UK flight cancellations due to volcanic ash

**Rolmill** · 16-04-2010, 23:27

Anyone been (or expecting to be) affected yet? Most of the info published by BA seems to relate to outward flights, so it's not clear what the position is for those already here but trying to get back!

We are due to return on tomorrow's (Saturday) evening flight out of Orlando to Gatwick - if it is cancelled, will BA proactively book us onto alternative flights back asap, or (as their website info says for outward flights) will it be up to us to do this independently? If an alternative can't be booked same day (which would probably be the case), will BA stump up for the extra hotel night(s)?

Unfortunately, we really do have to get home (for work + school), so can't afford to use this as an excuse for a few more days vacation.[msncool][msncry]

We're in a villa which we have to leave at 10am, after which we have no base from which to make arrangements - so I'm hoping BA will take a more active role than their website suggests!

**florida4sun** · 16-04-2010, 23:33

My daughter has been delayed till next Thursday. Most folks are getting delayed till Tues/wed. If airports are closed then there will be no alternative flights. Its wait and see time I am afraid.
Airline is not responsible for accommodation and it looks like most insurance's are not paying out due to act of god!! Sorry
Scotland may be cleared before England, so that may be an option.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Rolmill
Anyone been (or expecting to be) affected yet? Most of the info published by BA seems to relate to outward flights, so it's not clear what the position is for those already here but trying to get back!

We are due to return on tomorrow's (Saturday) evening flight out of Orlando to Gatwick - if it is cancelled, will BA proactively book us onto alternative flights back asap, or (as their website info says for outward flights) will it be up to us to do this independently? If an alternative can't be booked same day (which would probably be the case), will BA stump up for the extra hotel night(s)?

Unfortunately, we really do have to get home (for work + school), so can't afford to use this as an excuse for a few more days vacation.[msncool][msncry]

We're in a villa which we have to leave at 10am, after which we have no base from which to make arrangements - so I'm hoping BA will take a more active role than their website suggests!

[/quote]

**Robert5988** · 16-04-2010, 23:44

I think this BBC link will be OK with the moderators - if deleted look at the BBC website

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8624717.stm

**Katys Grandad** · 16-04-2010, 23:48

Are you looking on BA's UK site? If so you need to log onto their US site by changing the country at the top of the page.

You'll see that BA are operating some ex US flights into Scottish airports this evening and then arranging ground transportation to London. At the moment, the Orlando flights don't seem to be amongst them but you can check the status of all BA's flights on there. For your information, at the moment there doesn't appear to have been any decision on tomorrow's MCO-LGW flight.

BA seem to be taking care of their prime routes like JFK, San Francisco and LA into Heathrow. Unlike the Orlando service, lots of First & Business passengers on those. Go figure![msnwink]

**Jill** · 17-04-2010, 01:28

BA are not operating flights from the States Saturday so our son is now stuck

**allyjack** · 17-04-2010, 03:20

Flights to Ireland are back . Aer Lingus fly to Dublin on Saturdays , Tuesdays and Thursdays if any good to anyone.
might be alternative but not sure how you will get back to Uk other than boat then !!

**Katys Grandad** · 17-04-2010, 07:18

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Jill
BA are not operating flights from the States Saturday so our son is now stuck
[/quote]

Have they made a decision about Saturday already Jill? They are operating flights from the US this evening (Friday) but not direct to or from London. As I type this a number of flights from JFK, LA & San Francisco & Calgary originally scheduled to arrive in London are en-route to Glasgow, Prestwick and Aberdeen. What isn't clear to me at least is whether BA intend to try to operate those flights in the opposite direction over the weekend.

It must be misery for those people stuck away from home but, on this occasion at least, it's hard to be critical of the airlines who are losing a lot of money through a situation beyond their control. On the plus side, at the moment I'd rather be a passenger of a major scheduled airline than be with Ryanair.

**Rolmill** · 17-04-2010, 07:45

BA website says that they have cancelled all flights in and out of London on Saturday. However, for inward flights they do not specify whether they are referring to the departure or arrival time...so when I look up my flight (departs MCO Sat evening, arrives LGW Sun morning) on their status check page, it does not say that it is cancelled.

I guess they will have updated their information by tomorrow morning (EST) - if not, I suppose the only thing to do is go to MCO at the appointed time and see what's going on. In any case, I anticipate a very fraught day (or longer) with 3 fed-up and bored kids...[msneek]

**Katys Grandad** · 17-04-2010, 11:03

Good luck with it anyway!

The website is slightly ambiguous in that it says all flights in and out of LONDON are cancelled and then lists London flights that are leaving the US but arriving at Scottish airports instead. That means that the flights into (and maybe out of) London aren't, strictly speaking, 'cancelled' but rather 're-directed'. BA don't operate any international flights out of UK regional airports anyway.

I accept it's a small distinction but it could be a bit misleading.