Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[Princess Fiona]

Out of interest does ones travel insurance become totally invalid if you pass thru a Do Not Travel zone for just 24hours or so.
Or is it only invalid for that 24hours or so that you are passing that particular do not travel area / country?
As once your at your final destination say in Europe then the TI is valid?

From my limited understanding it doesn’t cover the transit or disruptions related to the ME transit but everything else is ok.

My daughter and her partner are on the way to Europe via DOH this weekend.

 

[SYD]

Out of interest does ones travel insurance become totally invalid if you pass thru a Do Not Travel zone for just 24hours or so.
Or is it only invalid for that 24hours or so that you are passing that particular do not travel area / country?
As once your at your final destination say in Europe then the TI is valid?

TI won’t cover “transits” while there’s a “Do NOT travel” warning.

I was just reading an article on that but now can’t find it to post the link…

 

[Quickstatus]

TI won’t cover “transits” while there’s a “Do NOT travel” warning.

Yes only the part relating to the transit. Medical insurance would be covered.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yes only the part relating to the transit. Medical insurance would be covered.

not sure that medical while in transit would be covered? Especially if you had to be flown out of repatriated.

There is a separate thread here on AFF on the topic of insurance and DNT.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was talking to my Travel Agent on Friday on the topic of ME.

* Strong bias to new bookings on Emirates over Qatar

* Emirates having many schedule changes - making TA life hell (also EY and QR, but esp EK for them)

Their corporate deal QR pricing getting very sharp! I don't need flights until outside the current booking window .

not sure that medical while in transit would be covered? Especially if you had to be flown out of repatriated.

FWIW: TA said they had been having a number of insurers in. They say claims not related to 'act of war' (ie AoW = being hurt by a bombing) - breaking a leg etc - are generally being honoured. But they would say that, wouldn't they.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

.



FWIW: TA said they had been having a number of insurers in. They say claims not related to 'act of war' (ie AoW = being hurt by a bombing) - breaking a leg etc - are generally being honoured. But they would say that, wouldn't they.

That’s an interesting one.

im thinking there is probably some clause in the PDS which says something like no agent has the authority to vary the terms of the PDS? (There’s similar wording in airline contracts of carriage.)

So I’d want to see an official written statement on that.

But the likelihood of anything going wrong in transit for most people would be small.

Breaking a leg - or other injury - during an airport transit would potentially be covered under the Montreal Convention, which means the insurance company wouldn’t be liable anyway! (Or if not the Montreal convention then public liability in some cases.)

 

[Tiki]

not sure that medical while in transit would be covered? Especially if you had to be flown out of repatriated.

There is a separate thread here on AFF on the topic of insurance and DNT.

I would think hospitals in DOH/AUH/DXB are well equipped to deal with any medical emergency. The worry would be who pays for it?

Have the ME3 been giving hotel accommodation if their flights are delayed or csancelled?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would think hospitals in DOH/AUH/DXB are well equipped to deal with any medical emergency. The worry would be who pays for it?

Have the ME3 been giving hotel accommodation if their flights are delayed or csancelled?

Who pays, yes. But also if it was a long term recovery they might want to medivac you back home to australia rather than leave you in the ME for example. That may not be covered.

Dunno about hotel costs. They were covering them at the start. Not sure what the current situation is. Airport closures have been in the matter of hours? So maybe they want to get the flight away as quick as possible. Alternatively, i guess it’s a case of self insurance.

 

[kelvedon]

Out of interest does ones travel insurance become totally invalid if you pass thru a Do Not Travel zone for just 24hours or so.
Or is it only invalid for that 24hours or so that you are passing that particular do not travel area / country?
As once your at your final destination say in Europe then the TI is valid?

I’d have thought you’d still be covered for the rest. In a similar manner to not declaring a pre existing condition, your still covered for illnesses that are not linked to that pre existing condition

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I’d have thought you’d still be covered for the rest. In a similar manner to not declaring a pre existing condition, your still covered for illnesses that are not linked to that pre existing condition

Correct.

 

[equus]

TI won’t cover “transits” while there’s a “Do NOT travel” warning

Another hypothetical to think about. No transit planned at all, but aircraft diverts to a "Do Not Travel" destination. What happends to coverage then? (A bit like the 6 month validity requirements for a passport for some countries but not others - if you don't need the 6 months for your intended destination, doesn't mean you might not need/want it for an unexpected diversion / delay. That one did happen to me - and I guessed right by renewing just in case).

