Experience with Qatar repatriation

Purplebogmonster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926266#Comment_81926266

I should say to date have not answered my email.

Doshwaster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81925437#Comment_81925437

Thailand has announced some measures to deal with people unable to return home and at the end of their visa including waiving overstaying fines and allowing extensions. Though, as usual with Thailand, the rules can change on a daily basis.

Thai Immigration Bureau introduces temporary relief measures for travellers affected by Middle East airspace closures - TAT Newsroom

Also if medication is a problem, many items which are on prescription in the UK are readily available over the counter at a pharmacy in Thailand. Some things are worrying easy to obtain.

silvercar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926266#Comment_81926266

A quick google and thyroid issues are relatively common in Vietnam, so much so that you can buy thyroxine (at least the local brand equivalents) in the ‘long chau’ and ‘pharmacity’ pharmacy chains. You could also go to a hospital pharmacy.

bagand96

Qatar Airways have a help page https://www.qatarairways.com/en/rebooking-options.html?iid=ALL32451830&tt

Currently they are planning up until March 28th and say that there will be a limited schedule to some destinations. Those destinations currently include Ho Chi Min City and Hanoi, as well as Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham. Obviously any plans they make are subject to change as the situation evolves.

Likewise passengers with bookings upto 28th March can make date changes or request a refund. I think you need to wait a few more days before they make decisions into April, keep an eye on the website.

Mands

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81926266#Comment_81926266

Thyroxin (levothyroxine/euthyrox) is an OTC medication in much of Europe. It would be surprising if you needed a prescription for it there. A conversation with a pharmacist should give you the answer.

If it's not available it has such a very long half-life then it's possible to skip several doses and then make them up later.

Purplebogmonster

just an update:

We have booked return flights using a local carrier to Hong Kong and a few days latter Turkish Airways from Hong Kong to London with a connection in Istanbul.

I eventually got through to the agent via Booking.com and requested a refund. They couldn’t tell me how much but I now have that info. The original two way flight was over £1200 for both of us. The refund is £271 with no breakdown how that is calculated. Overall though, quite disappointing.

Also had a lot of trouble getting travel insurance extended. I asked for the policy to be extended but after repeatedly chasing up wasn’t getting anywhere. They have now agreed to extend cover for Hong Kong without additional fees as they accept we have made our best attempt to organise viable return travel in a situation that was beyond our control.

Not sure I have the energy to ask for an explanation of the low airfare refund was calculated, the whole experience has left me exhausted and in need of a holiday. Arghhh, no….Overall, I would say that the Qatar refund offer was very obscure in its wording and opaque, especially when booked via an agent. Still, we will hopefully get home safely, if considerably poorer.

The holiday was supposed to be a relaxed pace and hopefully keep my anxiety disorder under control. Its ended up being incredibly stressful.

Purplebogmonster

I have managed to request a breakdown of the refund, let’s wait and see. I want to understand what the airline have refunded and what the agent has refunded.

Purplebogmonster

I received a response from gotogate with only the original amount and the refund amount and no breakdown. I am now starting formal complaints. Trustpilot tells you all you need to know about gotogate. An interesting point, I don’t believe booking.com made it clear we were booking through gotogate (I know usually you get to see 3rd party agents) and if so, I think that isn’t legal?

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81943383#Comment_81943383

Booking.com's Ts & Cs do emphasise their use of intermediaries such as aggregators, but what does your booking confirmation documentation say about the involvement of Gotogate, and their admin fees for processing refunds?

Maegi

From a practical perspective, if you're not intending to use Qatar, have you looked at less conventional routes?

e.g. Just had a quick scan and Turkmenistan Airlines (Ho Chi Minh City to London Gatwick) for circa £600 per person. Like Chinese airlines, they can still use Russian airspace.