Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[OATEK]

I have no doubt that the ME3 will resume their full capacity after the Iranian thing has blown over. Might take a month or two but then again it may be like Covid, where there was such a surge of pent up demand of people who couldn’t fly because of the war that they might actually be at capacity almost immediately.

Besides the actual demand, as now, you can be sure the Airlines will be going all out to recover their market share such as pricing. Anyone who thinks those airlines are just going to stay down and take it staying down is simply fooling themselves, or wishful thinking.

Remember the ‘thinking’ that it’ll take a long time for flights to resume? The war is not even over and Emirates are resuming.

Blainey's tyrrany of distance is never more apparent than when international travel is disrupted. So many people I speak to do not trust flying through China, or the US. We have seen on these pages the perils of Japan. A certain wedding in South Africa could require travel via Ethiopa, which is in the middle of a war zone. I used to fly regularly with CX and AY over China and Russia, when China used to hold take-off clearances late at night for "operational reasons" (probably not an issue now that CX has bent the knee). So the number of "safe" routes is very limited.

My view is like yours, capacity will come back quickly, and so will passengers. In the interim all those EU vacationers who want a place in the sun and can't get to Dubai will bob up in Thailand and Bali which will get very busy if anyone is thinking that is an alternative.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Although by doing it himself @IrishPete found PE to SIN and then ScootBiz to SYD instead of his original Y all the way. As QR only need to rebook in the original fare class I would say that is a win.

Certainty and an upgrade!

If that’s the case then a much more comfortable ride and probably close to the cost in points originally paid! For some reason I had thought it was a business class booking to start with. (hiwever from the other thread, there are additional costs such as trying to add the SYD-CBR at the end).

IF you can get QR to do it though - It's a great theory but given the lack of other flights, not sure I'd want to be trying that.

My understanding, is that you can't just book yourself a flight/s and claim it back ?

that’s the thing… there are other flights out there. There’s availability tomorrow (Sunday) LHR-SYD on CX, SQ, and AI (relatively quick, straight-through connections), and longer flight times on UL, BA/CX and OZ.

You need to give the airline the opportunity to reroute you, which I dare say most people would be calling anyway of they find out their flight is cancelled? If the airline refuses to re-route (and you can get evidence of that from them) you can in theory then book your own flights and take action after… but that’s not a course of action I’d be taking lightly… who knows how long that would take for example.

 

[Drakecula]

Hey @IrishPete - what about Murrays bus to get from SYD to CBR? That's what we're doing.

 

[offshore171]

Trending the right way

Iran Missile launches during the first 8 days of conflict:

Ballistic Missiles:
Day 1 — 350
Day 2 — 175
Day 3 — 120
Day 4 — 50
Day 5 — 40
Day 6 — 32
Day 7 — 28
Day 8 — 15

Drone Swarms:
Day 1 — 294
Day 2 — 541
Day 3 — 200
Day 4 — 85
Day 5 — 45
Day 6 — 38
Day 7 — 30
Day 8 — 12

Source:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029779899943375344

and

https://twitter.com/x/status/2029826551605313890

 

[Rembrandt]

My attention now turns to Seat Daughter and her family’s flights to the wedding. They just told me that they were booked on Virgin (QR) flights CBR-DOH-CPT and return for the wretched wedding departing 21 March. Apparently Virgin’s position is that they will advise whether the flight is cancelled 48hrs before time and if it is will refund. That seems pretty shoddy to me, but Seat Daughter says that is the position they told her when she enquired.

That's a rather awful policy. 48 hours isn't enough time, in the current climate for someone to organise alternative flights. QR should at least try and find alternative seating on a partner airline.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

That's a rather awful policy. 48 hours isn't enough time, in the current climate for someone to organise alternative flights. QR should at least try and find alternative seating on a partner airline.

I think the actual policy - posted above - was to allow changes/rearranges to 16 March. Likely the original agent wasn’t across this.

 

[Seat0B]

SYD-JNB (QF)
SYD-SIN-JNB (SQ) but might have to overnight in SIN
SYD-BKK-ADD-JNB (TG/ET)

Thanks! I also found some flights on South African Airways. So there are options. Guess how I will be spending today

Non-drinker, so no dramas

Seat son often uses Royal Brunei for trips home and speaks positively of the experience (in Y).

 

[Harrison_133]

Qatar update. Normal operations remain suspended, but:

Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirming a safe operating corridor, Qatar Airways intends to operate repatriation flights on 07 March, departing Hamad International Airport to the following airports: London (LHR), Paris (CDG), Madrid (MAD), Rome (FCO), Frankfurt (FRA).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030029339014877420

 

[Rembrandt]

US press secretary now saying the operations to continue for another 4-6 weeks….

First it was a few days then a week now 4-6 weeks…….

Lets hope they're prioritizing taking down the Iranian missile and drone systems.

 

[IrishPete]

Hey @IrishPete - what about Murrays bus to get from SYD to CBR? That's what we're doing.

Sorry, I'm too old for coaches...

 

[AuSammy]

 

[Saab34]

United CEO

The airports are gateways to millions of passengers flying to and from destinations that span Australia, India, Europe and North America. But customers have been forced to avoid the Middle East amid airspace closures.

"Each day this week, we have booked over 1,000 people from Australia and New Zealand to Europe. Last year, we booked less than one a day," Kirby said, adding that Europe is the strongest region in the world for bookings now.

 

[Saab34]

Crude soaring at the moment.

I know VA and QF are largely hedged for this current FY, but the US carriers don’t hedge.

I’d imagine QF and VA will start upping fares this coming week. VAs first real test under its new model and rising fuel.

 

[transpactraveller]

United CEO
"Each day this week, we have booked over 1,000 people from Australia and New Zealand to Europe. Last year, we booked less than one a day,"

Love his use of "less than one a day" - you mean zero? I don't think airlines even offered AU to Europe via USA/Canada as a regular one-way or return on the same booking, unless it was a round-the-world or maybe constructed via a multi-city booking, where I'm sure the prices probably never made it worth the hassle, until now.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So the ABC reports all flights are being given a fighter escort.

It seems to be the only major news outlet reporting that?

Video footage is circulating on line of an apparent civilian jet being accompanied by a fighter.

However… it appears from commentary on other sources that it’s a military a330 with refuelling capabilities… not civilian.

 

[prozac]

So the ABC reports all flights are being given a fighter escort.

It seems to be the only major news outlet reporting that?

Video footage is circulating on line of an apparent civilian jet being accompanied by a fighter.

However… it appears from commentary on other sources that it’s a military a330 with refuelling capabilities… not civilian.

Hard to believe anything on ABC these days.

 

[prozac]

Or get yourself to Melbourne and do Royal Brunei return to London in business for $6500. Dry airline, but flat beds the whole way.

Transits in DXB.

 

[transpactraveller]

Transits in DXB.

Normally yes, but not this week - it's going direct instead.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Normally yes, but not this week - it's going direct instead.

And probably continue to do so if there’s any issues around DXB.

 

[kookaburra75]

It leaves us stuck in Sydney. At the moment it looks like one way car hire is how we'll get home, but if Virgin release the points used to book one of our Dublin-Qatar seats, I might be able to fly us home (though olreward flights are getting expensive AND disappearing entirely). My car is at Canberra Airport...

Don't forget the Murrays bus, which goes from the International terminal. You can by an extra seat so you can spread out, charge up phones etc on the USB power. If you're flying back in, even with those breaks fatigue is going to be a big issue and I wouldn't recommend driving.
EDIT: I just saw Drakeula's post and your reply - the extra seats makes it a lot more comfortable