Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[justinbrett]

Apparently, the Iranians see Azerbaijan as a bit of an Israeli? or US? puppet.

View attachment 499605

They're firing at their closest ally Qatar so all a bit of a moot point.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Apparently, the Iranians see Azerbaijan as a bit of an Israeli? or US? puppet.

The USA was involved in a peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia involving an Azeri corridor through Armenia which Iran opposed. Azerbaijan has since joined the US led Board of Peace.

Here is some Youtube footage of drone hits near and on Nakhchivan airport terminal. Doesn't look like a lot of damage.

 

[jase05]

Apparently, the Iranians see Azerbaijan as a bit of an Israeli? or US? puppet.

We have travelled to Azerbaijan and even though they are Muslim you would hardly know it.
Azerbaijan has good relationships with the Gulf countries, Turkey, Israel and the US and Iran backed Armenia in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. It’s a real weird setup.

 

[lovestotravel]

Random aircraft everywhere filling up, including routes you may not think of like JQ SYD-ICN

My upcoming MEL-ICN went from half full to fully booked in a few days

Can't wait for it in Y

 

[Seat0B]

So....

G'day from Dubai! Here with my wife and 13 month old. Landed here Friday morning and meant to fly to Maldives on Monday.

Saw the war started Saturday morning and was keeping an eye on it on X but wasn't concerned because we are in the UAE not Qatar or Israel. Mid morning we were at the beach and there was a huge thunder clap above us which turned out to be the first drone intercepted directly above our heads. Strikes were escalating during the day and then really kicked off at sunset. We were at the Ritz-Carlton in JBR and were getting intercepts directly above our resort more and more often. Came to a head around 7pm after sunset when there were multiple drone intercepts above the alfresco restaurant at the resort where we were eating and a firey ballistic missile falling into the ocean just off the coast. Everyone was rushed inside and then shortly after the restaurant was closed. This was the same time the Fairmont got hit. For next 2 days we were basically confined to our rooms. We got phone alerts and were smashed all that night, a fair bit the next day and sunset again on Sunday night. Managed to gain some courage and take the baby out on Monday morning to some play equipment in the resort grounds as he was getting stir crazy and needed to get out. Unfortunately for the first time in around 15 hours we had 3 intercepts directly over our heads at fairly low level, had to grab the baby and run for cover.

I've got photos and videos of drones being intercepted, missiles falling from the sky, F16's flying at low altitude with full air to air payloads. The intercepts are so close you can feel the percussion in your chest and taste/smell the remnants. It was insane, we've moved hotels and now there is a lot less strikes. We're all a bit shook up, any bassy noise is getting us jumpy and the bub is clearly concerned. Haven't really slept since Saturday night so if this post makes no sense, don't blame me.

Flights have been delayed and delayed and now we are just trying to get back to Perth, were booked on EK420 on the 7th but that has been cancelled. Still getting over 100 drones a day being intercepted so I can't see it getting back into swing of things for a while. We are registered on DFAT crisis but I don't think they know what to do with this many people.

Oh, and on the UAE is paying for hotels, that's incorrect reporting, Abu Dhabi is footing the bill, in Dubai people are just on fixed rates, so at the moment we are coping the hotel costs and as others have mentioned no insurance because of war. We are ok but others are clearly running into financial difficulties.

Fingers crossed we can get home sometime soon, getting out of UAE airspace is going to be the biggest sigh of relief

Thanks for posting your experiences and I hope you get home soon. It sounds very stressful.

 

[Himeno]

is TI covering any of it?

I got this today from the travel insurance covering the trip I got home from yesterday.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I got this today from the travel insurance covering the trip I got home from yesterday.
View attachment 499606

Yeah… most policies will automatically extend if you are delayed returning due to insured events, or in this case, a delay retiring due to circumstances beyond your control. But in this case it’s likely to mean medical cover only, and loss of luggage, etc. It’s prolly not going to cover additional hotel expenses or flights home, etc

As mentioned in another thread, anyone currently holding tickets to return to Australia from the UK or Europe will be covered for re-routing by UK/EU261. That’s a legal requirement, and the rerouting can be on another carrier. That only kicks in once the flight is cancelled. No financial compensation for delays, but you also get duty of care, which includes accommodation and meals.

