Heathrow currently closed

[dot]

I too am stuck in London - arrived on QF29 yesterday about 2.5 hours late, but still in time to connect with BA155 to CAI... if only it was departing. After the rushed transfer to T5 for the connection, BAA staff directed me to clear customs and fo to "Zone E" only Zone E was closed. Typical of BAA. I though I would check the BA arrivals lounge and appealing to their kind nature, they actually let me in to charge my laptop and get Internet access to organise my UK stay - very nice of them to let me in even though I was not entitled.

I only needed to be in Cairo for a meeting today, so no point even going to CAI now. I figured I would just stay in London and try to handle the meeting remotely.
When I booked my hotel in London, I asked the travel agent to waitlist me on tonight's QF10 to get home. I checked once I woke up this morning and the waitlist had cleared.. ripper! Until QF called me mid morning to say that Tuesday's QF10 had been cancelled due to a lack of capacity (does that mean they didn't have an aircraft to operate the service - probably due to the QF29 cancellation I guess). For the time being, I am still booked on my original QF10 on Wednesday.

Let's hope it leaves on time and I can get home for Christmas!

 

[Sprucegoose]

I too am stuck in London - arrived on QF29 yesterday about 2.5 hours late, but still in time to connect with BA155 to CAI... if only it was departing. After the rushed transfer to T5 for the connection, BAA staff directed me to clear customs and fo to "Zone E" only Zone E was closed. Typical of BAA. I though I would check the BA arrivals lounge and appealing to their kind nature, they actually let me in to charge my laptop and get Internet access to organise my UK stay - very nice of them to let me in even though I was not entitled.

I only needed to be in Cairo for a meeting today, so no point even going to CAI now. I figured I would just stay in London and try to handle the meeting remotely.
When I booked my hotel in London, I asked the travel agent to waitlist me on tonight's QF10 to get home. I checked once I woke up this morning and the
waitlist had cleared.. ripper! Until QF called me mid morning to say that Tuesday's QF10 had been cancelled due to a lack of capacity (does that mean they didn't have an aircraft to operate the service - probably sure to the QF29 cancellation I guess). For the time being, I am still booked on my original QF10 on Wednesday.

Let's hope it leaves on time and I can get home for Christmas!

Dot I have just arrived onQF9 into Sin. I was affected by. The cancellation of QF29 Mel-hkg. We are around 6hrs late.

Qf at first class checkin were fantastic. I went from Y to F in the process as well!

More snow expected.

Checked in sin here for you QF10 is due to leave at 2200hrs on 22 nd dec currently. qF 10 for 20and 21 have not yet taken off!!

Let us know how you get on.

 

[dot]

Thanks for checking with QF Spruce!

It's about 17 hours out from QF10's departure and it still says "Estimated" for it status which is a good thing.

If you would like to look, I have posted some photos on Picasa from my flight to LHR (including AMS snowed in, New MEL Intl terminal shopping area, views around HKG and over EU) - click on the images below

 

[Sunhill]

Well, who knows how I do it?

I'm booked to fly QF31 from SYD to LHR on Friday (Christmas Eve), landing on Christmas Day. And then believe it or not I've got a ticket on the Eurostar to Brussels the next day!

I'm almost certain that the flight will run, and I can live with a 10-12 hour delay if necessary (although flights through SIN seem to be running well). At the very least I can get the full benefit from my QP membership!

My concern, having been through the grief before, is not being reunited with my baggage upon arrival. As I'm off to Brussels, I'm tempted to change my flight to QF5 through Frankfurt ... just to avoid Heathrow at the moment.

Any tips or advice?

I love an adventure.

 

[kezsco]

Go through FRA. After 55 hours door to door (SYD to in laws ho,e near BSL), I am very happy to have avoided LHR.

Originally scheduled on QF31 SYD - LHR on Nov 18 with a BA ticket to BSL, our SIN to LHR flight returned to SIN after a 12 flight to nowhere. QF put us up in hotels and advised us of a new departure time around 36 hours later than original dperture time.

