# Northern European flights grounded **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197 "2010-04-15T12:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/21 "2010-04-15T18:21:29Z")
My flight’s canceled now. I tried to call the airline, and they’re not taking any calls, and I can’t rebook on the internet. I have no idea what I’m going to do now. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/22 "2010-04-15T18:21:42Z")
> [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](#): > > I work a couple of miles away from Edinburgh airport, and had wondered why there were no planes today! Weird. Are we supposed to be able to see the ash cloud from the ground (i.e. any perceptible change in weather/conditions) if it gets blown over us? It looks quite far north of the British Isles from the map in the article. You may see some interesting colours in the sky toward sunset, if it’s clear. I happened to take a transatlantic flight just after a similar eruption a few years ago and the unusual colouration was striking. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/23 "2010-04-15T18:30:46Z")
> [@wolfstu](#): > > Update: Data from _Meteosat_ and atmospheric modeling give this [animation](http://www.esa.int/esaEO/SEMKDU9MT7G_index_0.html) of the movement of the ash plume. According to the animation the cloud is directly above me right now (I’m in Copenhagen). I can’t see it which is pretty disappointing. There are no clouds at the moment and I had hoped for a freakishly purple sunset. So far it’s the same as usual. ---
**Author:** ![nicole1912](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@nicole1912](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nicole1912)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/24 "2010-04-15T19:29:54Z")
> [@Walkabout](#): > > My flight’s canceled now. I tried to call the airline, and they’re not taking any calls, and I can’t rebook on the internet. I have no idea what I’m going to do now. Do you have travel insurance? Also, if you wait a while, the airline will probably start taking calls again - I think they have to refund you if they’re not going to transfer you to another plane; your flight from Paris may also have been cancelled, and so you might get a full refund even if you don’t have travel insurance. Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![Torpor\_Beast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@Torpor\_Beast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torpor_Beast)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/25 "2010-04-15T19:30:15Z")
[Some more recent maps on the spreading of the ash](http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/aviation/vaac/vaacuk_vag.html) At least Finland’s biggest airport, Helsinki-Vantaa, is getting closed down temporarily in about 1.5 hours, apparently. The dust itself shouldn’t be that visible at ground level, from what I’ve read. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/26 "2010-04-15T19:34:02Z")
Merged **Palo Verde** and **yojimbo** ’s threads. ---
**Author:** ![Walkabout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/46a35a/32.png) [@Walkabout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walkabout)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/27 "2010-04-15T19:49:46Z")
> [@nicole1912](#): > > Do you have travel insurance? > > Also, if you wait a while, the airline will probably start taking calls again - I think they have to refund you if they’re not going to transfer you to another plane; your flight from Paris may also have been cancelled, and so you might get a full refund even if you don’t have travel insurance. > > Good luck! Nope, no travel insurance. At this point, I’m hoping I can just shift my vacation to a couple of weeks from now, but until I get through to the airline, I just don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/28 "2010-04-16T03:04:38Z")
I actually flew into Heathrow this morning, but had no problems since we landed so early (8 am). I leave on Tuesday; I hope things have cleared up by then! I have to be back in Montreal by the 23rd at the latest! ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/29 "2010-04-16T08:29:41Z")
> [@Panurge](#): > > I can’t see it which is pretty disappointing. There are no clouds at the moment and I had hoped for a freakishly purple sunset. So far it’s the same as usual. A nap straight after work turned into sleep from 6pm till 8am. I was half kicking myself at the thought of having missed an excellent sunset. Sort of glad, but still disappointed, that I didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Panurge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/fbc32d/32.png) [@Panurge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Panurge)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/30 "2010-04-16T09:01:09Z")
Well, you didn’t miss out on anything. Can you smell the cloud in Northern Ireland? I can’t where I am, but **flodnak** [reports that it smells like a “major fire in a hot dog factory”](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=559821). (Post #6). ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/31 "2010-04-16T10:11:00Z")
> [@Septima](#): > > The mother of a friend of mine is stranded in London. Actually I think you’ll find that it’s the REST of the world that is stranded outside London, thankyou very much. The poor things. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/32 "2010-04-16T10:23:14Z")
Just when we think our technology is so great, Mother Nature puts us in our place. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/33 "2010-04-16T10:48:55Z")
> [@Nancarrow](#): > > Actually I think you’ll find that it’s the REST of the world that is stranded outside London, thankyou very much. The poor things. I’ve been “stranded” outside London for the last 20 years. I’m still not seeing a problem there! ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/34 "2010-04-16T10:51:48Z")
> [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](#): > > I just saw a tweet (in dutch, so my translation) directed at Iceland: > > We wanted your CASH, can’t you people read?🆒 Eh? Is that a pun in Dutch, as well? Or do I completely misunderstand the point? ---
**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/35 "2010-04-16T11:03:07Z")
That cloud is from the Icelanders burning all those IOUs. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/36 "2010-04-16T11:29:09Z")
cASH Iceland’s banks failed, owing huge sums to England. The errupting volcano is in Iceland. Instead of giving England cash, Iceland is now giving England ash. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/37 "2010-04-16T11:40:32Z")
First Björk, now this. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/38 "2010-04-16T11:51:34Z")
One of my co-workers is quite happy with the closures. It’s keeping his mother-in-law from visiting! ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/39 "2010-04-16T12:15:42Z")
We have a flight from DC to Paris on Monday. I am wondering what our chances are. I would think it should have cleared out by that point, but if it hasn’t I will have to work on plan B because I am not going to have a staycation. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197/40 "2010-04-16T12:46:06Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > One of my co-workers is quite happy with the closures. It’s keeping his mother-in-law from visiting! You need to remind him that the ash has no effect on brooms whatsoever. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/northern-european-flights-grounded/536197.md?page=3)