Almeria 2010

[ladyrunner]

Monarch only do a lunchtime flight back from Malaga so this is no good

Can anyone think of anyone else that we can try?

[Antonio247]

Well, I think that the organisers don´t want to do the 10 km this year to avoid the failure of another false start.

I understand SP if he was interested in doing the 10 km again. It happens to me with the Connemara ultra marathon. I should have entered the half many days ago but I wasn´t sure, I could go so I didn´t. Now, I could enter the ultra although I know that it would be really hard for me to do it under 7 hours thirty minutes. However, I´m thinking of taking the challenge and try to do it or as long and as far as I can or I´m allowed to. In fact, I sent an email to the organisers and they told me that if I had to leave before getting to the finish, a sweeping bus would pick me up and they thought that if I asked for the finisher´s T-shirt, I would probably get one. Sorry about my Connemara worries.

Anyway, SP, In think that you can do Almería half marathon easily and it would even be good as a training for Connemara half or do just one loop.

Best of luck with the return flight as well.

FELIZ NAVIDAD HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Antonio

PS. SP, if you want me to translate your email of protest to the organisation, I´ll be glad to help you. Just send it to me.

[Sweder]

I've no news to impart on return options other than to say we should book something this week to avoid additional cost and ensure availability. Options appear to be earlier flight on Easyjet (which might be best if we can't easily get a refund) or (my preference) Aer Lingus which would mean out & back wth the same carrier.

Update from Gillybean is she's decided not to come along this time after all.
I've not seen MSilv so no idea if she plans to come or not.

[El Gordo]

I also prefer the idea of the later Aer Lingus flight rather than a much earlier one. I'd be very surprised and annoyed not to get a full refund. If the alternative they offer is unacceptable (because of some commitment we have, nudge nudge) then I don't see how they can avoid refunding a flight that they cancelled for non-emergency reasons.

I'll try calling them tomorrow. Remember that other people will be similarly rebooking flights back, so we shouldn't leave this much longer.

[Antonio247]

I also prefer the idea of the later Aer Lingus flight rather than a much earlier one. I'd be very surprised and annoyed not to get a full refund. If the alternative they offer is unacceptable (because of some commitment we have, nudge nudge) then I don't see how they can avoid refunding a flight that they cancelled for non-emergency reasons.

I'll try calling them tomorrow. Remember that other people will be similarly rebooking flights back, so we shouldn't leave this much longer.

I can´t understand this situation. The company cancels a flight, probably because they think it is not profitable, and they don´t send you an email apologising and telling you that you can change for any other of their flights you want to or take the refund, or suggest you book another flight to the same destination on the same day with another company and it will be paid by them. It´s really frustrating!

Best of luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR FELIZ AÑO NUEVO

[El Gordo]

1) It seems that we are entitled to a full refund from EasyJet:

You have to complete and submit a form:

http://easyjet.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/easy...er/ask.php (Make sure you choose the option "My flight was cancelled, I need a refund".)

You don't get instant confirmation that you'll get a full refund, never mind the actual cash, but at least I've logged the request.

2) I've booked on the Aer Lingus flight :

AER LINGUS EI907
Malaga 21:25 Tue 02 Feb 2010
London/Gatwick 23:10 Tue 02 Feb 2010

I went through the Aer Lingus website and got the flight for 34.99 euros which comes out at about £32.50. This is for no checked bags. Note -- you can get it for a couple of pounds cheaper at Opodo but given the small saving, I prefer to use the Aer Lingus site as you can go back and reserve your seat if you want, and make changes without any hassle. Trust me, it's better.

I don't mind the change really. I nearly booked this flight first time round because it's so much nicer travelling AL than EJ. It was only the inconvenience of the later time that put me off.

So, please do the same!

EG

Edited PS -- Thanks again to LR for noticing this change. To be honest, the cancellation isn't very clear even now, so I may well have not seen it even if I'd gone to check that the booking was still OK! It's saved us a lot of potential grief nearer to the time.

[Sweder]

Will do soon as I'm home. Out shopping with Mrs S after a lovely seafront cafe fry-up & blustery stroll in the shadow of Roedean school (a propos of recent twitterage with Tom )

[El Gordo]

For anyone struggling to complete the Almeria entry form...

Firstly, check out Anlu's earlier message: http://www.runningcommentary.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1740&pid=18401#pid18401

Next, read what Sweder wrote a couple of years ago:

-----------
As in previous years there are some anomolies on the registration form for overseas (UK) participants.

1) A couple of boxes require answers in local (Spanish) format. These are the postcode box - Codigal Postal - (which does not accept letters) and the Lic. federativa No. box. In both cases I used a made-up number - 71177. This worked. To be sure that anything posted gets to me I included my UK post code with my county (in the Provincia box).

2) Telephone numbers can only be 9 characters long. This procludes use of UK numbers but you do need to put a number in, so I lopped off a couple of digits to make the numbers fit.

If paying by credit card select the Tajeta Crédito - ON LINE option in the last drop-down box. This takes you to a fairly simple online payment page.

