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Original poster

Help! DD stranded in Madeira, can't find anywhere to stay

111 replies

redskydelight · 06/07/2025 22:28

Hopefully someone might have an idea we haven't ...
DD and her boyfriend were meant to fly home from Madeira today but the flights were all cancelled due to winds. The airline has stated force majeure and won't help. We managed to book them hotel room, but when they got there, they said no rooms left ... everywhere else is gone. I've told DD to get herself somewhere warm and safe so she is sitting in Mcdonalds googling with some others also frantically hunting for rooms ...

don't know what to suggest and she's starting to panic (she's 19 and her boyfriend has never been away without family before so no help).

OP posts:
BoudiccaRuled · 07/07/2025 09:26

If I was 19 and a) phoned my mum at the first hiccup and b) had her asking advice from the internet in a panic, I would be SO embarrassed.
Is there no resilience, resourcefulness or sense of real adventure left in the world?

positivebutnegative · 07/07/2025 09:36

Even if your dd’s boyfriend hasn’t been away without family before he is 19 years old and really needs to step up.

positivebutnegative · 07/07/2025 09:43

And talk to your daughter. It’s not good to panic when there is absolutely nothing to panic about. They could easily just stay at the airport, people do all the time.

What would happen if there was a real emergency and an actual reason to panic?

positivebutnegative · 07/07/2025 09:46

BoudiccaRuled · 07/07/2025 09:26

If I was 19 and a) phoned my mum at the first hiccup and b) had her asking advice from the internet in a panic, I would be SO embarrassed.
Is there no resilience, resourcefulness or sense of real adventure left in the world?

Edited

I traveled around the world when I was 19, without a mobile phone. Ran out of money and had to quickly find a way, because I wanted to keep traveling. 🤣

SomeoneSomewhereOnThisWorld · 07/07/2025 09:49

Easyjet is notoriously bad with treating people decently with when flight's are cancelled: PILs late evening plane cancelled were not offered hotel, DH's plane was "delayed" for more than 24h, hardly any information (if he had known, he could have come home to sleep) or at some point they got a room for a few hours.

Easy Jet operates: drip feed or avoid information, completely unorganised, do not help with rebooking, do not help people with vouchers or hotels ....

notimagain · 07/07/2025 10:04

PILs late evening plane cancelled were not offered hotel

For info Easyjet aren't the only airline guilty of that..I've seen a few late evening cancellations at a major airline where down to staff numbers (not enough) and hotel room availability (not enough plus other factors) it's been a case of passengers being told to find their own accom,.keep receipts, claim back post the event.

Very sadly you can no longer always rely on the traditional model of lots of station staff>fleet of buses> top notch hotel for the night applying.

anyzen · 07/07/2025 10:08

I was 22 when I went to the US to stay with my friend who worked in the embassy in Washington. I did it by myself in the days before internet and mobile phones. I then went to SFran to see another friend who was nannying there, and made it to Phoenix to visit a vaguely related aunt who was a terrific host! That was back in 1980 - I'm old now but it made me fearless regarding travel and I still do a lot of it on my own.

Glad everything is sorted for your DD and BF. One thing I would advise is, if there is any disruption to flights, stay at the airport as the airline should in most instances sort something out for you. If you leave and make other arrangements you are not entitled to anything as you didn't avail of the airline's support. I know it might take hours and hours but sticking around is the best thing to do, as I discovered.

As for Ryanair, yep I have never had an issue with them and use them all the time. There was an ATC strike a couple of years ago and flights were cancelled. I stuck around for hours in the airport waiting for assistance or news, and in the end Ryanair sorted a hotel for three nights since I offered to wait for a flight and let others go first (retired). I got a four star hotel suite no less, taxi to and from the hotel and airport and meals. Great deal and three extra days holiday!

Berlinlover · 07/07/2025 10:16

Lifestooshort71 · 07/07/2025 07:30

I'm amazed by this! Ryanair?!! Did they actually cover the cost or do you have to try and claim it back?!

Show quote history

Ryanair have covered the cost of the hotel and taxis to and from hotel. We will be flying to Madeira later on today.

