Volcanic Ash cancels flights to Mallorca (and other less important places)

[eleanor]

Does anyone know what needs to be done re Ryanair flight back from Palma?
Can't find any useful info on site and my sister needs to return Monday morning.
Thanks for any help.

 

[The Wob]

OK, we have no idea when we can get back. However, we do have some spare space in our apartment in the port, and in the circumstances feel that I need to offer a room for anyone who is really stuck. By this I mean someone who is really stuck! send me a PM.

 

[eleanor]

My villa is empty at the moment too.
Any REAL need, please do pm me and I would be happy to help out any one stuck for somewhere to sleep.

 

[mearsy]

On the news today was the travel writer Simon Calder. He was saying that the airline you have booked with have a duty of care to get you home and make sure you have somewhere to stay until you can get home.

I wonder what Ryanair will make of that!

 

[pollensa]

Does anyone know what needs to be done re Ryanair flight back from Palma?
Can't find any useful info on site and my sister needs to return Monday morning.
Thanks for any help.

Eleanor, Ryanair have suspended all flights until at least 13:00 on Monday & based on the current 'volcanic ash maps', any flights on Monday are unlikely. My son was due to go on a scuba trip tomorrow with Thomson & that has been cancelled, my brother-in-law is stuck in Iceland (!) . We are due to fly to PP on Tuesday & I doubt that will happen either.

To keep up-to-date, we have been following these pages:

Met Office: Volcanic Ash Advisory Centres (the Met Office advisories - the graphics give the best view - & are issued every few hours), NATS (Air Traffic Control) & off course the BBC News.

 

[pollensa]

On the news today was the travel writer Simon Calder. He was saying that the airline you have booked with have a duty of care to get you home and make sure you have somewhere to stay until you can get home.

I wonder what Ryanair will make of that!

From the Ryanair website:

"RIGHT TO CARE
If you are involuntarily denied boarding or if your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than 2 hours, we will offer you, free of charge:
a) meals and refreshment vouchers in reasonable relation to the waiting time, as long as it will not further delay the departure of the aircraft
b) two telephone calls, telex or fax messages or e-mails;
c) hotel accommodation in cases where a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, or where a stay additional to that intended by you becomes necessary;
d) transport between the airport and place of accommodation (hotel or other)."

& see http://www.forum.puertopollensa.com/flights-palma-de-mallorca-majorca/4282-cancellation-delays-your-rights.html

 

[CathB]

I have checked the Easyjet website...they are stating you can rebook within 30 days or have a refund if your flight is cancelled...we csan onloy keep fingers crossed.

 

[Sparky]

Heard a story today that someone wanting a flight back to Glasgow was told May 1st will be the first available date .
Bar/ restaurant owners are getting concerned because the people stranded here are running out of money.

 

[clinkham]

Jet2 overground flight back to Leeds

Jet2 offering coach return from Barcelona Airport to Leeds via coach and ferry, 'flying' at 0800 tomorrow 19th. Book online as though a real flight. Weird!!

Details at jet2.com. All their flights cancelled up to and including 21st April. Further update at 1800.

 

[pollensa]

Ryanair Flights Cancelled until 13:00hrs Wednesday 21 April

Have just had text & email from Ryanair saying 'flight has been cancelled' on Tuesday 20th. I've just tried out the change process which lets you choose another flight. Shotokan, although this option shows a 'price' for any flight you select, it also says 'Free Move' below it so you don't actually have to pay. We now have the option to fly out on Thursday but as a failsafe, we did actually book flights for Thursday so we'll request a refund for Tuesday's flights (getting complicated!). But we'll wait & see if we do actually fly on Thu - if not we'll be requesting 2 sets of refunds!

