Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[Saab34]

You get auto re-routing under Eu261 if QR isn't flying.

Are they automatically doing this or do passengers need to reach out?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Are they automatically doing this or do passengers need to reach out?

You need to reach out.

EU261 offers you the choice of re-routing, changing to a later date, or to cancel for a refund. The airline won’t know unless you contact them.

Good idea to familiarise yourself with EU261 and your rights. As soon as the flight is cancelled you are entitled to re-routing, in the same class of travel, to your final destination, even on other airlines. And hotel/melas provided if you need to wait.

 

[Saab34]

You need to reach out.

EU261 offers you the choice of re-routing, changing to a later date, or to cancel for a refund. The airline won’t know unless you contact them.

Good idea to familiarise yourself with EU261 and your rights. As soon as the flight is cancelled you are entitled to re-routing, in the same class of travel, to your final destination, even on other airlines. And hotel/melas provided if you need to wait.

Thanks I’ve got some family due back next month, I just don’t want them to cancel and rebook for more pricey fares, if QR can rebook for them.

Who has QR been rebooking on? CX?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks I’ve got some family due back next month, I just don’t want them to cancel and rebook for more pricey fares, if QR can rebook for them.

Who has QR been rebooking on? CX?

It’s somewhat complicated… they have a list of preferred airlines, and routings. And will try and fly you to DOH so you can then connect to/from QR flights where possible.

They were routing on other carriers to Australia, including Cathay and BA… but now I think most pax will end up going via DOH.

For departures ex UK/Europe QR *must* rebook. But if the passenger chooses to not route via DOH, the option would be a refund.

 

[Brissy1]

New EK fee free cancellation window, apparently.

Cancelled my May EY flight today, wasn't happy with the Abu Dhabi stopover. Was waiting for an Etihad announcement and checking their website, but only found out about the fee free cancellation policy (for flights to 15 May booked before ?Feb I think) from loyalty lobby. Still nothing, that I can see, on EK website.
So to be sure, I cancelled via online chat. Told "up to 45 days to process refund" but at least got an email confirming refund amount almost immediately.
Could, if I wished, rebook the same flights cheaper without the stopover. Or use my refundable TK plan B. Pondering.

 

[RooFlyer]

Wow - would love to have seen the advice that prompted that decision.

Possibly part of it was the fact they put some aircraft into storage and obviously would’ve furloughed some of their crew.

Shorter than post Covid, but I imagine undating currency may come into it.

It’s somewhat complicated… they have a list of preferred airlines, and routings. And will try and fly you to DOH so you can then connect to/from QR flights where possible.

I saw the full list when I was trying to reroute via my travel agent. The list of airlines was long but omitted a few ones you would’ve hoped might be available. Rerouting form Oz to Europe via Nth America not on, at least officially.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I saw the full list when I was trying to reroute via my travel agent. The list of airlines was very long but omitted a few ones you would’ve hoped might be available. Rerouting form Oz to Europe via Nth America not on, at least officially.

The list was far more extensive at the time you were looking to re-route than it is now.

As QR has gradually reinstated its network those options are reducing as they're not required anymore. (Most journeys can now proceed via Doha.)

UK/EU departures have additional options for re-routing, not limited to any specified lists.

 

[RooFlyer]

I note the FR24 newsletter says QR is up to 50% of its pre-war schedule. Emirates and Etihad above 70% (I thought those would be more).

 

[Pushka]

Emirates returning to Adelaide in a couple of weeks and Qatar to Adelaide in mid June.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

You won’t ’void your insurance’, you just won’t be covered for the time you are on the ground in Dubai.

I would sit tight, and wait till a bit closer to the time, you are probably right in not wanting to miss out on the F seat!

Qantas should be able to keep the return ticket for you if Emirates cancels the flight. If you do it voluntarily it might cause problems before the flight is officially cancelled.

Still holding in the hope EK409 will fly on the 8/5/26…at what point do Emirates cancel this flight considering it has not flown since March ? Schedule says it’s still going. Should I request a downgrade to business on EK407 which has been going daily or wait till after May 1 ? Sorry for all the questions getting a bit stressed about it all

 

[robolb]

Still holding in the hope EK409 will fly on the 8/5/26…at what point do Emirates cancel this flight considering it has not flown since March ? Schedule says it’s still going. Should I request a downgrade to business on EK407 which has been going daily or wait till after May 1 ? Sorry for all the questions getting a bit stressed about it all

Same. (same day) Wondering at what stage to pull the plug, or just wait for them to cancel. But how long prior to flight do they cancel?

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Same. (same day) Wondering at what stage to pull the plug, or just wait for them to cancel. But how long prior to flight do they cancel?

No one seems to know ! Are you flying from Melbourne too

 

[robolb]

No one seems to know ! Are you flying from Melbourne too

Sydney. At this stage I'll hang on till a couple of days before.
Just in case a miracle peace descends on the ME.

But I suspect we'll cancel EK a couple of days out and use our back QF flights via SIN/LHR

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Sydney. At this stage I'll hang on till a couple of days before.
Just in case a miracle peace descends on the ME.

But I suspect we'll cancel EK a couple of days out and use our back QF flights via SIN/LHR

But…don’t Qantas have to find you an alternative flight ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But…don’t Qantas have to find you an alternative flight ?

The qantas commercial policy is that they will re-ticket you on another EK flight… which is the same as EK was offering anyway.

Qantas doesn’t have to route you on other carriers to your final destination.

 

[chitown_boy]

The qantas commercial policy is that they will re-ticket you on another EK flight… which is the same as EK was offering anyway.

Qantas doesn’t have to route you on other carriers to your final destination

I had two QF marketed EK returns to Europe planned. But seeing the QF1/2 alternatives getting more expensive I switched over to them, paid the difference, thinking QF wouldnt rebook me on QF metal anyways should anything happen to the EK flights and last minute switches to QF1/2 would be astronomical during European summer. Best I wiped my hands clean of ME carriers so I don’t stress about geopolitics while i’m away…

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I had two QF marketed EK returns to Europe planned. But seeing the QF1/2 alternatives getting more expensive i switched over to them, paid the difference, thinking QF wouldnt rebook me on QF metal anyways should anything happen to the EK flights and last minute switches to QF1/2 would be astronomical during European summer

That’s right. While you used qantas points for an Emirates award, your contract of carriage is with Emirates, not qantas.

In the event of an EK disruption, you have the options available in the Emirates contract of carriage.

Highly unlikely qantas is going to give up $$ seats/revenue because EK doesn’t operate a flight.

 

[DasColonel]

I booked direct with Emirates before all this Middle Eastern turmoil kicked off.
EK415 out of Sydney which hasn't flown in ages. Discovered this has now been reinstated from the 2nd May.
Issue we have is that we booked a Dubai stopover experience so we don't fly onwards to Europe for 4 days. Not sure how keen I am to spend that time in Dubai at the moment. Anyone know if Emirates would cancel the stopover experience and fly us directly to Europe instead?
Our EU flights have also been reinstated from 1st or 2nd May, so I think they are ramping capacity back up from then.