Volcanic Cloud
 

Am leaving for Germany on Friday and am wondering how others are assessing the risk of getting stuck on the other side of the Atlantic because of airport closures. Any ideas on this subject?
GEsssa

I posted about this on another thread, but this is the latest info so far...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13513981

Looks like the UK might be getting back to normal Weds...a friend is stuck in Norway right now...

I was in this situation last year and decided that if they would fly me to Europe, I would take my chances at getting back. Is is possible to have a better excuse for an extended vacation?

As it turned out, our flight was canceled on the day of departure so we regrouped, with no advance planning, and left for Chile and Argentina the next night.

Nobody, and nothing, outside of a personal emergency is going to keep me from getting my vacay on.

Bremen and Hamburg airports will ba closed at 5am and 6am, most likely Berlin will follow in tha afternoon. Frankfurt will be next. Munich so far is not sure. No info when they will reopen.

I was also in Europe (France) last year when the volcano struck and caused havoc. They said this one would probably cause less trouble. As well, they learned a bit about how well airplanes do in volcano ash in the sky.

If I were you, I'd certainly go. We got stuck for a bit (wish it was longer!) but I don't think the problems will reach the magnitude of last year IMO.

That being said, once there, I'd search out alternative travel arrangements for while you are there. We missed out a bit because we didn't take the volcano issues seriously at first and were just enjoying Bordeaux. Then, when flights really started getting massively cancelled and we realized people were snatching up rental cars, trains were getting booked, our day trips became limited (oh, and the French decided to hold a nice rail strike, too).

Here's a funny YouTube from last year:

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

Good luck - but GO!! It'll be an experience at least.