What are we going to do?

Sandy x · April 25, 2010, 07:05:40 PM

I'll be very interested to hear what Sara makes of Sharon's post. From what she wrote on here, there was no mention of a rescue flight to Gatwick and I think Monday was the earliest option she had for getting home.

Unless it was just that she wanted to get to Bristol where her car was and didn't want to be at Gatwick.....

mathsboffin · April 25, 2010, 08:19:42 PM

We didn't manage to get receipts for everything, so hope they take our "reasonable" expenses as read. Some of the tavernas didn't have receipts so it was difficult.

justphil · April 25, 2010, 08:32:31 PM

Me, I would claim anyway. Whatever I had by way of receipts, credit card slips etc would be sent, but I would honestly claim all of it. Heaven knows if you will get it, but you must try. Well I would.

Fingers crossed for you
Phil

Sara · April 25, 2010, 09:38:44 PM

QuoteI'll be very interested to hear what Sara makes of Sharon's post.

This is the first I've heard of a 'rescue' flight. I've had no email from Easyjet & no message when I check my booking.

I'm lucky. I'm not too bothered because accommodation wasn't a problem for us & neither was taking an extra week off work - thankfully.

When our flight was cancelled I couldn't amend my booking to get a transfer or a refund. The Bristol flight simply didn't show. I spent all morning on the internet & trying to get through to Easyjet with no success. I eventually went straight to the top with an email. Sometime ago I obtained the email address of the Chief Executive Director of Easyjet. Within an hour his assistant contacted me & personally arranged my transfer for tomorrows flight [ we didn't want to fly to Gatwick, with our car being in Bristol & we also preferred not to have to pay any extra ]
Last Friday's flight was already full & therefore, not available.

So that's my story. My only anxiety about staying an extra week was my 17 year old too!!! I'm thinking she'll appreciate me more when I get home......now that she's been on her own at home for a whole month - well, you never know!!

Sara

mathsboffin · April 25, 2010, 11:09:23 PM

Sara, I suspect they were only concerned about the ones whose accommodation costs they were paying for, like us, and they wanted to end that financial obligation as quickly as they could.

When we arrived at the airport on that first Friday, the first question we were asked was if we had any accommodation. As our hotel accommodation had expired we hadn't.

I would have thought that they would have contacted other people either by email or phone offering a transfer to this extra flight though. Obviously not. If you had gone to the airport, you may well have been able to book on to it, as they had capacity. The trawl to Bristol wasn't pleasant, but am glad I have had the weekend to sort things out as I am self-employed and needed to be back.

I hope you have enjoyed your extra days - the weather was certainly becoming more "summer like" during last week, and our half hour walks into Corfu Town were getting hotter and hotter each day.

Hope you have a successful journey home tomorrow.

Regards
Sharon

Sara · April 25, 2010, 11:30:26 PM

Thanks Sharon.

The thought of transferring to Gatwick, getting to Bristol to collect the car & then driving to Herefordshire sounded like hell & you had to go through it! You must have breathed a sigh of relief when you walked through your front door.

Looking back our flights have been trouble from the start. They were booked last July & then our times were changed. Then they were cancelled - but not. Remember that saga! On our departure day we had a 2 hour delay because Easyjet's network crashed & finally the volcanic ash episode.
Anyway, I've enjoyed my extra week & as you mentioned the weather has been lovely. It was 26 degrees yesterday & it felt HOT.

Here's hoping for a straight forward flight tomorrow.

Sara

justlynn · April 25, 2010, 11:41:03 PM

Wishing you a safe flight home tomorrow, Sara.

(Or is it more like home there?!)

lynn xx

Sara · April 25, 2010, 11:57:36 PM

Well, we've really settled into the Corfiot way of life this past month Lynn. Most tavernas are still closed but last Saturday we went to the Mon Amour & there was a Christening Party going on. We were given some house red & some christening cake to celebrate by the proud dad - how lovely was that..We really enjoyed the music & watching the locals dancing - a proper traditional night & so much fun. Everyone has been so kind to us once again & made us feel like part of their community.

I could get VERY used to it.........................

Sara..x

justlynn · April 26, 2010, 12:04:12 AM

How lovely to be included like that, Sara. I'm sure I could get very used to it, too!!

mathsboffin · April 26, 2010, 12:13:43 AM

I must say how kind the Greek people have been to us too. The staff at the Corfu Mare where we were domiciled, were so caring and considerate, especially when the tears came on.

10/10 to Marks and Spencer in Corfu Town, in particular the manager, who let us use her office to ring M&S in England to get some money from one of our M&S accounts. She was so lovely and offered to help us with anything during our time in Corfu.

I remember the debacle over the flights too - I wondered at the time if it was an omen. Perhaps it was, and one I chose to ignore. But saying that, our holiday was just perfect until ash Thursday!

justphil · April 26, 2010, 12:35:00 AM

Sara and Sharon, I have really enjoyed reading about your (mis)adventures. Thanks for sharing them with us all. So glad it is finally working out (Bon voyage Sara - surely nothing can go wrong now.)

QuoteI must say how kind the Greek people have been to us too.

It sets them apart from all the rest Sharon. Beautiful place, beautiful people...

Phil

Sandy x · April 26, 2010, 12:37:37 AM

Love the new photo Sara... safe journey and look after our Wegg.

sunflower · April 26, 2010, 01:07:12 AM

Bon voyage Sara,
and thanks for all the lovely spring photos.
Connie x

Sara · April 27, 2010, 06:12:50 PM

Quote(Bon voyage Sara - surely nothing can go wrong now.)

I had a sixth sense last night that something else was in store for me.

First, on checking in, the miserable girl behind the desk charged me for being over weight - my hold luggage that is!! Should I take out the ouzo, metaxa, litre of olive oil or my bag of lemons?
O.K, she was only doing her job, but in the past I've always been let off if it's just a few kilos - and there were only 60 passengers on our flight.
Our flight took off, more or less on time & just as we were approaching the U.K a passenger was taken ill & we were diverted to Gatwick. Paramedics came on board & the captain decided it was best if the passenger didn't continue onto Bristol. The families hold luggage then had to be found & removed and we had to wait for flight instructions[from Brussels I think]
We continued our flight to Bristol which took about 25 minutes & arrived almost 2 hours late.
Poor Wegg was with us too & her daughter had a long wait at the airport.
We arrived home at 04:40 - what a loooong night.

Sandy x · April 27, 2010, 08:57:48 PM

Oh Sara...poor you....and poor Wegg!!

I thought EJ didn't weigh hand luggage? That you could take as much as you wanted so long as it was within a certain size of bag? Or is it different if you put a bag in the hold as well?

I went just with hand luggage last year and my bag weighed about 8 kilos.