Booking backup flights to Europe

[Daveller]

Sorry for asking a dumb question… Is it possible to ask EK to book back up flights for us?

 

[MELso]

Sorry for asking a dumb question… Is it possible to ask EK to book back up flights for us?

Negatory, squire. EK is only refunding bookings up to 31 March (EDIT - now 15 April). After that, everything's going to be peachy, apparently... Booking flights on other airlines is not something EK is in the habit of doing.

FWIW, I've caved and booked MEL-SIN on QF and CDG-HKG-MEL on AF and CX for mid-May and mid-June as classic rewards for 3 people as well as a (pricy, fee-free) fully refundable SIN-LHR-BCN cash fare on BA. Not a great use of points by traditional metrics but they do ensure that my planned May trip to Spain and France goes ahead. Hopefully, I won't need these flights though, and in these circumstances 6000 points per person as a cancellation fee is reasonable to give me peace of mind...

 

[clifford]

I'm looking at the reverse, backup flights FROM Europe.

I have a trip booked to AMS in May on TK, so outbound should be OK. Unfortunately, the return is via DXB, so this probably won't happen.

So I'm looking for alternatives from Europe in J or PE. The China Eastern flights via Xian are looking quite interesting at the moment.

But it's a matter of waiting and seeing. The only sensible option may be canceling for refund. Let's see.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm looking at the reverse, backup flights FROM Europe.

I have a trip booked to AMS in May on TK, so outbound should be OK. Unfortunately, the return is via DXB, so this probably won't happen.

So I'm looking for alternatives from Europe in J or PE. The China Eastern flights via Xian are looking quite interesting at the moment.

But it's a matter of waiting and seeing. The only sensible option may be canceling for refund. Let's see.

‘Not going to happen’ as in the flight will get cancelled, or ‘not going to happen’ as in you wouldn’t fly even if it was going?

 

[OATEK]

With events still creating huge uncertainty, we have booked a back-up alternative to our EK SIN-LGW-SIN journey in J for August/September.

We have booked SQ PE for SIN-LHR-SIN as a safer but less comfortable option.

All the bookings are refundable, less a small fee so if things improve in June/July we may elect to continue with EK. Time will tell.

 

[Port Power]

In the second half of last year, during a DSC promotion, I booked PER-LHR departing late June 2026, returning CDG-PER mid-August. All QF metal because of the DSC promotion. Whew! I now have no concerns at all that these flights will go ahead as planned, albeit via SIN to LHR due to the longer flight path. I did a dummy booking yesterday for the same route. The J price flying EK to LHR is still much the same as I paid last year. Of course, that is still a "pot luck" flight which may or may not go ahead. For the QF direct flight, the price was an additional $5,500 or so!! You pay for certainty.

 

[Vic]

It’s an aircraft carrier (or two).

Considering the US has not operated battleships since perhaps about 1991 when the Missouri went on it's farewell voyage.

 

[Vic]

I have a backup with Qantas SYD-YVR-LHR-xVIE-DXB-SYD. Return operated by Emrates Arrives back to Sydney on the Sunday morning, so could still make the birthday.
Having trouble deciding:

Used my back up last week. The flight from Vienna to Dubai was amazing. I was in the front section of an A380, economy, with 9 other people in 76 seats. Route was via Greece, over Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Operating aircraft was 3 hours late getting to Vienna.

Dubai Sydney was about 70% full - fair number of spare seats, but not free for all. Obviously moving Brisbane and other pax onto flights to SYD and MEL.

4 phone alerts in dubai about missiles.

I'm not sure it's worth while avoiding the ME airlines based on my experience.

 

[luckypierre]

We booked back up flights early on SIN to LHR return on fully refundable Swiss Airlines with a combination of LH PE outgoing and LX J return. It was only a few hundred SGD extra for fully refundable. Now, if purchasing similar tickets today, the refundable flex fares have a cancellation fee of 1000 SGD for PE and 1500 SGD for J. And I'm not sure those fees may apply for both directions. Times are certainly getting tough !!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

We booked back up flights early on SIN to LHR return on fully refundable Swiss Airlines with a combination of LH PE outgoing and LX J return. It was only a few hundred SGD extra for fully refundable. Now, if purchasing similar tickets today, the refundable flex fares have a cancellation fee of 1000 SGD for PE and 1500 SGD for J. And I'm not sure those fees may apply for both directions. Times are certainly getting tough !!

Yup!

I posted that in another thread… LX/LH are introducing these fees in some markets because people are booking them as back-ups, and cancelling in the event their ME airline is still flying.

Fair enough as those airlines must have been losing $$ in lost revenue and catering and everything else to people doing that.