All flights in and out of UK have been cancled due to volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. Estimated duration next 12 hours.

I got a friend stranded in London right now, thats why I like to fly straight to joberg...no issues like this.

It sucks we have a UK client who was suppose to fly out tonight. I hope he gets on a flight early tomorow.

quote:

Originally posted by Oryxhunter1983:
I got a friend stranded in London right now, thats why I like to fly straight to joberg...no issues like this.

Agreed, Oryxhunter!

The London route to southern Africa sucks anyhow!! Road transfers, LONG layover, etc.. I did it once and that was enough (ie. it was the cheapest route I could find. This was 10 yrs ago).

I'd do it again only as a last resort to get back to Africa..

I am flying through London to SA four weeks from tomorrow. I hope this doesn't continue.

PRESS RELEASE


Date : Friday, April 16, 2010
Embargo : For immediate release


VOLCANIC ASH AFFECTS FRANKFURT AIRPORT



Air Namibia would like to inform its esteemed clients that due to the recent volcanic eruption in Iceland which has turned many European countries in to no-fly zones, Frankfurt too has been affected.

The Air Namibia flight SW285 which departed from Windhoek last night, Thursday, 15 April arrived safely in Frankfurt this morning without any delay. Frankfurt Airport has since then announced its closure until further notice. The airline expects an update from Germany today, April 16, at 20h00.

Air Namibia has no certainty that by the next update, the situation might have improved.

The airline is therefore dependant on the next update and can not yet communicate definite details of international departures tonight. A communiqué will be distributed as soon as an update is received from Frankfurt and the Air Namibia Call Center and Airport Staff will be able to provide the flying public with information.

I promise this is not a common situation for us!

I'm suppose to fly out of Calgary on the 18th through Frankfurt and on to Joburg. Not looking too promising for my first Safari.

You have a couple days. I would be checking the internet for news updates every couple hours if it were me. Look on the bright side, you know they are going start things moving again as quick as they can. Neither Frankfurt or London can afford to keep missing the fees they charge the airlines for each flight for very long.

Scottyboy

I'll be watching closely. I'm also looking at alternate routes. It will end up costing more but hopefully I'll make it.

I spoke with my friend in london, he's telling me that they are saying he might be able to get out on monday, but he's scheduled on a flight for tuesday at the moment, but no sooner than that....so I would def look into canceling and heading via South African Air or delta if you're on a schedule.

This whole thing is essentially costing my friend a week.

It depends on the prevailing winds. If they shift the plume away from the UK and central Europe, then you will get your rides. Otherwise, you will not.

Jet engines stop working when encountering volcanic ash. It has nothing to do with the airports. It's a safety of flight situation and could possibly continue indefinitely.

Mother nature being the bitch she is, she could care less about paltry human beings and our little plans.

This is a prime example of why buying trip insurance is always a good idea.

Unfortunately, this situation may take some days, even weeks to resolve:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/tra...ght-ban-worsens.html

Anyone in N America planning to travel to Africa via Europe over the next week would do well to consider alternative flights direct to southern Africa from the US.

Basically all of northern Europe's airspace is closed until the winds change and clear the ash.

I am stuck in Vienna right now. This totally blows, pun intended.

For those affected, you should know the EU has special rules for compensation - it looks like I am entitled to 600 Euros compensation, plus hotel, etc. Big deal. I have a really important meeting in Arkansas on Tuesday. My flight on Sunday is cancelled, but Delta did back me up on a Monday flight to LIT through ATL. Hope it makes it. Ms AZWriter is stuck in London right now as well. What a time for both of us to be out of the country.

Alternate routes is not a possibility for me. I need to do it on air miles or postpone. I have almost 4 weeks so I will be watching and praying.

quote:

Originally posted by CharlesL:
Alternate routes is not a possibility for me. I need to do it on air miles or postpone. I have almost 4 weeks so I will be watching and praying.

Charles,

I am fairly confident things will be somewhat normal in 4 weeks, although who knows. If it continues for 4 weeks and I am stuck here, I am going to be in a lot more hurt than if I missed a hunt, so at least you can be glad you aren't me!

I just helped out a bunch of folks from China. Their flight was cancelled and no one was helping them; Lufthansa wasn't even manning their counters in Vienna. They have no internet access, but I do. I couldn't do much for them except show them the schedules to Frankfurt for tomorrow.

quote:

This is a prime example of why buying trip insurance is always a good idea.

Oh horse hockey, buying trip insurance is almost always a terrible financial decision unless one of the travelers is in precarious health or there is some close family member in similar cirumstances or there are some other special circumstances such as a pending major business deal.

