who has got family stranded by the volcanic ash?

[MrsShu]

me ! easy jet have cancelled return flight

Just checked the airport arrivals and departures boards, and there are a fair few that still seem to be intending to fly. Not internal flights or to Scandinavia, but long-haul. More than 30, anyway. Unless they're just being optimistic.

Dh is stranded in Dusseldorf - he's booked into a hotel for tonight, and will be making his way home by rail tomorrow. This is a mixed blessing - it means dh will not be home tonight, but it does mean I will get the bed all to myself tonight. Yippee!

Luckily the family ds1 was staying with in Essex spotted the news early, and kicked him out of the house to get a train into London, and he's on the train back to Glasgow now.

I gather from the news that Glasgow airport is one of the ones closed by the ash cloud, but we live only 10 minutes drive from Glasgow airport, and it is bright and sunny here - very few clouds at all, let alone ash clouds. Most perplexing.

I hope people manage to get their travel plans sorted out.

Easyjet just told us to go home, nothing doing today. It may be that airlines are hedging bets on situation changing this afternoon. They said nothing would be landing at gatwick today.

We rebooked tomorrow morning.

SDTG
I used to live in Düsseldorf. FAB city. Tell him to go to the Medienhafen if he has not been already.

And have lunch in Vapiano in the town.

SDTG - the ash cloud is between 6 and 12 km up in the atmosphere, so you can't see it. Still buggers up the planes' engines though.

All London airports closed from midday, according to NATS (Sky News)

more to the point, how do we order one of these clouds?? my PIL are due to visit next month and I could really do without the hassle

Thankyou Poledra and MmeLindt. Dh is in Dusseldorf for work, so he's gone and organised some more work to do today - madness, when the Medienhafen and Vapiano sound so much better, but that's dh for you.

I did wonder if the ash cloud would cause any odd colouration in the sky, but it appears not.

As dh said when I spoke to him, the UK appears to be closed today. Sad for people whose travel plans are getting mucked up.

Silly man, SDTG. Vapiano is in the centre of town, very delicious fast food. So won't take him long. He MUST go for me. I miss it so much. Just saw on their website that they are in Switzerland and UK now too.

no flights out of the UK from 12:00 this afternoon until at least 6 pm.

DH is due to return from paris to manchester this evening. Is this cloud moving and clearing or what? But even if its clear by then doubtless things will all be buggered up.

Yes - DH has been in Paris - was due home this evening. Might manage the Erurostar but that's going to be v.busy.

The Eurostar is bound to be packed all day.

I think this is going to cause huge disruption for several days. Apparently the cloud is getting bigger the further south it travels and the original source in Iceland is still pumping out ash so it could all go on for some time.

I just managed to book DH a eurostar ticket...for saturday morning. All the earlier times which came up as not sold out turned out to be unavailable once you got further through the online booking.
Fortunately the hotel he stayed in still had rooms. Hassled, you'd better see if your DH has a contingency plan...

DH is in Kenya with work and is supposed to be coming home early hours tomorrow morning but am presuming the plane that he is supposed to be getting on won't actually be leaving Heathrow tonight...if that makes any sense at all?

He's managed to book into his hotel for another night just in case but am not holding out much hope of him gettig back tomorrow!

Just realised that our friend is supposed to be coming over for the weekend from Dublin tomorrow and the airport there is closed too, until 8pm tonight. Will have to wait and see if she gets out tomorrow.

Bum, really been looking forward to seeing her.

My friend's son is stuck in Lanzarote on a school trip. Who'd swap places with those teachers, trying to sort that one out?

mum and sis have not been able to go on their holiday Thomas Cook seem to be in turmoil.

Feel so so sorry for everyone unable to have their holiday and for everyone stranded

Now TC rang mum and said DO NOT GO TO THE AIRPORT, but the Gatwick site says flight is going out at 7.30pm but EVERYTHING else says it is not. AAArrrgggghhhh

I am devastated about this. Me and four friends, who have been close for 15+ years but who live in Chicago, Paris and the south of France so hardly ever see each other, were planning to leave husbands and children at home while we convened in London for a weekend of catching up over long lunches, shopping, and late nights drinking cocktails.

My Mum is due back from visiting my brother in Melbourne tomorrow morning. Her flight is delayed by 12 hours and is scheduled to land at 5.30pm. She is 80 and stuck in Singapore airport. I hope they are looking after her.

Took my parents to the airport at 6am this morning for thier holiday, only to be told it was cancelled. They were transfered to another flight at 4 this afternoon, but managed to squeeze on with a different carrier and left at 8.50am. Good job too as the 4pm one would be going nowhere!

Mum said that Gatwick was crazy manic this morning!

Seems nothing will be flying till at least 7.00 am tomorow now. If then.

for anyone with family stuck anywhere.