 

[eleanor]

Oh dear - have just spoken to a friend who lives in Santa Ponsa and it seems that the situation at the airport is awful. She said that you can not move for people who have no idea of what to do or where to go and not many people available to assist. There are people with very little money, people with young children and old and wheelchair bound people who are at their wits end.
The people of Santa Ponsa apparently are trying to help as best they can and are running trips to the airport with food and items to distribute to those in need.
This sounds third world. It is important to remember that this may have a knock on effect for the whole island long term. If people are left with a bad taste then that will be remembered and future visits to the island may be hit hard. This has to be a worry.

I feel so very very sorry for anyone in this awful position especially those with young children. My villa is empty at present. I am happy for it to be used by anyone in need. Again pm me if anyone knows of a family in need of help. My friend will also pass the message on too.

Lets hope this situation comes to an end soon. safety permitting of course.

 

[mearsy]

Things may move on shortly. Looking at the BBC news website, many of the major airlines have been sending test flights up and so far, so good. They are keen to get flying asap and are not fully convinced that the risk is what has been reported. Obviously those that control airspace would have to agree to let these planes pass through, but, it sounds hopeful.

 

[eleanor]

That is good news, Mearsy. I suppose health and safety are being especially careful as are the insurance companies.
Lets hope things are sorted asap for the sake of all those left stranded.

 

[eleanor]

Just to let anyone who was interested in my offer of the villa know that there are now people staying there.

All being well my husband will be out as soon as flights get going again as well so i'm afraid there is no longer any room at the inn!

 

[pollensa]

Ryanair Rebooking Procedure

I have now used the Ryanair rebooking procedure & it actually works quite well (& better than easyjet last year during the snow problems). Our original flight to PMI on Tuesday was cancelled yesterday & we immediately received a text & email. All cancelled flights & the rebook/refund links can be found here Severe Flight Disruptions due to Volcanic Ash As soon as your flight is officially cancelled you can rebook at NO CHARGE to another flight, if available.

You need to access your reservation as usual 'myflight' & select Change Flight. You have the option to change just one or both of your flights. You then search for the flight you want. If one is available, it does show a price but IGNORE the price as it should say 'free move available' beneath it. Once you confirm a revised Confirmation is displayed (& emailed) showing the price of your ORIGINAL booking & zero amount due.

Alternatively you can request a refund of one or both of your flights.

For all airlines, if you are currently stuck in Mallorca, do keep receipts for any additional accommodation & transport etc. & you should be able to claim this back under the 'Duty of Care' rules - it may bankrupt the airline but it is the current EU legislation!

 

[ciderman]

We are due to be flying out to PP on Saturday so keeping fingers and everything else crossed but the news stories seem to be giving mixed messages so not easy to know what to believe.

 

[mearsy]

It seems that there are now mixed results with the test flights aswell. Although, no catastophies yet! A NATO fighter jet returned to ground with evidence of the ash in it's engine. That's all what was said, along with more airlines are now trying it out.

It's also said that the unusual weather conditions i.e. constant wind direction for so long, is adding to the stale mate situation. It can't last much longer surely?!

I've been wondering what I would do if I were in the situation of not being able to get home and I think I would stay put. I can understand and take my hat off to those who have used their initiative in different ways to get home, but, if I had a roof over my head and the airline were coughing up for food etc like they are meant to be doing, I would be tempted to stay and try and make the best of it.

 

[pollensa]

Latest Nats Report at 15:30

"Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday.

From 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday, Scottish airspace will be open, and south to a line between Teesside and Blackpool. Mainland Scottish airports will be open.

This is a dynamic and changing situation and is therefore difficult to forecast beyond 0700 local; however, the latest Met Office advice is that the contaminated area will continue to move south with the possibility that restrictions to airspace above England and Wales, including the London area, may be lifted later tomorrow (Tuesday)." See NATS

So what happens to all Ryanair flights cancelled until 1300 Weds?

 

[elljay]

Breaking news
BBC is reporting Scottish airports open from 7.00 tomorrow morning, Tuesday, also English airports north of Blackpool!
Good news!

 

[mearsy]

But they still can't fly into English airspace yet, so which way will they go to get into those airports that are open?!!!