations on all the trains. The last one was so overcrowded that the railroad would not let it leave the station in Cologne until they could coax enough passengers off to use other trains. That last one was the only one in which I had to stand up most of the way, fortunately. The Eurostar did not sell standing room tickets, but there were a few empty seats in 2nd class and quite a few in 1st class, so I asked the train manager enroute if I could buy the Calais to London segment, and was told if I could sit on a fold down seat between cars, I could stay on the train and they would not charge me for that. Thanks to Eurostar, I actually made it into London about seven hours earlier than my cancelled EasyJet flight would have landed. I had to overnight in Brussels but found a good deal on a hotel room two blocks from the train station on booking.com When I went to Gatwick airport to pick up my rental car, I stood there in awe for a while at the emptiness and the boards with all the flights marked cancelled.

The channel ferries I found out were even selling out of tickets for foot passengers. Some people bought bicycles in Calais so they could buy the only ticket class still availible, for cyclists. I even heard of a BA gold elite member wobbling on board a ferry on a child's bicycle as that was all he could find to buy. The ferries made cyclists actually ride on board.

At both the London and Brussels Eurostar ticket counters there were signs up that they were fully booked and not selling tickets. However, in London, British Rail did have Eurostar tickets to Brussels availible this morning, in spite of the signs at the Eurostar ticket counter.

I just hope things clear up for my trip to Ireland next Saturday!

Wow ...what an adventure.! If you get to Ireland and are having difficulties ..please dont hesitate to call me on 353 876691744 .Regards
Garry

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

Wow ...what an adventure.! If you get to Ireland and are having difficulties ..please dont hesitate to call me on 353 876691744 .Regards
Garry

Thanks. I am keeping my fingers crossed that things will clear up enough that my Aer Lingus flight to Dublin will take off next Saturday. Otherwise, I will be checking on ferry crossings, probably from Hollyhead.

[BWolf Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BWolf]

Reporting from Marriott's Marbella Beach Resort. Our original Boston to London, to Madrid, to Malaga, didn't happen.

We rebooked Boston to Punta Delgado, to Lisbon, to Madrid. Subway to train. Two train rides (one short and one long) to Malaga. Picked-up by In-laws who arrived earlier. We had a meal every 3.3 hours, on average. Don't know if that is good or bad. Four small bottles of wine on the train to Malaga. They were definitely good. Preferente Class is highly recommended.

We spoke to many people who told us their stories of quiet desperation trying to get home. Perhaps the funniest were the two guys from Iceland just trying to get home. We told them they could fly from Boston to Reykavik (sp) anytime. That flight and ours were the two that left Logan late Saturday evening.

The crew on the flight from Lisbon to Madrid were trying to turn around and go home quickly. The cloud was advancing on Madrid and they were concerned Madrid airport would close. Don't know if it has.