I checked out straight away, taxi to airport, begged to be put on QF5 to FRA and was very happy to be able to do it. I got to FRA, got on a train (ICE) and met at station only 24 hours delayed. I tracked the progress of my original flights. Basically I would still be stuck at Heathrow right now, a full 3 days after original arrival time into BSL.

I can say that more snow is expected on Friday and FRA are far ,ore able to cope than LHR...

 

[tuppaware]

Well I finally got to LHR Tuesday Morning (4am) after being trapped in BKK for an extra 24 hours. BA staff in BKK were hopeless when we first got there, no one knew what was going on. We were bundled up with QF people who were just as lost.

In the end we were sent to stay at a hotel in the city (ehich wasnt bad mind you) given vouchers etc.

Bare with me as I rant on a mini trip report.

Although Qantas seemed to be great at suppling information to its stuck guests BA guests were totally left in the dark. We finally got the ok to fly back monday night BUT when we got to the airport a BA/QF rep said we got there too early -SO they bussed us to the Airport Novatel next to the Airport and we had a Free Buffet dinner and drink to kill time before to Check-in (so pluses for BA for that) - that was about 150 of us in whY.

The unexpected surprise was when I got to checkin. I had lost my old boarding pass over the 24 hours we were stuck in BKK so the QF ground crew was pisssed off at me - we jumped in the business class line to checkin as my partner is OW Sapphire and I am Ruby we got yelled at by another angry ground crew before I dug my heals in!!!

We had only bought a discount whY ticket but because of the delays we knew it was going to be oversold- so to my surprise I got my first op'uped to World Traveler Plus (meh I thought)

Then two hours later we got to the gate and the little thai girls wrote new seat numbers, my partner got cranky thinking they had moved us into 2 centre seats in the middle of a row of 4... But then got a pleasant surprise when we were moved up to Business Class .... We were in shock but so very happy!

 

[VHOEJ]

I guess the bean counters at British Airports Authority must have too much faith in the theory of global warming to warrant investment in facilities to operate in snow/ice conditions.

Or maybe they are spending more money on retail facilities that what is required........so where does the Heathrow tax go BAA?

 

[JDS]

Hi all. I'm flying from NCL -> LHR -> SYD on Monday 27th December. Business. FF Platinum. Fingers crossed I make it.

Anyway I'm stressing! I had to catch a cab from London to Newcastle yesterday due to cancelled trains at Kings Cross. 500 quid and 5.5 hours later I made my gran's 90th! So I'm praying I make it back down to LHR and onto Sydney.

Anyone know how flight ops are dealing with the cancelled flights? Do they bump people off the newly scheduled flights for those that have been hanging at the airport for days or do they stick to their daily schedule / passenger list and put on the passengers from the previous days cancellations where there is spare seats?

It looks like there maybe light snow today but then clearing so I'm hopeful on Monday it will be fine.

 

[Flashback]

Hi all. I'm flying from NCL -> LHR -> SYD on Monday 27th December. Business. FF Platinum. Fingers crossed I make it.

Anyway I'm stressing! I had to catch a cab from London to Newcastle yesterday due to cancelled trains at Kings Cross. 500 quid and 5.5 hours later I made my gran's 90th! So I'm praying I make it back down to LHR and onto Sydney.

Anyone know how flight ops are dealing with the cancelled flights? Do they bump people off the newly scheduled flights for those that have been hanging at the airport for days or do they stick to their daily schedule / passenger list and put on the passengers from the previous days cancellations where there is spare seats?

It looks like there maybe light snow today but then clearing so I'm hopeful on Monday it will be fine.

I have a feeling it may be the latter that happens. I'm really hoping the snow today is light and doesn't affect flights tomorrow as that's when I fly out ; I also hope Monday is fine as well as I have another flight out of LHR then too:!:

 

[JDS]

Just started snowing here in Newcastle ... light at the moment ! The novelty is now wearing thin ! Best of luck with your mission!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Well, who knows how I do it?

