Missed flights due to snow on roads

whiskylady

My parents (80s) are due to fly with Qatar from Edinburgh to Perth on Saturday 3rd March and we planned driving to Edinburgh from the North of Scotland tomorrow (Friday 2nd March) and staying overnight. However, the 'Beast from the East' has created havoc with us and roads are blocked all over the place. The police are still advising against driving. I am not sure what tomorrow will bring. I have emailed Qatar but heard nothing. Their flight is still leaving Ed airport. We have a potentially dodgy 4 hour drive (if possible)...if we do not make it and they miss their flights, what happens? They have never missed a flight before. Will Qatar put them on next one or will they lose everything (this is x2 business tickets that they have for a very special trip). Thank you.

ssparks2003

They have travel insurance? Is it covered in there?

whiskylady

Thank you, I'm not sure about insurance, it is through their bank...off to have a look after work today. It is all becoming a tad stressful...on what should have been a dream trip. Qatar don't seem to have any contact points...there seems to be a number in Holland or Germany...holding out for a rapid thaw!

k3lvc

whiskylady wrote: »

Qatar don't seem to have any contact points...there seems to be a number in Holland or Germany...holding out for a rapid thaw!

Google is your friend

https://www.qatarairways.com/en-gb/worldwide-offices.html

For the transport do Qatar offer same as Emirates/Etihad for Business Class pax with local chauffeur collection/drop off. Even if it's more than the mialege limit it's sometimes worth paying the extra to pass responsibility for getting to/from the airport to them

BorisThomson

Qatar are not obliged to accommodate them on another flight, but they are one of the better airlines in terms of customer service. Check the ticket conditions regarding flexibility and changes, it may be more cost effective to change the tickets today than waiting until Saturday.

LilElvis

whiskylady wrote: »

Thank you, I'm not sure about insurance, it is through their bank...off to have a look after work today. It is all becoming a tad stressful...on what should have been a dream trip. Qatar don't seem to have any contact points...there seems to be a number in Holland or Germany...holding out for a rapid thaw!

Many of the travel policies provided as part of a premium bank account have an upper age limit of 80. My bank, and my parents, have 80 as the cut off.

whiskylady

Thank you for your replies...Ah yes, sorry the European office is in Ukraine, not Holland. No Qatar don't offer a lift like Emirates or Etihad, not sure they even those companies would pick you up from the Northern Highlands and give you a lift to Glasgow or Edinburgh even with additional charge. I will have a look through the ticket conditions online after lunch. I had a look at general conditions and it just said if you couldn't make it to let them know, so they could offer your ticket to someone else.

whiskylady

Thanks LilElvis, I think my father had to pay the bank extra for the insurance...Lordy, something else to check.

harz99

whiskylady wrote: »

My parents (80s) are due to fly with Qatar from Edinburgh to Perth on Saturday 3rd March and we planned driving to Edinburgh from the North of Scotland tomorrow (Friday 2nd March) and staying overnight. However, the 'Beast from the East' has created havoc with us and roads are blocked all over the place. The police are still advising against driving. I am not sure what tomorrow will bring. I have emailed Qatar but heard nothing. Their flight is still leaving Ed airport. We have a potentially dodgy 4 hour drive (if possible)...if we do not make it and they miss their flights, what happens? They have never missed a flight before. Will Qatar put them on next one or will they lose everything (this is x2 business tickets that they have for a very special trip). Thank you.

Any rail options? It would help if you could say where in N Scotland you are travelling from.


Also AFAIK Qatar do not offer UK passengers limo service.

elsien

They insure up to 75 but 79 year old parent paid extra last year so that she was still covered. Best to double check though, to be on the safe side.

Manxman_in_exile

I think your main priority is to check the T&Cs of the travel insurance as urgently as you practically can. Do they cover your parents in the event of bad weather preventing them from getting to the airport, or is "bad weather" excluded? Have you got a copy of the T&Cs or can you find them on the internet. If not, you may need to call the insurers to check the position.


Listening to the Red weather alerts being issued on radio, I think you would be lucky to make it tomorrow. Where abouts in the Highlands are you? Are you close to a half way decent road like the A9? (But I wouldn't be surprised if that were shut).


If insurance doesn't cover them I suppose they'll have to try to cancel - if they can do that. Is Edinburgh airport open? There might be problems for days. (EDIT: Just said on Radio 5 that some flights from Edinburgh are resuming. But forecast doesn't sound good).


Red weather alert apparently means "risk of imminent danger to life". I think I wouldn't be driving anywhere tomorrow. Unfortunate timing.