LHR Closed 3/21

Some people who are supposed to come home from spring break tomorrow – doesn’t look like that’s happening. People are having to figure out if they can get to other countries to fly back home to the US and or if there’s any visa issues.

report

03/21/2025 10:08

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for them to officially cancel so i can try to rebook. They aren’t answering any phones

I'd get yourself to Paris or Belgium or Frankfurt on a flight tomorrow- wouldn't necessarily count on Heathrow being open on Saturday if they already closed it all of Friday. Then either train over or connect to London City or Gatwick/Stansted/Luton. But gonna be tough, those connector flights gonna book up quick, there is so much volume to LHR.

Yes, I am wondering if I just buy myself a ticket on a direct flight tomorrow, and I don’t bother waiting to rebook?

I’d absolutely book something else myself and worry about reimbursement/refund if any later. Rebooking thousands of passengers is going to take forever. When the $hit hits the fan you have to be very proactive. The airline is in no rush to get you there quickly. Sure they’ll get you there but it may be 5 days from now.

report

03/21/2025 10:23

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for them to officially cancel so i can try to rebook. They aren’t answering any phones

I'd get yourself to Paris or Belgium or Frankfurt on a flight tomorrow- wouldn't necessarily count on Heathrow being open on Saturday if they already closed it all of Friday. Then either train over or connect to London City or Gatwick/Stansted/Luton. But gonna be tough, those connector flights gonna book up quick, there is so much volume to LHR.

Yes, I am wondering if I just buy myself a ticket on a direct flight tomorrow, and I don’t bother waiting to rebook?

I’d absolutely book something else myself and worry about reimbursement/refund if any later. Rebooking thousands of passengers is going to take forever. When the $hit hits the fan you have to be very proactive. The airline is in no rush to get you there quickly. Sure they’ll get you there but it may be 5 days from now.

Agreed, of course depends on your risk tolerance and cash- and also hard to find if you are looking for 3+ tickets. But for today, looks like your best bet will be on Aer Lingus through Boston or JFK, and then book a separate flight probably on Ryan Air to STN or LGW from DUB.

report

03/21/2025 10:25

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for them to officially cancel so i can try to rebook. They aren’t answering any phones

I'd get yourself to Paris or Belgium or Frankfurt on a flight tomorrow- wouldn't necessarily count on Heathrow being open on Saturday if they already closed it all of Friday. Then either train over or connect to London City or Gatwick/Stansted/Luton. But gonna be tough, those connector flights gonna book up quick, there is so much volume to LHR.

Yes, I am wondering if I just buy myself a ticket on a direct flight tomorrow, and I don’t bother waiting to rebook?

I’d absolutely book something else myself and worry about reimbursement/refund if any later. Rebooking thousands of passengers is going to take forever. When the $hit hits the fan you have to be very proactive. The airline is in no rush to get you there quickly. Sure they’ll get you there but it may be 5 days from now.

Agreed, of course depends on your risk tolerance and cash- and also hard to find if you are looking for 3+ tickets. But for today, looks like your best bet will be on Aer Lingus through Boston or JFK, and then book a separate flight probably on Ryan Air to STN or LGW from DUB.

Probably should also check there are connecting flights available from Dublin as lots of people have already booked to nearby destinations with that idea in mind.

report

03/21/2025 10:31

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for them to officially cancel so i can try to rebook. They aren’t answering any phones

I'd get yourself to Paris or Belgium or Frankfurt on a flight tomorrow- wouldn't necessarily count on Heathrow being open on Saturday if they already closed it all of Friday. Then either train over or connect to London City or Gatwick/Stansted/Luton. But gonna be tough, those connector flights gonna book up quick, there is so much volume to LHR.

Yes, I am wondering if I just buy myself a ticket on a direct flight tomorrow, and I don’t bother waiting to rebook?

I’d absolutely book something else myself and worry about reimbursement/refund if any later. Rebooking thousands of passengers is going to take forever. When the $hit hits the fan you have to be very proactive. The airline is in no rush to get you there quickly. Sure they’ll get you there but it may be 5 days from now.

Agreed, of course depends on your risk tolerance and cash- and also hard to find if you are looking for 3+ tickets. But for today, looks like your best bet will be on Aer Lingus through Boston or JFK, and then book a separate flight probably on Ryan Air to STN or LGW from DUB.

