Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[JessicaTam]

This feels like a minor question in the scheme of everyone’s else’s more serious dramas so forgive me and I’m thinking of everyone who is still stranded in particular, and hope you get out soon, but I am flying with family as a group of 4 on QF9 (on 3 separate bookings but I have linked them) from Melbourne to London via Perth on 26th March. I see that QF9 has been replaced with QF209 (Perth London via Sing) but now leaves Perth at 3.50pm. Currently our domestic flights don’t land until 4.15pm. Will Qantas rebook these flights automatically or am i better to call the vip line and get them changed myself? Or are there any better options I should explore - we are 2x business and 2x PE. I am P1 and husband is WP. Many thanks

As a P1 I suggest you call now as QF should accommodate you quite easily.

 

[AIRwin]

Had a look on SA website and they do have flights for about $300 more, MEL-SIN-LHR.

Would prefer to fly with QA or another VA codeshare airline so can earn points & SCs as will need this year to maintain gold status.

Singapore Airlines is also a Velocity partner

 

[XavierP]

I’m meant to be flying London to Singapore on a BA reward on 2 April and then have a separate QF reward from SIN to MEL. Similar nested bookings for my return.

I’m starting to get a little nervous if those reward seats will hold, if ME airline capacity is still constrained over the high demand Easter period, or if things escalate further.

So far it looks like things are trending in the right direction and that April will be back to relative normality, but you can’t help but worry when your travel insurance premium becomes a donation in these circumstances

Thanks for the reply; hope you find something suitable. MNL-ATH is tricky as almost all airlines go through ME.

 

[RooFlyer]

The "-ing" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence!

Que? Are you saying that because things are ‘resuming ‘ gradually that it’s a strange or unexpected or even a bad thing? Not a full resumption straightaway?

indeed.

Let’s face it - the fact that people are flying in and out of DXB is far far earlier than you or anyone else expected (although I said they would resume earlier than people would expect - to some derision by you). QR probably would be too if it wasn’t so close to the Major US base.

If there’s an incident they’ll stop for the appropriate time and then get going as soon as they can afterwards.

 

[Ricicles]

As a P1 I suggest you call now as QF should accommodate you quite easily.

Thank you!

 

[justinbrett]

Que? Are you saying that because things are ‘resuming ‘ gradually that it’s a strange or unexpected or even a bad thing? Not a full resumption straightaway?

indeed.

Let’s face it - the fact that people are flying in and out of DXB is far far earlier than you or anyone else expected (although I said they would resume earlier than people would expect - to some derision by you). QR probably would be too if it wasn’t so close to the Major US base.

If there’s an incident they’ll stop for the appropriate time and then get going as soon as they can afterwards.

No, it’s that you are taking what is happening now as a resumption. It’s repatriation, and even then half of the seats are going empty.

I believe I said “repatriation flights are one thing but a return to normal ops is quite another”, or words to that effect.

I think we’re still quite a few weeks away from normal ops, which lines up with about what I expected.

If I were you I’d wait a bit before rolling out this mission accomplished banner. The situation is quite desperate for many, with people going to extraordinary lengths to leave.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the reply; hope you find something suitable. MNL-ATH is tricky as almost all airlines go through ME.

Only three or four. Plenty of others including Scoot go through Asia and Europe.

We’ve become accustomed to thinking the ME can take us from anywhere to anywhere… which they can… but there are options!

 

[jrfsp]

On x/ twitter reports of a hit on DXB

Nothing on mainstream media yet
All aircraft look to be holding

 

[offshore171]

On x/ twitter reports of a hit on DXB

Nothing on mainstream media yet
All aircraft look to be holding

Yes, there's a few, including one from Perth flying racetracks. I wonder if and where they will divert to?

Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map | Flightradar24

View flight EK2669 from Perth to Dubai on Flightradar24

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[Saab34]

Just ground the whole lot until this is somewhat sorted out.

Feels like we are playing with fire here.

 

[jase05]

Yes, there's a few, including one from Perth flying racetracks. I wonder if and where they will divert to?

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These pilots are really earning their money.
I can’t help but feel that sadly an accident is just around the corner.

 

[clifford]

Just ground the whole lot until this is somewhat sorted out.

Feels like we are playing with fire here.

The UAE putting money before passengers' lives IMO

 

[Harrison_133]

On x/ twitter reports of a hit on DXB

Nothing on mainstream media yet
All aircraft look to be holding

Dubai Media Office denying reports of an incident at DXB.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030126812509147588

 

[jrfsp]

Dubai Media Office denying reports of an incident at DXB.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2030126812509147588

Minor enough to close to airfield for 60 minutes
Scary operational environment

 

[XavierP]

I’d happily fly there tomorrow if hostilities calmed down.

Absolutely, on the same exact thought pattern.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On x/ twitter reports of a hit on DXB

Nothing on mainstream media yet
All aircraft look to be holding

X and other social media were also reporting fighter jets accompanying all civilian aircraft.

Very hard until sources are verified.

Qatar has strict rules against social media broadcasting things like this, for this very reason.

Reports like this could deter people from making their way to the airport to catch repatriation flights. Not a good outcome.

 

[justinbrett]

X and other social media were also reporting fighter jets accompanying all civilian aircraft.

Very hard until sources are verified.

Qatar has strict rules against social media broadcasting things like this, for this very reason.

Reports like this could deter people from making their way to the airport to catch repatriation flights. Not a good outcome.

Hard to fake FR24 though

 

[offshore171]

Perth flight still orbiting.

 

[exLXCXFF]

Minor enough to close to airfield for 60 minutes
Scary operational environment

Yet a large number of aircrafts circling atm and no landing it seems

 

[offshore171]

Bit of GPS jamming/spoofing going on

Check EK569

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