Okay, here's the situation: Tuesday flights were predictably cancelled yesterday from Heathrow. Delta re-booked me for Saturday. The agent initially said he had space for Friday but when he tried to confirm, all he uttered was, "Oh dear." Friday vanished in the blink of an eye.
So it's Saturday. By way of Amsterdam. Amsterdam, Holland. Now, I know what you're thinking. And if you're not thinking what I think you should be thinking, you will soon. But first, some additional background.
The UK air traffic control authority (NATS) has been by far the most cautious of anyone in this volcanic eruption. Eurocontrol - the Continent's analogue to the FAA - has been easing restrictions both due to dissipation of the ash cloud AND petitions from the airlines. There is much criticism that both agencies have overreacted to the situation.
British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM have all put up test flights -- at multiple altitudes for prolonged periods directly through ash fields -- and have reported no danger and no damage to equipment. BA & KLM even sent their CEO's along for the ride in their very first runs.
Moreover, it has been noted that world standards are much looser than Europe, though not considered less safe. For instance, if this had occurred in the USA there would have likely been initial delays/cancellations/closures. But, operations would have resumed within hours to a couple days at most.
So it brings me to considering the potential scenarios. Saturday is a long way off in this scheme of things. Much could change in the meantime. The situation is very fluid. We are currently seeing Europe open and spot service in the northern UK. The South -- including Heathrow -- remains closed officially until at least 1900 tonight. And now NATS is backtracking on some of these re-openings.
Let it be known: I am totally down with flying home safely. And I am not entirely comfortable with notion of loading into a plane over the North Atlantic with nothing but abrasive particulate above and icebergs below. Moreover, KLM is not a paragon of patience in the face of delays due to natural phenomenon. (Note: I would be flying on KLM, Delta's air partner).
But, this could last indefinitely. See how the ash cloud in the maps below is ever present, even spreading. When the Snapshot was taken, there were still no transatlantic flights operating north of Spain (which, by the way is absolutely jammed with travelers like myself seeing it as the only operating alternative).
Even under the most ideal flight plan you have to fly through an ash zone before assuming a southern route. Assuming they don't just say "We're fine. The northern corridor is faster, cheaper to operate in the thinner air & shorter polar route." I am completely unsold on the virtue of companies losing millions of dollars per day.
So now, the scenarios. All include the assumption the volcano keeps erupting and winds don't change significantly so as to disperse the cloud.
a) Stay and wait. By Saturday, UK airspace may be deemed safe enough to allow take offs.
Advantages: No additional chaos (packing/unpacking/
hauling baggage/travel), good facilities & local transportation,
London rocks.
Disadvantages: UK airspace may not re-open. Still have
connection in Amsterdam (don't like all those up & downs).
Boredom. Frustration. Festering.
b) Train to Amsterdam. Negotiate with Delta to drop the Heathrow-to-Amsterdam segment and just get me home on Saturday with the rest of the itinerary. Stay in hotel at or near Schiphol Airport (AMS).
Advantages: Off the Island. Better (though not guaranteed)
probability of flying from the Continent. LEGAL DOPE!!!!
Disadvantages: Still no guarantee flights will operate.
Unsure if Delta is willing to work with me (but you gotta believe
I'd be helping 'em, right?). Still have ash zone to fly through.
No current hotel availability (though that's gotta change as
flights resume). Upheaval. Expense.
c) Elsewhere on Continent. Negotiate with Delta to find an alternate airport in Spain, Italy, Southern France, Greece, etc. Hell, I'm considering Tangier and Cairo at this point!
Advantages: No longer locked on an island. Far more airports
to choose from. The ability to view activity as action.
Disadvantages: Major uncertainty about hotel, train, and
rental car availability. All airports are backlogged - might
turn out to be an out-of-the-frying-pan-into-the-fire situation.
MAJOR EXPENSE.
At this point, I'm leaning toward option B, but won't likely be able to mobilize until tomorrow or Thursday at the earliest. Will not go without a confirmation from the airline that this is kosher and a confirmed hotel room reachable to the AMS airport.
Then, and only then, will I relax with a fat spliff. And a Stella. And this ashtray...
10 comments:
Wow, dude...you are caught up in an unprecedented event! Plan B does seem like the best option, with the added plus of more adventure stories for you to tell. Of course, you've been around Europe before, so that may be both an advantage (you know your way around) and a disadvantage (you've seen enough of it for the novelty to wear off).
That's great that you went to the Tate, though--that is on my top 5 list of museums to visit sometime in my life.
Hang in there...it's good to see more photos!
Dude, there is no novelty left to wear off.
Why did you delete the part about Deb's car? Glad to know she's okay. Still that's gotta be a major hassle and expense despite getting a new car out of the deal.
And the Eagles at the Hollywood freakin' Bowl? Golly-A! You staying the night in Hollywood? That is cool.
As a guy who's been on an Island both literally and figuratively for most of his life I'm voting for option A, stay on the island.
While change and adventure is good and fun so is just hanging and as you said London rocks! I'm not sure I see you getting out much sooner for what is likely much aggravation. Option C look potentially fruitful but attrocious at the same time, while option B has the feel of frying pan into the fire, but hey there's the Amsterdam bud! Good luck and nice pics, photography may be your calling in life!
Party on Garth!
Dr. Chopes,
The only thing I'd point out in your recommendation is that I'm not gaining days by going to Amsterdam. I'm merely cutting the flight from Heathrow TO Amsterdam. The rest of the itinerary stays the same.
And until tonight the UK skies were banned. I still don't like the extra up&down from LHR to AMS. And there's still the chance they close the UK again while the Continent stays open.
There are downsides, I freely acknowledge. But there's also legal dope. Thinking a big ball of hash wrapped inside my chewing gum for slow release over the North Atlantic. Dude!
From the sound of things that volcano could be erupting for years (like it did last time). If you gonna be stuck may as well be stuck with weed. I vote Amsterdam. Course you knew I would say that. Whatever you do don't trust the man. They going to be flying soon one way or the other, they're just gonna tell you it's safe. Like cigarettes and accelerator pedals.
So you think it's a good idea to chew a big ball of hash like bubble gum the entire flight home?
I do. Just want your opinion.
Absolutely. Brilliant idea from Chopes, thinking of trying it myself. Just make sure you have a beer to wash it down.
We got back from LA last night--Eagles were tremendous at the Hollywood Bowl, and there was practically an extra bonus concert including all of Joe Walsh's hits (all of the ones that you would love to hear--Walk Away, Rocky Mountain Way, Life's Been Good, Funk 49, etc.).
I didn't know Philbony could read deleted posts, but it makes sense since it's his blog. I had included a paragraph about our plans on Tues.--taking Deb's new Camry to LA & then driving home via Death Valley to see the wildflowers there--but in a spasm of paranoia I deleted it, fearing that the millions of Phollowers would see that we would be away from home for 2 days & steal our TV.
We decided against Death Valley yesterday because of the threat of rain/flash floods (it was bitchin' cold Tuesday night at the Bowl, and it had rained for much of the afternoon). Instead, we went to the Getty Villa in Malibu, a reconstructed Pompeii-style museum with a world-class collection of Greek & Roman statues, pottery, frescoes, jewelry, etc. All in all, a great, quick trip, and the new car performed like a champ. Deb crashed the old one on April Fool's Day, suffering a momentary loss of muscular coordination...a few extra foot-pounds per second per second...on her way home from work. She sideswiped a parked car in our neighborhood and destroyed a mailbox, totalling the 95 Camry. No injuries, though, and Life's Been Good.
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