Stranded in the US - should we fly to Spain?

JennyB

Due to fly back with BA from Vegas last Sunday. Currently rebooked for 30 April. Having searched with skyscanner I can find a very small number of flights under £1k to portugal or spain this weekend from the US east coast.

I'm finding it fairly hard to guage from over here how bad things are in Portugal/Spain - car hire, trains, channel crossing etc. Should we wait this out here for the next week and a half or throw ourselves into the Spanish mix this weekend in the hope of getting home sooner?

My worst nightmare is waiting here until 30 April and then having that flight cancelled because things haven't improved.

Presumably if this continues then transatlantic flights will be diverted to southern europe rather than cancelled though?

Any information on the ease of making it back by land from portugal/spain would be appreciated.
:beer:

socks_uk

Personally I would use the money to make your delayed stay in USA more comfortable. We were due to fly home from Los Angeles on Friday 16th and we are now booked on a flight on Saturday 24th - if it's not cancelled.

Unless you desperately need to be back I'd sit tight. This is all beyond our control. I wouldn't have a clue what to do once getting back to Spain... I'd certainly have no money to pay for other transport.

spiro

My understand is that trains, coaches etc heading north from Spain are very busy and people are having to pay top price for tickets. Given that you are flying with BA and they have to pay for hotel and meals under the 'duty of care' I would stay put.

If things do drag on then I think the airlines themselves will start rerouting to Spain and organise something from there. They are already talking about extra trains.

Alias_Omega

JennyB wrote: »

Due to fly back with BA from Vegas last Sunday. Currently rebooked for 30 April. Having searched with skyscanner I can find a very small number of flights under £1k to portugal or spain this weekend from the US east coast.

I'm finding it fairly hard to guage from over here how bad things are in Portugal/Spain - car hire, trains, channel crossing etc. Should we wait this out here for the next week and a half or throw ourselves into the Spanish mix this weekend in the hope of getting home sooner?

My worst nightmare is waiting here until 30 April and then having that flight cancelled because things haven't improved.

Presumably if this continues then transatlantic flights will be diverted to southern europe rather than cancelled though?

Any information on the ease of making it back by land from portugal/spain would be appreciated.
:beer:

Hire a car, travel the 4 hours to LA / San Fran, book into a cheap Motel, enjoy the time away even further, drive back to Vegas and fly home..

itsakidsworld

Hi JennieB,

I would not try to get to Spain as we are waiting in Spain. Here and France are becoming "bottle necks" from all over the world at the moment. There are some great stories but the general situation is everything is booked up and what is left is expensive. Man & van/car/mini bus/ anything really are all over the spot offering to take people to Calais!! Not cheap trust me and then at Calais it looks slightly busy so no guarantees of when you can get over to the UK.

We looked at hiring a coach which would take 50 people and were quoted 11,000 euros(so around 200 per person) but they would only take us to Calais which appears the worst area. They also said they had no coaches left!!

So like advised change any plans for UK and use your cash for an extended holiday!! We have and we are very lucky with credit cards, etc to be in a more fortunate position than many others. If we see no end in sight then we are looking at buying a cheap Spanish car(but no guarantee of how reliable) and then getting maybe upto Zeebrugge as there appears available space from here. But this is only an option like many families are looking at. W may just stay here and enjoy the sun- at least we will all have a lovely tan when we do eventually arrive back!!!!

Incapuppy

itsakidsworld wrote: »

If we see no end in sight then we are looking at buying a cheap Spanish car(but no guarantee of how reliable) and then getting maybe upto Zeebrugge as there appears available space from here.

Be careful with this option, I will try and find where I read it on another thread but I think I may have read that you need a Spanish NI number or similar in order to legally buy a car in Spain.

Edit: see post #6 here:

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=2414395&highlight=spanish+nie

Mr_Lahey

Id rather be in the US than Spain, all these people getting angry and frustrated because they can't get home!

Just chill, relax and have an extended holiday

geri1965_2

I think I would stay put as well. There is also a rail strike in France which is adding to the problems.

itsakidsworld

Hi Incapuppy,

Thanks for that. We are very fortunate considering the current situation as we have all our legal documents required to buy a car here such as NIE and other paperwork. However it is a very good comment you make as other people may be thinking about this option who are on holiday with none of these so a good point.

So on this I would add that if anyone else is thinking about this option, it may be worth a look to buy a UK registered car here in Spain as the legal requirements change as they are under UK law(I think and hope!!!)

itsakidsworld

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

Id rather be in the US than Spain, all these people getting angry and frustrated because they can't get home!

Just chill, relax and have an extended holiday

Excactly our thoughts sir and we are actually having a great time!! :beer: The kids are in touch with school getting homework sent to them by email so they are happy also- NOT!!!:(

silvercar

News last night reported extra trains being laid on and showed people at calais getting onto ferries with only a 2 hour wait. There is a french rail strike planned, so that needs to be factored into calculations.

From Spain its either a long way overland through France or a ferry from Satander - 17 hours. That would put me off. Though the government are talking of using the navy to ferry people across the channel.

I'd try and be flexible with flight destinations in the UK. Scottish airspace is open for a few hours today; it may be that it is easier to get a flight to scotland and then train it south.