I am stuck in London. My 3-day trip is now gawd knows how long. Here is my experience as the event unfolded.
Thursday I was supposed to fly back to the states. Then the mess happened. Here is my story.
The airport was a mess.
I was booked Premium Economy on Virgin. Personal travel ya’know.
When I arrived Thursday at Heathrow for the flight back, I checked in and was told the flight would go and I then headed to the American Airlines lounge because I am a member and could relax in relative comfort.
As I waited, American started cancelling flights and I became concerned, as Virgin still showed on-time departure.
American continued to cancel flights but Virgin did not and soon the American lounge was empty and I had all the food to myself. Then the Virgin flight was cancelled.
I then called Virgin. After a long time on hold, Virgin picked up and after a chat they told me that because my booking was done through a travel agent they can’t help me. Told me to contact the agency that made the booking. Okay.
I called the travel agency, and after a long wait and short chat, was told they would call me back.
I waited and waited and waited and eventually they did call back. I explained the situation and was then told she would call me back.
She did.
No help, was told I need to deal with Virgin at the airport.
Argh.
So, Virgin tells me to contact the travel agency and the agency tells me to deal with Virgin. Great.
I wandered to the Virgin “transfer” desk and was told, as expected, to contact the travel agent. I contained my frustration but insisted upon service as I was standing right there! Virgin relented and decided to help one of their passengers.
After sorting alternate air travel details for Friday, you would think my ordeal was over——it wasn’t.
While I had not left the country I still had to go back through immigration/arrivals.
No kidding.
I wandered to arrivals and, wow, a mess.
There were literally thousands jammed into the arrivals hall. Seriously. The room was so full that the crowd was backed-up onto the ramp leading to the arrivals hall. Argh. And I hadn’t even left the country
I was forced to go through this mess!
Apparently, many flights were diverted to Heathrow, to include several Air India flights full of smelly people and noisy children.
There I was, stuck in the middle of thousands and I had no legitimate reason to be there.
I saw the Fast Track line and went over to it. Not so fast, some airport drone told me, I was not allowed to enter Fast Track because I didn’t have a fast track pass. Bah, I insisted I shouldn’t be here in the first place as I NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY and would use Fast Track! I stayed in the line.
When after an hour in the Fast Track line, I arrived at a passport check station. The immigration officer was confused because I hadn’t filled out an arrivals card. I again explained I NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY, that I had filled out the arrival card when I arrived and because I NEVER LEFT THE COUNTRY I shouldn’t have to fill out another card.
The guy finally had a spark inside the bureaucratic brain and relented and let me in.
Whew. Such an ordeal.
So, I am feeling quite worn out by the whole situation, wondering if I will get home before I go bankrupt.
Signing off from London. . .
.
I’m in LOndon too and while they say the ash is no threat, my nasal passages and throat are irritated and I can smell something. It is so weird. We are leaving Monday for Scotland and hope we can get home from there but it is looking very dicey, like we won’t get home for a while. But I love it here, weather is great so it is okay with me.
That's what I keep wondering about people stuck in god foresaken Europe...how the heck are they ever going to afford it?? With hotel and food it's got to be a minimum of $400 a day for two.
Illigitimus non corborundum......
Don’t let the bastards wear you down
Bloody lucky you found a bureaucrat with a brain.
Oh my LOLOLOL! Sorry to be laughing but that is of the funnest things I have read recently...thanks for the post I hope you get home soon too!
Sorry to hear of your troubles! I imagine there are a ton of people in your situation. I’ll say some prayers for you — and everyone else, too.
So, I am feeling quite worn out by the whole situation, wondering if I will get home before I go bankrupt.
Ummmm..., how about travelling by rail (or car or whatever) south into Europe and then taking off from another city in Europe not affected by the ashfall?
Based on post 19 here, I doubt I will ever buy a plane ticket through a travel agency:
= = =
Hulka said
... ‘soon the American lounge was empty and I had all the food to myself. Then the Virgin flight was cancelled.
‘I then called Virgin. After a long time on hold, Virgin picked up and after a chat they told me that because my booking was done through a travel agent they can’t help me. Told me to contact the agency that made the booking. Okay.
‘I called the travel agency, and after a long wait and short chat, was told they would call me back.
‘I waited and waited and waited and eventually they did call back. I explained the situation and was then told she would call me back.
‘She did.
‘No help, was told I need to deal with Virgin at the airport. ...’