Volcanic ash alert: What airlines are doing for Birmingham Airport passengers
THOUSANDS of passengers at Birmingham International Airport found their flights cancelled as volcanic ash polluted the UK skies, forcing all planes to be grounded.
But what should passengers due to travel on days when planes have been grounded do? Below is the advice from the main airlines which operate out of Birmingham.
Birmingham Airport's website can be accessed here, with live information on arrivals and departures
| Airline | Advice from the airline |
| Air France | Customers whose flight has been cancelled will be able to rebook their flight or obtain a refund. |
| Air Malta | Passengers departing from the UK are to contact Air Malta on 0906 103 0012. |
| BMI | If your flight is cancelled you’re entitled to a full refund. If you choose to rebook you can do so within two weeks for travel within four weeks. Normal refund conditions apply. To apply for your refund or to rebook, please call 0844 8484 888 (UK). |
| BMI Baby | Any passengers who were booked to travel on one of the cancelled flights can transfer to the next available flight free of charge within 21 days of the original flight date, subject to availability. Call 0844 2450055. |
| British Airways | Customers booked to travel on a cancelled flight can claim a full refund or choose one of the options set out immediately below. If you wish to travel to your original destination, you may re-book on another British Airways or BA franchise flight at your convenience, subject to availability, within 14 days of the original date. |
| Easyjet | We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and would like to offer you either: A full refund of the cost of your flight and any directly related unflown sector within the same booking (if applicable), back to the original card your flight was paid with, OR A free transfer to another flight on the same route within 30 days of the original flight date. If your flight is part of a return trip, you will also be able to change any directly related sector(s) within the same booking free of charge to keep your initial intended length of stay. |
| Flybe | Passengers booked to fly at these times are advised not to go to their airport of departure. Passengers who were due to fly during the affected timeframes may: (1) Re-book to travel on another flight on the same route at no additional charge within the next 14 days, subject to availability (also extend return flight dates to accommodate required length of stay). (2.) Rebook for travel to the final destination at a later date (subject to availability). (3.) Apply for a refund for the affected flight |
| KLM | If you travel to, from or via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, between 14 April and 18 April 2010, we offer the following options: (1) Change of travel dates. You may change flight dates for travel to, from or via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. Outbound travel should occur no later than 31 May 2010. The original required duration of your stay may be unchanged. The following conditions apply: a)You may change one outbound and one inbound flight free of charge. b) You may only change your flight dates to alternate flight dates, if available in the same booking class. c) Changing flight dates and re-issuing of tickets must be done by the end of the day on Friday, 30 April 2010. You may change to alternate flights of AIR FRANCE, KLM and/or Delta only. We may have changed your flight dates for you If your flight dates have not been changed, you can change your flight dates free of cost if you have a fully flexible ticket. If you do not have a fully flexible ticket, please contact us about changing your flight. |
| Monarch | All passengers booked to travel on cancelled Monarch scheduled flights (ZB flight numbers) are advised to contact the Monarch Customer Contact Centre to re-book onto the next available flight or to arrange a full refund. |
| Ryanair | Passengers who were booked to travel on one of the below cancelled flights affected by the volcano ash can transfer to the next available flight free of charge or apply for a refund on their unused flight(s) at the airport ticket desk or by reservation centre on +44 871 246 000 |
| Thomson | Customers whose flights were cancelled on the 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 April can o Amend their booking to an alternative holiday or flight without incurring normal administration fees. If the alternative holiday is cheaper than the original, then the difference in price will be refunded. If the alternative holiday is more expensive than the original, then the customer will be required to pay the difference. Or if Thomson are unable to secure an alternative holiday, we will allow customers to cancel with a full refund without incurring normal administration fees. |
Volcano chaos: Useful links
- Stranded: Stories from Midland passengers
- Volcanic ash: Birmingham Airport airline by airline breakdown
- Travel Q&A, Twitter links and useful websites
- Hundreds of Birmingham travellers stranded abroad
- The dangers of volcanic ash clouds
- Birmingham Airport website
- Cancelled flights: Your rights
- The Volcanism blog