Probably should also check there are connecting flights available from Dublin as lots of people have already booked to nearby destinations with that idea in mind.

Agreed- there is no way for the system to fully handle this many cancellations. Heathrow handles more traffic than the 2nd and 3rd busiest UK airports (LGW and MAN) combined, and of course those flights already had tickets booked, etc. Good luck out there everybody.

report

03/21/2025 10:35

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for them to officially cancel so i can try to rebook. They aren’t answering any phones

I'd get yourself to Paris or Belgium or Frankfurt on a flight tomorrow- wouldn't necessarily count on Heathrow being open on Saturday if they already closed it all of Friday. Then either train over or connect to London City or Gatwick/Stansted/Luton. But gonna be tough, those connector flights gonna book up quick, there is so much volume to LHR.

Yes, I am wondering if I just buy myself a ticket on a direct flight tomorrow, and I don’t bother waiting to rebook?

I’d absolutely book something else myself and worry about reimbursement/refund if any later. Rebooking thousands of passengers is going to take forever. When the $hit hits the fan you have to be very proactive. The airline is in no rush to get you there quickly. Sure they’ll get you there but it may be 5 days from now.

Agreed, of course depends on your risk tolerance and cash- and also hard to find if you are looking for 3+ tickets. But for today, looks like your best bet will be on Aer Lingus through Boston or JFK, and then book a separate flight probably on Ryan Air to STN or LGW from DUB.

Probably should also check there are connecting flights available from Dublin as lots of people have already booked to nearby destinations with that idea in mind.

Agreed- there is no way for the system to fully handle this many cancellations. Heathrow handles more traffic than the 2nd and 3rd busiest UK airports (LGW and MAN) combined, and of course those flights already had tickets booked, etc. Good luck out there everybody.

And definitely don't assume the airport will be open on Saturday. This is the latest from the Guardian- "Heathrow said it does not have “clarity on when power may be reliably restored,” and “passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens.”

report

03/21/2025 10:35

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Did Trump set this fire intentionally?

You probably jest, but it is being investigated as a terrorist or hostile state attack https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/21/counter-terror-police-investigating-unprecedented-fire-shut-heathrow and there is talk of Russian state involvement. It follows a suspicious ramming of a cargo vessel carrying oil-products last month in the North Sea by a commercial ship with Russian connections.

report

03/21/2025 11:05

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Unless it is an absolute emergency, I would just cancel the entire trip.

report

03/21/2025 11:20

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:Unless it is an absolute emergency, I would just cancel the entire trip.

WTF. Don't do this. Figure out alternatives.

report

03/21/2025 11:26

Subject: LHR Closed 3/21

quote

Anonymous

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Waiting for them to officially cancel so i can try to rebook. They aren’t answering any phones

I'd get yourself to Paris or Belgium or Frankfurt on a flight tomorrow- wouldn't necessarily count on Heathrow being open on Saturday if they already closed it all of Friday. Then either train over or connect to London City or Gatwick/Stansted/Luton. But gonna be tough, those connector flights gonna book up quick, there is so much volume to LHR.

Yes, I am wondering if I just buy myself a ticket on a direct flight tomorrow, and I don’t bother waiting to rebook?

I’d absolutely book something else myself and worry about reimbursement/refund if any later. Rebooking thousands of passengers is going to take forever. When the $hit hits the fan you have to be very proactive. The airline is in no rush to get you there quickly. Sure they’ll get you there but it may be 5 days from now.

Agreed, of course depends on your risk tolerance and cash- and also hard to find if you are looking for 3+ tickets. But for today, looks like your best bet will be on Aer Lingus through Boston or JFK, and then book a separate flight probably on Ryan Air to STN or LGW from DUB.

Probably should also check there are connecting flights available from Dublin as lots of people have already booked to nearby destinations with that idea in mind.

Agreed- there is no way for the system to fully handle this many cancellations. Heathrow handles more traffic than the 2nd and 3rd busiest UK airports (LGW and MAN) combined, and of course those flights already had tickets booked, etc. Good luck out there everybody.

And definitely don't assume the airport will be open on Saturday. This is the latest from the Guardian- "Heathrow said it does not have “clarity on when power may be reliably restored,” and “passengers should not travel to the airport under any circumstances until the airport reopens.”

None of today's IAD-LHR flights are cancelled yet, but many from JFK are already cancelled. Seems like very good odds anything leaving tonight is going to be cancelled.