Do you recall the last time there were widespread multi-day cancellations due to a volcanic eruption? Hmmmmmm, know why you can't, because this is the first time it has affected large numbers of commercial flights. Finally, I'm not sure what remedies you would be entitled to if you are like the poster above and are on the way back?

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

This is a prime example of why buying trip insurance is always a good idea.

Oh horse hockey, buying trip insurance is almost always a terrible financial decision unless one of the travelers is in precarious health or there is some close family member in similar cirumstances or there are some other special circumstances such as a pending major business deal.

Do you recall the last time there were widespread multi-day cancellations due to a volcanic eruption? Hmmmmmm, know why you can't, because this is the first time it has affected large numbers of commercial flights. Finally, I'm not sure what remedies you would be entitled to if you are like the poster above and are on the way back?

Force Majeure unfortunately. I seriously doubt travel insurance will pay out.

My sister is stuck in Paris CDG. They have shut the airport until Monday noon. The first flight she has been offered for LHR is Wednesday. Same for most of European airspace.

quote:

Originally posted by Deerdogs:
My sister is stuck in Paris CDG. They have shut the airport until Monday noon. The first flight she has been offered for LHR is Wednesday. Same for most of European airspace.

Why wouldn't she take a train if she wants to get home?

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

Originally posted by Deerdogs:
My sister is stuck in Paris CDG. They have shut the airport until Monday noon. The first flight she has been offered for LHR is Wednesday. Same for most of European airspace.

Why wouldn't she take a train if she wants to get home?

Fully booked until tomorrow night when she will do just that. French railway strike allowing....

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

This is a prime example of why buying trip insurance is always a good idea.

Oh horse hockey, buying trip insurance is almost always a terrible financial decision unless one of the travelers is in precarious health or there is some close family member in similar cirumstances or there are some other special circumstances such as a pending major business deal.

Do you recall the last time there were widespread multi-day cancellations due to a volcanic eruption? Hmmmmmm, know why you can't, because this is the first time it has affected large numbers of commercial flights. Finally, I'm not sure what remedies you would be entitled to if you are like the poster above and are on the way back?

Nonsense, gato. Nonsense.

If you have thirty grand out on pre-paid vacation expenses, slip on an escalator in FRF and break you ankle, trip insurance pays off.

In this case, potentially a lot of people are going to miss their safaris. Trip insurance will likely help them cover their costs.

I took a slip and fall in the Serena at the Crater last year. Trip insurance covered my medical expenses. Anything can happen.

I flew several million miles commuting around the globe and rarely bought trip insurance, but in the case of a pre-paid safari, it simply makes sense, particularly given the potential for injuries once you're on the ground in Africa. Traffic accidents are common and medical care is poor to non-existent, according to where you are.

The only time I use it is when planning a prepaid vacation. The week of 9/11, I was in French Polynesia on vacation. Trip insurance covered unanticipated expenses due to the closure of U.S. airspace. It has paid off for me personally twice, so you are welcome to your opinion. I know what has worked for me.

Well, nonsense back atcha....

I've made at least2 dozen trips overseas hunting and fishing since the early 90s and have NEVER needed or taken insurance. So how much have I saved? I can answer that, at least two trips are now free.

You OTOH, have apparently used it to some minor extent twice. If you've taken 2 trips a year since 2001 and insured each time, you are almost certainly behind financially.

Doesn't matter to me what you or anyone does with their money, within reason. It is a purely financial decision for anyone. If someone can't stand or doesn't want to stand the loss of the costs of their trip (many of which are recoverable in one way or another) and doesn't mind paying the extravagantly high premiums for trip insurance, then they should buy it. I, OTOH, hate paying for something that is overpriced and underused.

This volcanic eruption has made me think hard about trip insurance. I have never bothered with it. But I may have to spring for it if this unpronounceable mountain doesn't stop spewing ash real soon.

I understand that, in 1821, this volcano began an eruption that continued with scant interruption for two years.

mrlexma,

No way it could have erupted for two years back in 1821, don't you know this eruption was caused by man made global warming.

Well we've got flights. A couple of days late but we are going to make it but we won't be able to bring our own rifles.

We are going to drive down to Minesota. Fly out of St. Paul to Washington. Washington to Dakar & on to Johannesburg. The hunt will be a little shorter but should still get in 8 days.

Nothing flying today in northern Europe, except KLM and Lufthansa did make some test flights yesterday with no apparent damage.