For those regions it’s picks up a big chunk of any potential insurance claims.

 

[lovestotravel]

Emirates - Now up to 31 March...

Customer advisory

Customers booked to travel between 28 February until and including 31 March have these options:

• Rebook on an alternate flight. You can rebook on another flight to your intended destination for travel on or before 30 April. If you booked your flight with a travel agent, you must contact them. If you booked with us directly, contact us.
• Request for refund. You can request for a refund of your ticket by completing the refund form if you booked with us directly. If you booked your flights with a travel agent, please contact them.

I need them to extend this a few more weeks, as I have flights from LHR-DXB-MLE as well which we are now not doing... Cancel fees are quite high so I'm hoping they extend the waiver now

 

[SCM]

Does anyone know what's happening in terms of ME3 covering local hotel costs? For example under eu261, they need to pay for accommodation and food and are obliged to reroute customers even on other airlines.

How has this been facilitated? Do they book hotels for people in Europe or do they accept invoices?

 

[LondonAussie]

Normally for UK/EU261 meal and accomodation claims you keep receipts and upload them to the airline for reimbursement, though sometimes the airline will book the hotel for you

I once had a BA flight from Marseille to London cancelled, asked them to rebook me on the flight from Lyon in a few hours time and took the high speed train there. Sent the train fare receipt to BA, plus a meal, and they paid it into my bank account a few days later.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Normally for UK/EU261 meal and accomodation claims you keep receipts and upload them to the airline for reimbursement, though sometimes the airline will book the hotel for you

With a caveat that those expenses should be ‘reasonable’

 

[SimonR32]

Another fun night in Dubai, missile alerts went off on mobiles around 8pm. Everyone scared and running to find loved ones. Nothing passed in Dubai but looks like Abu Dhabi had some intercepts. Was booked for the 7th, then the 15th, managed to get a flight for the 10th now... others meant to be flying out tonight, don't know how keen I'd be with missile strikes and FF incidents

 

[IrishPete]

Yeah… most policies will automatically extend if you are delayed returning due to insured events, or in this case, a delay retiring due to circumstances beyond your control. But in this case it’s likely to mean medical cover only, and loss of luggage, etc. It’s prolly not going to cover additional hotel expenses or flights home, etc

As mentioned in another thread, anyone currently holding tickets to return to Australia from the UK or Europe will be covered for re-routing by UK/EU261. That’s a legal requirement, and the rerouting can be on another carrier. That only kicks in once the flight is cancelled. No financial compensation for delays, but you also get duty of care, which includes accommodation and meals.

For those regions it’s picks up a big chunk of any potential insurance claims.

Media in the UK has said that the EU rules do not apply, because of the scale of the event.

I personally think it's absurd that travel insurance doesn't cover this situation. It's a big saving for insurers...

 

[jrfsp]

I wonder if carriers like SQ will try and add extra capacity into AU, in some ways not adding capacity only increases their yield anyway win win.

 

[JessicaTam]

Does anyone know what's happening in terms of ME3 covering local hotel costs? For example under eu261, they need to pay for accommodation and food and are obliged to reroute customers even on other airlines.

How has this been facilitated? Do they book hotels for people in Europe or do they accept invoices?

The regulations cover any flight/journey originating in EU/UK.

By journey I mean a continuous connection of flights from EU/UK to destination without stopovers. Eg QF LHR-SIN-MEL and QR CDG-DOH-SYD are covered.

Apologies for the lack of correct terminology.

 

[Tiki]

Oman Air is adding a lot of flights. I’m feeling more confident about next week, my booked flights will operate. From what I can see life in Muscat and Nizwa is pretty normal.

 

[serfty]

Media in the UK has said that the EU rules do not apply, because of the scale of the event.

I personally think it's absurd that travel insurance doesn't cover this situation. It's a big saving for insurers...

In relation to EU/UK 241/2004, "Compensation" rules do not apply as per "Extraordinary Circumstances".

Duty of care rules do apply, irrespective of the cause of disruption.

 

[AuSammy]

 

[AuSammy]

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I personally think it's absurd that travel insurance doesn't cover this situation. It's a big saving for insurers...

The cost of premiums would be too high

We all purchase policies knowing it doesn’t cover war.