If you are traveling from or through any airport in the Middle East this week, you will most likely face travel disruptions and cancellations.
Early Saturday morning, the United States and Israel launched missile strikes against Iran, and Iran retaliated with its own strikes not only against Israel but also against multiple U.S. allies in the region, including the United Arab Emirates. Airspace and airports were closed. throughout the region; The affected airports included two of the world’s busiest international airports, Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH).
Although some airports and airlines have resumed limited services, more than 9,500 flights have been canceled so far, affecting travelers in the Middle East and beyond.
Here is a guide on what to do if you are currently affected by the global travel crisis.
What to do if you’re stuck in the Middle East right now
As of Monday, March 2, DXB and Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) were scheduled to open with limited airport operations for a small number of flights. The DOH remains closed.
“It is critical to comply with all official directives amid renewed Iranian attacks and military activity. Travelers should be prepared to remain secure in a safe location for an extended period of time,” Healix International, a global risk assessment firm, said in a statement to TPG. “Travelers should monitor the viability of outbound travel and remain aware of the operational status of airports in all affected countries.”
We recommend registering at Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. STEP is a free service for U.S. citizens and nationals that allows you to register your travel abroad so that the U.S. Department of State can contact you quickly and accurately in the event of an emergency at the location of your travel. Once you are enrolled, you will receive updated information and alerts on next steps.
Related: How the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program Could Help You on Your Next Trip Abroad
Also, make sure your travel documents are ready in case you have the opportunity to leave earlier than expected.
For the more than 20,000 travelers stranded in the United Arab Emirates, there is a respite: on Monday, the government announced which will cover hotel and food costs while they are stuck in the country.
What to do if your flight is canceled or delayed
Unfortunately, mass flight cancellations across the region are likely to continue this week. More than 80% of scheduled flights to and from Dubai and more than half of flights to and from Abu Dhabi remained cancelled, according to flight tracking site FlightAware.
Flights from Asia and Africa, which often pass through the Middle East, may also be affected. This happened to the publisher TPG. Mackenzie Rochewho found herself stranded in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday night after Qatar Airways canceled her connecting flight home via Doha. He finally returned to New York on Monday morning after rebooking a new flight with three stops via Hong Kong; Taipei, Taiwan; and Los Angeles.
Related: Flight canceled or delayed? Here’s what to do next
Whether you’re stuck in the Middle East or struggling to figure out how to rebook a return flight that passed through a Middle Eastern airport this week, your best bet is to contact your airline before heading to the airport. If your flight is delayed or canceled this week, you should be able to receive a travel waiver from your airline to easily change your original flight or cancel it and request a refund.
The details and dates of each airline’s exemption vary, but you can find additional information on each airline’s website:
To rebook your flight home, it’s best to start with the airline’s mobile app and then try calling the call center listed on their website. If neither presented viable options, you can also try contacting the airline on X or other social media channels.
The TPG Ombudsman, Michelle Couch FriedmanNotes that if you book new flights on your own with a different airline, it’s important to cancel your original reservation.
“Sometimes airlines automatically move you to a new flight, which unfortunately results in them marking you as a no-show for that flight if you haven’t canceled it,” he said. This would void your ability to get a refund if your provider offers one.
The best tools to find a new route.
At this point, if you are trying to get home from or through any of the Middle East airports, you may want to consider doing some rerouting research of your own, as airlines are dealing with thousands of individual requests.
To start researching, TPG recommends the following options:
- Flight connections: Provides an overview of flight routes around the world.
- Google Flights: You can also help with the route if you enter your departure airport
- Frivolous: Shows flight alternatives when your original flight is canceled
If there are no options with your original airline, it is also worth asking if there are options on another airline that you have researched yourself. Please note that changing your reservation with another airline is normally not covered by any provider or insurance company. But if your original airline’s travel waiver covers you, you may at least be able to get a refund for your original ticket.
Other proactive questions to ask your airline when rebooking travel
When rebooking your flights directly through an airline, it helps to be proactive.
Here are some questions square mouthan online insurance marketplace, recommends asking:
- Do my non-refundable tickets qualify for an exemption or credit to use at a later date?
- Do you work with any partner airlines that may still be operating? Can I transfer my ticket?
Additionally, Squaremouth representatives recommend requesting that all correspondence with both the airline and your travel insurance provider be in writing, in case you need to file a claim.
What does travel insurance cover?
“Unfortunately, war is one of the things that most travel insurance policies specifically exclude, whether declared or undeclared,” Insurance Quotes said analyst Michael Gusti. “So you won’t be able to get help on that front.”
“Most airlines are going to work to reroute and divert travelers, but with airspace closed, there is only so much they can do,” Gusti continued. “If the flight is still scheduled, but you decide not to take it, it could be a smart decision, but it would also not be covered by travel insurance, because the fear of traveling is never covered.”
Couch-Friedman echoed this.
“The reality is that travelers will have to have low expectations as to what will be covered in this terrible situation,” he said. “Of course, the most important thing is safety, but getting out of there as soon as possible will be expensive and probably non-refundable. So if travelers can find a safe place to wait until the airports reopen, that might be the best option.”
Another thing to keep in mind, regarding travel insurance, is that if you book your trip from this moment on it would not be covered either, “because at this point it is a known event and therefore no travel insurance would cover it,” Gusti explained. This is similar to how named weather eventsLike hurricanes, they are managed.
However, there are some big exceptions here. For example, “Cancel for any reason” policieswhich would continue to work even in the event of war, are an option, but cost more and reimburse at a lower level than traditional policies.
“Just remember, the airline’s obligation is to get you another flight,” Gusti said. “If you avoid it and take another mode of transportation, you would be at the mercy of the airline’s cancellation policy.”
Although the majority major credit card issuers built-in offer trip delay either trip cancellation Sure if you bought your flight with that card, those policies vary widely when it comes to civil unrest or other travel disruptions, so you’ll need to reach out directly for more information.
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