I am due out tomorrow, but not expecting to get out. If not, I think I will go back to Linz and work with our partner there and try and get home at the end of the week. I have an important meeting in SFO that I need to be at next Monday.

I don't know if this helps anyone but the long term weather forecast for the UK is for winds in the north/northwest until about Saturday 1st May. Now, it may be the airlines have declared it safe to fly in the dust we have long before then but it looks like the wind isn't going to start clearing the dust until early May.

I guess because this is a "new" situation for us we are very much guessing with most of it but even so it doesn't look very promising in weather terms. The only hope now is that they decide there is no risk to flights from the amount/type of dust in the atmosphere.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Nothing flying today in northern Europe, except KLM and Lufthansa did make some test flights yesterday with no apparent damage.

I am due out tomorrow, but not expecting to get out. If not, I think I will go back to Linz and work with our partner there and try and get home at the end of the week. I have an important meeting in SFO that I need to be at next Monday.

I'm not deliberately pointing out the obvious but if you HAVE to be in SFO or anywhere over here next week, then you can take a train S or SE to an airport where they are flying out and go E to Bangkok, Narita, or whatever, long route but it would get you back to the US by next week if money is less important than being here.

Trip insurance is like any other insurance. Over time, you're better off self insuring, if you can afford it. I haven't bought it yet, but as I get older (and my practice partners do, as well), I am reconsidering.
Maybe if the government mandates it for everyone, the pool wil get larger and the rates lower?

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
Nothing flying today in northern Europe, except KLM and Lufthansa did make some test flights yesterday with no apparent damage.

I am due out tomorrow, but not expecting to get out. If not, I think I will go back to Linz and work with our partner there and try and get home at the end of the week. I have an important meeting in SFO that I need to be at next Monday.

I'm not deliberately pointing out the obvious but if you HAVE to be in SFO or anywhere over here next week, then you can take a train S or SE to an airport where they are flying out and go E to Bangkok, Narita, or whatever, long route but it would get you back to the US by next week if money is less important than being here.

No, I don't take offense to the suggestion. But I am also supposed to be in Little Rock Monday night, so if my flight goes tomorrow, I can make it.

A better option would be to go to Spain, but that is a long way off, and who knows what the cloud will do by the time I get there?

Right now the problem is that everything is backed up. MsAZWriter just called to tell me her flight tomorrow out of London was cancelled. She is now scheduled out on Thursday, but she is lucky to get that: if not, April 29th was the first avail date.

Most airlines are now complaining that European officials are being overly cautious. "Safety is our highest priority" said on European official.

Yea, right. Terrorism remains the largest threat to aviation in the US and Europe but we don't profile, do we?

Everything should have its limits.

My wife and i are to leave tonight from North Pole and meet the inlaws in Dallas with connecting flight to London.....some day. We were to tour England for some time and then off to Moz. for a hunt. Now it is not looking good for the entire trip. We will probably see the sights in Dallas until Thursday come back home and rebook eliminaing the England destination part of the trip. BA is allowing alternate destinations so Gracy Travel tells us. Hopefully the most important part of the trip can be salvaged. Obvioulsy the wife is not looking over my shoulder when I say that. We have had our share of flight delays here in Alaska with volcanos but with a population of 6 to 700,000 we do not register on the same scale as what this volcano has done to europe and beyond.
It is i am sure small solice to those stranded which i understand there are some AR brothers stuck. Being a pilot myself "private" i try to live by this saying. " It is better to wish you were up in the air than wish you were down on the ground."

I would recommend a Plan B, if like me your African Hunting trip is coming up in the next few weeks. I was initially on BA routed through Heathrow. Fortuneately Annelise at Custom Travel was ahead of the curve and was able to book me on SAA out of Dulles.

Looks like we are going to be here for a couple weeks. The earliest we are being told to book another flight when ours was is canceled was another week to wait. We are now going to forgo the England trip and try to get back on track for the Moz. portion. We still have to go through London so hope and pray that works out.

Hey Tim, how does one get in touch with annalise at Custom Travel?

Annelise phone number is 2105689603. Hope thAt helps...

If any AR members are stuck in London and fancy a night out reply to this thread or send me a pm and I'll see if we can organise a cheering-up committee for a night out or something like that.

Well, I am finally on my way home. In the Amsterdam KLM lounge right now. MsAZWriter is in Madrid getting to fly home today as well. We land about 30 min apart.

What a debacle. Good thing one of those ferries carrying 1000 people didn't sink. I love Europe, but this cradle to grave, the gov't knows what is best for you mentality is stifling.