The Stranded by Volcano Meet up and Offers of Assistance Thread!
Apr 17, 2010 | 7:21 pm
#61
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: San Antonio - the nicest city in northern Mexico
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Viva Fiesta!!
Wow, gamecock, SAT is home base for me - forgot about missing Fiesta. If you decide to hit NIOSA don't wear anything you wouldn't mind having embellished with sloshed margaritas and beer.
Apr 17, 2010 | 8:04 pm
#65
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 5,051
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.
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.
Apr 17, 2010 | 9:40 pm
#68
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 1
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.
My sister and I are stuck in Manhattan, but unlike BAforme on Wall Street we have no such luxuries as a half price bar at the dive we're checked into. My sis is a proud but poor young lady who refuses to allow me to pay for a decent hotel room, so we're stuck in a cheap hostel on the Upper West Side sharing a $30 dorm room with six scruffy backpackers who've turned the production of phlegm and gas into a competitive sport. Lufthansa, of course, seem to have abandoned their posts on the customer service line so we're in the dark as to whether we'll be able to claim back on our accommodation. It'd be great if someone could shed some light on this, and also on how much, if anything, the airlines consider a reasonable sum for a night's accommodation. If we're gonna be stranded here for a week it'd be nice to at least be able to abandon the phlegmy masses and move into a hotel that has curtains in the windows.
Apr 17, 2010 | 10:19 pm
#70
Moderator: Delta SkyMiles, Luxury Hotels, TravelBuzz! and Italy
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Apr 17, 2010 | 11:15 pm
#71
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Sunday's UA 915 was cancelled Saturday am, rebooked CDG-FRA-SFO for Wednesday. Holed up at the HI Gare de l'Est - if we don't get out on Wednesday, I'll have to start spending euros for a room. 
I could think of worse places to be stuck.
I could think of worse places to be stuck.
Apr 17, 2010 | 11:32 pm
#73
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 8
I
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.
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.
..
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.
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.
..
Apr 18, 2010 | 12:06 am
#75
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You know that airline lawyers are pouring the regulations looking for any loophole they can find: meteological conditions, acts of god, etc. In the US, airlines blame delays on weather any time they can to get out of paying compensation. I have travel insurance with HSBC, and they are on record that they will cover this incident.