19/04/2010

Latest Gap Year Flight & Travel Information

Thinking abour taking a gap year and travelling abroad? Looking for gap year information, advice? Plan a gap year trip abroad! Get gap advice for gap year travelers from the UK foreign office.

18 April 2010

Restrictions in UK controlled airspace remain in place until 0100 UK time Tuesday 20 April. If you are planning to fly into or out of UK airports, check with your airline for the latest news.

The Prime Minister has announced that the Royal Navy will help to repatriate British nationals who are stranded in Europe. More information on this will be added as soon as it is available.

Air restrictions are due to cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland.

The National Air Traffic Service (NATS) says that ash is spread across the UK. Anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport. See the NATS website for updates.

British Airways says all flights to and from London airports on Monday 19 April have been cancelled. Check the BA website for the latest flight information.

Airport operator BAA warns passengers not to travel to its airports - Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Edinburgh, Glasgow & Aberdeen. See BAA website for updates.

Eurostar, Eurotunnel, cross-channel ferry operators and international coach operators are carrying many more passengers than usual.

You can find more information on the situation at individual UK airports on the DirectGov website.

Over 20 European countries are affected by air restrictions with many closing airpace completely. As the situation is changing please check with your airline for the latest details.

Advice for British Nationals stranded overseas

Contacting the FCO
British nationals stranded overseas should stay in contact with their airline. If you are in distress you can contact your local embassy, high commission or consulate. Search for your nearest embassy.

If you are calling from the UK and are concerned about a British national stranded overseas please call the FCO advice line on 020 7008 0000 .

Package holidays
if you are on a package holiday contact your tour operator. Under EU legislation the organiser of a package holiday is responsible for getting passengers home and for their care and accommodation in the meantime.

Contact your airline to confirm arrangements. Under EU legislation passengers are entitled to either a refund or to a later flight. Passengers accepting a refund will end their relationship with the airline and will have no further entitlements. Passengers who are re-routed onto a later flight will be entitled to assistance including reasonable meals and overnight accommodation. Passengers must confirm arrangements with their airline and should not assume that an airline will continue to pay for their existing accommodation.

Passengers travelling on flights from non-EU countries on non-EU airlines

Passengers should contact their airline. These flights are not covered by EU legislation and passenger rights will depend on the airline's conditions of carriage. Further information about passenger rights can be found on the website of the Air Transport Users Council and on the website of the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

Travel insurance
You should check with your insurance company. Some policies include cover for volcanic eruptions but many do not. Insurance taken out since the eruption will not include cover. For further information on travel insurance policies see the Association of British Insurers website. The ABTA website also provides useful information.

If you need to return to the UK urgently
Consider other travel options. Can you reach the UK by coach or train and ferry? Or fly to a country where you will be able to do this?

If you have run out of money
Ask a relative or friend to transfer money via a commercial money transfer service. The British Embassy can advise you how to do this.

If you are running out of medication
See if this is available at a local pharmacy or go to a local hospital or doctor. If you need help to find a hospital or doctor check the website of the British Embassy for this information or call the Embassy. If you are admitted to hospital, contact the British Embassy.

If your visa has expired
Contact your tour operator or the British Embassy for advice.

For other visa information
See our passport and entry requirement pages for general advice and our travel advice pages for visa requirements for individual countries.

Airline assistance
If you think that you are entitled to assistance from your airline but you have had to pay for accommodation yourself keep the receipts to follow up later with your airline.

Advice for Umra Pilgrims
It is possible that some visitors may be faced with the problem of expired visas during the coming days as a result of the UK airpace closure. All travellers should ensure their visas remain vaild at all times. Umra Pilgrims should get their visas extended through their Umra agents. Similarily visit/business visa holders should approach their sponsors in order to extend the validity of their visas. The Passport Office Deportation Service (visa extention service) in Riyadh and Jeddah deal with this.

All travellers should be aware that if they fail to extend their visa validity prior to the visa expiry date they may be liable to a 10,000 SAR fine.

Further information

More Information: www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad

Follow our latest travel alerts on @britishabroad on Twitter

For assistance abroad you can call our Consular Assistance team in London on:

020 7008 1500

or email:

consularassistance@fco.gov.uk

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