The cost of being stranded by the volcanic ash

07 May 2010 09:23:59

UK travelers stranded by ash from volcano in Iceland learn the importance of having the right travel insurance and credit card.

When the UK’s air space finally re-opened, stranded travelers flocked to JFK’s international terminals in hopes of finally getting home. The scene was telling; stagnant, winding standby lines, families grouped on the floor playing games; a couple even offered ‘the seat’ next to them – a table between chairs. Yet, despite the number of stranded passengers, it was not the frantic mess you might imagine. Yes, every seat was taken, people leaned against any and every wall, and there were a few sleeping on their luggage, but the mood was hopeful. Passengers waited patiently though clearly out of their comfort zones, with little control over their ability to make it home and most beset with the extra cost of a trip gone wrong.

John Hessentharer, from London, was ending a holiday with a tour operator when the volcanic ash first started to cause problems.

“Our tour company dumped us in San Francisco and said get on with it, really,” he recalled.

He further explains they “spent another three nights where [they] kept paying hotel bills”. Finally, at their own expense, they flew to New York only to pay for a hotel in the city for three more nights. To make matters worse, “there’s been a lot of profiting going on because hotel rates have been stitched up”. Rates seemed to have doubled, even tripled. It’s to a point where many would need a credit card to cover this extra expense.

The volcano has created obvious extra costs and, though the ash has cleared, travelers are still paying.

Like many, John is confirmed on a flight which isn’t scheduled to depart until next week and the only way to attempt to get back sooner is to stay at the airport and try for standby. With a week or more added to a trip many will have to fall back on their credit cards.

Relying on a credit card for extra costs is not surprising in this situation. Not being able to rely on one’s travel insurance is.

John explains: “The insurance doesn’t cover it - it’s 'an act of God'”.

This seems to be a common explanation.

Tom Bancroft was finishing a round-the-world trip by meeting his family and friends in New York when they became stranded on Thursday 15th April.

He explained: “Yeah, we’ve got travel insurance but it won’t pay for anything because it’s an act of God; a natural disaster.”

Arny Nienhuis and his wife were on holiday and luckily only delayed for a night: “We have travel insurance; I don’t think we need it. The hotel was paid for by British Airways. It’s very generous.”

Tom and John were also lucky enough to be put up by British Airways for a few nights. However, this was not the case with all airlines.

Emily Norris, from London, was traveling to New York on business when she got stranded late last week.  With no help from the airline for lodging, Emily was lucky to get help from her employers. “They helped me for the first couple of nights but then they asked if I could find a friend… I used the old Facebook and found an old college friend. I had to sleep on the floor,” she said. Like many she is making decisions based on the ability to pay. Originally booked on an airline with few flights to London, she was even considering buying another ticket. She added: “I was looking at Virgin London to see, but the thing is it will be too expensive or they won’t have any flights.”   

One family staked out next to the check-in desk at Virgin said they had mostly been staying in the airport for the past week. Johanna Eagle explains that they came to the airport last Wednesday before the volcano erupted to try and get on a standby flight.

“We spent two nights rough here , then one night in a hotel, then we came back and have been sleeping here ever since,” she recollected.

Rough means rough - at first there were only seats to sleep on and then eventually they were provided with camp beds and a place to shower. Though they had travel insurance she explains: “it’s all according to what type of coverage you get.” The extra cost seems to be inescapable.

Traveling under normal conditions can be costly and tiring but add a volcano eruption to the mix and it’s on another level. It becomes  financially and mentally draining.

Johanna and her family seemed remarkably positive while discussing their past week and yet she let on “we’re losing it now”.  John concluded his tale with: “I don’t even know what day it is. Is it Wednesday?”

The cost may be a concern, but clearly the priority is getting home.

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