Stranded travelers search for options after Icelandic volcano eruption
European Union officials agreed Monday to allow limited flights to resume, but a backlog of passengers from five days of cancellations means countless thousands of people are stranded. Many are broke, having shelled out for hotels, meals, clothing and transport to and from the airport as they seek information on when their travel nightmare might end.
Andrew and Debbie Jackman of Britain spent more than two years saving for a family vacation to Australia. It wasn't long enough.
Their Qantas flight from Sydney back to Britain was canceled Friday thanks to the Icelandic volcano eruption that has disrupted global travel for days. So the couple and their two teenage sons squeezed into a $138 hotel room. On Saturday, the hotel raised the price of the same room to $322 — simply because it could, Jackman said. After hours of negotiations, the hotel brought the price back down to $147, but the family, broke and frustrated, opted to move to a hostel Sunday.
"We're at the end of the holiday so we've spent all our money," a weary Jackman said as he sat with his family at Sydney Airport.
The family's tale of hardship is one of thousands.
European Union officials agreed Monday to allow limited flights to resume, but a backlog of passengers from five days of cancellations means countless thousands of people are stranded. Many are broke, having shelled out for hotels, meals, clothing and transport to and from the airport as they seek information on when their travel nightmare might end.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the metropolitan area's major airports, has set up 1,000 cots and blankets at JFK and Newark, N.J., served hot meals to the stranded and handed out essentials such as bottled water and baby wipes. The Red Cross and various consulates have provided some of the bedding and food.
On Monday, five days into the crisis, the agency opened trailers with a dozen showers at JFK.
"I am on the standby list, and I am homeless right now," said Roberta Marder, 73, from Tulsa, Okla.
Others have been piling into buses, trains and high-priced taxis in a frantic scramble to find a way home.
At Frankfurt Airport, one of continental Europe's biggest hubs, airport spokesman Uwe Witzel said almost 500 passengers — mostly from Africa or Asia, with no visas for the European Union — were spending their fourth day in the transit area.
Witzel said the stranded were being provided with three meals a day, showers and fresh clothing.
"We've set up an Internet lounge, we've hired people to entertain the kids and we've also arranged a spot outside the terminal building where people can go to get a breath of fresh air and some sun," he said.
As for the Jackmans, the British couple stuck in Australia, their ordeal had a somewhat happy ending.
Unlike many airlines, Qantas — Australia's largest carrier — has said it's been paying for stranded passengers' accommodations and providing meal vouchers. That was news to the Jackmans, who said airline representatives told them they were on their own.
On Monday, after spending three hours on hold with Qantas, the family trekked back to the airport (another $27 cab ride), and spoke to a customer-service representative. Only then, they said, did the airline offer to pay for a hotel room — for one night.
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