Flights suspended at most UK Airports and others

Ryanair has no choice. The EU has ruled that all airlines must abide by all passengers rights--including accomodations and meals--even though this is not the airline's fault.

Update: Schipol in Amsterdam will also close.

Irish airspace is being closed as well. I was in Iceland last year and the locals were expecting this to happen. Good think I'm not flying to Europe this week.

I just composed an email to my family that yesterday I would not have even remotely contemplated writing. "Yeah, my flight will probably be delayed because of a volcanic eruption in Iceland..."

Looks like just about all of Europe has now cancelled flights for today. Sure hope this isn't affecting anyones vacation plans in a bad way.

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Iceland-Volcano-Grounds-UK-Flights-Volcanic-Ash-Sweeps-Into-British-Airspace-Closing-Airports/Article/201004315602425?f=rss

I have a feeling trains through much of Northern Europe, the UK and Ireland will be very busy today. Ferries too.

Just got a txt saying it's like Planes, Trains and Automobiles trying to get around today.

Leave it to the Scots to find a bit of humour in it though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34mHZgP9vkc

Here's an article from the SF Chronicle. Iceland's volcanic ash halts flights across Europe

For news hounds, the Guardian, (UK) has a live feed running.. covering all things volcano/transport related

All UK Airports closed until 7 AM local time Friday although that may be extended.

CDG and ORY in Paris are now closed.

The big question....will Ryanair offer refunds on its canceled flights or will they claim it's not their fault? :)

More likely, the airlines will lose money due to the volcano and figure out new fees to make it up. :(

Jets and ash aren't a good mix it seems..
However this isn't an anoouncement you would like to hear..
Passengers on the BA flight that hit the cloud in 1982 said the engines looked unusually bright: soon after all four flamed out. "I don't believe it – all four engines have failed!" said the flight engineer. The crew were prepared to ditch, and the captain told the passengers: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control. I trust you are not in too much distress

Well, there's a certain irony that the ash is coming from Iceland. The Icelandic bank failure hit the UK particularly hard so it's no wonder that the Scotsman is bit peeved with Iceland. ; )

Pam

CBS News covered this on their EDT 6:30 broadcast. Their experts predict that there will be more eruptions and thus more flight problems for several months. Everyone needs to pack their patience and their smiles!!! It is even impacting France and other parts of the continent and may tangle things up into a right good mess for quite a while.

Sure hope it's all calmed down by July! Well, except for my return flight...I wouldn't mind extending my vacation. ; )

Forgot to add: Pack a few extra days worth of your prescription medications just in case...

Would travel insurance cover this kind of problem?

"a perfect example of a mass travel disruption"

...meaning NOT covered?

Great. Just great. I'm supposed to arrive at CDG Monday morning.

Here's irony for you: The Keflavik airport (the closest international airport in the world to the volcano) is unaffected by the eruption (except for being unable to send/receive flight to/from many European destinations). Travel between Iceland and the US is NOT disrupted. The ash cloud heads offshore to the southeast, given current wind direction, so the Keflavik airport remains open and operational. Since I leave for Iceland in 5 days, I'm watching this closely.

The Times (London) is reporting that flights may be grounded an additional 4 more days. I can only imagine the chaos and disruption this is going to cause folks.

Anyone hear about flights from the US into Madrid? I can see that the ash cloud is not over Spain but I wasn't sure if the flight pattern is farther North....

Based on what I read on the internet, it seems that Madrid is not affected and is operating normally. Lots of high profile gov't folks are flying into Portugal/Spain since those airports are open (e.g. PM of Norway)

Eurostar are reporting that all trains from London to Paris and Brussels are now fully booked until the end of Sunday.

I can't help but think that Europe is about to face the air traffic nightmares the U.S. faced after the 9/11 flight ban was lifted.

Your trip insurance might cover it. Look for the "force majeure" clause. Of course, most of them are not dumb enough to hide behind it on things of this scale, and will help out. Just too much bad press.

Safe Journey's everyone.

Mike! Sounds like a great time to go to Iceland - live Volcano erupting (and no one getting hurt - yet) = WOOT!

We are stuck in a Wash DC airport hotel, and trip insurance is covering the expense. Arriving in Paris this week is looking doubtful. After a year of planning this trip, how depressing!

Kim

Kim - I feel very bad for you. We are afraid the same thing will happen to us next week. We are due to fly to Frankfurt on 4/21 - Frankfurt just closed this morning. One bit of good news is that some airports in Ireland are opening up so maybe if the ash cloud keeps moving you will get to your destination soon. Good luck.

