Gatwick, flying, snow, england?

[Mobsta]

We're supposed to be flying out on Monday night, to Dubai to catch another connecting flight... from Gatwick.

I fly every year, but am no frequent flyer by any stretch. The updates the internet is giving us on weather for tomorrow is conflicting, especially with jumped up media chaos reporting. Im hoping someone who flies more than I do, or or actually follows the news (which I dont) might be able to proffer an educated guestimate as to whether or not the long haul flights out of Gatwick will be taking off tomorrow night, or not. Any tips on where to stay locally (if not) would also be welcome.

The information we've gleaned from t'interweb so far is also somewhat contradictory.

Not having a laugh at the UK (actually I am) but a friend of mine who lived in the swiss alps for a decade told me last week, she had her first-ever day off work due to snow, this month, after a few measly inches fell overnight.

Any suggestions on the best place/website to check out or call for a definitive answer closer to the time would be most welcome.

[parapaul]

Breakfast news is sugegsting flights will be leaving, but with hefty delays.

But it's OK, the Mayor of London is going to tell airport bosses to pull out all the stops. Which will help no end

Finland's airport opened in 1969 and has not closed once due to snow...

[308mate]

Got on the plane to Gatwick Saturday in Dubai, sat for 2hrs, flight was cancelled and overnighted in Dubai. Got back on yesterday and arrived ok but found chaos at Gatwick.

Last night checked national rail website to get my 5am train to London. National Rail website said normal service expected. Arrived at 4:55am this morning for my train to find that there arent any until 7:05. tts. Apparently I should have checked SouthWest Trains website. Even though that website recomends checking national rail for up to date travel alerts.

So trudged back home through the inch or so of snow thats brought the country grinding to a halt, fired up PH and set about attempting to buy SOTW.

Every cloud eh.

[mattdaniels]

Your best bet is to speak to the airline themselves, not the airport, the BBC, the met office or anyone else.

The airline will know where its staff and aircraft are, and what services they are operating.

[mr_spock]

mattdaniels said:

Your best bet is to speak to the airline themselves, not the airport, the BBC, the met office or anyone else.

The airline will know where its staff and aircraft are, and what services they are operating.

Apparently the airlines are complaining that BAA aren't giving them info either. When they've de-iced aircraft they're icing up again before they can take off. I tend to listen to LBC for the travel news, they seem to have the best info and calls from people actually at the airport - like the guy just now who's gone to Heathrow T1 and had to turn round and leave because he's not on the list of approved passengers!

[Gargamel]

Was supposed to fly to Orlando on Saturday, timied it perfectly so that it snowed about 1 hour before take off. result - flight cancelled 10 inutes later. Gatwick re opened 4 hours later. But my flight was cancelled, along with 400 other flights that day. Spent 9 hours in the airport as close to 4500 people tried to re book on alternative flights - with aroun 1000 of us queuing for 4 (yes 4) BA ticket desks....

Now hoping to fly to Miama on Friday

Yes the snow was thick, and I am sure they couldn't have flown, but everything that goes around that decision was an utter shambles.