Hi all,
Stuck in Sydney at the moment as our flight to NZ got cancelled due to the south american ash cloud.
Should have flown yesurday morning, arrived Sydney to find flight cancelled so we got taken to a hotel for a much needed rest. (youngest son was sick all the way from heathrow to sydney)
Got re-booked to fly this evening but found out flight also cancelled. Now re-booked for tom evening and hoping for the best as Bella dog arrives in Wellington on the 16th.
Really hope she makes it ok and does not get stranded in LA or Auckland. She is flying Air NZ and they are still operating, we are Qantas and they are not. Mild panic setting in as to what to do if we are cancelled again and therefore not there to pick her up. More panic about her being neglected if she is stuck somewhere.
Nothing we can do really just hope for the best. It's raining in Sydney so not a great day for siteseeing but hotel bordem is setting in.
On the positive side the hotel is provided along with meals and it is a very nice hotel.
Wish us luck and karma pls
Kaz

Karma heading your way........... and much luck as well, and i can imagine why you are worried about Bella dog, i'm sure that the people who are flying her to NZ will have plans to make sure she is ok. It's a pity you aren't down here in Melbourne the weather is a bit on the cold side but it's not raining, hope you get on your flight soon

Tina

Both my parents fyling at 6.15 a.m tomorrow. (to Sydney by Qantas) - Now I am making a phone call to find out what the hell is happening.... been waiting for 25 minutes...

My dad sounds MAD but now hes sleeping... They MUST go tomorrow.

so stressing...

[QUOTE=crap coffee;9431487]Both my parents fyling at 6.15 a.m tomorrow. (to Sydney by Qantas) - Now I am making a phone call to find out what the hell is happening.... been waiting for 25 minutes...

My dad sounds MAD but now hes sleeping... They MUST go tomorrow.

so stressing...[/QUOTE

Hope they get on the flight. It took us 1.30 minutes to get through this morning. You can check on line at qantas.com
I just have and ours for tom leaving Sydney says estimated (whatever that means) but at least not cancelled like the morning flight. It looks like everything is cancelled from sydney until lunchtime.
good luck
Kaz

[QUOTE=babybella;9431943] Hi I hope you feel ok now and had a good rest at the hotel at least..... Its hard isn't it.... Sorry to hear your child is sick.. hope things gets sort out soon so that you can leave the sick place....

my parents... still mad....

you know what....6.15 a.m flight obviously cancelled but they just gone to airport now.. (My parents, my brother & his wife with a crying screaming baby .. its nitemare...) they do know they can't go but they fear - could be trouble if they don't turn up at all in case... For us it takes nearly two hours driving to get to the airport - its SOOOOOOOOOOOOO ANNOYING. am sure they will come back home again in a few hours. haha.... think my dad won't fly with Qantas again!

2hrs Albany to AKL???

for their flight...

yes, We leave home at least 3 hours before. and when the traffic is bad it does take 2 hours.

We are in rural. so expensive to get to the airport.

Fingers crossed for you but don't worry too much about Bella, we were really worried about Harvey as he isn't a confident dog either, his flight was 3 hours late in the end due to delays at LA so he was about 30 odd hours in the crate and he was just fine apart from being a little thin but he was thin before he flew.

As soon as they arrive in auckland the MAF team let them out for toilet and a run around, they all apparently quite liked our boy and he behaved well for them. n the end we didn't actually get reunited until 11am after Si first went to the airport at 6am as the MAF processes were lengthy. Harv got a wee bit stressy when he saw us and clicked we were there but he coped with the 6 hour car journey that followed. Did take a couple or 3 days for him to properly settle and he was clingy but he is more than back to his old self now 3 weeks on. Dogs do suffer jetlag too though. Just remember plenty of water and a little food, not too much or it will go straight through when you do get reunited.

Hope you make the flight tonight, haven't looked at the updates but seems just like Iceland all over again

Animates in wellington is quite a good shop for dog food etc too when you land if you are going to be near city centre...

Hi,
Our flight today cancelled again. Can't get through on the phone so am now heading out on the airport shuttle to try and book something else. They are now saying the backlog could run over into the weekend.
Hubby's dad has just said he can collect doggy Bella but can't have her at his appartment so trying to arrange for a friend to take her.
Feeling really fed up now as we have been here since Monday. More and more people keep arriving at the hotel.
Hotel won't extend our stay until confermation from Qantas but nobody can get through on the phone. Hence going to airport but leaving hubby and one son in our rooms. I am not giving up the room till we are confirmed on a flight.
Other people that did give up there room could not get back in.
Wish us luck
Kaz

Sounds horrendous but good news that you have people here to sort Bella out, hope all is on the up soon, shame you can't even enjoy Sydney for a couple of days, if no flights a trip to the city might need to be in order for Krispy Kremes if nothing else....

Manged to get us transfered on an Air NZ flight this evening. Got put up at the Marriot habour side last night. Fab rooms with views of the opera house. Must be costing Qantas a fortune.
Got Bella sorted out with father in law collecting her and a friend looking after her until we get there.
Hope the flight all goes smoothly on time.
Kaz