Ash plume from Eyjafjallajokull Volcano over the North Atlantic at 13:20 UTC (9:20 a.m. EDT) on April 17, 2010, by NASA/MODIS Rapid Response Team
If your flight has been cancelled recently due to volcanic ash and you are looking for alternatives ways to reach your destination in Europe, then Zoombu can help. It is the only website where you can enter in your precise starting location and destination and run a single search across many modes of transport, including ferries, Eurostar, trains, coaches, driving and taxi options, and (when they are running) flights to find the best door-to-door route.
Currently news reports estimate that flights will continue to be suspended over Britain until 1am Tuesday 20th at the earliest. Here are some tips for travelling during the flight disruptions:
1. Run a search on Zoombu to see what door-to-door route options exist, including ferries or Eurostar trains. You can ’switch off’ flights in the results filter to exclude this option entirely
2. Click through to transport suppliers to check availability and make a booking directly. Be wary that some options, for example Eurostar trains, are booked out for up to a week ahead from now. Cross-channel ferries including Brittany Ferries and SeaFrance do still have some space on crossings despite a huge surge in bookings over the weekend, but tickets are being snapped up quickly.
3. Consider teaming up with others and hiring a car to reach the port (many car hire companies will let you return the car at a depot close to a port, rather than the pick-up depot, for an additional fee). There are also many train options to take you close to the ports. If you run a Zoombu search we can help you pick your way through the options.
4. If you have booked a flight that has been cancelled, you may be due compensation. The Which website is a great source of information about your rights. You should contact your airline straight away to request a refund or a ticket change.
5. If you’re stranded abroad you can call the helpline +44 207 008 0000 for travel updates and information on exceptional services.
Good luck with your travels and keep checking in for further updates.
- Posted by Rachel
