This evening marks the first British Airways flight to land at BWI in nearly a week. The plane carries some 200 passengers who in all likelihood have been trying to get back to the USA for awhile. So today would be similar to Ash Wednesday except that many of these travelers who are finally on their way home have already paid their penance by tolerating six days of sleeping in airports. (Although those having to spend extra days in Rome, Paris or Stockholm don't really get any serious sympathy.)
A reporter from The Sun will be at the airport to talk with some of the arriving travelers about their experience. Some of the best stories have been from celebrities affected by the volcano plume, including Whitney Houston riding a ferry; John Cleese taking a $5,000 cab ride; and Brad Pitt missing a flight that would have taken him to a ceremony naming his brother, Doug Pitt, Goodwill Ambassador to Tanzania. Who knew?
Now, if you're set to take off tonight for London aboard that British Airways 767, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that your flight is not canceled. The bad news is that depending on when you plan to return, there may still be airline schedule chaos. And since Iceland's president has said a second volcano may erupt and cause more chaos, what should you do?
Following these tips from AAA should help. Also, be flexible. Check with your hotel about room availability beyond your stay. If you purchase travel insurance, make sure it covers natural disasters. Know your airline's refund policies. And keep your cell phone charged. And most important, keep some perspective. Being stranded in Europe wouldn 't be the worse thing in the world.
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