FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS: Volcano ash from Iceland hits UK flight plans

Pelican_eats_pigeon

Latest update: UK airspace closed 'till 0700 tomorrow at least, further information due at 2000 tonight.

Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden have all closed airspace entirely. Finland, Netherlands and Russia have partially closed airspace.

Apparently there will be lovely sunsets tonight - most of the UK is now covered by the cloud.

marshallka

A report here about it saying that last time this happened it lasted over a year:eek::eek::eek:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travelnews/7593716/Volcano-ash-chaos-previous-eruption-lasted-more-than-a-year.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laki

teamcullen

Apparently NATS are holiding a meeting at 8pm to decide whats next, and it's now 7am for earliest flights tomorrow.Heres hoping, I'm due to fly at 11am tomorrow!Finally, if my flight is cancelled (with Ryanair) can I rebook the return leg of the journey free too?

Pelican_eats_pigeon

The reference to Laki is irrelevant as this is a different volcano, the Telegraph article just happens to mention Laki in passing.

scottiepaul

Mum is stuck in newark airport on way back from San Diego.

Continental have put her onto a flight to Frankfurt then up to Edinburgh, but they didn't mention accomodation and she has had to book her own.

Am I right from the above that Continental are required to pay for her hotel stay for last night and tonight even though this is an "act of god" so to speak?

I know its EC regulation but was wondering if as they are returning to the UK it would apply, or if there is anythign similar the US are signed up to?

EDIT - I'm guessing no from this:

1. This Regulation shall apply:
(a) to passengers departing from an airport located in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies;
(b) to passengers departing from an airport located in a third country to an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies, unless they received benefits or compensation and were given assistance in that third country, if the operating air carrier of the flight concerned is a Community carrier.

as Continental aren't a "Community Carrier"

Pelican_eats_pigeon

teamcullen wrote: »

Apparently NATS are holiding a meeting at 8pm to decide whats next, and it's now 7am for earliest flights tomorrow.Heres hoping, I'm due to fly at 11am tomorrow!Finally, if my flight is cancelled (with Ryanair) can I rebook the return leg of the journey free too?

I don't think you can, the two flights are treated separately under the regulation I think. I would make sure you turn up at the airport in time etc so you can assert your rights if need be.

Pelican_eats_pigeon

scottiepaul wrote: »

Mum is stuck in newark airport on way back from San Diego.

Continental have put her onto a flight to Frankfurt then up to Edinburgh, but they didn't mention accomodation and she has had to book her own.

Am I right from the above that Continental are required to pay for her hotel stay for last night and tonight even though this is an "act of god" so to speak?

I know its EC regulation but was wondering if as they are returning to the UK it would apply, or if there is anythign similar the US are signed up to?

EDIT - I'm guessing no from this:

1. This Regulation shall apply:
(a) to passengers departing from an airport located in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies;
(b) to passengers departing from an airport located in a third country to an airport situated in the territory of a Member State to which the Treaty applies, unless they received benefits or compensation and were given assistance in that third country, if the operating air carrier of the flight concerned is a Community carrier.

as Continental aren't a "Community Carrier"

You should check Continental's own T&Cs as there is no federal requirement in the US to give assistance.

Edit: Continental's T&Cs disclaim liability in force majeure situations but I reckon there's at least a chance they might help if she asks them...

photome

Pelican_eats_pigeon wrote: »

The reference to Laki is irrelevant as this is a different volcano, the Telegraph article just happens to mention Laki in passing.

But according to an expert on radio 2 this same Volcano erupted in the early 1800s for 18months

Pelican_eats_pigeon

Yes, that is true - I just didn't understand the linking of Laki (which killed a vast number of people.) I thought it might be likely to cause undue alarm among people who just clicked through the links.

pickle

TBeckett100 wrote: »

more money down the tubes thanks to Iceland.

My thoughts exactly.