Middle East Airspace Diversions/Cancellations

[Seat0B]

Thank you for a very considered analysis of ME events and impacts on airspace @Scarlett

 

[jrfsp]

Trump saying attack could come tomorrow or they could reach a deal…
Amazing coincidence how he manages to always do this once the financial markets close for the weekend

 

[Golf nut]

I have a tour to Egypt and Jordan starting next Friday , not ideal timing ! I booked J flights on Qatar/VA using Aeroplan points into Doha . Any advice if I have to change return flights because of war escalations . I have to deal directly with Aeroplan for changes ?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have a tour to Egypt and Jordan starting next Friday , not ideal timing ! I booked J flights on Qatar/VA using Aeroplan points into Doha . Any advice if I have to change return flights because of war escalations . I have to deal directly with Aeroplan for changes ?

It depends.

If the change is within a day or two of departure, you’re probably going to deal with Qatar directly, under their re- routing policy. It can be frustrating to get through to them, but from another thread/posts elsewhere here on AFF, persistence is the key. You might have to try connecting on chat dozens - or more - times to finally get connected.

If it’s in advance of a few days - QR should still re-route you or make alternative arrangements. But if they leave you stranded, or you can’t get through, then call aeroplan. Reports suggest they are very accommodating in these circumstances, even putting people on AC metal to get home.

Aeroplan has sold you the tickets on Qatar as Qatar’s agent. Your contract of carriage is directly with Qatar. Qatar’s contract of carriage contains a section on flight cancellations, and their website also had relevant pages when the war first started, outlining rebooking options.

If notified of a cancellation check your booking via aeroplan first to see if alternatives have been offered. Next go to the QR website and see their disruption policy. Then make the calls you need to make, starting with QR.

 

[Golf nut]

Thankyou so much for your reply . So even though I have used Aeroplan points rather than a paid ticket with QR , I have the same rights and they should look after us with rebooking ?
But I need to be persistent with QR . I will look into their website .

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thankyou so much for your reply . So even though I have used Aeroplan points rather than a paid ticket with QR , I have the same rights and they should look after us with rebooking ?
But I need to be persistent with QR . I will look into their website .

Yes.

Aeroplan is merely selling you a seat on the Qatar flight… same as walking in to Flight Centre and buying a ticket on Qatar.

When you buy a ticket at flight centre, you are bound by the contract of carriage with the operating airline. Your contract for performing the flight is with Qatar, not flight centre.

Same here with an award. It’s still a ‘paid’ seat on an airline - just you paid with points rather than cash.

In the same way if you booked a ticket through Flight Centre and there was a schedule change or cancellation far in advance of travel, the airline would direct you back to the travel agency, the same thing applies here.

Anything far in advance Qatar will direct you back to aeroplan as the agent to sort it out. But you are still entitled to the full range of remedies under the contract of carriage.

Anything close in, or on the day of travel, Qatar will have taken control of the booking and will assist you directly.

 

[Golf nut]

Sorry I should have said I have VA flight numbers on QR metal so does this change the situation ?

 

[I love to travel]

Sorry I should have said I have VA flight numbers on QR metal so does this change the situation ?

No

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry I should have said I have VA flight numbers on QR metal so does this change the situation ?

It doesn’t change the concept, but it might change the options. And it could get complicated.

As an award, it should only be available on a prime QR or VA flight number.

If it’s a prime VA flight number, do you mean it’s the wetleased QR plane?

In that case VA’s contract of carriage apllies, and as we saw from the last time, all they did was offer another date - when they resumed flying - or a refund. They weren’t re-routing passengers.

If the QR flight is cancelled from Cairo you might get lucky as they might re-route you all the way home from CAI. If the QR flight from CAI operates, but VA has cancelled theirs, I’m not sure we have any data points on that happening or what VA does in that case?