 

[Quickstatus]

No transit planned at all, but aircraft diverts to a "Do Not Travel" destination. What happends to coverage then?

I think this woud be covered because the traveller did not "intend to" or "plan to" travel to the country with a DNT advice.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think this woud be covered because the traveller did not "intend to" or "plan to" travel to the country with a DNT advice.

That’s right.

Insurance is there to cover unplanned and unforeseen events.

Same as the passport requirement… you’re not expected to have valid visas and ETAs for every country you fly over in case of a diversion. no k e would ever fly!

 

[stu961]

I was talking to my Travel Agent on Friday on the topic of ME.

* Strong bias to new bookings on Emirates over Qatar

* Emirates having many schedule changes - making TA life hell (also EY and QR, but esp EK for them)

Their corporate deal QR pricing getting very sharp! I don't need flights until outside the current booking window .



FWIW: TA said they had been having a number of insurers in. They say claims not related to 'act of war' (ie AoW = being hurt by a bombing) - breaking a leg etc - are generally being honoured. But they would say that, wouldn't they.

Just completed a SYD-DOH-MAD-ALC venture. Flight out of Sydney was full and Madrid leg was completely full. We were using our QCredits so only had enough for Biz Syd leg. On the Madrid leg ended up sitting next to a QR pilot (350-900 & 1000) and he was in the back with us because there was 0 biz seats available, even for him! He had a 2 month "holiday" but now back on full cycle.

 

[SYD]

Strange anomaly with a QR cancellation not offering a fee free refund.

We have an up coming (July) trip to Europe booked on QR, and fortunately we also have a Plan B on CX.

One of the QR sectors home was cancelled (IB codeshare) and we’ve been automatically placed on the QR operated flight (same timing).

The email notice about the change mentions the options to accept, change flights or cancel. We assumed it would be free cancellation but when clicking through, its showing a refund amount that’s the total fare less cancellation fee (as per the fare rules).

Does that sound right/wrong?

We still have the option to cancel to voucher with no fee.

We still haven’t cancelled our QR booking (for August) but received another notification of another cancellation / change. This time an AY codeshare DOH-HEL has been cancelled and we’ve been rebooked on QR metal leaving about 6 hrs earlier, so also rebooked on an earlier in bound QR flight. The timings are actually better but with the “Do not travel” advisory still in place, we’ll be taking the CX Plan B.

Anyway, this time when we click on “Cancel”, the systems says “We can’t calculate the refund amount. Cancel now and we will advise you of the amount in 7 days” or words to that effect! WTAF!…

Edit:
SYD+1 just called (actually got thru pretty quickly) and due to the significant schedule change, we’re entitled to a full refund. Cancelled and Cash in-bound - eventually.

Pity, the new flights / timings were much better than when we booked back in December…(but were probably much more expensive then)…

 

[LionKing]

View this content on Instagram

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I think it makes complete sense to downgrade Middle East Travel warnings, yet I am thankful being a dual citizen of multiple countries, I can access travel insurances to wherever I sees fit.

But my thoughts to Australians who do not, and I think this is pushing Asia fares skyrocket which prevents us from going home.

 

[AuSammy]

View this content on Instagram

View this content on Instagram

I think it makes complete sense to downgrade Middle East Travel warnings, yet I am thankful being a dual citizen of multiple countries, I can access travel insurances to wherever I sees fit.

But my thoughts to Australians who do not, and I think this is pushing Asia fares skyrocket which prevents us from going home.

Being a pedant - if you are Australian then Australia is your home. You do not need travel warnings changed to stay home.

 

[RooFlyer]

I think it makes complete sense to downgrade Middle East Travel warnings, yet I am thankful being a dual citizen of multiple countries, I can access travel insurances to wherever I sees fit.

So what does the Instagram thingy actually say?

 

[Melburnian1]

Going by 'Herald Sun' (Melbourne) and Channel 7 news today., the Federal Government's DFAT is unlikely to change its 'do not travel' warning for the ME any time soon.

For those using WY, Oman is only 'reconsider your need to travel'.

 

[elanshin]

So what does the Instagram thingy actually say?

In a nutshell:

Calls to downgrade the "Do not Travel" advisory for ME countries ahead of the summer travel season, so Aussies can access travel insurance for the region.

Government not convinced it should do so.