Hurricane Irene - Flights back to the UK from the U.S. east coast

worldtraveller

Hurricane Irene has not even hit the New York/Newark area yet, but allegedly some people due to fly back to the U.K. today from Newark with Virgin, whose flight has been cancelled, are being told that the earliest available Virgin re-book flight to the UK is not until the 9th September!

Anyone else hearing similar?

mrs_sparrow

They have closed the entire transport network down and this includes JFK and Newark Airport so this is why there are no flights in or out. I am not sure about return flights, there are updates here though: https://www.virginholidays.co.uk/info/important/latest_travel_updates/

I've always wondered how they get people from cancelled flights home, when the flights after are already full.

cubegame

The 9th is surely ridiculous. I know I certainly wouldn't be putting up with it when transatlantic flights are still operating from inland hubs.

Doshwaster

Hardly surprising really. LON-NY is one of the busiest international airline routes in the world and usually runs at almost full capacity. It's hard getting the slots to put on extra flights so it's just a matter of waiting for a seat to become available. Those with seats booked for next week obviously have priority over those stuck overseas (and not forgetting Americans stuck on this side of the Pond)

It's going to take at least a week for everything to get back to normal.

I dread to think what hotel prices are like in NYC at the moment.

New_York_No1_fan

worldtraveller wrote: »

Hurricane Irene has not even hit the New York/Newark area yet, but allegedly some people due to fly back to the U.K. today from Newark with Virgin, whose flight has been cancelled, are being told that the earliest available Virgin re-book flight to the UK is not until the 9th September!

Anyone else hearing similar?

Sounds like the volcano scenario all over again!

When we got stuck in New York we were told that our flight was cancelled and were offered the 'next available' flight which was 10 days later!! We reluctantly accepted this as they have a duty to get you home, however we rang on a daily basis and managed to reduce it to just under a week. They were very informative as to what we could claim for when we got home.

With Virgin we were allowed to stay in our hotel for the extra time, claim hotel accommodation (think they pay up to a 3*) or expect you to pay the difference if staying in 4*+, claim for meals and the trip back to the airport. Fill out claim form on your return and keep all receipts. Also check their website for poss alerts for stranded passengers.

If you can afford to stay put till 9th, go with it and enjoy the extra time for free!!! after all how does your employer expect you to get back earlier!!

Good Luck.

claire16c

New_York_No1_fan wrote: »

Sounds like the volcano scenario all over again!

When we got stuck in New York we were told that our flight was cancelled and were offered the 'next available' flight which was 10 days later!! We reluctantly accepted this as they have a duty to get you home, however we rang on a daily basis and managed to reduce it to just under a week. They were very informative as to what we could claim for when we got home.

With Virgin we were allowed to stay in our hotel for the extra time, claim hotel accommodation (think they pay up to a 3*) or expect you to pay the difference if staying in 4*+, claim for meals and the trip back to the airport. Fill out claim form on your return and keep all receipts. Also check their website for poss alerts for stranded passengers.

If you can afford to stay put till 9th, go with it and enjoy the extra time for free!!! after all how does your employer expect you to get back earlier!!

Good Luck.

This happened to a friend of mine and he was in Vegas when the ash cloud thing happened, he was with Virgin too. So they checked out of Caesars Palace or whereever it was and into an apartment!

It was the same thing, Virgin said they wouldnt be able to get home for 10 days or something but they would ring up each day and I think in the end were delayed by around 5 days.