to think that it's not the government's responsibility to rescue stranded holidaymakers?

[wannaBe]

I understand why the government are doing it and I think that it's good that they are trying to help.

But tonight I was listening to a report on people who went to somewhere on the spanish coast to get on a boat, and when the boat was full, there were people being interviewed saying "well the government should be doing more, this is just not good enough" etc etc.

Thing is, this is just unfortunate - it's not the government's fault that there's dust in the atmosphere and that people can't get home.

And while it's inconvenient, sometimes, these things just happen. And nobody died or is dying.

And they'll all get home eventually.

linc
If the citizens were in a war zone, I would agree with you.

Ok, say every one of the 150 000 stranded needed assistance to the tune of £2000. Many have paid even more than that.

That is £300000000. How do we pay for that then?

Agree MmeLindt - the passport does indeed request (and even require!) those whom it may concern to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary blah blah- but that doesn't really mean holding your hand all the way home when you are stuck in the wild, remote, dangerous climes of Marbella? If it's so bad there why did you book that holiday in the first place? The FCO should get involved when you are caught up in a civil war, or banged up in some godforsaken cell, not simply because you are incapable of booking a train when everybody at the station is 'foreign'. Of course, given the numbers involved, the govt can usefully help out. But there is a limit. And, as I said before, please direct your concerns to your own govt.

What we do now know, as Libby Purves said in the Times, is how weaselly travel insurance companies can be - not to mention some airlines. So in future of course, everyone should have some contingency money before they go, particularly on that Ryan Air flight. And of course they won't - but don't then complain that someone should bail you out.

Why should our gvt be financially responsible for an 'act of god'? I appreciate some people will be left seriously out of money but thats life! People have hard financial times for many reasons and should not expect help every time. The country simply can not afford to help these people.

The government has been very generous already providing the navy ship etc.

What makes me laugh is 5 mins after being back in the uk these people will be complaiining about the weather

londonartemis - the impression I got was that travellers were being advised that they might be able to get on a ship from Santander. They weren't told to go there, as such.

The guy from easyjet yesterday was even suggesting that the airlines should be compensated for their losses by govt.

I totally agree, MrsVidic!

Shit happens.

You take a chance whenever you go abroad.

what I dont get is people that have no funds to get back, how??? Surely having some savings for rainy days is more important than a holiday? Go camping for a few years and save money instead.

I bet I get charged now for saying "poor people should not go abroad" but I just think its irresponsible to not manage your finances

God I am going to get flamed aren't I?

Depends how much we're talking. As I mentioned earlier, if my DH had had to pay for his own return we're talking £5k odd. If I'd have been with him, twice that. Yes, we have that in savings...but I don't think we could afford to blow it on one single flight if you see what I mean. In our case it would dramatically alter our next few years as I will be on maternity leave from the summer, and that is our fall back.

I don't think it is unreasonable for people not to have that sort of money kicking around and be prepared to lose it.

I also think that those who have insurance did the best they can. Whether they will have to 'suck it up' or not doesn't mean they can't be seriously hacked off about it.

still don't understand why people didn't just stay put.
surely that would cost a hell of a lot less than £5k or so. the airspace wasn't going to stay shut forever.

and when people say "our govt should pay" what they are really saying is the taxpayer should pay.

so i didn't go away this easter
friends did
flights cancelled, they took it upon themselves to get back anyway they could, regardless of what it cost, and now expect us to pick up the tab.
no.

Ryanair wanker O'Leary just been on the radio saying that they have done a bit of a U-turn on what they would compensate people.

Originally RyanAir said they would only refund people the cost of the flight, but are now aloowing "reasonable expenses"... having said this he was mumping his gums about someone who had only paid 8euro for a flight and was now trying to claim 800euro in expenses.

Now surely it doesnt matter whether you have paid £1 or £1000 for a flight, and whilst 800 euro might seem excessive I suppose it easily mounts up with 5 or 6 nights hotel.

