Thank you for choosing to fly with British Airways. …. oh dear

[pbcold]

I have just received this, due to fly to BCN this evening. Does anyone know how widespread this is please?

We’re sorry to let you know that you may experience a delay in your travel plans today. This is due to air traffic restrictions being imposed around European airspace. Whilst this isn’t something we can control, we’re sorry that this may affect your travel plans.  

We understand any disruption can be frustrating and we apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.

[sayling]

Paris Olympics springs to mind

[pbcold]

aha!……good point, thank you – not really on my radar to be honest.

[Richie]

These e mails are generic and sent out routinely at the slightest chance of ATC or weather related delays.

I’m flying to BCN today on VY from LGW, my flight is currently scheduled to arrive on time.

[JDB]

pbcold wrote:

I have just received this, due to fly to BCN this evening. Does anyone know how widespread this is please?

We’re sorry to let you know that you may experience a delay in your travel plans today. This is due to air traffic restrictions being imposed around European airspace. Whilst this isn’t something we can control, we’re sorry that this may affect your travel plans.  

We understand any disruption can be frustrating and we apologise for any inconvenience that may be caused.

Unfortunately it is very widespread and will be a struggle all summer – there is a shortage of both airspace and controllers all over Europe. It also affects routings to ME and Asia. Any weird weather will exacerbate this.

[pbcold]

Many thanks for these responses.

[Londonsteve]

I’ve had this e-mail before every BA flight, even those that took off roughly on time. I think they’re just managing expectations of possible or even likely delays while also softening you up to dissuade you from making a compensation claim if the flight is seriously delayed. If they tell you early on you may be delayed due to ATC or weather related issues, you’re more likely to accept this as the reason for the delay. As best as I can tell from looking at Flightradar, any delays I’ve recently experienced have simply due to aircraft accumulating delays over the course of the day. I tend to fly in the evening by which time most aircraft have already flown 5 sectors.

[Richie]

You are spot on @Londonsteve.
They are also sending these out a little prematurely.
On a recent SH flight there was a last minute aircraft change and my flight left on time and arrived a bit early.

[phantomchickenz]

Hmmm… this thread is getting me worried. We’re off to Bordeaux on Wednesday, arriving at 2045. We then pick up a hire car and have a 60 minute drive to our destination which shuts the gates at 11pm. All being well we should be fine, but we only seem to have an hour or so of float which could make for some squeaky bums.

We did originally allow plenty of time, the original booking was a couple of hours earlier until BA moved the flight time.

[NorthernLass]

Surely they have a contingency plan for late arrivals? I hope you have better weather than they’re having in Paris just now!

[phantomchickenz]

Reception closes at 9pm, security can show you to your cabin up until 11pm. I’ve just been scoping out the Holiday Inn near the airport in case things go awry.

Weather is looking fantastic!

[Londonsteve]

I’m afraid in your shoes I’d make a booking near the airport for the night of arrival. The minimum delay on the last flight of the day to any short haul destination seems to be an hour this summer and some are arriving considerably later. Even if your flight arrived bang on time, by the time you’ve got through immigration and collected your hire car, you’d be arriving at your accommodation at 22:45 by my calculation.

[NigelHamilton]

Don’t suppose you used a travel agent for your booking? This is the sort of thing I would (indeed have been this week) sorting out for my clients. On the hotel near the airport, I would say identify somewhere in advance who would be happy with a late arrival and has plenty of rooms available so you could potentially walk in. Or better still, contact the property you are staying at and explain the situation. I’m yet to find one that isn’t at least reasonable (obviously turning up at 3am wouldn’t be, but 11:15 would if warned in advance)

[phantomchickenz]

Thanks folks, I have a couple of hotels in mind near the airport that seem to have plenty of space as backup, and have the main accom’s number saved in my phone in case I need to call them from the lounge at Gatwick if a delay arises. We should be fine whatever happens, but perhaps I don’t mention to my +1 that the average delay on FlightRadar for our flight for the last five days is 31 minutes…

[LD27]

phantomchickenz wrote:

Thanks folks, I have a couple of hotels in mind near the airport that seem to have plenty of space as backup, and have the main accom’s number saved in my phone in case I need to call them from the lounge at Gatwick if a delay arises. We should be fine whatever happens, but perhaps I don’t mention to my +1 that the average delay on FlightRadar for our flight for the last five days is 31 minutes…

I’m sure there must be a way to get into your accommodation after hours. I would definitely pursue that.

