Airline Chaos
Posted on 28 April 2010 by LynThomas in Travel
While global news reporters may have dropped the Icelandic volcano, the chaos it has created is still being felt around the world, as stranded passengers find themselves in a living nightmare.
According to estimates, 13,000 travellers are waiting to get back from the U.S. while a further 10,000 are in Egypt, 2,500 in Thailand and 2,000 in Malaysia. Another 7,500 are scattered around globe. Many have been told by airlines to claim their expenses back once they have returned home and have been refused airline vouchers.
Stranded Passengers
Many travelers have run out of money and are living under blankets in airports. Others have borrowed heavily from family and friends, trying to pay for hotels. Passengers who made alternative travel arrangements, such as ferry, or train, may not be entitled to compensation from the airlines. All they may get back is a refund for the unused plane ticket.
It has been claimed that some planes are flying back to the UK half empty, as airlines jack up the seat prices. A spokesman for British Airways said the inflated fares were a ‘technical’ device to ensure the seats remain unbooked and available to stranded passengers. BA denied it was letting planes fly half booked. “We have been doing everything we can to ensure that the aircraft are full when they depart for the UK.”
BA claims that there are instances where the customers do not turn up for flights, or cancelled their bookings at short notice.
The European Union Transort Commissioner, Sliim Kalas, announced a pledge of state assistance to airlines affected by the total flying ban. However, it will be individual governments and their taxpayers who will be picking up the tab.
While airlines may be able to partake of a 2 billion pounds compensation package, the airlines are furious that under the EU rules they are bound to pick up the accommodation tab for stranded passengers.
Coming hard on the heels of the economic downturn, many stranded travellers are facing real hardship. One traveller stranded with his family in Disney Land says, “We are barely able to survive. Having borrowed heavily from my family and friends, stuck here not able to work, this extended holiday could force me into bankruptcy”.
Iceland Ash
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[...] The chaos the Icelandic volcano created, has not gone away, but is still being felt right around the globe. Passengers are living in airports. Read how some passengers may be forced down the road of bankruptcy because of a family holiday. [...]