NB: If you don't have your own championchip a final screen pops up warning you that you are responsible for the chip if you lose it and that you should return it to the authorities after the race. There was a chip collection point in the tented area after the finish this year.
----------------------------------------------------------

In addition, remember to click the dropdown boxes and select "NO" to all the questions about whether you are in the army/at the University etc. It's not enough to leave the answer as a dash. (Not that I necessarily made that error myself of course )

EG

[Sweder]

Booked in with Aer Lingus Tuesday pm flight & EJ refund applied for (not holding my breath on that one).
Next up, car rental. Need to re-confirm who else is traveling with us via Malaga so will wait to see who else re-books on this flight before posting suggestions for vehicle hire.

[El Gordo]

Booked in with Aer Lingus Tuesday pm flight & EJ refund applied for (not holding my breath on that one).
Next up, car rental. Need to re-confirm who else is traveling with us via Malaga so will wait to see who else re-books on this flight before posting suggestions for vehicle hire.

I'm pretty confident about the EJ refund. The Ts and Cs are a little fuzzy but the gist seems to be that if the flight is cancelled by them we are entitled to a full refund -- if we don't accept their alternative offer. That's how I read it, anyhow.

[ladyrunner]

Booked in with Aer Lingus Tuesday pm flight & EJ refund applied for (not holding my breath on that one).
Next up, car rental. Need to re-confirm who else is traveling with us via Malaga so will wait to see who else re-books on this flight before posting suggestions for vehicle hire.

I will do the AL pm flight tomorrow and also sort Simon's out. Tracy is not flying home with us.

How did you do the EJ refund - telephone or internet??

Happy New Year all - may see you for the Brighton Hangover run tomorrow, as am not going to the Worthing Hangover run now. Depends on how I'm feeling in the morning. Will be taking it easy though as got big XC race on Saturday!!

Julie

[ladyrunner]

Sorry just seen EG's instructions on how to get a EJ refund!!

[ladyrunner]

Edited PS -- Thanks again to LR for noticing this change. To be honest, the cancellation isn't very clear even now, so I may well have not seen it even if I'd gone to check that the booking was still OK! It's saved us a lot of potential grief nearer to the time.

The least I would have expected was an email from EJ to say that our flight had been cancelled. It could have been a very expensive flight home had we turned up at malaga airport for our flight only then to be told that the flight was cancelled.

So Simon and I are now booked on this return flight:-
AER LINGUS EI907
Malaga 21:25 Tue 02 Feb 2010
London/Gatwick 23:10 Tue 02 Feb 2010

Tracy is staying on in Malaga to visit her mum so not flying back with us ..... And refund has been applied for from Easyjet.

Fingers crossed no more cancellations. Next car hire when everyone has confirmed.

Hope you all have a good day for the first day of 2010 and enjoy your first run of the year. My first run of 2010 will be tomorrow as I am saving my legs for the cross country at Stanmer Park. It is going to be extremely muddy so lots more washing of dirty kit and shoes is expected.

Julie

[El Gordo]

The least I would have expected was an email from EJ to say that our flight had been cancelled. It could have been a very expensive flight home had we turned up at malaga airport for our flight only then to be told that the flight was cancelled.

If I read the Ts and Cs correctly (highly unlikely), they are obliged to inform passengers at least 2 weeks before the flight, so technically they are still in the right as long as they tell us before mid-Jan. But even if they do, I can't see any reason not to tell us immediately they cancelled, so I'm I'm not happy about it either.

There again, as said previously, AL are a much nicer to fly with, and actually feel like a proper airline. We may even get food and drink! You can go back in and book your actual seat if you wish, though this will cost you £5.

[ladyrunner]

I have received a text from MSilv to say that she has booked her outward and return flights with Aer Lingus.

If we can get a 3 person room us 3 girls can share together.

Julie

[Antonio247]

I have received a text from MSilv to say that she has booked her outward and return flights with Aer Lingus.

If we can get a 3 person room us 3 girls can share together.

Julie

I think there´s no problem since last year there were rooms occupied by three people but I´ll check it.

Saludos desde Almería

Antonio

[Antonio247]

I have received a text from MSilv to say that she has booked her outward and return flights with Aer Lingus.

If we can get a 3 person room us 3 girls can share together.

Julie

I think there´s no problem since last year there were rooms occupied by three people but I´ll check it.

Saludos desde Almería

Antonio

It has just been confirmed that there´s no problem. The room for three people at the same price, that is, 50 € + 7% VAT.

[ladyrunner]

It has just been confirmed that there´s no problem. The room for three people at the same price, that is, 50 € + 7% VAT.

Thank you for checking and confirming Antonio.

Speak soon,

Julie

[Antonio247]

It has just been confirmed that there´s no problem. The room for three people at the same price, that is, 50 € + 7% VAT.

Thank you for checking and confirming Antonio.


You´re welcome, Julie.

Looking forward to meeting you all here.







Speak soon,

Julie

[ladyrunner]

Received an email today from Easyjet notifying me of the cancelled flight on 2nd Feb. Was re-directed to their website where I got the option of a full refund or a transfer flight. Obviously chose the refund option.

Have you guys received the same yet from them??

Julie