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?

 

[Golf nut]

Not exactly sure as I am new to all this . When I booked with Aeroplan the only flight number I was given was a VA flight number . So I think its a prime VA flight number and its the wetleased QR plane . I am travelling on VA7 outbound and VA 8 inbound .
To book my seats I had to ring Virgin .
Return flights are from AMM to Doha on AirJordanian , with a day in Doha then a separate ticket ( using the Aeroplan points) DOH to MEL .

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not exactly sure as I am new to all this . When I booked with Aeroplan the only flight number I was given was a VA flight number . So I think its a prime VA flight number and its the wetleased QR plane . I am travelling on VA7 outbound and VA 8 inbound .
To book my seats I had to ring Virgin .
Return flights are from AMM to Doha on AirJordanian , with a day in Doha then a separate ticket ( using the Aeroplan points) DOH to MEL .

So the only flight in the award ticket is DOH-MEL?

Then this is a VA flight, and VA’s contract of carriage applies. Qatar is not involved at all.

I think VA’s position in the event of these cancelled flights either change date, or get a refund. And ‘change date’ is only to another service they are flying.

I think everything will be fine. Doh pretty much stayed open during the height of hostilities last time.

 

[Golf nut]

Yes well two separate award tickets MEL- DOH-Cairo and return DOH-MEL .
Thanks again for all your advice

 

[elanshin]

Yes well two separate award tickets MEL- DOH-Cairo and return DOH-MEL .
Thanks again for all your advice

Of course it can all be that nothing happens, but it is definitely a situation where you'd be checking news regularly.

 

[jrfsp]

Yes well two separate award tickets MEL- DOH-Cairo and return DOH-MEL .
Thanks again for all your advice

Have you checked your travel insurance- particularly as relates to changing travel advice etc?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have you checked your travel insurance- particularly as relates to changing travel advice etc?

TA would only be of use here if purchased before the initial outbreak back in March, or whenever it was.

 

[Golf nut]

Yes thanks our insurance is fine at the moment but if any countries go to level 4 ( eg Jordan) then we are not to enter or leave as soon as practical if already entered

 

[Golf nut]

It was purchased 1 week before the initial conflict started

 

[elanshin]

Yes thanks our insurance is fine at the moment but if any countries go to level 4 ( eg Jordan) then we are not to enter or leave as soon as practical if already entered

Just food for thought, most standard travel insurance would not cover anything under acts of war regardless of what the country level is.