Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[serfty]

My understanding is that travel insurances see armed conflict and wash their hands of it.

One or the other - as long as they avoid having to pay.

 

[Melburnian1]

My understanding is that travel insurances see armed conflict and wash their hands of it.

Yes, most (or all?) insurers for the Australian market believe that armed conflict would push up the cost of premiums by a big amount were it included under policies.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's probably $3500 out of pocket and rising, just for the transport costs. I'm not incurring any significant accommodation costs.

Much as I'd like Qatar to pay, not being able to actually communicate with them makes that somewhat difficult. Perhaps I'll chase them after I get back to Australia. it does seem unfair for the EU to require the airline to pay, but allow travel insurers off the hook.

The airlines operating to the EU and UK factor in the price of relevant legislation including 261. It’s no different to companies doing business in Australia being subject to Australian Consumer Law.

Insurers are very clear in their policies… it does not cover war.

You can probably get bespoke insurances that cover war, but the premiums would likely be beyond what most of us are willing to pay.

It might be worth following up Qatar once you return to get your alternative arrangements paid - or at least partly paid. I’d base this on two grounds:

(1) Qatar’s travel alert page makes no mention of your rights under EU261. They only offer a change of dates or a refund.
(2) Difficulty getting hold of QR to clarify your situation. And had you known you were entitled to rerouting you may have persisted in your attempts to reach them instead of focusing on other plans.

Their travel alert page for Ireland is here: https://www.qatarairways.com/en-ie/travel-alerts.html I would take screenshots of the booking assistance advice of 5 March which do not mention EU261.

It really depends how QR is going to play this. If they play nicely you’re just getting what they would have paid out anyway (no loss to them). If they decide not to go down that route the argument would likely be that in cancelling and accepting a refund, that ends their obligations under 261.

However, I think their lack of consumer rights information on the booking assistance page could work in your favour and is a compelling argument.

Hiw much they will refund may depend on your original class booked vs the class of travel for the new flights. If you have screenshots of prices for replacement travel the same class of travel you were originally booked in that may be useful. That is, if you booked economy, how much was an economy class through ticket on the day, etc. Same for business.

 

[IrishPete]

Velocity Points still haven't been refunded. Can't find anything under our booking reference, but the flight this evening shows on the Dublin Airport website as cancelled.