April/May 2010 - Volcanic Activity in Iceland and Impact to United's Operations
Apr 16, 2010, 7:18 am
#106
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Grrr...now the volcano is costing domestic folks, too. My Sunday night westbound transcon went from NF0 but F9 (wait-listed for ug for a couple weeks with CR1) to F0 overnight, presumably with rebooked connections from missed trans-As.
Yay, another transcon in coach after applying a CR1 several weeks in advance...this time on a 757.
UNLESS the ash hangs around through Sunday.
Sorry folks, at this point I'm rooting for the ash.
[ducking]
Yay, another transcon in coach after applying a CR1 several weeks in advance...this time on a 757.
UNLESS the ash hangs around through Sunday.
Sorry folks, at this point I'm rooting for the ash.
[ducking]
Apr 16, 2010, 7:29 am
#107
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1K line is messed up. Trying to call for my int'l cancellation. After the warning about higher call volume, it goes to a busy signal.
Apr 16, 2010, 7:32 am
#108
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I got through to the UK 1K line in about 1 minute and was done and dusted within about 3 minutes. I suspect that a lot of cancellations all went out at the same time so they all of a sudden got flooded. Good luck.
Apr 16, 2010, 7:34 am
#109
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Apr 16, 2010, 7:40 am
#110
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After about seven tries, I'm in the queue on U.S. 1K line. Expected wait time is a reasonable 17 minutes.
Apr 16, 2010, 7:41 am
#111
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Same thing
My first RCC meet-up cancelled too! Bummer was looking forward to meeting my first FT'er w RCC!
Apr 16, 2010, 7:53 am
#112
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This is certainly a mess! I'm supposed to fly IAD-BRU on Sunday for some critical meetings at NATO HQ (with most folks coming in via train or driving from most parts of Europe). No words or even chicken bones on possibilities for Sunday flights (I know if it does go it will be full so my SWU upgrade chance is pretty much nil), but have no idea if it will actually go...
grrr
grrr
Flights to MAD are pretty full, but there are still a few possibilities:
Air Europa flight JFK-MAD departing today at 9:30pm.
Iberia flight SJU-MAD departing tomorrow at 8:45pm.
Air Europa flight MIA-MAD departing tomorrow at 9:15pm.
The Madrid-Paris train then departs on Saturday or Sunday night at 7pm and you would be in Brussels around 11am on Saturday or Sunday morning.
Apr 16, 2010, 8:35 am
#113
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Appreciate the suggestions. Unfortunately I'm limited in my options due to government fare and requirements as what carriers we fly on. Will be interesting to see what happens. Saw a volcano expert on TV who indicated even if the volcano stops spewing ash now, it would still be 2-4 days before things cleared up over the UK, so I'm not holding out much hope.
.bomb shows today's flight canceled and tomorrow's still good. My guess is United is only canceling flights when in the 24 hour window or so in the hopes they will get some flights out...
Geez!
.bomb shows today's flight canceled and tomorrow's still good. My guess is United is only canceling flights when in the 24 hour window or so in the hopes they will get some flights out...
Geez!
Apr 16, 2010, 8:41 am
#114
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Well-- rescheduled....
Monday evening flight to MUC instead of today! We'll see. Put me on LHmetal so no E+ and no time for a paper certificate for upgrade-- and instead of 5 evenings in Europe's beautiful Munich, I get two, one with tired eyes and the other packing to come home.
Prepaid hotel with Hilton is another story!
Prepaid hotel with Hilton is another story!
Apr 16, 2010, 8:55 am
#115
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From BAA site
Flight cancellation update
Last updated: 15:30 GMT, 16 April 2010
Flights are cancelled at all London airports, until at least 07:00 tomorrow morning, Saturday 17 April. This is due to volcanic ash spreading across the UK from Iceland which has caused the closure of English airspace by the UK air traffic control service (NATS). Passengers should contact their airline for re-ticketing information.
NATS has advised that from 19:00 today, Friday 16 April, some flights will be allowed to operate from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports. However, these will only be transatlantic flights and those to Ireland and other Scottish airports. Please note these arrangements do not mean that all flights will operate and passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.
NATS will make a further announcement around 20:30 this evening, Friday 16 April. We will continue to update this site with the latest information available.
We are sorry for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause.
Flight cancellation update
Last updated: 15:30 GMT, 16 April 2010
Flights are cancelled at all London airports, until at least 07:00 tomorrow morning, Saturday 17 April. This is due to volcanic ash spreading across the UK from Iceland which has caused the closure of English airspace by the UK air traffic control service (NATS). Passengers should contact their airline for re-ticketing information.
NATS has advised that from 19:00 today, Friday 16 April, some flights will be allowed to operate from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen airports. However, these will only be transatlantic flights and those to Ireland and other Scottish airports. Please note these arrangements do not mean that all flights will operate and passengers should check with their airline before travelling to the airport.
NATS will make a further announcement around 20:30 this evening, Friday 16 April. We will continue to update this site with the latest information available.
We are sorry for the disruption and inconvenience this will cause.
Apr 16, 2010, 10:06 am
#116
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What about the backlog?
Once the airspace is opened up again, how are the airlines, specifically UA, going to handle the backlog of passengers? It's not like they have a bunch of widebodies sitting around that they could use for extra flights to "catch up".
My parents are scheduled to fly from FRA to ORD in XF next week Sunday (4/25). Presumably UA can't/won't just go ahead and cancel "free" award tickets in order to accommodate stranded revenue ticket holders from earlier flights?
My parents are scheduled to fly from FRA to ORD in XF next week Sunday (4/25). Presumably UA can't/won't just go ahead and cancel "free" award tickets in order to accommodate stranded revenue ticket holders from earlier flights?
Apr 16, 2010, 10:09 am
#117
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Currently at Burbank making use of the free wi-fi after being cancelled yesterday and rebooked today, and then cancelled again today.
Our BUR-SFO-LHR is now rescheduled to Monday as LAX-IAD-MUC-LHR after an hour on the phone with a 1k supervisor.
Big
to the UA staff at Burbank - they did nothing to help, and basically said go and wait for your rebooking call.
Our BUR-SFO-LHR is now rescheduled to Monday as LAX-IAD-MUC-LHR after an hour on the phone with a 1k supervisor.
Big
to the UA staff at Burbank - they did nothing to help, and basically said go and wait for your rebooking call.
Apr 16, 2010, 10:19 am
#118
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Things at BUR have really gone downhill since it became a UX-only station. I believe all of the UA employees were replaced with SkyWest ones. While I like the airline and their flight crews, I've not had as good of luck with the staff of that particular station. Good luck in getting home (but, at least enjoy the nice weather!).
Apr 16, 2010, 10:24 am
#119
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All Swiss airspace will be closing as well from midnight until 9h00 SA - for now.
http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/panora...1.5461833.html
(in German)
Looks like the only options left is Southern Europe. However there was a report that the Northern EU airspace such as Sweden, Norway might be clearing up on SA.
The are worse places to be stranded, I guess
Sofar IAD-FCO / UA 966 seems to be still operating, zeroed out in all booking classes. A 744 sure would have come in handy.
http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/panora...1.5461833.html
(in German)
Looks like the only options left is Southern Europe. However there was a report that the Northern EU airspace such as Sweden, Norway might be clearing up on SA.
The are worse places to be stranded, I guess
Sofar IAD-FCO / UA 966 seems to be still operating, zeroed out in all booking classes. A 744 sure would have come in handy.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Apr 16, 2010 at 1:22 pm Reason: merge
Apr 16, 2010, 10:39 am
#120
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