Page 1 of 4

I'm in Zurich! (VS12 cancelled last night)

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 09:12
by preiffer
Yup, Boston to London via Zurich... [ii]

So the VS12 was completely cancelled last night due to "security reasons" - VS11 didn't even leave London). I turned up, and the airport was a mess. BA had cancelled one of their flights also, and all others were full.

Luckily, they got me the very last seat on a Swiss flight (in Economy [:(!]) 2 minutes before the gate closed (others before and after me without endorsable tickets were being rebooked for either Monday or Tuesday - ouch!)

Only downside is that I'm now stuck in Switzerland until 3:50 this afternoon, as many flights to London are cancelled after the issues there so all others are full. Joy.

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 09:46
by Decker
Welcome home - nearly ;).

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 09:53
by Decker
and from BA's web site today

"All European flights from Heathrow Terminal 4 have been cancelled. These cancellations affect 58 return flights to Paris, Geneva, Copenhagen, Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam, Oslo, Basle, Lyon, Brussels and Belgrade."

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 09:56
by preiffer
Right, off to a desk to ask the question.

Please don't do this to me, please don't do this to me, please don't do this to me...

(There's only so much excitement you can get out of a Lindt store with a company credit card [ii])

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 09:57
by MarkJ
Oooh!![:#]

And dont forget the Toblerone![y]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:02
by Mavrick
Hope you make it home Paul, I'm now nervous about my flight home tonight from MIA. [:?]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:04
by MarkJ
Originally posted by mavrick
Hope you make it home Paul, I'm now nervous about my flight home tonight from MIA. [:?]


Without stating the bleeding obvious I guess if the 05 comes out then you will be OK - we will all be keeping our fingers crosssed for you Peter!!

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:05
by Nottingham Nick
Best of luck, Paul.

Hope you make it back soon. ;)

Nick

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:23
by andrew.m.wright
Originally posted by preiffer
Right, off to a desk to ask the question.

Please don't do this to me, please don't do this to me, please don't do this to me...

(There's only so much excitement you can get out of a Lindt store with a company credit card [ii])


Did I hear Company Credit Card mentioned :D You'll be wanting these guys then http://www.chart-air.co.uk :D

Seriously - I hope you home soon [y]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:27
by MarkJ
If you are still online Paul then is the train an Option?
[:?]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:31
by preiffer
Nah - things are all still OK.

BA have cancelled all flights, but LX are sticking with theirs. All are zero'd out, though, and the check-in agent was "amazed" that VS had got me on the London flight at all.


Still - watch out today:

I'm bored, online, and ratty having had no sleep whatsoever while experiencing economy travel next to the "toilet block" all night...

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:38
by MarkJ
Originally posted by preiffer

...... having had no sleep whatsoever while experiencing economy travel next to the "toilet block" all night...


Slumming it for the cause eh??[y]

Im sure we all look forward to the TR![:w]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 10:50
by The_Banking_Scot
Hi,

Good luck preiffer! Hope you get back to London today.


regards

TBS

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 11:02
by Stevieboy
What level of compensation will you get from VS? or do they have an opt out clause for "terrorism" like some of the travel insurance companies [V]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 11:08
by preiffer
My GUESS is they're going to play the "exceptional circumstances" card - but we'll see.

No meal/hotel vouchers were being handed out in Boston last night, and people WERE asking. One agent advised a guy to keep his hotel bill though... [:?]

That'd be a BIG hotel bill for those that were being rebooked from Saturday to Tuesday, too [:0]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 11:14
by Nottingham Nick

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 11:27
by Decker
Well AA refused compensation when we got stuck in Curacao on 9/11.

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 11:43
by preiffer
Well, I guess this page gives a pretty definitive answer from VS in these circumstances:

Compensation for Cancelled flights

In certain situations where a flight is cancelled less than 2 weeks before departure and the alternative flight we offer is more than 4 hours later than the original schedule compensation under the terms of the European Union's Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 may be applicable. However there is no entitlement to compensation if the cause of the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken, this includes cancellations in the event of weather conditions, political instability, unexpected flight safety shortcomings, security risks and strikes.

The right to compensation applies only to passengers holding confirmed reservations on the flight concerned who have presented themselves and completed all check in procedures at least 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time of the flight concerned. Compensation shall not apply to passengers travelling free of charge or at a reduced fare not available directly or indirectly to the public.

Any applicable compensation will not apply if you have chosen to take a refund of your unused ticket or re-booked to a flight at a later date convenient to you, neither will it apply if your flight has been delayed.


Rather amusingly, my VS12 from yesterday is still showing in the "Update Booking" section of my account... [}:)]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 11:51
by mitchja
Good luck getting home Paul

Regards

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 12:08
by Howard Long
Originally posted by preiffer
Only downside is that I'm now stuck in Switzerland until 3:50 this afternoon, as many flights to London are cancelled after the issues there so all others are full. Joy.


Welcome to Switzerland! Shame it wasn't Geneva - I could have kept you entertained.

Cheers, Howard

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 12:09
by Juliet
If you go to the VAA website, I think the VS5 has been cancelled today, so the VS6 would not be coming back???

Good luck Maverick... ring the Contact Centre and see what they can do to help!

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 12:09
by preiffer
Is it raining there, too, Howard? Never been here before - feels like London [:(]

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 12:11
by Juliet
Its raining in England... much liike November weather here!

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 12:13
by preiffer
Originally posted by Juliet
Good luck Maverick... ring the Contact Centre and see what they can do to help!
And do it quickly! From the sea of people all getting engaged tones when they were calling from Boston yesterday, I'd recommend doing it WAY before the masses turn up and find out they're not going anywhere.

PostPosted: 13 Aug 2006, 12:29
by Howard Long
Originally posted by preiffer
Is it raining there, too, Howard? Never been here before - feels like London [:(]


Yes been raining all day. The GF is outside at the moment doing a 31km run between Sierre and Zinal (http://www.sierre-zinal.com/) so I am sneaking in some quality surf time. Bl**dy nutter if you ask me.

Cheers, Howard