Passengers at airports across the UK have described the panic and being left in “limbo” as they frantically try to rebook their flights after Heathrow Airport has been forced to close today
Passengers at Heathrow Airport have been left in “limbo” and descibed the panic across the country as all flights to and from the airport remain grounded today (March 21).
Many unsuspecting passengers have had their travel plans thrown into chaos as Heathrow Airport has been forced to close for the whole day due to a huge blaze. However, the cause of the fire has not been released, leaving many to suspect foul play.
One passenger was stuck in Scotland this morning when her flight to Heathrow then Dallas, Texas for her first trip abroad was cancelled. Maranda, 28, arrived at Edinburgh Airport with her sister Malarie, 22, at around 3:30 this morning to find out the news that there was “problems” at Heathrow.
After sitting on the phone to British Airways customer service, they were able to get new flights from Edinburgh to Dublin, then from Dublin to Chicago and Chicago to Dallas.
Maranda said: “It was stressful in the moment for sure. This is actually our first time travelling abroad, so to then have your flights cancelled and to get very little information other than “here’s their line, good luck,” was kind of frustrating. But we were able to get a flight, and we’re just happy to be able to go home today. Initially, they were saying it could be Friday, Saturday or even Sunday before we could get home.
“An hour ago it was pretty crazy – people were sitting anywhere they could find and there were pretty long lines to check in, especially for Aer Lingus, because that’s where most people were redirected. British Airways gate agents basically said they couldn’t do anything at that moment. Now, things are starting to calm down, there’s just a lot of us waiting outside the gate desks hoping to be able to get on a flight today.”
Maranda continued: “There was a lot of panic at first. I know we were very lucky to get through to British Airways, but a lot of people have been coming up to me and my sister to ask us how we got a flight.
“The British Airways call centre has over an hour wait at the minute, and the gate agents’ hands are tied because they’ve been told people have to go through the call centre. Everybody’s in limbo right now.”
The man, who only shared his first name Ooso, had gone on foot with his suitcase from the roundabout outside Terminal 5 to the airport, only to be told he could not enter.
He said as he walked back towards the roundabout: “The website shows ‘flight on time’.
“They only have a message not to come here, but to check updates.
“Updates are showing ‘flight on time’, but nobody is allowed to go in. So, it’s so confusing.”
Two women who were expecting to fly to India have said they “cannot explain” their disappointment at not being able to depart.
The women, who only gave their first names Anupama and Ridihka, said they were both leaving on a family holiday – Ridihka for five weeks, and Anupama for four weeks.
“It’s my father’s retirement party tomorrow,” Anupama added.
“We asked them (airport staff) and they said to us that they don’t know for tomorrow or today. They didn’t say anything else.”
Another passenger had organised a huge group trip that was supposed to be returning to the States today.
Ladelle Hash, 47, had organised a group of 31 New Mexico tourists a week’s holiday in Scotland, but as they arrived early for their flight this morning they heard the news that Heathrow was closing.
Hash said: “As we were gathering our bags, we found out that Heathrow was closing. I haven’t had much help from American Airlines, but British Airways were handling our first flight and they’ve been great. We did get kicked out of the cafe – but we didn’t have anywhere else to go, so we’re just sitting against the walls.
“One of my travellers that was going to another state has been booked, but she’s going through Rome now. She’s getting over to Rome, before going to Philadelphia and then to Chicago – she’s going to be all over the place.
“I’m just hoping that they’ll get us flown to another big city by this afternoon – hopefully Dublin or Paris, so we can still get home, just a bit later than we’d hoped.”
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