Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and UAE cut diplomatic ties with Qatar.

[yld200]

This will be interesting. Can you pls keep us posted. As the ticket provider, I wonder if Qantas will be helpful or if they will just offer a refund and leave you to find your own way there.

We have J rewards, via QF, from Venice to Singapore. Although, all should be well, I've wondered how helpful QF would be if QR had to cancel one of our flights.

The only advice from QF is to look for another oneworld flight from MEL>DXB in particularly on CX as they're the most likely to release seats closer to the date. Otherwise if they can't reroute me then the only other option is to keep my flight to Doha or get me to Muscat then find my own way to DXB at my cost.

The feedback over on FT is that Qatar takes control of the reservation at T-72 at which point they will be able to reroute including any additional flights that are required.

Currently my itinerary is
MEL>ADL>DOH>DXB (stop)
DXB>DOH>ESB (stop)
IST>LHR (stop)

I'd consider swapping these around to go to ESB first, then DXB via IST if QR will reroute me on TK. Then onto LHR with BA.

QF rep said he'll keep an eye out on flights and call me if something comes up.

 

[Scr77]

.....The feedback over on FT is that Qatar takes control of the reservation at T-72 at which point they will be able to reroute including any additional flights that are required......

So QR will issue new ticket and the Qantas one lapses? It's amazing that QR reservations can keep up.

 

[yld200]

No idea how it will affect my oneworld booking if QR making changes.

 

[Danger]

I have a QA FF Qatar flight Athens-Doha-Singapore in September which I now coincidentally need to cancel anyway. I was wondering what anyone's experiences are with cancelling Qatar QA FF bookings without any points penalty because of the current situation? Thanks.

Next to no chance, I would think. Athens-Doha is not impacted by the current situation. If there's a significant flight time change, you are more likely to get lucky.

 

[pjm99au]

Today I received a myflights and seat alerts notification that QR award flights between Dxb and Doh and then Doh to Syd I had booked for November had been cancelled. Qantas has confirmed the cancellation was initiated by QR due to the affected DXB - DOH segment. These flights had been booked and ticketed for about 4 months.

QF opened up some F seats on QF2 to re-accomodate us

It's surprising and not a great sign that QR are now cancelling flights / bookings affected by the embargoes so far out.

 

[yld200]

Still no resolution on my flights.

Spoke to QF again and was offered a flight from DOH>AMM>DXB which would land me Dubai 12 hours later than originally planned.

Also gave QR a ring on the Australia number which took me through to what sounded like an office in India and they weren't helpful at all. Will keep trying with QF to see what they can do.

 

[SuzieQ68]

Still no resolution on my flights.

Spoke to QF again and was offered a flight from DOH>AMM>DXB which would land me Dubai 12 hours later than originally planned.

Also gave QR a ring on the Australia number which took me through to what sounded like an office in India and they weren't helpful at all. Will keep trying with QF to see what they can do.

The biggest challenge you will find is getting QR to change your ticket prior to the T-72 hour mark. I do understand why as it must be costing them an absolute fortune to pay for seats on other airlines. If the situation is resolved, then I guess they don't want to be any more out of pocket than they have to be. On the other hand, from a client's perspective, having to wait until 72 hours prior to a flight to find out what you can do, makes for a stressful time. I definitely feel your pain there.

We had MAD-DOH-DXB flights on J Award (booked direct through QR) and we could not really do anything prior to T-72 other than receive a refund (which wasn't an option).

We ended up doing MAD-DOH-MCT (all via QR metal) and then MCT-DXB (on WY metal). The arrival time went from 8am in the morning to 4pm in the afternoon, but not really an issue for us. QR bent over backwards when we reached the T-72 hour point. We were armed with details of the flights we wanted and the CSA that assisted us was fantastic.

The problem will lie in whether seats for the flights you want are available closer to the departure date. It was a risk for us definitely, but it worked out in our favour. At the end of the day, QR WILL re-route you to DXB once you hit the magic T-72 hour mark, it's just going to depend on how long it takes and which airline you'll be re-routed on.

 

[yld200]

I have contacted a QR call centre in HK based on some of the feedback over on the FT forum but to no avail. The reps feedback was that because my ticket# is a QF #, nothing could be done and even when I asked about T-72 she still said no - I will try another QR call centre where positive feedback has been received.