CountryQueen · 07/07/2025 10:17

SalfordQuays · 07/07/2025 08:30

@CountryQueen how did they do all that while you were in the air unable to land?!!

Ryanair are dreadful. I have plenty of experience.

Show quote history

Well we landed at a different airport in a different country. Obviously, unless you thought we parachuted down 🤣

I fly with them on an extremely regular basis and the only people I see having problems are chancers with massive hand luggage.

CountryQueen · 07/07/2025 10:19

positivebutnegative · 07/07/2025 09:43

And talk to your daughter. It’s not good to panic when there is absolutely nothing to panic about. They could easily just stay at the airport, people do all the time.

What would happen if there was a real emergency and an actual reason to panic?

Absolutely. There must’ve been lots of people sitting around the airport. Why not just sit with them instead of flapping around trying to book hotels and hot footing it out of the airport?!

Brefugee · 07/07/2025 10:20

tbh you should probably have encouraged them to try and sort it themselves. At 19 they should really be able to look around and see what the other people in their position were doing.

Self-sufficiency and resiliance are overused words on here - but mainly, i think, because nobody seems to be teaching it.

NHSinterviewupcoming · 07/07/2025 10:27

She’s 19. With her boyfriend. Neither of them could’ve worked out that they’d just have to spend the night at the airport? Really?

Lifestooshort71 · 07/07/2025 10:33

Berlinlover · 07/07/2025 10:16

Ryanair have covered the cost of the hotel and taxis to and from hotel. We will be flying to Madeira later on today.

Show quote history

That's good news, shows they've got deep pockets after all. All paid for and no need to claim it back, a result.

Applesonthelawn · 07/07/2025 10:35

I was stranded in Sweden age 19 with nowhere to stay, no money and on my own, snow falling, huge trunk with me I couldn't move, no phone as it was before mobile phones. It's a complicated story I won't share here but she will find a way to survive just as I did. She's not alone and has access to funds which are big benefits. I know you'll worry but she will be okay.

HamSandwichKiller · 07/07/2025 10:38

A former colleague got stuck for 5 extra days in Madeira and they were told it happens all the time. I just couldn't risk losing that much AL as I wouldn't have enough leave left to take time off over Christmas. Madeira is a hard no for me.

positivebutnegative · 07/07/2025 10:39

Applesonthelawn · 07/07/2025 10:35

I was stranded in Sweden age 19 with nowhere to stay, no money and on my own, snow falling, huge trunk with me I couldn't move, no phone as it was before mobile phones. It's a complicated story I won't share here but she will find a way to survive just as I did. She's not alone and has access to funds which are big benefits. I know you'll worry but she will be okay.

I’m in Sweden but was once in the same situation as you, although stranded in the UK. Just turned 19. This is when I learnt to solve my problems. Somehow I managed, and I am proud of myself now for doing it. No access to funds either.

Needlenardlenoo · 07/07/2025 10:44

There may be rooms on other islands if the ferries are running. That's what my parents had to do when their plane couldn't land on Madeira.

Original poster
redskydelight · 07/07/2025 10:52

CountryQueen · 07/07/2025 10:19

Absolutely. There must’ve been lots of people sitting around the airport. Why not just sit with them instead of flapping around trying to book hotels and hot footing it out of the airport?!

Show quote history

She independently sorted herself on another flight on Wednesday (earliest available at that time), and looked for hotels. Because she originally thought she would need 3 days, she asked me to book it because she didn't know if she had enough money. She wasn't going to sit at the airport for 3 days.

I think discovering there is no accommodation available at all anywhere, when you've left the airport because you thought you had some, is a reason for a slight minor panic. In the end they met up with others in McDonalds, they all shared stories, DD got herself booked on an earlier flight and a few of them agreed to share a bigger AirBnB that they couldn't consider individually.
(DD aware of potential safety risk and being sensible about it).

The flight is cancelled again, but she can stay in her AirBnB and wait it out now. I think she did pretty well. I was probably the main person panicking :) And next time, she'll do even better.

