The image made me think of Jack Skellington for some reason.
Can we assume that Iceland has used up all of it’s Carbon Credits?
Will Lindsey G. ask US taxpayers to subsidize the unforeseen overrun?
My understanding is that the last time this thing blew off, it went for two years. That’s gonna put one serious piece of hurt on air traffic in the Euro area.
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. . .
.
Start flying piston powered planes and problem solved!
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Well this just goes to show that nobody should be traveling to Europe. The situation of the volcano spewing ash is absolutely unacceptable and it is for this reason that we should all stay the heck away from Europe.
The end of “global warming”. Isn’t nature wonderful?
BTTT - thank you
Translation: "Eya losta my longjohns"
Heathrow is “open.”
Some Americans in the Club received a call last night from their airlines saying to come to Heathrow this morning for their fight back to the states.
This morning they checked out of the Club and went to Heathrow, only to be told when they arrived that Heathrow is open for in-bound flights but not out-bound flights. Weird.
I’ve done some checking through some well-placed sources and BAA expects/plans to fly the regular schedule tomorrow, the day I am to fly back.
We shall remain hopeful.
Cajungirl, did you enjoy Scotland?