I'm booked to fly QF31 from SYD to LHR on Friday (Christmas Eve), landing on Christmas Day. And then believe it or not I've got a ticket on the Eurostar to Brussels the next day!

I'm almost certain that the flight will run, and I can live with a 10-12 hour delay if necessary (although flights through SIN seem to be running well). At the very least I can get the full benefit from my QP membership!

My concern, having been through the grief before, is not being reunited with my baggage upon arrival. As I'm off to Brussels, I'm tempted to change my flight to
QF5 through Frankfurt ... just to avoid Heathrow at the moment.

Any tips or advice?

I love an adventure.

Just be prepared for anything!!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks for checking with QF Spruce!

It's about 17 hours out from QF10's departure and it still says "Estimated" for it status which is a good thing.

If you would like to look, I have posted some photos on Picasa from my flight to LHR (including AMS snowed in, New MEL Intl termial shopping area, views around HKG and over EU) - click on the images below

No probs Dot, info was current at the time.

Great pics, thanks for that

Hope you get home in time

 

[flychrisfly]

After stressing for a week my QF31 flight tomorrow (Thurs) is looking good . My onward flight to Dublin is also looking promising despite Dublin airport's intermittent closures of late. On the negative side, my upgrade to W+ did not come through, but the upgrade to J did

 

[serfty]

...

If you would like to look, I have posted some photos on Picasa from my flight to LHR (including AMS snowed in, New MEL Intl termial shopping area, views around HKG and over EU) ...

OT: Aint that a shocker - walk after passing emigration there's now a 150 metre switchback to get to the departures concourse :evil:

 

[JohnK]

Hmmm.... I have not been paying much attention to the weather in London but just realised this may affect me on Boxing Day.

Luckily so far QF have been cancelling flight via BKK and HKG while the ones through SIN have been operating close to schedule. Fingers crossed there are no delays to my holiday....

 

[Sprucegoose]

After stressing for a week my QF31 flight tomorrow (Thurs) is looking good . My onward flight to Dublin is also looking promising despite Dublin airport's intermittent closures of late. On the negative side, my upgrade to W+ did not come through, but the upgrade to J did

Whats negative about a J upgrade? Did you want W+ instead?

What was the cost in points?

 

[flychrisfly]

Whats negative about a J upgrade? Did you want W+ instead?

What was the cost in points?

I was hoping to fly over in W+ and then back in J - then I would have travelled in all 4 cabins on the A380 . The extra points required to upgrade to J over W+ was 36000 (= 96000 - 60000) No plans to use those points but always nice to have them in the bank

Flying to Europe I'm less concerned about seating than when coming back. For me jet leg going to Europe lasts for maybe 1.5 days but coming back it takes a week to recover.

 

[markis10]

Hmmm.... I have not been paying much attention to the weather in London but just realised this may affect me on Boxing Day.

Luckily so far QF have been cancelling flight via BKK and HKG while the ones through SIN have been operating close to schedule. Fingers crossed there are no delays to my holiday....

With the 5th A380 about to return to service i would imagine the SIN route should be pretty well serviced.

 

[oz_mark]

This is the 3rd year running now that there's been "early snow" / "freak storms", so there's talk of a little more investment being made in snowploughs and such. I remain skeptical but we'll see

I dare say that since compensating passengers falls to the airlines, why would the airport give a rats?

 

[anat0l]

I dare say that since compensating passengers falls to the airlines, why would the airport give a rats?

Although a rather ghastly statement, it is quite true.

No airline would dare not fly to LHR or London for that matter in order to protest against this, so again no biggie. If LHR loses a few big carriers, their revenue base is not really affected.

Basically BAA holds everyone to hostage on this one. The government can't do much to intervene without executive powers which might be unconstitutional. (Either that or it'll do the investment itself, also non-ideal).

I wonder if retailers in BAA airports are silently rejoicing at increased revenues due to the increase pax density.