Rhodes

[PurpleLass1234]

Anyone else due to fly to Rhodes in the next week? We’re due to go next Tuesday, waiting to hear something from Jet2 as think our hotel may be one of those affected by the fire.

I presume on Greek news it’s more focused on the impact on Greeks. It’s normal for the news to focus on the local element.

As for flights, as others said, airlines will still fly whilst the airports are open. However there is no way I would trust anyone to make the right decision for me and my family. Based on the current reports I would not fly to Rhodes, it might be ok but then again it might not

I don't think it is normal. I find the focus on the holiday makers really odd. Yes there's some interest there but if this wasn't a tourist destination we'd be hearing more about the locals

There was a video on YouTube (I can't remember the Chanel now) about a local family who ran a activity camping place.!They tries to save it for days but unfortunately it's gone 😢. The family had the place for years

I agree.
that all being said there’s probably more holiday makers than locals in Rhodes atm. Population will massively swell in the the summer.

holiday companies can cancel holidays, but no airline company has the right to prevent people using their flights if the flights are flying.

You don't know who the "visitors" are - having a suitcase does not mean holiday maker, necessarily. People from all over Europe are coming to help with fire fighting, and some will be travelling independently. People with family and property on Rhodes might be coming to pack up, or support relatives, or all sorts

I don't know if there's anyone who opted not to go to Rhodes who are fighting for their money back - guardian has published an article "Travel operators urged to refund UK holidaymakers who call off trips to Rhodes"

amp.theguardian.com/business/2023/jul/23/travel-operators-urged-to-refund-uk-holidaymakers-who-call-off-trips-to-rhodes

In case it might help someone.

We were due to go next week to visit my sister and her family who live there (BIL is from Rhodes) but we've cancelled and expect to lose the money we spent on flights. They're close to Rhodes town and not where the fires are but we just don't want to add to the situation in any way. Seriously, no tourists should be travelling to Rhodes - local services and infrastructure are under huge strain. Also, the British media should maybe mention the local residents - all the BBC and newspaper headlines are about tourists. Just imagine that was your home!

This 100%. It's not just a place for holidaymakers!

Be interesting to see how that idea plays out.

Bit of an outlier but as an example would it be reasonable for somebody who had a few days booked in Rhodes town itself to expect a full refund because they decided to cancel as a result of bad fires in a rural area dozens of miles away?

If that’s the case then the Greek government need to stop holidaymakers arriving.
As it is , I wouldn’t go but I can understand why some people might still go

@nidgey

Seriously, no tourists should be travelling to Rhodes - local services and infrastructure are under huge strain.

….and if that strain is excessive it is down to the Greek government to step in and ban tourists……

I'm not sure if the small local businesses miles away from the fires do want tourists to cancel their trips.

Ok, I get that, but support customers to make a choice without losing out. Other airlines are cancelling flights, offering refunds and alternative bookings.

Ryanair will carry on with no alternatives and wait until the customer decides not to fly. The customer will lose out in that case.

Or people just take personal responsibility in the meantime?

Going on what our local family and extended family and friends are saying, it's probably best not to travel there in the next week or so. Even people living miles away are involved in helping out - not just where the fires are, but around the airport and so on.

How exactly do you ban travellers - are you suggesting Greece closes its borders? Who decides who is a tourist and who isn't?

"Ok, I get that, but support customers to make a choice without losing out. Other airlines are cancelling flights, offering refunds and alternative bookings.

Ryanair will carry on with no alternatives and wait until the customer decides not to fly. The customer will lose out in that case."

You're comparing package holiday companies with an airline. It's completely different.

I don't know about 'banning' travellers, but just have an informed opinion that if travel isn't necessary then it's most responsible not to travel to Rhodes this week.

well, |I agree with that, but the people currently travelling to Rhodes may well be making necessary journeys, rather than being holiday makers.

@SydneyJKL

Ok, I get that, but support customers to make a choice without losing out. Other airlines are cancelling flights, offering refunds and alternative bookings.

It's a bit more complex/subtle than that, for seat only bookings a lot of airlines are not offering refunds to those who choose not to fly, they are offering alternative bookings/vouchers for future use...

The all inclusive/package holiday situation (for the UK mainly TUI and Jet2) is more complex, as much as anything because those operators have a responsibility for customers, even after they get to Rhodes airport, in terms of accommodation etc.

Ryanair will carry on with no alternatives and wait until the customer decides not to fly. The customer will lose out in that case.

I've not much time for Ryanair as an outfit but I don't see why they keep being singled here for special attention. AFAIK from Easyjet's press release yesterday it seems they will continue to fly seat only traffic into Rhodes from UK, though schedules will be disrupted. They also certainly appear to be from their bases elsewhere in Europe.

Also a lot of the non UK operators, potentially carrying tourist and seat only traffic to/from e.g. France, Germany, Scandinavia are still going into/out of Rhodes in big numbers today....though quite what the loads are like is impossible to tell.

Sure - which is why I said I don't think tourists should travel.

Greek authorities seem to saying (via bbc) that it’s fine to still travel to corfu and Rhodes. And there is no foreign office advice that says you shouldn’t go to either.

I’m not minimising the horrendous experience people have had but many areas will be hot, but otherwise safe. Tour operators can take things into their own hands (and seem to be being sensible by cancelling outbound travel) but airlines need to let people make their own decisions, but also offer options to those no longer wishing to travel (some people’s accommodation may be not be safe to stay at, or currently out of bounds …with everything full on the island of course it’s not sensible to travel in those cases). It’s a difficult call for airlines though if local authorities are insisting it is ok.

@StillWantingADog

. It’s a difficult call for airlines though if local authorities are insisting it is ok.

Yep...

tourists will travel to Rhodes if they want.
i wont waste my energy worrying