martinfoss

I probably did (my friend just mentioned crew).

So, as you say, even though the FA's that has been "stranded" in Oslo since Wednesday had a certification to work on a 777, there wouldn't be enough of them. Besides, the pilots stranded in Oslo would not be able to fly it.

If i may ask: What's the normal number of cabin crew on a 767-400? I assume that they are normally a few more than the 6 working on the flight today?

Non-TypiCAL F/A

The 767-400 is normally staffed with 10 F/As, and minimum crew is 6. Working that plane with 6 F/As doing the international service is really hard, I have done it!!

ElkeNorEast

Thalia, just a comment re: Birmingham - leave going there until the last possible moment. I once paid $112 to get out of Birmingham 6 hours early via train because I just couldn't take it any more. Much better to be stuck in London!!

Just MO, though

thaliajen

I'm actually taking a train Thursday to stay at the airport hotel. If the flight doesn't go, I'll see what other parts of the UK I can explore. London hotels are too expensive. But I agree, I won't be sightseeing in Birmingham. It's a means to an end.

Actually, I'm trying to figure out why CO isn't offering flights from Scotland. We are trapped over here and you'd think that they'd take advantage of the open air space. I know, I know, it isn't CO's fault. But would it be THAT difficult to fly from Edinburgh or Glasgow? Heathrow is dead.

I pray the Birmingham flight goes as scheduled. It is a bit north of London and a bit towards Scotland, so maybe we'll get lucky. Oddly, the flight I'm on doesn't show up when looking online on CO.com. A friend was hoping to get on the same flight but neither the Thursday or Friday flights show up. I'm hoping that is b/c they're re-routing more Heathrow passengers through Birmingham and not b/c they don't expect it to fly.

So if that doesn't fly, I wait a week. I don't know why CO didn't tell me to go to Europe- they have open air space in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Russia according to BBC. But those flights must be full.

Ugh- I HATE this! Second guessing everything I do is getting old. I'll just have to trust the CO rep and pray that Birmingham is my saving grace.

rkkwan

Right now, most (if not all) flights to Europe for Wed 4/21 are "on schedule" with aircraft assigned, so should be westbound flights from Europe to the US for Thursday 4/22.

wcalvert

Just to add to the discussion some info. I have two friends in Germany who were schedule on an AA flight to Chicago today. The flight was cancelled and their rebooking was next Monday. They were supposed to get to the US at the end of last week.

iahphx

It seems a bit odd to me that European carriers would get a preference. I would think every flight leaving Europe would get preference (over intra-European flights) given the absence of alternative transportation options.

But maybe this was just a one-day thing when there wasn't enough airspace opened to allow all long haul int'l flights, and the local authorities just gave preference to their own airlines.

rlbmorton

I had to cancel a trip to a conference in Germany as well on Saturday and get a full refund. Has yours been processed yet? Mine hasn't and I am wondering when I will see the credit on my account (plus I had upgraded so should get refunded miles and the additional charges for upgrading from a low fare class), so was wondering when I would get all these miles and dollars back.

GIGFY

It looks as if airspace is finally opening up in UK & Ireland.

See: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...-20-4-a-3.html

Update: BA84 (ex-Vancouver) has apparently just landed at LHR.

comfortablynumb

My travel dept at my office here in Marseille was able to book me for tomorrow:

MRS - MAD - MIA on Iberia
MIA - IAH on Continental

So arriving IAH 4/21 8:14 PM if all goes as scheduled.

Never flown Iberia before, and a little concerned about MAD (but have 3 hour layover) as everyone going there to get to points elsewhere, but hoping it works !

A little finger crossing, prayers, good vibes......whatever you can send me.....would be appreciated.

I swear I'm going to kiss the ground in MIA !

kilgore75

Just a little update. I got through to Continental Customer Care in UK (800 number via Skype - free) and they told me a) they can't rebook me to Lufthansa flight without CO codeshare, b) CO will not fly unless they get permission for normal flight, not VFR. Shame. But lady there was very nice and helpful, she tried their best. Waiting time was only 4mins.

rkkwan

New flights showing tonite 4/20. In addition to above:

CO56 CDG 762 (delayed - catering, right now)
CO60 BRU 752 (delayed - catering, right now)
CO70 AMS 752

flyingwheels

Apparently CO either thinks it works like that, was told so, and/or thinks their customers will believe so.

It's not the practice I've seen at AMS. Monday evening, KLM was the only one allowed to fly, with no more than 3 flights departing (all intercontinental). Next morning KLM started out given some preference for the long haul flights, but by the afternoon that was gone. All airlines are allowed in and out of AMS. KLM given the preference at the very first start wasn't surprising. First of all they, LH and AirFrance were a major force in getting airspace reopened, guess that earns them something. But more important; KLM had more material left waiting at AMS, thus being able to carry out flights ASAP. This extended to codeshare partners, where KLM supplied the material for those flights. Heck, they even carried out the first flight from the US to AMS (MCO-AMS) for MP, which they would normally not do eventhough MP is a daughter of KLM.

As early as possible, Dutch aircontrol gave preference to whomever was able to get their flight up in the air, with long haul having first dibs. Some airlines were able to fly within no time, some weren't/aren't. By now clearence has been given for AMS to also allow take off and landing without day light, which now allows a real chance of catching up in getting all of those stranded on their way.

By now it are airlines like KLM, LH etc. that are impacted most by cancellations, obviously on the EU flights.


Hmm, Rkkwan's posting made me have another look at the CO AMS schedule for the 21st. Earlier today both CO and AMS said CO's flights out of AMS for the 21st were cancelled. Now they're back on schedule. Seems like somebody realised it was premature to cancel those flights.

star_world

This makes complete sense - it's inconceivable that CO (or any airline) would operate transatlantic passenger flights under VFR. This hasn't been done much since the Charles Lindbergh days

paranoiatx

Well it would only be VFR for the last (or first) leg, while in German airspace for instance.

LH and AB are operating in Germany with VFR:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...tep-rules.html