How is the volcanic ash situation affecting you, your friends, family or work?

[Feek]

It's not affecting me personally in any other way apart from the flight tracker being particularly boring to watch at the moment but I know a couple of people who are suffering because of it.

A friend of mine, I'll call him "Tony" because that is his name was in Las Vegas last week. He flew to New York on Thursday evening for a Friday flight home. That's obviously not happened and the earliest he's been offered by Continental is next Friday. He's staying in a Travel Inn in New Jersey and reckons this is going to cost him a minimum of £1000 extra and it's not covered by travel insurance. His business will suffer with him being away as will his wifes small business and his kids will miss a week of schooling.

My brother is staying with The Hunter and is due back home on Tuesday after a connecting flight into JFK on Monday. Although technically that's currently going to be clear I very much doubt he'll be on that flight. He's a contractor although he's on a break in between contracts at the moment, due to start his new one in a week time.

Work wise it's not affecting our business at all really except for the eight people who were in Edinburgh all this week but they manages to squeeze on a train home on Thursday evening. Although our business relies on large movements of product, the international ones are all done by boat.

So how are YOU *points* affected by the volcanic ash cloud?

[Knipples]

The suits for all the men for my sisters wedding a week today are stuck in Glasgow (were meant to be on a plane to Bristol in time for today)

I guess they are bringing them down by road now, although it has caused a bit of a hiccup because they have been adjusted for each person, and they now won't get to try them on beforehand to check they're ok.

Other than that nothing really.

[Tak]

We have 3 members of staff (an RGN, a senior care assistant and a domestic) in India atm - Phillip (RGN) was meant to be flying back yesterday ready for shift Monday (not gonna happen), Shanty (SCA) is due back Wednesday/Thursday for work next weekend (so may still be ok), and Shelly (dom) is due back Monday for shift Wednesday.

The director got back about 24 hours before the problems started (he is probably kicking himself )

We've had some interesting excuses for not getting back to work on time after holiday but an Icelandic volcano is probably the best one.

Current restrictions say "until 0100 BST on Sunday" - Phillip phoned work yesterday and said he had been given a number and once flights resume they are issues tickets in number order (so the first people affected will get the first flights available)

[Blighter]

Feek, airliners have to put you up until they can fly you home if its the return part of a two way flight! Get him to charge his airliner!!

The only way it's affecting me is having to sort out some people with trains back from Edinburgh as they couldn't fly.

[Belmit]

I'm unaffected except for a friend who can't make a birthday celebration in London today. She broke her foot last weekend and would rather not navigate the trains with crutches and luggage, so she's staying in Leeds for the weekend. Some on here would probably argue that worked out for the best.

[Grandad]

My parents are supposed to be going to Majorca tomorrow,I cancelled the hotel for them this morning

Also have friends stuck in LA, thye have been told Thursday at earliest


Apparantly all this stuff about volcanic ash from Iceland is incorrect, turns out it originated from Goodison Park in Liverpool

Someone was heard last week asking the cleaner to give the trophy cabinet a dusting

[Mondo]

Originally Posted by Blighter

Feek, airliners have to put you up until they can fly you home if its the return part of a two way flight! Get him to charge his airliner!!

The only way it's affecting me is having to sort out some people with trains back from Edinburgh as they couldn't fly.

Isn't that a legislation if you are flying within the EU with an EU airliner only? The law is different if you are aboard, according to the news. Obviously we all need to read the small prints in our travel insurance.

[Mark]

I got home a week before it all kicked off. I'm in two minds about that - I'd have loved to stay out there longer, but I've also used every scrap of holiday I have at work and I've now got £5.7k on the plastic, which is quite enough thankyou (going to take a while paying that lot off as it is).

What's with all the football teams dusting out their trophy cabinets at the same time? Seems that the entire Premiership is doing it.

PS - Mondo - I think you may be right - protection mandated by the EU.

[Psymonkee]

Only thing I know of is a friend of mine won a holiday to St Lucia and was supposed to fly out a couple of days ago....now next week instead....

[Kitten]

Originally Posted by Mondo

Isn't that a legislation if you are flying within the EU with an EU airliner only? The law is different if you are aboard, according to the news. Obviously we all need to read the small prints in our travel insurance.

The Lisbon treaty I think, which does only purport to EU flights. There maybe something similar in place for the US side but it won't be covered by that. Only the travel company/insurers will say for sure!

My friend at work's little boy was at Liverpool airport at 4.30 for a flight to Spain with his class that they've been looking forward to for ages. his baby brother was in hospital with gastroenteritis all Tuesday/Wednesday, and his poor dad was exhausted when he finally made it in at around 11am after they sent the kids home saying come back tomorrow, same time.

However, the airport here is now closed til 7am Monday at least, so the trip has been cancelled and the school have said the insurers claimed 'act of God' so won't pay back the £550. They are saying they will do their best to rebook but at the moment, it's all off and the kids are devastated

Poor bubbas.

Another couple of friends were flying out to Barcelona yesterday morning, but obviously aren't now. I'm so glad I got the Cologne trip in 2 weeks ago, it was either week before or 2 weeks after Easter (as Leo & I were away last weekend), so we definitely chose the right one!