Planes flying, but many still waiting.

[freddie mertz]

Here is an update which some of you may interested in.

The flight disruption story seems to be off the news now, but many of us are still waiting to get out, and some are going to be waiting for up to another week.

There has been atrocious price-gouging and inflexibility on the part of the airlines. I have heard of prices up to 11,000 dollars being demanded to change to flights back home in Rome.

That said, things are getting slowly better. Most of the people I know who are stranded across Europe (in Dresden, Krakow, Munich, etc), including myself et al in Venezia, are slotted for flights tomorrow.

Most Europeans seem to have abandoned waiting and gotten home by surface transport, or on the extra or larger planes that have been put into use in some of the larger airports (I am not sure about this, it is based on word of mouth).

We have heard many reports of partly-empty planes but our airline claims there are no standbys available.

We will probably know more about that once we get home. all I can report form the ground is that the US airline staff here seem indifferent and bored at best.

That said, most of the other people have been helpful, patient, and generous.

It has been a sobering and life-changing experience to find ourselves in the midst of so much confusion and uncertainty. Last weekend was like nothing we have ever seen before.

Thanks to those who expressed interest and empathy regarding our plight, and who understood our surprise and frustration at the lack of airline and US State Dept action.

We know they could not turn back the volcano, but the response was weak at best in the opinion of everyone I have spoken to here (those who had time to think about it, that is).

Thanks again, and see you around here again sometime.

Best

Freddie.

[freddie mertz]

1. Not a single answer? OK. nt.

[HipChick]

2. safe travels..

[freddie mertz]

3. Thanks HP.

We are exhausted and spent, as you might imagine...

[laughingliberal]

4. Glad to hear you will finally be making it home. Was starting to worry after several days of no word

Have a safe trip.

[freddie mertz]

8. Thanks LL. Internet costs a lot of Euros around here.

I took some days off and have been economizing since the time got so much longer.

Home soon though, it seems.

:applause:

[cornermouse]

5. I never saw this Freddie.

I'm sorry.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Wow, I didn't know we still had people stuck in European airports

At least the Brits sent the Royal Navy to bring their people back home. Where is the US Navy?

Best wishes, and I hope you get your ass home pronto!

[freddie mertz]

7. I'm not sure the Navy was needed, but that said...

The USGov has done nothing and said almost nothing.

Kinda like the US News.

I guess this reflects the increasingly isolationist, insular trend in our culture.

As a friend put it: "Anyone who travels outside the country must be un-American."

Or as some things I have read would have it, "Anyone who travels outside the US must be independently wealthy."

And thanks, I do need to get home now....

[freddie mertz]

9. Made it back last night, late, after 24 hours in transit.

Thanks to the good people at DU for your support and empathy.