We use Bordeaux airport frequently. It is a very small airport and speed on arrival is very hit and miss. A couple of weeks ago I arrived on an early morning flight at the weekend. There was only one person at the border checking passports (which is often the case). However I was up the front of the plane, hbo and was sitting on the tram outside within 15 minutes of plane door opening. The car rental lot is just outside the terminal across the road and the tram track. You can’t miss it. With the later flight, it could take you an hour to get through passport control. But even then and with delays, you could still make it to your destination. But it’s always worth having a plan B.

The Holiday Inn is very close to the airport and we have considered staying there. Lots of other hotels too. It’s August. No conferences so there should be lots of rooms available. Recently friends were looking at hotels for similar reasons to you and found that instead of booking direct with say IHG, if they used eg bookingdotcom, rooms were cheaper and they were offered free cancellation on the day of arrival, I think in one instance until 1500 local time.

Not sure which direction you’re heading. When we were there earlier this month the Pont Aquitaine was closed so OH had to drive us the long way around the Rocade to drop us off.

Unless it has changed within last couple of weeks, if you using Avis and getting early morning flight from BOD there is no one at drop off before 9am to check cars. Some friends were charged nearly €200 for petrol even though they returned a full tank. Make sure you have a couple of very clear photos as well as for car. They have only just got refund on credit card. Threatening credit card charge back didn’t seem to make any difference.

Allow plenty of time on departure to go through passport control. Although they have revamped security, it’s still bad. Once through you can find yourself caught up with the long winding queue to get through the non Schengen border. Last time there was one person checking and stamping passports for 3 full plane loads of people. It was chaotic, which is not unusual. This is the better of the two terminals!

Enjoy your holiday.

[Ian m]

Is your car hire with budget or avis? If so make sure you do the online check in. It massively speeds up the time spent at the hire car desk.

[phantomchickenz]

That’s why I love this forum, so much helpful advice!

Rental is with Avis, and we’re heading to the coast (Lacanau). We went to Cap Ferret a few years ago for a wedding so I vaguely remember the car hire setup, assuming it hasn’t changed.

As an update our friends have arrived at the venue and confirmed that they can check in for us (it’s one of those eurocamp type places but with cabins), so we can just turn up and wander blindly through the site whatever time we arrive, even if we have to leave the car outside. I think we’re okay now. Looking forward to it!

[phantomchickenz]

Final update on my travels – it turns out our flight was delayed by 2 hrs 53 mins (of course just under 3hrs), but all was good as Avis had a fancy key dispenser thing when the office was closed, and at the accommodation the security guy let us through and gave us the keys to our room (at 1am).

Also a plug for the new(ish) Sheraton at Bordeaux Airport – very impressed with my gold upgrade from a Junior Suite to a very large Junior Suite (essentially a 1 br suite) with huge terrace. The terrace large enough for a table and chairs, outdoor sofa, and loungers. Pity it was 41 degrees so we weren’t willing to use it! Maybe next time…

[LD27]

phantomchickenz wrote:

Final update on my travels – it turns out our flight was delayed by 2 hrs 53 mins (of course just under 3hrs), but all was good as Avis had a fancy key dispenser thing when the office was closed, and at the accommodation the security guy let us through and gave us the keys to our room (at 1am).

Also a plug for the new(ish) Sheraton at Bordeaux Airport – very impressed with my gold upgrade from a Junior Suite to a very large Junior Suite (essentially a 1 br suite) with huge terrace. The terrace large enough for a table and chairs, outdoor sofa, and loungers. Pity it was 41 degrees so we weren’t willing to use it! Maybe next time…

Sorry you had such a long delay but pleased to hear all went well with your accommodation’s security. Sounds like the Sheraton is worth a stay, especially for late arrivals or early morning flights. Will recommend to any visitors coming to stay with us if they want just to fall out of bed into the airport or vice versa. We don’t rent out our house, but some of our neighbours would be interested to recommend to clients.