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.

 

[Himeno]

 

[RooFlyer]

I’m getting the email updates about QR. Continuing on from the email text shown by. Himeno above is this

 

[XavierP]

From what I have been reading from here and other sources is that so far the situation is best handled by Emirates then Qatar and then Etihad. Especially in the form of customer service.

Interesting to note this especially for future bookings. Just wish Emirates was a full OW partner...

 

[LondonAussie]

For anyone looking to rebook through Asia, BA has now added an extra 2 direct flights between London and Singapore, on Tuesday and Thursday.

They had also added Bangkok to London on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

 

[Scarlett]

QR still has plenty of jets having a sleep over in Australia.

CBR




MEL


It’s not just the airspace issue for the ME3; I imagine the fleet and crew planners are earning their pay right now.

 

[transpactraveller]

I wonder if the crew are stuck here or if they've been able to fly home via other airlines.

I suppose Qatar would prefer them to stay here, ready to fly their aircraft back to Doha when able.

If it was going to be a long-term thing, could they get these planes flying through Asia? Or temporarily loan them to Oneworld partners to help ease the demand between Australia/Asia and Europe.

 

[Berlin]

And here seems to be the reason why the diversions happened: Watch: Iranian drone drone hits Dubai International Airport

that was pretty close to hit the Concurse A

I first thought that must have been an AI fake video but it seems to be real. But that then really opens the question again: And EK flies again???

Watching this video, this would make me VERY risk averse if I had to fly out of DXB anytime soon…

 

[exLXCXFF]

I first thought that must have been an AI fake video but it seems to be real. But that then really opens the question again: And EK flies again???

Watching this video, this would make me VERY risk averse if I had to fly out of DXB anytime soon…

I think they tried to withhold this footage yesterday but once Europe was awake, it started spreading in European newspapers.

I don’t think there is an “official” confirmation that it is real but there are a lot of indicators yesterday that point to it being at least very plausible.

Imagine it hit the terminal, imagine it hit an A380 full of people…

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think they tried to withhold this footage yesterday but once Europe was awake, it started spreading in European newspapers.

I don’t think there is an “official” confirmation that it is real but there are a lot of indicators yesterday that point to it being at least very plausible.

Imagine it hit the terminal, imagine it hit an A380 full of people…

I get it, but there are potentially 400 people equally sitting on a plane about to depart saying ‘imagine if a missile hits my apartment building’ (or car, or falling debris as we’re going to get food).

It’s about a risk assessment of getting out, or staying put.

They’ve had a number of days where flights have got away safely. If there had been no flights during those times people may have been wanting to know why they weren’t operating.

 

[clifford]

Imagine it hit the terminal, imagine it hit an A380 full of people…

Yes indeed, but the Emiratis are pressing on regardless. I imagine very little will stop them, even fatalities at DXB or on an aircraft in flight. Money comes first, it appears.

I hope I'm wrong....

 

[justinbrett]

I get it, but there are potentially 400 people equally sitting on a plane about to depart saying ‘imagine if a missile hits my apartment building’ (or car, or falling debris as we’re going to get food).

It’s about a risk assessment of getting out, or staying put.

They’ve had a number of days where flights have got away safely. If there had been no flights during those times people may have been wanting to know why they weren’t operating.

I’d rather not be sitting on 250 tonnes of fuel if it happens

 

[jase05]

Penny Wong this morning

A total of 92 Australians have been bussed out of Qatar to Saudi Arabia, while Qatar Airways advised the government that 68 Australians departed Doha on Saturday to Europe.

 

[XavierP]

Yes indeed, but the Emiratis are pressing on regardless. I imagine very little will stop them, even fatalities at DXB or on an aircraft in flight. Money comes first, it appears.

I hope I'm wrong....

I guess that is ONE way of looking at it. The other way, more positive IMHO, is that they are looking after people who needs/wants to travel. No one is forcing you to get on a plane so it is really our choice.

Good on Emirates for giving people the option to do this. I wish I was booked with Emirates rather than Qatar at this stage.

Being around war comes with its risks, so you take that into consideration when flying; that is on you, not the airline. My 2c.

 

[justinbrett]

I guess that is ONE way of looking at it. The other way, more positive IMHO, is that they are looking after people who needs/wants to travel. No one is forcing you to get on a plane so it is really our choice.

Good on Emirates for giving people the option to do this. I wish I was booked with Emirates rather than Qatar at this stage.

Being around war comes with its risks, so you take that into consideration when flying; that is on you, not the airline. My 2c.

I would hope the airlines are appropriately briefing passengers on the risks and ensuring passengers are happy to accept those risks. I don’t think they should be using terms like “safe corridors”.

I doubt that is the case.

But yes, if you are happy to fly, hats of to EK. No way any western airline would be operating in that environment.

 

[markis10]

A bunch of QR crew left Sydney Wednesday, they were deadheading, dressed casually.

 

[RooFlyer]

Easiest way for the Iranians to close ME commercial airspace and keep damaging the ME3 economically and reputationally?

Just announce that they will or might shoot down an airliner, or even say that this is a ‘serious risk’. That’ll get reported!

Also haven’t lobbed any missiles at runways, as far as I’m aware.

Wonder why they don’t do that?