Cancelled next years holiday abroad

[YellowphantGrey]

And feel awful about it.

Trying to convince myself a UK holiday will be ok bur I know it won't.

We've just returned from disaster holiday after two horrific flights. Holiday itself was fine but the flights were absolutely horrific. People in tears, screaming, crying, my kindle screen broken, DH hurt his back, people throwing up, all from 2 hours worth of severe turbulence on a 4 hour flight and Pilot had to speak several times. It was a night flight and all lights went out and emergency floor strip lights came on. He ended up having to fly lower to try and avoid and was prepared to divert when it started becoming clearer.

On the way over, it was an hours worth of turbulence and not as bad but still took some quite big drops, everyone lifted out of their seats on each drop. Couldn't land and had to retry which was successful second time round.

We decided today after we are all bruised and shaken that we don't really want to fly again but I'm also worried my DS will now be restricted in life and we should be forcing ourselves back on a plane.

Any ideas what to do? I don't think any sort of scared of flying course would help as even the cabin crew were crying yesterday! Apparently turbulence is set to become more frequent, common and extreme.

Cruises are a definitive no as well.

I suppose we could train or drive?

I know they are known for being windy which can make landing and taking off interesting at times, we've done all the islands and always had some very mild turbulence.

They've also had more extreme weather than normal this year which probably hasn't helped

Please don't try and dismiss what happened and no, not a nervous flyer at all, far from it but this was truly horrendous. I'm not even going to explain what happened any further as you clearly don't believe me

haha the old ‘no I won’t explain because you’re asking sensible questions’ line

We had the worst turbulence over the mid Atlantic this year, so many people were being sick into the bags and it felt like it lasted forever.

Have also heard climate change is causing this increase in severe and frequent turbulence and looking into other modes of transport.

UK hols are fine unless you want hot weather. We catch surf in Cornwall for a fortnight or so in summer. It’s better surf if less hot. There is so much to do. I would hate a pool based holiday

@YellowphantGrey Aviation is still one of the most safest forms of travel. Clear air turbulence is not visible on an aircrafts weather radar hence it can just happen with no warning.

I am sure your experience may put you off flying, but I think you should put it behind you and fly again - why stop going to warmer countries for your holidays.

CAT as I said happens, there is no more of it due to supposed climate change.

yes - although more common now than it used to be, it’s still a rare occurrence to experience severe turbulence.

I’ve experienced turbulence on several flights (had the drop and shaking) but I would not classify it as severe as there was no risk of injury.

Never had any issues flying to The Canaries - Lanzarote or Tenerife, whilst turbulence can be an issue anywhere I wouldn't let the chance of it occurring put you off flying.

Ahh I see, poor her! That’s awful. Turbulence isn’t dangerous, well, if you’re all strapped in that is! But in terms of the aircraft they’re built to with stand horrific conditions. The canaries are awful for wind, and DH needs special training for some of them (can’t remember which!). Madeira also awful, if you want to avoid turbulence stay away from there.

DH flies several times a week and never mentions turbulence, ever.

There's no kindness in your comment, why pretend?

The “poorly made aircraft” and “calculated failure to inform” about operational changes are bloody shocking (from the article).

edit - not worried about dying - though the idea of being surrounded by screaming people is terrifying - but coming off a flight with injuries etc. obviously I speak as someone who hates flying and diazepam is only a little bit helpful.

I still would. I think OP’s experience was very rare. They said they’ve flown hundreds of times so statistically OP is not likely to experience such bad turbulence again.

what does make me a bit nervous is wondering what such repeated bad turbulence does to a single plane? If all the historical data we have is based on less turbulence than what is happening now, how can they model all the engineering stuff on data that is still ongoing, IYSWIM. Not explaining well I know.

I mean, I know they must build in margins for error etc but if you have one particular plane that is on a route known for severe turbulence is that built into the usage plans going forward? Will that particular plane be more weakened than others?

Sounds really scary OP.

Train travel is good.

Alternatively UK breaks, seeing sights and having trips and experiences are also great. Focus on what you like - museums/walks/restaurants/theatre/spa etc and then it doesn't matter so much about potential for rain.

That sounds really scary op. I always think now that people ram the overhead lockers with suitcases that if they flew open we'd all get neck injuries from them falling on us.

If you're that bothered, read the thread and you will see I've answered what you demanded to know to other people who asked a bit nicer.

A sensible precaution is to keep your seatbelt fastened- and your kids- throughout the whole flight - regardless of the seatbelt sign. That’s what we always do. Only unfasten to go to the toilet.

If you're that bothered, read the thread and you will see I've answered what you demanded to know to other people who asked a bit nicer

have you mistaken me for another poster as I’ve not ‘demanded to know’ anything?

I expressed surprise - as someone who has worked in the aviation industry for a long time - at the cabin crew crying and an emergency announcement being repeatedly played. Turbulence is not dangerous. If you’re strapped in

We always keep them fastened. Even on the drops last night, we were still being raised up. When the first drop happened, DS had just come back from the loo and went to sit down and landed funny, causing the bruising and DH had already sat down and was about to put his belt on.

It's not dangerous if you're strapped in, but it's unpleasant and scary, OP describes that her family is bruised and shaken. Holidays are meant to be nice! She isn't being unreasonable if her family want to skip it next year and look into alternatives, is she?

You say you have been flying since 11 ( now 43 ) then you say you have done hundreds of night flights, 200 ? 300 ? So thats about 6-9 night flights a year ? Not to mention the day flights ? But then you state you only have 2 weeks off a year ? Im confused

No I've definitely not mistaken you.

Like I said, the answers are all there if you can be bothered to read it.

Why are you confused? It's only the last 4 years I've had two weeks off as I started my own business that has a permanent fixture.

Prior to that I was still self employed but had the luxury to pick my working hours as well as travelling with families for work.

I hope that's cleared your confusion?

There are load of holidays you can do without flying. You can drive almost anywhere in Europe and make the journey part of the holiday.

Thank you.

I'm waiting for the demands of proof as there's two people on here who clearly think I'm lying.

It was a frightening experience and one I don't want to repeat!

I agree. I have flown a lot over the past 30 years (maybe not in the thousands, but certainly in the hundreds), I have had some bad turbulence in flights in the past few years, but not in years gone by, yes, sometimes caused by weather (flying into Geneva in Storm Elinor being a low point) but even recently flying into Warsaw where it bumped most of the way along, then just as it was it landed, hitting the runway momentarily it took off again and just banked and bumped around for another 30 minutes before finally landing. When we went back the pilot had to fly North for another 40 minutes to avoid storms over Europe. The plane was late in, but, it was the quietest and calmest flight ever, and I give my thanks to the pilot that did that. There have been some dreadful stories recently where the turbulence has been so bad that it has severely injured the cabin staff (knocked unconscious and broken leg so diverted to get hospital care, and another near Malaysia that put plenty of the passengers in hospital, one death). Whatever is causing it (climate change, poor technology etc,) I think it can't go on. I feel for you xx