General Chat

.

Its been 3 days now that planes have been grounded due to the ash, its looking like another day before any flights can leave or return so why in gods name are people still turning up at the airport? When they wont even check them in, my heart goes out to the people who have saved and are going to loose out on going on holiday it really does, but surely after 3 days you would use a bit of common sense before leaving home.

Morning Hayley, and what a nice one it is here today.
Yes, my thoughts entirely, though they also have my sympathies re their holidays.
Julia in Derbyshire

lovely bright sunny morning day here to Julia, good morning to you

When people get selfish common sense goes out the window they dont give thought to the pilot who has the safety of the passengers in his hands,....better on the groung alive than taking a nose dive in the sea....!!

I bet the insurance companies wont pay out for lose of holiday coz this is an act of God

My Mum and Dad shelved their visit to N Ireland for a family wedding yesterday morning...their flight was at 3pm but was cancelled at 6am yesterday...very unfortunate but like Kay says...better than the alternative.

My friends hubby is stuck in the US...was due back Thurs...now it's even looking grim for Monday...but he's lucky in the sense that it's a business trip and the firm will be paying for his overstay....

I personally wouldn't risk leaving the UK for fear of not being able to get back...but for the people who are stuck at their holiday destinations..short of cash...my heart goes out to them.

It really is just one of those things though for the poor souls that saved all year for their holiday to lose it like this that's absolutely no comfort xx

Don't know about the insurance companies, but the airlines have to refund the cost of the flight, and package tour companies have to either offer another holiday or refund money. Of course, they'll try to get out of it!

My niece is in Brazil - due back on Monday, my daughter is in Thailand - not due back until next weekend - but a lot can happen in a week (another eruption etc).
Both of them have only 3 days leave left for this year. I presume if they are stranded for longer, they'll have to take unpaid leave!
I just hope, if they are stranded, they just carry on with their holiday rather than 'camp out' at the airport.

Possibly they needed to leave home before the extension was announced?

Or if they are independent travellers, they can’t afford more hotel accommodation and have to camp out at the airport. In the first day or so, there were reports that travellers couldn’t get through on the phone lines, so were going to the airport to ask for information in person.

Alternatively, they think that if a ‘window’ is announced, they are the first in the queue to be booked on.

‘Sources within the (UK) air industry think that air space won’t be reopened before mid week at the earliest’. For the sake of those who *have* to travel, let’s hope they are wrong.

As there is no such thing as an act of god, instead we rely on things like insurance and European directives on what happens under these circumstances. It's all very clear, actually, so no one should have to lose out financially as long as they are insured. Which, of course, some won't be. Cest la vie. Life is unfair from the moment you are born.

Just a thought - will insurance companies have to employ extra people to sort through the massive amounts of claims that will follow?

Could be good for the unemployed!

Its no different from cancelled flights due to bad weather......ie snow and ice,,but people will still want the airline to put a plane on so they can take their trip,!!!
and what would happen if they did , there was a nose dive in the ocean or whereever,,,there would be the biggest cry of uproar world wide since JR was shot......:}
If flights are cancelled with no alternative then its the airlines duty to accommadate passengers and provide a meal. and or a total refund of the flight cost airlines are only bound to get you to your destination and back if a return ticket is purchased............Insurance should sort out hotels refunds.

whooo hoo
think my son is on his way home
the choppers are on the beach waiting to take off

three days late but who cares

it said on the news las night that package holidays will be insured but the do it your self ones we are all fond of you have very little chance of getting your money back.

Aww that's great news Joy.

xx

The trains and ferries etc are doing well out of it.
Prices will no doubt go up on certain things.It's going to have a knock on affect to a lot of things.

Must be horrible being stranded, unless you are in no hurry to get home lol


Marion

My friend & her family are stuck in Cyprus. They were due home Thursday but have rescheduled for Monday night IF flights get back to normal.

My other friend & also my daughters teacher is stuck with her kids in Thailand & should be back to work Monday (inset day)

Both said its a pain in the rear but they also are happy not to be flying into danger & that the decision to suspend flights is right.

I'm sure there is a clause about acts of God (natural disasters which prevent flying) in some travel brochures.

It also depends what insurance cover you take out. If you for instance go on a trip to France you wont expect a volcano in another country far away to stop you flying so may only take out what insurance you feel you need.
(when we went to Florida last year, we made sure we were covered for everything as we went in hurricane season LOL )

Tina...I agree with the woman..they should just put a cork in it and that would stop it .....pmsl

Priceless comment too by someone at Glasgow - that the ash wasn't in the air at ground level, so why couldn't planes fly? Er, does he not know that planes don't fly on the ground!

lol