There are going to be loads of chancers thinking that they can make a few quid. I suppose the thing is no matter where you are you would have to pay living expenses, although these would obviously be considerably less at home then they would be on the continet

I guess its going to be where they draw the line isnt it? If dh had been stuck away and unable to work then he would have lost £300 a day as he is self employed, then there would have been the cost of hotel etc, although he would have been quite happy bunking down somewhere - he wouldnt have been arsed about 5* luxury. If he had been away a week then it could have quite easyily cost us £3k - there is no way that the governemnt/airline/travel insurance would have paid that.

No matter who ends up picking up the bill you can bet you life that the costs will be passed down to the general public in one way or another - flight prices/taxes/insurance will all go up.

'what I dont get is people that have no funds to get back, how??? Surely having some savings for rainy days is more important than a holiday? Go camping for a few years and save money instead.

I bet I get charged now for saying "poor people should not go abroad" but I just think its irresponsible to not manage your finances

God I am going to get flamed aren't I?'

You won't get flamed by me because I completely agree.

Holidays abroad are a luxury. Always.

Savings are essential, if you can at all manage it.

If you can't, well, the UK is a beautiful island with many lovely places to camp on the cheap.

Well quite, it prob would be cheaper to stay than pay £5k to get home, but then the choice is between that and staying and losing income etc if your employer starts being an arse.

I am not by any means saying people ought to be able to claim that by the way, if we'd have had to pay we'd have sucked it up and done it. Doesn't mean I wouldn't feel entitled to have a little moan and a little cry though!

Expat I'm with you.

Whilst I accept everyone is not rolling in it, surely it is irresponsible to go abroad, and not have a back up plan, and enough money (even if its on a creditcard) to sort you out should an emergency occur.

Though rare, people take ill abroad, accidents happen etc. I wouldnt sleep if I went abroad and only had £xx per day and no access to emergency money.

'Though rare, people take ill abroad, accidents happen etc. I wouldnt sleep if I went abroad and only had £xx per day and no access to emergency money.'

that's just it. things can happen when you go abroad that can prevent you from easily getting back to the UK.

what if you fall ill? it's entirely possible you'll need to extend your stay and/or incur expenses not covered by insurance to travel back to the UK.

we go abroad, but only to visit family (probably once every other year until DS gets a bit older). and from now on it's going to be straight from the UK to somewhere in the US or Canada so that if we get stuck on one side there'll be family to stay with and on the other side we'll be on UK soil and able to contact family to get us back home if need be.

a lot of people in the UK do seem to think they're entitled to a cheap holiday in the sun/abroad, however.

Not me. We have a campervan and a lovely tent...and that'll do us!

The C4 news reference to 'refugees' was apalling. And I had to laugh at the fact that troops returning from Afghanistan on the Navy ship (Our Boys) were suddenly demoted from heroes to second class passengers sleeping in the open air on deck, having given up their bunks to returning holidaymakers and Boris Johnson's Dad!

FFS.

I feel sorry for stuck soldiers indeed, because I'd be willing to bet they'll still be deployed back to the front when they were regularly scheduled to do so, regardless of the loss of their leave.

"so i didn't go away this easter
friends did
flights cancelled, they took it upon themselves to get back anyway they could, regardless of what it cost, and now expect us to pick up the tab.
no."

Exactly. Is there NO sense of personal misfortune any more? Is everything something that someone else should pick up the tab for? If your travel insurance doesn't cover Acts Of God (inc Vulcan) then factor in that you are accepting the risk that you will have to pay should you be inconvenienced due to an Act of God.

I feel really sorry for people who were affected adversely, I do, I would be gnashing my teeth, but that's not the same as saying the gvt should pick up the tab.

Quite, having a moan is one thing...expecting others to pay is something else.

I do think that the government did the right thing in 'helping', that should have been liaising with other governments, companies etc etc and that 'diplomatic role'. Forking out? No. The country can't afford it for a start!

I think the travel company's need to do more to help people who are stranded, basic human rights need to be met such as water, food and shelter.

I have never flown Ryan air or Easy jet, and from the way they are carrying on I never ever will.