Is the Volcano affecting you?

[chri'stina 190]

We flew right over the edge of Iceland the day before all this mayhem started. (we were in flight late april 12th to early april 13th on the way home from India). Since it's a direct flight, I looked up recent flights and none were canceled because they can just go another way/route - there is no need for connecting in Europe or anywhere. That is definitely a big plus of the direct flights to India now, not having to stop in a country in between.

But now the volcano has affected me...or I should say my dreams! Early this morning I had a volcano ash dream. It wasn't pleasant.

Edited April 21, 2010 by chri'stina

[faithinGod 8]

Limited flights to the UK, you must contact your airline. Heathrow airspace opened up at 10PM BST.

Thank you!

[Jenn! 918]

Yes, the fcuking volcano did affect me. I was stuck in Addis Ababa for a couple of days. After dealing with the completely useless KLM people in Addis, I ended up buying a one-way ticket on Turkish Airlines on Monday morning to get out via Istanbul. Just got home an hour ago. Delta and KLM have absolutely no concept of managing any unusual situation. Bunch of fcuktards.

The lack of communication was unbelievable. Don't companies have plans in place to deal with situations like these? I kept checking the Air France website (since getting through on the phone was impossible of course), thinking that they would have information more helpful than "BIG VOLCANO. AIRPORT CLOSED. <caveman grunt>".

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The lack of communication was unbelievable. Don't companies have plans in place to deal with situations like these? I kept checking the Air France website (since getting through on the phone was impossible of course), thinking that they would have information more helpful than "BIG VOLCANO. AIRPORT CLOSED. <caveman grunt>".

I spoke with Delta today and they offered to refund the return portion of my ticket. I'm happy with that but still have an axe to grind with KLM. Their approach to managing the situation was horrible. I met a couple from Cincinnati on Monday night at the airport in Addis who were stranded there since Thursday last week. Apparently, KLM was going to take them back to Amsterdam on the Monday night flight but demanded they sign a waiver in regards to KLM/Delta's obligation to transport them onward to the US from Amsterdam. In other words, these folks were told that they can get out of Addis to then be stuck in Amsterdam without any recourse. No waiver, no boarding pass. They opted to stay in Addis and find their own way home much like I did. Worth mentioning that they were looking to return home with their newly adopted child. Needless to say, they were pissed with KLM as well.

Oh, and KLM did call me on Monday afternoon as well. Not to inform me about their plan to get me home but to inquire whether the lost bag I had claimed upon arrival on the 8th had since turned up. I actually had the bag on the evening of the 8th - a guy took it in error (was apparently very similar to his luggage) and returned to the airport that same night. KLM had not closed the lost baggage claim until the 19th, however, and felt it was time to contact me in regards to my lost bag 11 days after the claim was first filed. I didn't know whether to scream or laugh. I opted for the latter but did let them know that they're the most incompetent bunch I've ever dealt with.

[Kar_98 10]

"ALL THESE WORLDS ARE YOURS EXCEPT EUROPA. ATTEMPT NO LANDINGS THERE."