CarolA

Aard,

I am OK with 1 and 2. But 3? Everything I keep reading says it's sunny and beautiful in the UK for example. See Seamus's post above.

It MAY be colder and overcast, but "will be"? Right now this appears to have little impact on the "weather" you and I experince.

annesherrod

Yikes - I am also supposed to be purchasing tickets this week for Spain - traveling in July.... . but this is scary ----

From MSN - "Some scientists are afraid that the explosion could also trigger an eruption of the nearby—and much larger—Katla volcano, which is several years overdue."

Aard

One more reason to cancel. From what I am hearing, airlines are not informing flyers of cancellation until 12 or fewer hours from flight time. In other words, too late to cancel hotels without paying first night. It also meant that that I couldn't make a host of other plans because I won't know whether I'm going or not until the last moment.

It's just too much trouble. Why do it? I can always go some other time. The only real downside, beside some annoyance and disappointment, is that I'll be out the price of two prem Eurostar tickets.

AnnMarie_C

Aard, that is what I find so frustrating, too. As of this moment, US Air shows their flights to Paris, for today, as being on-time and it won't be until later in the day they will cancel. I've been monitoring this for several days and that's what they do despite the fact France has closed air space through Monday, gathered from what I read.

swisshiker

AnnMarie - it's not looking good for either of us, is it? DH used the "c" word last night if this continues, and my heart sunk.

Delinda20

Hi all! I've been following this thread.

I was wondering whether anyone can help me. I have booked a ticket (unluckily, moments before the airports were disrupted in Europe) from Gatwick to Porto, Portugal from this Friday until Tuesday. I didn't add insurance to eliminate the cost as much as possible. If the flight is cancelled will I be able to claim a refund without the insurance Easyjet offers? I am really stressed out about this because as a student every penny counts for me. What also stresses me is if I get there but due to perhaps another eruption I get stranded in Porto. My thesis is due in the following day and the university is showing no sympathy! Also, since my ticket is with both ways - If my flight is cancelled on Friday but the return is supposity 'operating' will I be able to claim the entire ticket back (supposing that no insurance is not an issue).

Please help me out. I have tried to call the company but it is impossible to get through (and VERY expensive as it charges per minute). I have also emailed them but I got an autoreply which stated: "Please note that due to adverse weather conditions early this year we have received very high number of emails and we are still experiencing delays in responses to our customers." I cannot believe they are still referring to the snow in December!

Many regards!

Delinda20

By the way, I really hope you can make it to Greece. It is absolutely beautiful!!!!

swisshiker

AnnMarie - we're flying on American. The first cancellation came via email at 1:05 am the morning of our flight, while I was sleeping. So I checked first thing upon waking. There it was, the big red <red>YOUR FLIGHT HAS BEEN CANCELLED</red> email. Called AA, got it changed with no problems.

Second cancellation came last night at 9:00 pm for our flight today.

The biggest problem with rebooking is that the airlines are flying at pretty near capacity anyway, and now to add hundreds of people on flights - well, that's why it takes days to get an available flight.

Well, another problem came when the re-issued email ticket came later in the day. Only my husband was listed as a passenger. They had deleted me from the itinerary! All okay now but quite a day it's been!

I unpacked our suitcases today to air out the clothes before they start smelling like the extra shoes.

Good luck!

Keith

Delinda20, if the airplane does not fly, they do not keep your money. Though they make a while to refund it.

Keith

hetismij

Delinda - Easyjet is a European airline so must operate under EU rules. They must give you a full refund, of both parts of the ticket, if you ask for it, if the flight doesn't go because of the volcano. There are various rules about compensation too, but most don't apply in the case of the volcano.

Dayenu

"I unpacked our suitcases today to air out the clothes before they start smelling like the extra shoes." - Swiss, put a fabric softener sheet in the suitcase, or spray some perfume (or maybe air freshener) on a paper towel - just make sure they won't touch your clothes to prevent stains.

Delinda20

Keith and Hetismij: Thank you for your replies... I was just worried as I had not added any insurance.

luvtotravel

I'm still pondering the Greece portion of my trip. I'm scheduled to fly to Santorini from Gatwick on May 11, returning to London on May 21. Easyjet flys to Santorini only once a day, and only several days of the week. If I get stuck in Greece (what a terrible thought!) I have four nights at the end in London as a cushion to catch my flight back to California...assuming flights are operational. I don't like basing my plans on a volcano that might erupt sometime in the next 100 years. I canceled my hotel on Santorini and will "wing it" once I get there, if I get there. Still holding all other hotel reservations as they have lenient cancellation policies.

I have one night reserved at the Gatwick Yotel and wondering what their story is. I would imagine they've been booked solid around the clock -- or are they closed along with the rest of the airport?

swisshiker

Dayenu - great suggestion about the dryer sheet!

Gretchen

Haven't read all the replies, but i think insurance will not pay for any of this problem. It is a totally unforseeable circumstance. And I have seen NO reports of any reimbursement for travellers--the opposite. Embassy offering loans to people in financial straits, people running out of money.