Salute2010

[argsilverson]

I had tried to book a trip to visit Salute for first time, but now what?

Today at our news said that there is lots of cancelled flights to Paris, Amsterdam,Heathrow, and almost to the whole Western Europe and people will stay at the airports for at least 25 hrs!
What's the feedback you have guys ??
Is it worth to spend several hundreds of euros and get stuck somewher?

[Dewbakuk]

Is it worth to spend several hundreds of euros and get stuck somewher?

Probably not.

[OSHIROmodels]

I'd agree with Dean on that one, because it's an element of nature there is no way to predict it. You know what weather reporters are like   

cheers

James

[The Dozing Dragon]

Probably not.

Hey, we have found an advantage of living in the UK!

 

[Westfalia Chris]

Hey, we have found an advantage of living in the UK!

 

As if the lovely weather, the beautiful and charming women and the healthy and wholesome food weren't enough...

[Hammers]

As if the lovely weather, the beautiful and charming women and the healthy and wholesome food weren't enough...

  Watch it or they'll kick you out.

[Hammers]

I had tried to book a trip to visit Salute for first time, but now what?

Today at our news said that there is lots of cancelled flights to Paris, Amsterdam,Heathrow, and almost to the whole Western Europe and people will stay at the airports for at least 25 hrs!
What's the feedback you have guys ??
Is it worth to spend several hundreds of euros and get stuck somewher?

I hope I stress this enough when I write that I would NOT book a flight for NW Europe this weekend.

[WillieB]

Hope the Murphy guys can make it. They usually fly in from Eindhoven to City.
Most of us are on the Eurostar or Shuttle the day before Salute.

[Sterling Moose]

Sob story follows - you have been warned!!!

First a brief synopsis:
I get 3 weeks holiday a year, it's our 25th Wedding Anniversay on 20 April, originally from the UK we now live in Canada, I served 22 years in the British Army (18 years in various postings in Germany).  Been planning this holiday for 2 years, flying to the UK for a week, see my parents, go to Salute, fly to Paderborn (Germany), drive to Rothenburg ob der Tauber, fly to Berlin, fly back to the UK, fly back to Canada.  Obviously meeting lots of old friends during the trip (and buying a fair bit of lead too).

Anyway the volcano erupted, air space closed throughout UK and Europe:

Spoke with Air Transat this morning they said that our the flight was rescheduled from 1725 to 1925.  We had to leave for the airport before the NATS update otherwise we would not have made the required 'be there 3hrs before flight' window.  Arrived at Toronto Airport to find that our plane is still in the UK and that there will be no air movement until sometime tomorrow at the earliest.  So we came back home.

Now as at 9pm, Fri night.  Just found out through the Carriers website (Thomas Cook) that all their flights scheduled for departure on Thu 15 April & Fri 16 Apr are now cancelled (not delayed as previously posted).  Called Air Transat for some direction.  Next flight out is Monday but it is fully booked, I guess with passengers from yesterdays cancelled flight.  We've been given the option of a firm booking for Monday 26 Apr, a full refund or wait until tomorrow as there is a chance are that they will lay on another flight sometime early next week which we may be able to get on.

If we go for a firm booking on the 26 Apr flight, we cannot change it to the earlier flight, if there is one.  26 April is no good for us.  It gives us only 2 weeks away  , we'll miss our Germany flights on 25 Apr (with no refund)  , miss Salute   etc etc.  So what to do?

We'll wait until tomorrow.  If there is an earlier flight we'll consider it, otherwise we'll cancel spend a week locally and then drive down to Florida or something, then our annual vacation will not be a complete washout!!

I'm supposed to be bringing stuff back for some of you good folks.  If I do have to cancel I will post it from here.

Shit happens but it doesn't stop me felling 

Sterling

[rob_the_robgoblin]

Mate, that bloody sucks!

I was looking forward to meeting up with you.

I hope it works out. 

[Malamute]

Yep a total Bummer

On the radio this am they have said still no fligths until early hours tomorrow morning. (I live within five miles of Heathrow, so its local news bulletins.) But I expect its a guestimate and is not based on hard facts as we cannot predict the weather and hwo quickly it will pass.

[argsilverson]

OK it seems that foreigner travelling by air, will not be at Salute this year!
According to my info.
.- if the volcano stands quite for some days, it is needed minimum 1 week to return to normality, since planes are misplaced and need to be relocated!
.- but, on latest news today it is said that the volcano has intensified its action!
.- a colleague
s, which is a volcanologist, advised us not to travel for at least one week since there is lot of danger, even the phenomenon is pacified!

So, until Monday morning I have to decide whether to try to fly or not!
the answer so far is No! Consequences:
.- I will not meet the friends I have planned for
.- I will not attend Salute and miss opportunities
.- I will loose the special figures like the Salute one, the Ney special from Perrys and any other special I could collect!

[rob_the_robgoblin]

Why not email the perrys and explain your dilemma? 

[Sterling Moose]

OK had to cancel the flights, and everything else to do with the holiday.  Heading off tomorrow morning for Florida.  No Salute for me this year.   

[Steve F]

.- I will loose the special figures like the Salute one, the Ney special from Perrys and any other special I could collect!

Perry announcement from TMP:
"Due to the interest, we will carry on with the 'Richard's crown' and 'Ney' offer after Salute with orders direct to our site, until the figures are incorporated into their respective ranges. More about that after Salute."
http://theminiaturespage.com/news/906688/