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Ok, so there is a bundle of disruption – happy to concede that – but some flights are getting in and out of Scotland as I write, and every airline appears to be giving their flights every possible chance. With one exception.
Whilst most of the national/major carriers have confirmed cancellations until various stages through Saturday as a minimum, RyanAir have already cancelled all flights until early on Monday morning.
Has O’Leary’s crystal ball told him that there is no chance of flying routes before then?
Or is his decision based around his airline’s "No refund" policy, and it’s simply sound business to cancel flights, stand-down ground staff, ram it up passengers, and keep the pre-paid readies, whilst incurring none of the associated flight costs?
So he wont be refunding fares for this "act of god"? wouldnt suprise me at all, but you would have thought such a indcident would be covered by even the most basic catastrophy insurance
A horrible company. Absolutely vile IMO. They remind me of Dixons/currys at their peak in the way they treat the customer with complete contempt. Ultimately chickens do come home to roost (as Dixons are finding…a hated retailer). Lets hope so
Ryanair are obliged under EU law to refund or reroute passengers effected by this weeks events, GH.
You can apply for a refund or rebook (free) on their website.
The decision by Ryanair makes perfect sense.
It saves passengers from wasting their time, not knowing if they’re coming or going (excuse the pun). The restriction has now been extended until Sunday 7am – inevitable, really.
I still can’t believe that some consider the restrictions an over-reaction.
I was speaking to someone today who works in aviation and they said he can’t see an end to this for a while, especially as there are planes and staff all over the place unable to go anywhere. Just imagine if this had happened when we had the bad weather as well. At least we’re getting beautiful sunsets.
I’m just surprised that the odious little ‘Willie Walsh’ hasn’t blamed the Unions yet for the volcano erupting.
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Thanks for that.Cav.
My daughter, son-in-law, and grandkids are stranded in Spain at the moment (They flew RyanAir), and were told they wouldn’t be reimbursed due to the ‘special circumstances’.
Since checking the position, I’ve not only been able to reassure them, but also suggested they enjoy what is essentially a free extension to their holiday.
All airlines based in the EU have to offer a refund or reroute for a cancelled flight, Reet. So O’Leary is just following the rules on this one.
You would also be entitled to financial compensation for the disruption based on the distance of the flight and length of the delay unless the airline can prove "extraordinary circumstances", which justifiably this week they can.
Yep, Cav – Paul Ostermeyer marked my card about the refunds on Saturday.
Seems it was insight on Michael O’Leary’s part after all.
Micheal O Leary is just using his brain. Turns out he was right no flights until at the very earliest Monday Night.
Don’t use him if you don’t like paying low fares. His 60 Million Shares have taking a good battering the past few days so i am sure he took that into account no doubt.
"A horrible company. Absolutely vile IMO. They remind me of Dixons/currys at their peak in the way they treat the customer with complete contempt. Ultimately chickens do come home to roost (as Dixons are finding…a hated retailer). Lets hope so"
Biggest Airline in the World…..i am surprised you think Companies have some moral standard to respect Customer’s. They treat all of us like C*** just some are not as brash as the others. Just look at Bookmaking and the overround in the National…sum ex bookies says it was a freak thing this massive overround and all the mugs go back in and back 2moro and back again. Way of the world
Just for Grass –
http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz321/cormack15a/WeaponsAmnestyteam-chelt2010.jpg
Cavelino Rampante,
You may be able to help
I understand that the jet engines of airliners are designed to run at service speed at 30,000+ feet due to the rarefied air causing less drag and to do so at lower altitudes would burn too much fuel, but what is to prevent them flying say half-speed at significantly lower altitudes beneath the ash-cloud?
Wouldn’t flying more slowly prevent excessive fuel-burn?
These are rapidly becoming most exceptional circumstances, and while I realise there may be significant noise and exhaust pollution, needs must and slow low-level flight would get at least some of the stranded souls home rather more quickly than circuitous journeys by car, bus and rail
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:EpGSzMPfR6EFIM:http://www.bitterwallet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/OLeary-300×276.jpg
I was supposed to be in Prague this weekend, taking in the racing at the Velka Chuchle course, but the flight was cancelled of course. I’d booked BMI Baby, who actually seem pretty decent, and straight away, they offered me a refund or a free rescheduling of my flight if within 21 days.
I’ve flown Ryanair about 30 times I guess (usually to a racecourse somewhere in Germany!!), and personally, I’ve never had a problem. Most flights have been on time, the service has been pretty good, the steward/esses are usually friendly and helpful, the planes are usually Boeing 737-800s (ie the newer ones), and all I do is take enough hand luggage to get me through my trip. To save money, I put everything in hand baggage, and when I get to Germany, just buy some cheap disposable razors (the only necessities I can’t get through customer in hand luggage) for about 60 cents, and you’re done. Certainly better than paying an extra 30 quid for your bag or whatever.
I suppose that after so many Ryanair flights, I’ve ‘wised up’ to how they work. Certainly, I’ve seen some people who are totally baffled by Ryanair system, and the way things work. Yes, you do sometimes land in the middle of nowhere, and the airports in Germany are sometimes little more that a single building. However, an advantage here is that you can get through customs in a matter of minutes, and then you’re on your way. It is worth checking your transport from the airport though as I’ve seen people stranded at various airports before.
I can’t really say much about Ryanair in the current climate because, as I say, my flight was with BMI Baby in this instance. Yes, Ryanair don’t seem to be the most popular airline with everybody, but personally speaking, I don’t think you can beat them for the value they offer.
I understand that the jet engines of airliners are designed to run at service speed at 30,000+ feet due to the rarefied air causing less drag and to do so at lower altitudes would burn too much fuel, but what is to prevent them flying say half-speed at significantly lower altitudes beneath the ash-cloud?
There is no measured or established permitted safe level of volcanic ash contaminant in the atmosphere for the operation of passenger aircraft, Drone. The recommendation from Airbus for example is to completely avoid flight into known areas of volcanic activity. The issue of "known areas" is the bone of contention between the bean counters and the scientists at the moment. The research jet that went up from Cranfield on Saturday came back reporting…
“Speaking as an aeronautical engineer, I would not want to be putting an airliner up there at the moment,” said Gratton.
“There is a lot of fairly nasty stuff there that we were running away from, knowing what we did. We have standard airline instruments on the aeroplane, we have got a storm scope and we have got a weather radar and they were looking straight through it."
"Neither of those were seeing any of this stuff. It was only our specialist cloud physics instruments that were able to see the particles.”
That aircraft detected 3 significant ash layers below 10000 feet. So while all that uncertainty exists about the exact location and vertical displacement of the particles, the current cautious approach is entirely justified imo.
Thanks CR, didn’t realise there were ash particles at low levels too
It’s been raining here this morning. Perhaps we can expect a film of ash to coat everything. Good news for gardeners, window cleaners and car-wash proprietors
it’s an ill wind…
I’m with you in believing caution is wise: better safe than sorry, accept what the boffins say
Anyway it seems the Navy are being drafted in to ferry folk home from a makeshift ‘hub’ in Spain
The Dunkirk spirit lives on
This stranding in foreign lands has no doubt been an uncomfortable experience for many but I’d warrant the majority when safely back home will look back on it as something of an adventure
The residents of Staines and Hounslow must be revelling in the eerie peace and quiet
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