My dilemma is that a flight was booked for Saturday. I may hear certain siren calls from my friends stating that the ash cloud will lift and the restrictions will ease. Not really helping, guys!
With desperate crowds spending their savings on trying to get home, and cursing the one-eyed Jonah for his misdirection to Santander, I cannot see why airlines will allow new passengers priority over those stranded on the first flights home. You have a convergence of interest here, if the restrictions ease:
Stranded passengers who want to go home and,
Fretful holidaymakers who would prefer to stay home until they can be sure that a return trip is not subject to cancellation.
So, if we are up and flying again on Saturday (a big if), I suggest a temporary scheme so that those who are booked have the chance to postpone in favour of those who need to return home. I am sure there are difficulties but they can be ironed out.