MSE News: Stranded abroad or travel disrupted due to the Middle East conflict? Your rights explained

Westin

Don’t take this route if you have a package holiday. You need to work via however the package was booked with. That EK form is for people who have booked EK flight tickets direct from the airline.

** edit - this for Looking4ad3al’s post. System would not allow a quote for some reason.

Jbomber26

Thanks for your comment Westin

I’m leaving out the detail here deliberately, unfortunately you didn’t pick up on my “flights VIA DXB”. We’re in Sri Lanka.

Our position is that why expose ourselves to the events in DXB when we are safe here and have a safer route booked to travel home? Today’s drone attack of DXB illustrates our concerns. Our tour operator publicly states one thing but doesn’t follow through.

luckylisam

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81912932#Comment_81912932

that’s what I’m worried about, I don’t want to end up giving up our refund rights by mistake. I’ll ring them again next week and may be able to get somewhere ok the phone

Falconviewer

Etihad cancelled my return journey (2 legs via Abu Dhabi into Heathrow) on 3/4 March - which is 50% of the journeys I paid for, but I only got 31% of the ticket price refunded, which was over £400 difference. Even allowing for an admin charge that seems unreasonable to me. How can they justify that? Can I do anything to get more of the ticket cost back?

MattMattMattUK

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81915327#Comment_81915327

Did Etihad cancel your flights, or did you? Were outgoing and return booked as part of the same booking, or did you book them separately? Does your booking break down the outbound and return by cost and if so what is the split?

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81915333#Comment_81915333

Yes, it would be quite unusual for outward and inbound legs to be priced identically, especially given factors such as APD that'll affect departures from, but not arrivals to, the UK.

Purbeckvic

We are stranded in Dubai. Were due to fly back with KLM on Fri 6th. KLM have now finally booked us on first available flight which is 16th, so an extra 10 days at least, if that flight goes ahead. The hotel have been extending our stay at a very reasonable rate (£70 per night for 2 people B&B) and we are keeping receipts for lunch and evening meals at reasonable cafes and restaurants. Is KLM obliged to cover these accomodation and food costs, or does the 3 night limit mentioned elsewhere apply to them too? Also does the fact we booked through Expedia have any significance as an agent? thanks for any advice!

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81917114#Comment_81917114

My understanding is that KLM are responsible for your accommodation and subsistence costs, as they're an EU airline and therefore bound by the EC261 flight delay/cancellation regulations, unlike Emirates, etc, and article 9 of these regulations is clear that they are on the hook for such costs when cancelling a flight, regardless of the root cause of the cancellation.

This is covered within the MSE article that this thread is about: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2026/03/middle-east-conflict-travel-rights/#care

The three day limitation is specifically within the Package Travel Regulations, which are separate.

Booking through an agent doesn't affect these rights but would typically preclude a section 75 claim, which is again a separate issue.

DaiFarrell

We are currently in Vietnam due to fly from Hanoi to Heathrow on Sunday 22nd March with Qatar via Doha. Qatar have contacted us offering date change or refund and a contact number which is impossible to get through to. We are loathe to book another flight as they are extortionate. It seems pointless changing dates as no-one can say when Qatari airspace will re-open.

Do Qatar have to get us home if we don't take a refund or change the dates?

I certainly won't be booking with Qatar again; their customer service has been terrible so far, even given the circumstances. Best airline in the world?

Caz3121

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81918061#Comment_81918061

As per the article there is a big difference between your rights on EU/UK airlines and non-EU/UK airlines.

EU/UK airlines have a responsibility to get you back which may involve rerouting and using different airlines. Non-EU airlines can offer you a refund or reschedule on their flights.

I am currently overseas and many travel mates have had their return flights cancelled and were going to be stuck in Japan. Many originally scheduled on non-EU/UK carriers have had to opt for refunds and rebook themselves (at high costs) or choose to wait it out (at their expense) for an undetermined amount of time.

We chose to book on an EU carrier initially so know we will have costs covered if delays and can be rerouted if necessary. (although fingers crossed our routing will hopefully not be affected)