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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand some of the people caught up in the eurostar chaos?

42 replies

wannaBe · 21/12/2009 22:31

Obviously being stuck in that chaos over the weekend must have been a nightmare for anyone. But..

They just interviewed a family on the news who are stuck in brussels and say they've been there for four days and no idea when they'll get home and think they won't be home for Christmas.

Now surely there must be flights from brussels to the UK? Anywhere in the UK? and once you're in the uk it's easier to get home?

I just can't understand why people aren't thinking more practically about this and are essentially waiting it out in hotels going on about how Christmas is ruined, when there surely must be other ways to get home - even if it involves having to go via another european destination..

OP posts:
SixtyFootDoll · 21/12/2009 22:32

I was woondering that too.

TimothyTigerTuppennyTail · 21/12/2009 22:33

Lack of money?

Hassled · 21/12/2009 22:33

Well presumably the problem is cash. But then you'd have to balance the flight cost against the hotel cost.

Christmas in Brussels actually sounds quite appealing.

GypsyMoth · 21/12/2009 22:34

maybe no money for extra flights on top of what they have already paid?

or maybe all the flights are full with people thinking the same as you?

Original poster
wannaBe · 21/12/2009 22:35

eurostar have said they'll refund any costs within reason.

I would imagine that four nights in a hotel in brussels at Christmas don't come cheap..

I do wonder if people are just thinking that a few days in Brussels might be nice and they'll talk to the telly at the same time..

OP posts:
Jajas · 21/12/2009 22:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
wannaBe · 21/12/2009 22:37

and I can see that the flights from brussels might be full, but Europe is a big place with a far better rail network than here - it would be easy enough to catch a train over the border to amsterdam for eg and catch a flight back from there..

OP posts:
GetOrfMoiLand · 21/12/2009 22:38

Surely you don't have to fly back, I am sure they would be able to get to a ferry port via rail.

Sod staying somewhere I didn't want to be over Christmas. Fair enough if you could view it as one of life's adventures, but surely they can't be stuck there.

Odd.

Wineonafridaynight · 21/12/2009 22:38

I was wondering that too! Also didn't they say they had been at Euro Disney so why on earth did they end up in Brussels? I'm genuinely interested to know?! Did Eurostar say 'get on the TGV to Brussels and we'll put you up in a hotel as there aren't any in Paris' or did going to Brussels just seem a really good idea!?

Wineonafridaynight · 21/12/2009 22:39

Also if they are in Brussels then there are plenty of ports that are open (know there have been problems at Calais) that you can get through fairly easily by train. Obviously it won't be ideal with all the kids and very stressful but can be done.

Would guess that it is cost stop them though!

Original poster
wannaBe · 21/12/2009 22:43

yes that too getorf.

The ferries aren't stranded, and I can't believe that every ferry and every flight throughout europe is full..

I just think some people just don't think practically, either that or they think that a few days in brussels might be fun but they'll play marter to the cameras for a bit of extra publicity and potentially extra compensation from Eurostar.

Fwiw I do think the whole thing was handled badly by eurostar.

OP posts:
AnnieLobeseder · 21/12/2009 22:45

I think Brussels airport is closed - my boss is flying out on Wed and is very worried she won't be able to go.

But yes, the ferries must be running, and if costs are being reimbursed you'd think people would find another way home.

thisisyesterday · 21/12/2009 22:45

i wonder if they're getting free/cheap hotel from eurostar? or whoever?

flights/ferry would cost them a lot of money

nancy75 · 21/12/2009 22:48

i am also a bit puzzled by the people that just turned up ar st pancras station over the last couple of days just to see if there were trains (one couple were going on a romantic daytrip not trying to get home). i,m not going anywhere on eurostar and i know they are not running - so when it says on the news there will be no trains, why go to the station - its not as if eurostar are going to tell everyone there are no trains and then run loads of empty ones.

Ponders · 21/12/2009 22:49

The airports at Paris, Amsterdam & somewhere else (Brussels, logically, as it's between the 2...???) were closed earlier today; even when Manchester reopened after the snow there, a lot of people couldn't fly out because of that - KLM & Air France suspended all flights from Manchester.

So the number of possible flights back to the UK from there was reduced to about nil for most of today; and people who already had flights booked would then take precedence for any remaining seats on other flights.

Nightmare all round for people who really do want to fly, in any direction, in N Europe.

(There has been snow & industrial action (I think) at Calais too.)

Emster30 · 21/12/2009 22:55

All the airports in Belgium have been shut for a couple of days now because of the snow - that's why! Plus any flights going are jam packed.

StayingSantasGirl · 21/12/2009 22:57

Train from Brussels to Paris, TGV to Calais, ferry to Dover, train to London and then onwards from there.

Ponders · 21/12/2009 23:01

Calais has had problems though, SSG - my son came back on a ferry on Saturday; there were only 2 or 3 all day, plus ongoing issues of one kind or another.

& how easy to get several seats on the trains from Brussels to Paris & then Paris to Calais at short notice a few days before Christmas?

StayingSantasGirl · 21/12/2009 23:01

Fair point, Ponders.

Ponders · 21/12/2009 23:03

I think you have an answer now, wannabe - it's been very badly reported by Anglo-centric news reporters who never think to mention problems in mainland Europe

Original poster
wannaBe · 21/12/2009 23:04

I still don't understand how they ended up in Brussels though.

It's not exactly up the road from Eurodisney is it?

OP posts:
dilemma456 · 21/12/2009 23:05

Message withdrawn

Ponders · 21/12/2009 23:06

Maybe they did a 2-centre trip?

Ponders · 21/12/2009 23:07

(NB I didn't see the news so no idea what was actually said )

Wineonafridaynight · 21/12/2009 23:08

WannaBe That is what is annoying me! I'm nosy and really want to know. Can only assume that Eurostar sent them there for some reason.

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