Blog: Exactly seven days after the first flights were cancelled it is now a tale of two very different stranded Brits here in Spain – those who hit the road to get home and those who opted to sit it out, writes Tracey O’Sullivan.

And the closer it gets for those who decided to stay put to get on what still seems like an elusive flight to Britain, the more nervous and pained the faces become.

They know they took a gamble earlier in the week and are now sincerely hoping it will pay off.

We are among them. We have once again rebooked our flights home along with hundreds of others. We are all hoping our presence at Malaga Airport will ensure that the reassurances from airline staff don’t prove to be empty promises.

Families have really reached the end of the line in terms of compensation, with the policy adopted by different airlines changing by the day.

One couple confirming their Easyjet booking today for a Saturday flight said they had also booked a ferry crossing on Sunday and internal flights from Malaga to Bilboa — at a cost of £1,000 plus — with no suggestion they will get a refund on that alternative should their flight go ahead.

Stranded since last Thursday they simply can’t stay any longer and like many have little faith in air travel at the moment.

As we departed they bid a cheery “see you at the airport on Saturday” because people are really trying to continue to be hopeful even in such strained circumstances.

The emtional tension is increased by more and more stories filtering back from those who did try to get home without the aid of flight.
Sophie Liesel-Baxter and her mother Carrie starting driving home on Monday with no idea what they were facing and with no ferry booking.

They eventually made it in the early hours of yesterday morning. It was a desperate dash as promising young singer Sophie has recently been signed to a new girl band Finesse and she had promotional work to do in Manchester and Leeds. Her mother said they just didn’t want her to miss such an opportunity while stranded in Spain.

It may have been seen as both crazy and brave by some, but the plain fact is they are now home safe and sound.

Earlier in the week we joined couples in a internet cafe here in Nerja  as they all desperately tried to get as much information as possible and find a way home.

We are still waiting to hear if Jon and Denise White, who is 25 weeks pregnant, made it back to Plymouth after their decision to head for Roscoff in a hire car with another couple they met here only days before.

Meanwhile Chris and Jody Ashworth are still here with their daughter, 11-month-old Bali.

Their flight was cancelled on Tuesday but they have had to cancel their return flights with Easyjet and change to Ryanair in a bid to get out before May 3.

They have been promised seats on a flight on Tuesday but are equally as worried that they will definitely get home by then.

“It’s an anxious time because we really need to get back on Tuesday and cannot stay any longer,” said Jody.

“All we are hoping is that much of the backlog will be cleared by then and things will be running much smoother. We hope that will be the case but we don’t know. Each day you dread a change in the situation and dare not hope too much in case something happens.”

Because the closer it comes to getting home the more nervous and anxious we, the ones who stayed, are feeling.

We know that our gamble has meant we have been stranded long enough and we really can’t afford the extra time it would now take to switch to a plan B.

All we can hope is that we do see that family at the airport on Saturday night and fairly soon after bid them a very fond farewell.