Qatar flights cancelled

Traveljunky

We were due to travel to Australia in September, flying out of Dublin, and have just received notification from Qatar airlines that the flights (outward and return) have been cancelled. They have offered us the choice of a voucher equal to the price paid + 10% or a refund. 
We booked directly with them and paid by credit card. 
Given that Qatar are not an EU or UK airline could anyone answer the following:

If we take the voucher and Qatar goes bust do we lose our money or can we claim on the credit card or travel insurance which is through either our Halifax or Nationwide bank accounts and which both commenced before the current COVID crisis?

Do we have the same rights under UK and EU law even though the airline is neither in the EU or UK?

thanks

Life__Goes__On

You should be covered for the voucher up to the amount paid (not the extra 10%) on the credit card but I don't know anyone is certain one way or the other.
The outbound leg you  have the same rights as departing from a EU airport
The return leg isn't covered under EU law that same way

Traveljunky

Ah ok.
So am I right in thinking If we accept the voucher and then they go bust we can try a chargeback and if we decide to request a refund and they refuse we can also request  a chargeback

margaretx9

Qatar airways is government backed - its a status symbol for the Qatari government and part owned by them. So it won't go bust.
I'd be more concerned about when you might be allowed to enter Australia - unless you are a Aussie or NZ citizen or permanent resident you can't enter the country at all at present - and that might not change for months! Given our death rate UK residents may struggle to visit many countries for a while.
Its up to you - bearing in mind prices might go up in future with social distancing as loads will be lower.

Thrugelmir

margaretx9 said:

Given our death rate UK residents may struggle to visit many countries for a while.
Its up to you - bearing in mind prices might go up in future with social distancing as loads will be lower.

Other countries are struggling to contain the virus as well. The higher the density of population the worse the problem it seems. Making airports and planes the last place you would would wish to spend hours in at the current time. 
Two metre distancing on airplanes would make many flights financially unviable. 

fifeken

Qatar is one of the airlines that has kept flying on a good proportion of its routes, albeit less often to some places.  I suspect the frequency or timing of flights has been changed (or a bug in their system) and has caused this, so re-scheduling may be possible if you call them (and you still want to go).  There is certainly availability currently showing online.

Traveljunky

I think a refund is the best option at the moment. I don’t fancy flying just at the moment and especially notify the second wave of the virus I see due around September. I’d prefer to wait a couple of years.
Thanks for your help 👍🏻