Travel chaos to hit families this Easter break
Jenna Maxwell
Netmums ContributorFight cancellations, huge airport queues and the rising cost of fuel are throwing holiday plans into disarray.
This page contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small amount of money if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our articles and reviews are written independently by the Netmums editorial team.
With the Easter holidays upon us, many families across the UK will be looking forward to a trip away.
However, a glut of flight cancellations and low staffing numbers have caused chaos at UK airports, with many families missing flights, having to cut holidays short or missing out altogether.
And the agony is predicted to continue. Around 15,000 passengers are expected to have their flights cancelled today. And reports say disruptions will last for at least three weeks, owing to an industry-wide shortage of staff.
Train disruptions, ferry cancellations and road queues could also turn a dream holiday into a nightmare. And Saturday has been named 'crunch day' as peak numbers are expected to travel.
So what's going on with travel this Easter, and could your holiday be affected?
Flights and Airports
Both British Airways and easyJet have been cancelling dozens of flights every day since last weekend.
BA's cancellations rose to 78 yesterday. The cancelled flights have all been short-haul operations, mainly from Heathrow.
Meanwhile, easyJet have cancelled flights from a number of airports, including their main base, Gatwick. Flights from Luton, Bristol, Manchester, Belfast and Edinburgh have also been affected.
The airlines are blaming cancellations on COVID-related absences that have resulted in staff shortages.
Passengers who receive little or no notice about their cancelled flight, may be entitled to extra compensation payments.
Claims can be made to BA here and easyJet here.
Even if flights are going ahead, families have been warned to expect major queues in airports. Passenger numbers at airports are set to swell this weekend and next week and many airports don't have the staff to handle the pick-up in demand after the pandemic and in the run-up to Easter.
Extra police officers have even been brought in to help deal with queues and irate customers at Manchester Airport, one of the worst affected.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has warned that 'disruption', caused mainly by a staff shortage, was expected to continue for 'two months'. Passengers arriving at Manchester airport are being advised to arrive three hours before their flight, to check baggage into the hold in advance if possible and to try and minimise hand luggage and ensure it is correctly packed before leaving home.
Ferries
After the shock sacking of 800 seafarers without notice earlier in March from P&O Ferries, many customers now face having their Easter holidays cancelled as rival operators can't honour tickets from Dover to France.
P&O told families that services were suspended for the coming weekend and suggested they transfer their tickets to rival operators including DFDS.
However, many rival operators are fully booked for the coming weekend and are unable to take on additional passengers.
P&O tweeted: 'We sincerely apologise, for travel 8/9/10 April please re-book directly with another operator before arriving at the port.
'DFDS are not able to transfer PO customers onto their ships for travel between 08/04 00:01 - 10/04 23:59, we will provide a full refund of your ticket.'
Usually, P&O, DFDS, and the Channel Tunnel have an arrangement in place allowing them to accept each other's tickets in the event of an emergency.
On twitter, P&O Ferries have stated that any customers with tickets to travel between 8 - 10 April, will be provided with a full refund as well as the difference in cost between the P&O Ferries ticket and the new booking with another operator.
Car Travel
The loss of so many P&O Ferries is also due to have a major impact on roads over Easter with queues of trucks heading towards Dover reported to stretch for 10 miles along the M20.
However, despite the surge in fuel prices, many families will still take to the roads to reconnect with family and friends following the end of the pandemic restrictions.
The RAC estimates 20.8 million leisure trips will be taken by drivers this weekend alone. National Highways are urging motorists to plan their journeys in advance.
Train
Railway lines typically face disruptions over Easter as Network Rail use this time to carry out essential maintenance and this year is no different.
The West Coast Main Line between London Euston and Milton Keynes Central will be closed throughout the Easter weekend. Customers planning journeys between London Euston and Scotland are advised to travel either side of the long weekend.
No Southern services will be able to run to and from London Victoria and most trains will be diverted into London Bridge. There will be no direct trains between London and Stansted Airport at Easter. Buses will replace the Stansted Express trains between Waltham Cross and the airport.
Network Rail is advising that the best time to travel will be on April 14 and April 19, with chiefs urging people to check their train journey in advance.
Will your holiday be affected this Easter? Chat to other parents in our forum
Related Content
The most brilliant buys for travelling with kids
CHAT: Discuss travel advice with other parents on our forum
