Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[Quickstatus]

f I was to book an EK flight today for 27th March that is cancelled due to the ongoing problems, will a fee free refund occur (for travel before 31 March according to website) or the normal fare conditions $US375 cancellation fee.?

What does EK say?

 

[Snouter]

What does EK say?

Currently on hold on chat. Been an hour so far

 

[Saab34]

They were supposedly pretty heavily hedged.

19% unhedged it seems. Looks like Virgin is in a good spot. Qantas will certainly have the ability to pull higher revenue from International ops and they are actively chasing capacity in the coming months.

Some details from the AFR just now.

Virgin Australia has not increased its fares and is hedged across both fuel and refining margins, leaving it much less exposed to global volatility.

Jet fuel prices have surged much faster than oil prices and are up 150 per cent in the past fortnight.

Although Qantas has hedged 82 per cent of its second-half jet fuel costs against the Brent crude benchmark, its refining margins are unhedged, leaving it exposed to some of the fluctuations.

Air New Zealand said the spread had widened from about $US22 a barrel before the conflict to as high as $US115 a barrel, as it withdrew guidance on jet fuel volatility.

Evans and Partners analyst Cameron McDonald said the blowout in spreads would result in Qantas fuel costs increasing by $14.8 million a day.

 

[LionKing]

Cathay Pacific is adding additional services to Heathrow to accommodate for HKers and others to go back to the UK.

 

[Snouter]

Currently on hold on chat. Been an hour so far

Just heard from EK, the fee free refund will apply. Have a photo of the chat.

 

[transpactraveller]

Cathay Pacific is adding additional services to Heathrow to accommodate for HKers and others to go back to the UK.

They have also cancelled their Middle East flights until the end of the month.

 

[Chrizztofa]

Hi All,
Would appreciate some advice on obtaining a refund/voucher from QR. We are scheduled to fly SIN-DOH-YYZ in mid-April (returning early May).

We've since found alternative flights so will be looking to obtain a refund/voucher from QR. If we cancel a SGD$576 refund fee currently applies (and we incur a FX loss as the AUD/SGD rate has deteriorated since booking), whereas we can get the full value (in SGD) if we take the voucher.

Is there any benefit to taking the refund/voucher now, or can we wait until early April to see if QR extend the dates eligible for refunds (or take a voucher that has a slightly later expiry period)?

 

[stu961]

Just heard from EK, the fee free refund will apply. Have a photo of the chat.

Sounds like a free call option to me.... I had been thinking about doing the same thing myself but the flights I need to "hedge" are not until May so no free/need at the moment.

 

[stu961]

Never let a good opportunity go by...

best in the "game"...... could add an "ing"....

 

[stu961]

Hi All,
Would appreciate some advice on obtaining a refund/voucher from QR. We are scheduled to fly SIN-DOH-YYZ in mid-April (returning early May).

We've since found alternative flights so will be looking to obtain a refund/voucher from QR. If we cancel a SGD$576 refund fee currently applies (and we incur a FX loss as the AUD/SGD rate has deteriorated since booking), whereas we can get the full value (in SGD) if we take the voucher.

Is there any benefit to taking the refund/voucher now, or can we wait until early April to see if QR extend the dates eligible for refunds (or take a voucher that has a slightly later expiry period)?

Couple questions if it was me... which airline/flights would I prefer, up to what date can I cancel either set of fares and is cost of cancellation fixed until that date. The big financial risk to delay is the scenario that QR suddenly starts flying and you can't cancel either airline without significant financial cost above the 576. If 576 is your max cost until say 1 week from departure then what is the downside of delaying?

 

[tradingup]

Hi Everyone,
I would like to ask all the more experienced members for their advice on the following situation.

I am currently in Europe and booked to fly home on QR in J (paid) flying from Sofia on 2 April, with a four day stopover in Doha and then on to Sydney on 6 April all on the one PNR. The flights were booked directly with Qatar Airways, but the Doha to Sydney leg is one of the Virgin associated flights.

Apart from it being being unfortunate timing for an extended stopover in Doha, what does this mean for claiming re-routing rights under EU261. Am I only covered for the Sofia to Doha segment or because it is on the one PNR, all the way home to Sydney.

TBH, I would prefer a re-routing on another airline and avoid the ME altogether, or if unavoidable skip the Doha stopover and fly through to Sydney.
If Australia has a do not travel warning for Qatar, would Qatar Airways still try to fly me through Doha?
I flew through Dubai two days before the WAR started and Initially I had hoped the WAR would be finished before my fly home dates.
From reading through this thread, I am not sure what to expect from Qatar. What would you do?

 

[RooFlyer]

Is there any benefit to taking the refund/voucher now, or can we wait until early April to see if QR extend the dates eligible for refunds (or take a voucher that has a slightly later expiry period)?

Wait until your flight falls within a total refund/rebook window. If they are flying again by then and you still don't want to fly QR, cancel.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi Everyone,
I would like to ask all the more experienced members for their advice on the following situation.

I am currently in Europe and booked to fly home on QR in J (paid) flying from Sofia on 2 April, with a four day stopover in Doha and then on to Sydney on 6 April all on the one PNR. The flights were booked directly with Qatar Airways, but the Doha to Sydney leg is one of the Virgin associated flights.

Apart from it being being unfortunate timing for an extended stopover in Doha, what does this mean for claiming re-routing rights under EU261. Am I only covered for the Sofia to Doha segment or because it is on the one PNR, all the way home to Sydney.

TBH, I would prefer a re-routing on another airline and avoid the ME altogether, or if unavoidable skip the Doha stopover and fly through to Sydney.
If Australia has a do not travel warning for Qatar, would Qatar Airways still try to fly me through Doha?
I flew through Dubai two days before the WAR started and Initially I had hoped the WAR would be finished before my fly home dates.
From reading through this thread, I am not sure what to expect from Qatar. What would you do?

EU261 covers your entire journey including any connections.

So if QR cancels the SOF-DOH they need to re-route you to SYD.

EU261 only kicks in once QR cancels the flight… so could be as little as 24-48 hours before departure.

In theory I suppose they could re-route you on EK if EK was still flying, or even on something like Saudis via JED and SIN/KUL to SYD. You’d hope they wouldn’t fly you via a ‘do not travel’ hub, but I haven’t read anything definitive on that situation.

QR’s ‘regular’ rebooking policy seems a little more generous and may allow the re-routing on a select number of airlines, and possibly further in advance than 24-48 hours. But they seem to have withdrawn this from their latest travel advisory? (now offering a choice of two date changes or refund).

If your flight is cancelled ex EU, research some options avoiding the gulf. When QR gives you options to re-route, feel free to suggest the routing you have found.