If anyone ends up stuck in LIS because they can't get to continental Europe, let me know if you want to meet up or need a place to stay.

I was able to get the UA 1K desk in <5 min 4 hrs ago. 1st call dropped then re-dialed with skype an got through. Didn't get me anywhere (they would not back me up on a flight) but I got through.

I'm due to fly from Heathrow on CO Wednesday morning. I'm staying in London until Tuesday when I have a reservation at Skyline Sheraton at Heathrow.

I left my 10 month old son back in the states with my hubby and a babysitter and it took all I had to leave for a week. Now I'm hearing horror stories that have me tossing and turning.

I'm trying to make the best of it and went to 2 shows today (Sister Act and Legally Blonde) and have a ticket to see Kim Cattrall in a play Monday night. I'm trying to do the tourist thing (not so fun alone) but I've been here SO many times that there's little I haven't seen.

I don't know what I'm going to do if we're cancelled Wednesday. I'm traveling alone and have done so many times, but have to admit that I'm getting pretty lonely. I'm trying not to believe everything I hear but the meteorologists on the channels I get here are saying it's probably going to be 4-5 days. My own hubby IS a meteorologist and is telling me that while we have to have hope, we also have to think about what might happen. And he's telling me stuff that amazes me and freaks me out.

I'm told that planes are flying from Spain, but am unsure if it is true. And I don't know that CO will allow me to switch without penalty, or if they even fly into Spain. I just heard thsis a few minutes ago and haven't yet checked. I have a Business First ticket but before this all happened I looked into switching dates and it was well over 1000 dollars to do so. Of course, 1000 now is probably small compared to what hotels will cost if we DO run into next week.

I'm wondering if I should bide my time and hope that my flight isn't cancelled, or if I should look into alternatives. With my luck, if I booked a flight out of Spain and took a train there, the ash cloud would follow me.

As a seasoned traveler I know I should be handling this better, but as a new mom and a solo traveler, I admit, I'm getting obsessed by this. I tune in morning, noon, and night to the news, but no one can predict what is going to happen. The odds are I will have my flight cancelled, but if the volcano calms down tomorrow or Monday, I do have a shot.

Anyone else in the London area or is everyone out at the airport already?
I've always hated the blame game but wouldn't it be nice if there was somewhere to direct the emotions? This is the craziest thing...

Zactly why I called it a Mr.!

I'm in the Skyline hotel now waiting for a LHR to open up and a CO flight to open up. I've been here since Friday and rebooked for a Monday night flight on VS17 (codeshare with CO)

Why did I think of Skype before anything else when this story first broke? The world is so wired now. I mean, among other things if you install Skype at home, you might be able to see your family when you're missing them. I just got an Acer netbook with camera and microphone. It is DEFINITELY going on future intercontinental trips with me.

well, the hotel i'm staying in on wall street have just told me that its 50% off drinks all night for stranded passengers.....might as well, its not as if i've got to get up to catch the 08.40 JFK-LHR is it!

Was supposed to leave CDG on an AF Flight booked by DL Award on Sun PM but obviously that's a no go

well unless you're DL who told me tonight their systems didn't show CDG was closed so they couldn't/wouldn't change my flights

Good thing I had already went ahead & booked a backup UA award CDG-FRA-JFK for Thurs

so looks like I'm stuck roughing it out here at the Paris IC for the duration

For anybody stuck at AMS; a special 'matching service' was set up saterday evening for all folks stuck at AMS and in need of a place to stay instead of airport crashing. Folks opening up their homes to those stranded can sign up and will be matched with those stranded. At this moment focus is on those needing extra help and/or care like infirm, sick, elderly, families with child(ren) etc. Wouldn't be surprised if after the first wave has cleared, it'll open up for more.

KLM, Schiphol Airport and local authority Haarlemmermeer are coordinating this initiative. Locals can call in using 0900-1852 (beware; 0900 numbers require you to pay an x-amount per minute and when calling with a cellphone, extra cost for that) . Can't find a contactnumber yet for those stranded, probably still only through desks at AMS.

1.5 hrs from LHR, direct coach connection daily if anyone is desperate for help,

DXB-NRT-ORD
DXB-HKG-ORD

etc.

Yay, FT community! Lots of great tips and offers of assistance. I hope they are all incorporated into the OP for easy discovery/access.

If anybody needs help / place to stay in DUB, pls PM me.

Item #14 on the document you linked states: As under the Montreal Convention, obligations on operating air carriers should be limited or excluded in cases where an event has been caused by extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Such circumstances may, in particular, occur in cases of political instability, meteorological conditions incompatible with the operation of the flight concerned, security risks, unexpected flight safety shortcomings and strikes that affect the operation of an operating air carrier.

Have a vested interest as I am stuck in London! Anyone heard what, if anything, CO is doing?

San Antonio.

Anyone up for Fiesta?