Volcano-Cancel Travel Plans?

My Italy vacation was supposed to be 4/15 through 5/5. Orbtiz text messaged me with the bad news just 2 hours before going to the airport on Thursday. Now, I have rebooked everything for 5/6 through 5/25 and will just hope for the best. Fortunately, the airlines worked with me and rescheduled the flights, I quickly sought out a new timeslot for the same RS tour, then rebooked my accommodations for later in the trip, after the tour. I am going with most of the suggestions here to not purchase train tickets in advance but to wait until I am in Italy. It was such a disappointment after gearing myself up and planning the trip for almost a year. However, I thank my lucky stars I didn't get caught at an airport somewhere. I say go ahead and plan- wait until the very last minute to reschedule (without penalties of course). Just my 2 cents.

We leave for Milan May 9th returning from Rome June 3rd. If the planes are flying from Toronto, we're going!!! The thought of rescheduling is overwhelming so hopefully it's a go!
Jean

I think that you plan to go on your trip as scheduled. If something changes in the next few days you can re-adjust your plans--that's what we're planning to do!

Our flight to London and on to Rome was to begin today but was canceled. Not wanting to deal with the unsettled conditions now,we plan to try again in the fall. Unpacking has been very depressing!

Like Steve I am leaving in a month or so,, but who knows how long this could go on.

I personally will cancel nothing. If my flight is cancelled then my airline will refund or reticket me, so no loss there, and I have booked only hotels that have 24-48 hr cancellation policies, with the most I would be out is one nights lodging( 80 euros)

I will lose an 80 euro Eurostar ticket,, but I figure that a loss of max of 160 euros is not that bad compared to what some people will lose( non refundable lodgings, or lots of prepaid tickets for trains or sites)

I would wait and see what happens. One caveat,, since we really do not know how long this natural event could last, or if it could flare and erupt again after I would be aware of being able to get to Europe, but not be able to get back on time. I have relatives who would put me up indefinately so for me not a disaster, ( although hubby and kids may not be too happy about me being away longer) ,, but for some people it could be finacially a ruin. I would book cheapest accomadation I would like, and have a back plan( leave out of Rome instead of Paris?)

Has FCO been closed at all due to the volcano?

Marcia, I heard the same thing as Steve--only Milan and Venice closed with England reopening airspace today at 1000PM. Then again, as others have said, who knows what will happen in a week or two weeks or even six months? Apparently, there is another volcano near the one erupting now that may be ready to erupt as well. This will make for interesting travel plans for us all!

A person much more traveled than I posted yesterday that the problem wasn't with FCO being open, it is with getting from North America to Italy. I just canceled my trip for the 26th. To many variables for me, and I can't see where FCO has had any flights in or out from America (according to their website as of an hour ago)

Fortunately, we don't leave until mid June from Kennedy in NYC.

I feel bad for all those looking forward to their trip and then having flights canceled. This is our first time to Europe and we are really, really looking forward to it so I hope the volcanos quiet down by then.

As long as we can get over there we won't worry about how or when we are getting back.

The other volcano is called Katla which is ten times larger and only 12 miles away from Eyjafjallajokull.

This larger volcano is also under a glacier and erupts every 40 to 80 years. Last time in 1918: So its ten years overdue. Last three times Eyjafjallajokull erupted, Katla has also within one year.

There is a bit of perfect storm going on here. I'll try to explain.

The Northern Jet Stream makes a counter clockwise rotation all the way around the North Pole. Since the invention of High Attitide Jet Travel, airliners from North America to Europe have used this Jet Stream in conjunction with the shortest route, which flys into the arctic circle and then right over Iceland. So departure points were Seattle, Vancouver BC, Chicago and New York. Arrival points were, London, Amsterdam, and with longer flying aircraft, due to the relatively recent change to allowing efficient two engine craft to cross the Atlantic, could turn South and head directly to Zürich or Paris with out stopping. These volcanoes throw a great big monkey wrench into that since the freebie of using this air space has now been poisoned as they sit right under this jet stream like big spray paint cans. And if Katla goes off, it will affect all air traffic in Northern, North America and not just the leg to Europe.

Thats the really bad scenario that is likely, given the historical behavior of these volcanos.

You could develop a route that stays out of these potential "No Fly Zones" but everyone is thinking about that now also and booking accordingly.

With a trip that was planned in the future 13 months out to Rome. I've now dropped all of that. Getting there will just be too risky with cancellations and crowded to a point of "No Fun" if it does work.

So all plans are changed. We're now going to the last two US States we've never been to: Alaska and Hawaii.

Interesting, Francis. But if you are being so cautious, wouldn't you just not travel at all give that if Katla erupts, even air traffic in N.A. will be affected?

Our flight was scheduled to leave TODAY, but it was through LHR and cancelled. American Airlines rebooked us on a flight this Sunday direct from JFK to Milan. Hopefully this will work! Most of the hotels have been great and have rebooked us, but i have not heard from all of them yet. So we will still get our two weeks in Italy if. . . .

Mark and Kristy,

As pat mentioned, I wouldn't cancel your plans yet. Wait for the airline to cancel and then have a look at your options. Even if you have to arrive in Europe a day or two after you planned, as least you'll be able to salvage part of your much anticipated trip.

I'm supposed to depart for Rome (via Frankfurt) on May 13th, so I'm also watching the situation closely. As of today, the flights were operating at about 60% of normal, so that's an encouraging sign. I spoke with my Travel Agent yesterday, and she's optimistic that my flight will take place as scheduled, so I'm "keeping my fingers crossed".

Good luck!

Also departing for Naples on May 6th... Hoping the larger volcano remains quiet! Hanging in there and expecting things to calm down in the next few weeks. Rescheduling would be a nightmare..

i'm supposed to leave may 18 for venice...always seems to be something...last year at this time before going to ireland it was the swine flu fear...but a volcano...would have been low on the list...

Accordingly to the BBC, everything is fine. And the shut downs were due to safety zealots. I'm so glad the BCC got that all straightened out.

I'll be thinking about you on the Cruise Ship to Alaska this year. Have fun with your Italian Adventures!!

Hi Kristy!!! We made it here, believe it or not! Our flight was Monday evening. We were the first flight out of the states by Swiss Air. Just a bit nerve-wrecking!!! We got to the international terminal at the O'Hare airport in Chicago and the terminal was completely empty since no one was flying yet - very eerie feeling! Before they let us on the plane we had to sign a waiver from Swiss Air that said that we understood that they could get us to Zurich, but had no control over what would happen then and they couldn't guarantee our getting to Rome. They said the Zurich airport might be completely closed when we got there with no help for transportation to a train station or anywhere else. We looked at our kids and they said "let's go! It'll be an adventure!" So we hopped on the plane and prayed!

I'll be thinking about you and hoping for the best. What a bummer to have to wait and wait. I know exactly how that feels!! Take care and best wishes!