My wife and I have just returned from a short visit to Kenya but have learned a salutary lesson which others might not be aware of. I booked my flights through an agent called worldwideflights.com, I have used them a couple of times before to choose a suitable flight and carrier they give good prices and there have been no problems with the bookings.
However a couple of weeks ago on the morning of the 23rd Sept we set off to Heathrow to catch a BA flight and got stuck on the M3 as the police had closed the motorway because of an "incident". The motorway was closed from about 4am yet they still allowed cars to join until about 7am and the M3 was closed for about 12 hours trapping thousands of motorists. I missed my flight and when I got to Heathrow I was expecting to be put on the next available flight with BA. However I was told that since it was booked through an agent then BA couldn't help me but if it had been booked directly with BA they would have put me on the next flight if room was available. I called the agent who said that there was nothing they could do as I had missed the flight and all I could do is buy a new ticket (it's in the T&Cs). OK but the return is OK surely? - well no because the contract is for a complete journey and since I have missed the outward part then the return is void too! I went over to the BA desk and asked if this was bull it and they agreed that this was in fact the case.
I had no choice but to buy new tickets for £1.6k and my next task will to try to claim off my travel insurance but I am not very optimistic about my chances of success unless I can persuade them that the police closed the road rather than it was just traffic delay.
So my basic message here is that if you are just booking flights do it directly with the Airline. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Good advice, thanks. Updated- Waiting for a Scotland v England 6 Nations home win. 24th Feb 2018
Gone-1972 88 SWB Soft top
Gone-1981 24v FFR Lightweight
Gone-2009 Freelander 2 TD4 GS manual
Gone before it bankrupted me- 2008 Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto
2013 Freelander 2 SD4 GS Auto

I’d be interested to know what the outcome of your enquiry is. I know that for you this is like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted but my policy has always been to book an airport hotel the night before our flight even if we would in theory have plenty of time to drive down on the day.

We can always find good prices somewhere without sacrificing quality and we do it for peace of mind regarding traffic problems and to feel more relaxed before flying. We cover the M1 and the M25 to get to Heathrow. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Sound advice Doc, whenever we used to travel overseas the hotel option was good. These days I can't be arsed given the problems associated at airports and much prefer good old Blighty for our hols

Edit - being retired every days a holiday  MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

Yes I will report back on this one. We not only had to buy new tickets but an overnight hotel as well (Premier Inn Terminal 4 £67 plus about £30 for dinner for 2 - not bad actually in the circumstances). The basis of my claim will be that the police actually closed the motorway in both directions and called in the bomb squad because some 17 year old kid threw a bottle of some unknown substance off a bridge. Total overreaction but that's the H&S culture these days.

By comparison I offer the other end of the H&S spectrum as seen in Kenya.




 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Not much choice down under. It's 24 hours in a car or 24 hours in a plane to get away!

We always book directly with Emirat__ simply because we get a real person! It might cost a bit more but we could not be stuffed mucking around.

Click image to enlarge

I feel as a society we should in these situation be suing the police force for holding peple on motorways when it is not needed. All motor vehicles (apart from motor bicycles) are required to have a reverse gear. The police force are (supposed to be) public servants and should be serving the interests of the public. Everyone can spread it - Anyone can catch it. Stay home - the life you save can be your own!

as the old joke goes ........ if you see two lamps heading towards you at night, don't assume its a car, it could be two mopeds carrying a wardrobe.

Irrespective of full refund you can claim the tax back from the tickets, there is a large percentage of tax in all air fares, despite what any disclaimers are if you don't fly you don't pay the tax. Some taxes are made up by the airline and some are airport and landing fees. my PC is slightly to the right of Genghis
2012 HSE SD4 In Orkney Grey now gone, best car ever.

Navigator wrote:

I feel as a society we should in these situation be suing the police force for holding peple on motorways when it is not needed. All motor vehicles (apart from motor bicycles) are required to have a reverse gear. The police force are (supposed to be) public servants and should be serving the interests of the public.

tenet wrote:

Sound advice Doc, whenever we used to travel overseas the hotel option was good. These days I can't be arsed given the problems associated at airports and much prefer good old Blighty for our hols

Edit - being retired every days a holiday

Good advice

Another telling tale in today's Telegraph - couple taking a holiday to SA with kids were refused travel at passport control because the children didn't have full birth certificates.

As I said above, Blighty (and Ireland) for me . MY 09 GS manual in Lago Grey, Wood Co arm rest and side bumper strips - now sold.

MY 15 SD4 SE Auto Orkney Grey with colour coded Bumper Door Mouldings

[quote="JulesK"]

tenet wrote:

Starting with the Lakes next year as always wanted to visit Shap as I keep seeing it on route to Scotland and wonder whats there.

Nowt

[quote="JulesK"]

tenet wrote:

always wanted to visit Shap as I keep seeing it on route to Scotland and wonder whats there.

I suggest you give Shap a miss, one big noisy quarry and Not too far though to get to Ullswater where you will find more and even more tourists. Welcome to the Lake District where all the pubs are now run by EU backpackers. FL2 MY10 TD4 GS traded in at 2 years
FL2 MY13 TD4 GS Current