Have spoken to QF twice and no worthy solutions offered as yet but will keep trying and pushing.

 

[yld200]

I'm still working on a solution for my DOH>DXB>DOH flight with one option now being DOH>MCT>DOH and a separate ticket with Fly Dubai doing MCT>DXB>MCT at my own cost ($400).

I have a question about the connection and transiting in Muscat - does any know if I'll have to go landside to collect bags and check-in for my FZ flight or will I be able to get this sorted out airside at a transfer desk?

The reason I ask is that it appears with an Australian passport a VOA is required at the cost of 20 omr (~$65) which I'd like to avoid. It's my me and my partner and if we have to do this for both legs then we're up for another $260

 

[SuzieQ68]

I'm still working on a solution for my DOH>DXB>DOH flight with one option now being DOH>MCT>DOH and a separate ticket with Fly Dubai doing MCT>DXB>MCT at my own cost ($400).

I have a question about the connection and transiting in Muscat - does any know if I'll have to go landside to collect bags and check-in for my FZ flight or will I be able to get this sorted out airside at a transfer desk?

The reason I ask is that it appears with an Australian passport a VOA is required at the cost of 20 omr (~$65) which I'd like to avoid. It's my me and my partner and if we have to do this for both legs then we're up for another $260

I would suspect that you will have to pay the VOA and re-check back in, but others may have more info on this.

Is there any reason why you can't be re-routed to be DOH-MCT-DXB-MCT-DOH? We had a DOH-DXB that was re-routed at the T-72 hour mark (although via QR direct as that who the booking was made with) to be DOH-MCT-DXB? There shouldn't be any out of pocket expenses at your end as this situation is not your fault.

QR will only re-route at the T-72, but you will be at the mercy of flight loads. When are you flying?

 

[yld200]

I would suspect that you will have to pay the VOA and re-check back in, but others may have more info on this.

Is there any reason why you can't be re-routed to be DOH-MCT-DXB-MCT-DOH? We had a DOH-DXB that was re-routed at the T-72 hour mark (although via QR direct as that who the booking was made with) to be DOH-MCT-DXB? There shouldn't be any out of pocket expenses at your end as this situation is not your fault.

QR will only re-route at the T-72, but you will be at the mercy of flight loads. When are you flying?

I suspect the same with VOA which sucks.

Departure is 16th of September MEL>ADL>DOH. DOH>DXB on the 17th and then DXB>DOH>ESB or IST now on the 20th.

Tickets are issued by Qantas as a oneworld 280K J fare, so can only fly on one world airlines. I understand that QR take control at T-72 but didn't really want to risk the wait and am not sure whether they will be able to make changes outside of oneworld given the ticket restrictions.

I was about to book DOH>AMM>AUH on the 17th but the connection time in DOH is only 1hr. MCT is 1.40hr

 

[SuzieQ68]

I suspect the same with VOA which sucks.

Departure is 16th of September MEL>ADL>DOH. DOH>DXB on the 17th and then DXB>DOH>ESB or IST now on the 20th.

Tickets are issued by Qantas as a oneworld 280K J fare, so can only fly on one world airlines. I understand that QR take control at T-72 but didn't really want to risk the wait and am not sure whether they will be able to make changes outside of oneworld given the ticket restrictions.

I was about to book DOH>AMM>AUH on the 17th but the connection time in DOH is only 1hr. MCT is 1.40hr

Good point re the possible One World ticket restrictions. It was challenging enough with a straight QR Award Booking! All I can say is that QR went above and beyond once we hit the T-72 mark to make sure we were looked after. Understand your stress though - it's difficult waiting to see how it all plays out.

If you do decide to book alternative flights, if possible try and leave more time in DOH to enjoy the lounge experience - it will be worth it. The lounge in MCT is ok. Nothing amazing, but a nice enough place to spend a couple of hours between flights.

Wish I could give you more assistance.....hope it all works out for you though.

Edit: PS: FWIW, we didn't really enjoy our time in Dubai. The heat was stifling and it was not at all what we expected (was anticipating an amazing middle eastern experience .....). If we had our time again, would have chosen somewhere else.....

 

[yld200]

Good point re the possible One World ticket restrictions. It was challenging enough with a straight QR Award Booking! All I can say is that QR went above and beyond once we hit the T-72 mark to make sure we were looked after. Understand your stress though - it's difficult waiting to see how it all plays out.