Kim,

Hope some flights open up soon for you. I'll be facing the same situation in about three weeks, and sure hope flights are operating by then.

As I mentioned in another post, one flight managed to leave Glasgow for Toronto today. There was reportedly an opening in the ash cloud, and the flight had no problems.

I've seen the National Geographic show on British Airways flight #009 that was affected by volcanic ash in Indonesia a few years ago, so I completely understand why the authorities are taking this so seriously. That particular show was Episode 2 in Season 4 of the Mayday series.

Good luck!

Does anyone know if Rome is still able to get flights in or out? I leave in 15 days and trying to think of a contingency plan. Funny thing...my husband said "travel insurance...what a rip off...who needs travel insurance?"Hum...

Right now, Rome's airport is affected. Alitalia has begun to cancel flights and other airlines are expected to follow. But it should clear out by the time you fly.

Flights over Scotland and Northern Ireland have resumed.

Strangely, our friends at Ryanair has cancelled all flights over northern Europe until Monday. You'd think they'd want their passengers on the planes and ready to go in case there's a "hole in the cloud."

My ticket is actually to Heathrow I am praying that by the time I leave this will have cleared or they will come up with a plan to get people moving. The financial loss will be too great to just close down airports for an indefinite amount of time they will have to do something.

Lisa...the UK may open up London before the weekend is out. Not to worry.

Thanks much for the info, Arnold! Have you found a good source for info online?

I just read that transatlantic flights are flying into Glasgow and Prestwick! So visit Scotland! ; ) I've missed those lovely direct fights to Glasgow that I used to fly and would be delighted to avoid Heathrow. Check out the article at www.scotsman.com to read more.

Pam

To add to my earlier post, if this carries on for the next week or so, I'll contact my Travel Agent (following Rick's advice, I purchased my air tickets through a T.A. - will have to check if I signed up for trip insurance as well?). She may be able to find an alternate flight that will get me to any location in Europe.

I wonder if the Queen Mary 2 has any sailings in the next week or so?

Unfortunately, given my location I can't use the same method as John Cleese in travelling from Oslo to Brussels via Taxi (the bill was reportedly $5,000!).

Good luck to all!

Hoping that everyone who has been delayed so far can find a solution soon!

We're flying into Frankfurt --> Florence on May 12th. I hope the ash clears by then...

Wow never thought this could happen! I have a flight into Zurich on Monday the 19th and I am getting a little worried. I will be traveling for a month, luckly my first two weeks will be on a train but I am suppose to fly from Munich to London on May 4. Not sure if I should rebook into another city or even go on the trip altogether! This is pretty dissapointing after planning almost a year!

I am feeling smart however, a month and a half ago I went out and bought trip canacellation and interuption insurance, for 'the just in case'. Lets hope everything is covered since I have already spent hundreds of euro's on flights and trains!

Hope everyone else is doing alright, good luck to everyone with their Europe travel plans, if anything does leave us with a funny story to tell!

A word of advice.

If you are flying in the next week.. ARRIVE VERY EARLY!

I am reading reports of poeple already being rebooked as late as Wed/Thursday of this week. Figure every day they are closed adds a few more days to the "impact" of tyring to get everyone where they want to be.

This is NOT the time to "race to CDG" or any international hub. Don't be even 1 minute late for any of the baggage check, check in times. Plan for LONG lines at check in, security etc.....

They need those seats and if you show up five minutes late, your's may have been grabbed and given to one of the hundreds of standby passengers!

Who would have ever believed this? Good luck and safe travels to all those who have imminent departures for your long planned for trips.

On the other side, my son is an Air Canada pilot who was supposed to take off on Thursday from London to Vancouver, now he doesn't know when and how he is to get back to Canada. He is getting information day by day also. When Air Canada schedules extra planes to catch up on the backlog, smile at your flight crew who have been stranded as well!

How I wish that I was stranded in England there with him :) I really feel sorry for those people left on this side of the ocean who have planned to go on their vacations - maybe try to get to Spain or Portugal, then use any means on land (e.g., rental cars, trains). This is something that no-one had foreseen happening!

Kim and Lisa-- I am right there with you, except that my flight into Paris was canceled already and I'm trying to reschedule. It will be a real bummer if we can't go. Best of luck to you both.

We were scheduled to fly to Paris on 4/17 and it was cancelled. We decided rather than travel halfway around the world TO chaos we would cancel the trip. We spent many months planning a 32-day trip France/Italy/England so I'm hoping we can go this fall.
Sure am glad we got trip insurance.

Carole, I had to cancel my trip too. I am hoping to go in the fall as well. Good luck!