OP posts:
Nchangeo · 07/07/2025 10:53

Lifestooshort71 · 07/07/2025 07:30

I'm amazed by this! Ryanair?!! Did they actually cover the cost or do you have to try and claim it back?!

Show quote history

That makes a change. I was once stuck on a Ryanair flight with a 9 month old for 4 hours before they announced they were flying back to Heathrow. We didn’t have enough milk to do that and at this point had been on the plane for half a day. Ryanair didn’t bother to do anything so we had to leave and sleep on an airport floor with a baby in travel cot. Flight we booked next day was also cancelled so we went to Epic sana instead. When DP walked through the door he said omg did we die? Is this heaven 😂

Original poster
redskydelight · 07/07/2025 10:55

Glad everything is sorted for your DD and BF. One thing I would advise is, if there is any disruption to flights, stay at the airport as the airline should in most instances sort something out for you. If you leave and make other arrangements you are not entitled to anything as you didn't avail of the airline's support. I know it might take hours and hours but sticking around is the best thing to do, as I discovered.

She only looked for alternative accommodation after EasyJet said they couldn't help. Hundreds of other people were doing the same, which is why there was none to be had.

OP posts:
notimagain · 07/07/2025 10:56

@Nchangeo

Ryanair flight with a 9 month old for 4 hours before they announced they were flying back to Heathrow

The whole story sounds grim but Ryanair and Heathrow?????

CountryQueen · 07/07/2025 10:57

redskydelight · 07/07/2025 10:52

She independently sorted herself on another flight on Wednesday (earliest available at that time), and looked for hotels. Because she originally thought she would need 3 days, she asked me to book it because she didn't know if she had enough money. She wasn't going to sit at the airport for 3 days.

I think discovering there is no accommodation available at all anywhere, when you've left the airport because you thought you had some, is a reason for a slight minor panic. In the end they met up with others in McDonalds, they all shared stories, DD got herself booked on an earlier flight and a few of them agreed to share a bigger AirBnB that they couldn't consider individually.
(DD aware of potential safety risk and being sensible about it).

The flight is cancelled again, but she can stay in her AirBnB and wait it out now. I think she did pretty well. I was probably the main person panicking :) And next time, she'll do even better.

Show quote history

A lot of knee jerk reactions, especially panic booking a flight for 3 days later!

It is commonplace in Madeira and waiting a few hours in the airport is the best course of action. Plenty of people around to discuss it with too.

MrsGuyOfGisbo · 07/07/2025 10:58

CountryQueen · 07/07/2025 08:18

Ryanair put us up in a hotel, provided coaches and breakfast when we couldn’t land due to winds.

Pretty sure the people slating them never use them tbh

Show quote history

This! Lots of negativity but have always found them efficiency and helpful. Too many cheapskates who take the the piss trying it on with with luggage and seats etc expecting five star treatment for peanuts give them an undeserved bad press.

CountryQueen · 07/07/2025 10:59

notimagain · 07/07/2025 10:56

@Nchangeo

Ryanair flight with a 9 month old for 4 hours before they announced they were flying back to Heathrow

The whole story sounds grim but Ryanair and Heathrow?????

Haha, so many fake stories about Ryanair. They did not announce they were flying to Heathrow 🤣

notimagain · 07/07/2025 10:59

redskydelight · 07/07/2025 10:55

Glad everything is sorted for your DD and BF. One thing I would advise is, if there is any disruption to flights, stay at the airport as the airline should in most instances sort something out for you. If you leave and make other arrangements you are not entitled to anything as you didn't avail of the airline's support. I know it might take hours and hours but sticking around is the best thing to do, as I discovered.

She only looked for alternative accommodation after EasyJet said they couldn't help. Hundreds of other people were doing the same, which is why there was none to be had.

She only looked for alternative accommodation after EasyJet said they couldn't help. Hundreds of other people were doing the same, which is why there was none to be had.

Mass cancellation due weather and that can happen, even at well appointed airports...

Sometimes despite airline responsibilities re duty of care etc etc etc the airline runs out of options..