If you do decide to book alternative flights, if possible try and leave more time in DOH to enjoy the lounge experience - it will be worth it. The lounge in MCT is ok. Nothing amazing, but a nice enough place to spend a couple of hours between flights.

Wish I could give you more assistance.....hope it all works out for you though.

Edit: PS: FWIW, we didn't really enjoy our time in Dubai. The heat was stifling and it was not at all what we expected (was anticipating an amazing middle eastern experience .....). If we had our time again, would have chosen somewhere else.....

The stop in Dubai is to visit my sister and her kids who I haven't seen in 18 months, if it wasn't for this we wouldn't be going there at all.

At this stage my two best options are:
1) DOH>MCT with QR and hope they allow this flight with a connection time of 1hr30min and then get a FZ flight at my own cost
2) wait for T-72 and have QR re-route me via KWI which would depart DOH at 12.55pm and arrive in DXB at 5.55pm. But again, no idea how this affects my oneworld itenerary which doesn't allow for changes after you start your trip.

 

[Danger]

The stop in Dubai is to visit my sister and her kids who I haven't seen in 18 months, if it wasn't for this we wouldn't be going there at all.

At this stage my two best options are:
1) DOH>MCT with QR and hope they allow this flight with a connection time of 1hr30min and then get a FZ flight at my own cost
2) wait for T-72 and have QR re-route me via KWI which would depart DOH at 12.55pm and arrive in DXB at 5.55pm. But again, no idea how this affects my oneworld itenerary which doesn't allow for changes after you start your trip.

On your second option I don't think you will have a problem with Qantas. These are the airlines' rules that they can break if they want to. In the case of IRROPS, rules can go out the window.

 

[yld200]

The only advice from QF is to look for another oneworld flight from MEL>DXB in particularly on CX as they're the most likely to release seats closer to the date. Otherwise if they can't reroute me then the only other option is to keep my flight to Doha or get me to Muscat then find my own way to DXB at my cost.

The feedback over on FT is that Qatar takes control of the reservation at T-72 at which point they will be able to reroute including any additional flights that are required.

Currently my itinerary is
MEL>ADL>DOH>DXB (stop)
DXB>DOH>ESB (stop)
IST>LHR (stop)

I'd consider swapping these around to go to ESB first, then DXB via IST if QR will reroute me on TK. Then onto LHR with BA.

QF rep said he'll keep an eye out on flights and call me if something comes up.

After checking availability multiple times a day some CX flights to DXB showed up yesterday so I jumped on it.

Originally I had MEL>HKG on CX104 which is the A350, however after I hung up the phone the QF agent called me back 5 minutes later saying that CX had pulled the flight and it couldn't be booked - she had also dropped my QR flight which was no longer visible to re-book. Ended up booking MEL>SYD>HKG with CX on A330's. Pretty disappointed that I'll miss out on the QR experience but at least I'll get to Dubai without any headaches.

Also changed my original DXB>DOH>ESB flight to DXB>AMM>IST with RJ and will pay for an internal flight to Anakara on TK.

After booking 11 months in advance, the last few months have been so frustrating, with pretty much every option falling through. We'll get there no, will take a little longer and on a less-superior service.

Now the big questions is, which lounge in HK is the best for a snooze on my layover from 9.30pm to 2.20am??

 

[Himeno]

Now the big questions is, which lounge in HK is the best for a snooze on my layover from 9.30pm to 2.20am??

The only lounge at HKG used by oneworld airlines that is open 24 hours is the Premium Plaza lounge, which as a 3rd party lounge is only available (based on class or status) when flying on a contracting airline (AA, AY, MH, QR, JR, S7, UL).
The CX lounges close between midnight and 0030 and open again between 0500 and 0530. The QF lounge closes at 2330 and opens again at 0930.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The CX Wing is open until the last CX departure, which may give a bit more time than 0030 depending on operations for the day.

 

[yld200]

Thanks for the heads up, looks like it'll be the wing.

 

[Berlin]

Has anyone heard anything new on this issue? Or is everyone just making peace with the situation, Qatar imports their food from Turkey and routes their airplanes around the closed airspace a bit and that's it?

It all sounded like such a big issue at first and now there seems to be silence about it in the media unless I am missing something...

 

[burmans]

A big non issue and the press have moved on.