Transit Through Dubai

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81915472#Comment_81915472

Yes, I agree that a package holiday will be difficult to meet the definition for "essential", hence why I referenced being different for the OP who is yet to travel and can chose not to travel than it might be for someone already away and needing to return home with a route via the Middle East.

MyRealNameToo

I think even then you may struggle, a colleague was overseas when it happened, his airline has rerouted him via Singapore to come home and avoiding the original Dubai plan.

Oldtwanger

We are due to fly to Kochi via Dubai in 48 hours time as part of a package holiday. We are being told by the holiday company that we need to wait for Emirates to cancel flights before they will cancel the holiday - if Emirates run the flight then the trip will still go ahead. If we refuse to go because of FCDO advice then we get hit with a no show and lose everything. We have been told that we could get a refund for the airfare if we cancel the flights (which is what Emirates are offering direct book passengers) BUT the holiday company are saying they would still want paying for the accommodation!

This is from their website help section

If the FCDO advise against all but essential travel to your destination and your departure date is 5 days or less then unfortunately your holiday is cancelled" 

We've heard nothing to that effect - just wait an see is their unchanging advice. The company seem to be going go against their own, and also ABTA's rules by require us to fly into a war zone against FCDO advice? If we did go our insurance would become invalid. However, the Company actually requires us to have valid insurance so how does that compute?

Should the airport come under fire (as has already happened) whilst the outward flight is airborne or even while we are in transit, then we could easily be stranded in Dubai, vulnerable and uninsured.

If FCDO advice is still valid on the return flights obviously all of the above would apply.

It's a completely unsatisfactory situation that we are completely at a loss as to how to resolve.

Seems to me that they are just ignoring any obligations under the Package Holiday regulations, ABTA member rules & FCDO advice.

Any ideas?

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81917215#Comment_81917215

The package holiday company might be turning on the exact phrase of their help section "If the FCDO advise against all but essential travel to your destination" It is not your destination that is being advised against but an interim location en-route.

The package holiday company might know that the whole lot will all be cancelled but having to follow a process to run down the clock so that they can recover costs from the airline or their insurers.

IF you cancelled the flights and obtained that part as a refund, what alternative routes would be available for you to purchase that still allow you to make use of the accommodation? Maybe direct flights, or with a change at Delhi or Mumbai (or other)?

What travel insurance do you have? Have you contacted your travel insurer for their stance?

pelican3

I had the same issue as the OP and was due to leave today with Etihad to Thailand via Abu Dhabi and I'm with Nationwide/Aviva for travel insurance. Took me 3 calls to Aviva to get total confirmation that you are not insured with them if the transit country is on the 'all but essential travel' list. The travel agent was less helpful as they had been given the advice that it was ok and I can see some insurers seem to be ok. Our slightly re-scheduled flights were on so this complicated matters. I had to speak to a manager to get the trip cancelled and a refund as they were initially saying we either had to travel or cancel with no refund. I had to quote the ABTA guidance that 'all but essential travel' still applies to transiting countries. We got there in the end.

Bigtripfiasco

We are scheduled to fly as part of a package holiday with Emirates to Tokyo via Dubai in a couple of weeks.

I spent some time yesterday trying to get clarification on the insurance position with Staysure, our annual policy provider, who (eventually) seemed to confirm that travel via Dubai (even though we're only on the ground for 2 hours) would mean that cover would be invalid due to the FCDO "essential travel only" classification.

I then spoke to our agent, who concurred with the interpretation and said that with the current FCDO status that they would not put us on the booked flight, even if Emirates were operating the schedule. They are presently dealing with flights up to March 15th and would look to see what alternatives might exist about a week before our travel date. They did have a look now to see what alternatives might be available, and the answer is not much and/or only at exorbitant prices (eg premium economy return via any available European hub at over £12k per ticket). Emirates have been quite clever in getting their schedules back up, as it means they are not on the hook for the additional cost of getting passengers to the booked destination, with any on cost now the responsibility of the passenger if we cancel and re-book.

As a response to the circumstance our agents have now started "failing packages" which means cancellation and, according to the agent I spoke to, a full refund.

We are waiting to see what happens in the next week before we are presented with the final options by the agent, as there is nothing to lose from waiting with the currently available options not particularly appealing from a price or practicality perspective. Given the circumstances I'd put our likelihood of travelling at no more than 20%, but it would appear that we should be able to get a full refund in the event the trip gets cancelled.

Zaphod62

Emirates  arranged to reroute  us on different airlines  for a week later (17 th)than scheduled (9 th) as we were due to fly from Perth to Heathrow on the 9th, via Dubai. We were happy with that  new arrangement, but with no Discussion Emirates (through Trailfinders) cancelled the flights  for the 17th and insisted we fly home with Emirates in the 12th (today). We did not want this, so our only choice was to cancel and pay for new tickets via a different route, the only route via the US. It was difficult to find any route home from Perth, so now going to fly from Sydney, Houston, then home over 3 days with United. I cant tell you how stressfull it has been. We had paid for business class home with Emirates so a lot of money to lose. As the new quote with United was £16,000, we are going economy. Paid for by ourselves. We may get a partial refund from Emirates. 

 Now At least we are in a safe place, and hopefully in charge of our own plan. 

We are disgusted with Emirates. Should not be flying us home against our own foreign office (FCDO)  advice, and should not change our agreed route and date home at short notice. The travel agent just seemed to accept what Emirates say. 

BTW Travel insurance does cover up to 48 hours in transit through Dubai, this didn’t make us feel any safer!

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81919619#Comment_81919619

You were originally due to fly on 9th so arranging a flight for 12th seems reasonable.

Somebody due to return to work woukd not be happy being delayed until 17th , with no guarantee that that the flight would go ahead on 17th.

Flights through the Middle East are subject to change/ cancellation at short notice at the moment.

Nothing is guaranteed.

Westin

I would agree with @sheramber .

I think that EK thought they were helping by rebooking you on to an early flight (12th) than having to delay your return home until the 17th. I think many would have appreciated that reduced wait overseas before a flight home.

That was an expensive and long routing back to the UK to opt for.

I guess this goes to show that the airline/tour operator can't always please everyone.

Travel safe.