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Qatar Airways - UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Egypt withdraw licenses and close airspace

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Old Jun 5, 2017, 6:48 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: plunet
Wiki last updated: 21 July 2017 18:00 UTC

Summary of key traveller experiences and feedback on this forum since Mid-June
  • Policy statement (link) for the travel industry issued 15th June 2017
  • Refund is always an option, but very varied experiences of how quickly the refund is processed, from a few days to "still waiting". Some experiences of passengers being pressurised into taking refunds when this is not necessary if you can wait.
  • If you want to reroute from a closed destination to another middle east destination still served by QR, you might be able to do this as early as 30 days from 1st sector, although we have had reports of rerouting at 6 weeks out.
  • Where QR have to reroute onto other carriers, long haul reroutes typically onto BA, CX and TK seem to be quoted most often. In the Gulf region ME, KU, WY are quoted most often. Although RJ is a OneWorld carrier and should be a parter for QR, they are not accepting QR rerouted tickets.
  • Status of reservations for travel to affected destinations typically changes to "Unconfirmed" 7 days ahead of travel.
  • If your booking was via a 3rd party or agent you probably can't get Qatar to change the ticket until 72 hours before the first sector. 3rd parties and agents seem to be offering refunds rather than rerouting, although there has been some success if you can show them the QR rebooking policy document.
  • There has been a very mixed bag of reports of how QR are handling rebooking. Some people have no luck getting itineraries changed before 72 hours before departure, but others do. So some good advice is to always be polite but if you don't get what you want, then thank the agent for their time and HUACA (hang up and call again) - preferably after you have had a drink and have calmed down, and maybe calling a different office.

Some specific data points from other travellers:
(but there is a lot more valuable information if you can trawl back through the thread)

#753 CAI-LHR-DOH been offered as alternative for ex-CAI 4 days prior to 1st sector.
#772 KUL-DOH-LXR reroute to CAI and IST refused
#792 AUH-DOH-DPS by QR rebooked to DXB-HKG-DPS by CX
#794 Australia-DOH-HBE rebooked as DOH-BEY on QR on 2nd attempt.
#808 CAI>DOH>BOS>DOH>CAI rebooked to KRT and date change
#818 SYD-DOH-CAI changed to SYD-DOH-KWI-CAI, layovers optimed and +Qatar stopover
#830 and #840 Economy ICN-DOH-DXB rebooked onto CX ICN-HKG-DXB
#849 ex-CAI ininaries changed to ex-AMM but needed to HUACA a few times.
#856 CAI-DOH-BKK changed to FCO-DOH-BKK all on QR
#868 DFW-DOH-HBE changed to DFW-DOH-LCA all on QR 2 weeks out.
#906 Unable to get LXR-DOH-HKG-BNE rerouted until 72 hours prior
#927 CAI-DOH-BKK rebooked onto CAI-BAH-AMM on Gulf DOH-BKK (on QR) and return back to AMM
#966 DXB-DOH (award ticket) was changed to DXB-KWI-DOH on Kuwait+QR 48hrs in advance
#966 DOH-CAI (2 award tickets) were changed to DOH-BEY on QR 48 hours advance
#966 CAI-DOH-MUC (paid business) were changed to BEY-DOH-MUC 72 hours advance
#981 HKT-DOH-DWC (J/F tix) change to HKT-DOH-KWI all on QR 10 days out.
#985 ex-LXR ticket rerouted by OTA as CAI-BEY-DOH outside the 72 hr window
#1004 BKK-DOH-CAI in F rebooked as BKK-DOH-BEY in QR F, BEY-CAI in C on ME
#1005 HEL-DOH-DXB rebooked HEL-DOH-MCT on QR and MCT-DXB on Oman once ticket status went to unconfirmed.
#1057 MAN-DOH-DXB rebooked as MAN-LHR-DXB on BA (had to HUACA 3 times)
#1141 Multiple ex-CAI itineraries CAI-DOK-BKK return in J, CAI-DOH-LHR return in J, CAI-DOH-BKK single in F changed to all be ex-KWI. Had to HUACA 3 times.
#1157 LXR-DOH-NRT booked in January, flight changed to CAI-DOH-NRT
#1172 Rebooked CAI-(F)-DOH(J)-BKK to CAI-(C/ME)-BEY-(F)-DOH-(C)-BKK at 77hrs from departure
#1173 Rebooked at QR office HBE-DOH-DPS to HBE-IST-DOH-DPS on TK/TK/QR and improved timing on DOS-DPS segment

Offical guidance from QR website as of mid July:

Passengers who have purchased their tickets from Qatar Airways have the following options to refund their tickets:

For tickets booked on qatarairways.com, they can:
  1. Go to Refund requests;
  2. They can approach their nearest Qatar Airways Office; or
  3. They can call the Qatar Airways contact Centre at +974 4022 0072
For tickets booked through a Qatar Airways Office or through the Contact Centre, passengers can
  1. Contact their nearest Qatar Airways Office; or
  2. Call Qatar Airways Contact Centre on +974 4022 0072
The refund will be made to the original form of payment and the refund will be processed within 14 - 28 days.
Passengers who have purchased their Qatar Airways tickets through a Travel Agency can request their refund from the issuing Travel Agent.
Within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kingdom of Bahrain and Egypt please use: https://refundsapp1.blueivysync.com/...er-refund.html

This is a different web form as the Qatar website is blocked from some of these countries.
For further information and FAQs please visit: http://support.qatarairways.com/hc/e...002369667-FAQs
What Happened

On the 6th of June flights from Qatar to Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (and vice versa) were suspended.

This includes all Qatar flights between Doha and Abu Dhabi, Abha, Alexandria–Borg el Arab, Bahrain, Buraydah, Cairo, Dammam, Dubai–Al Maktoum, Dubai–International, Gassim, Hofuf, Jeddah, Luxor, Madinah, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh, Sharjah, Tabuk, Ta'if and Yanbu.

Adding to this at 00:00 (UTC) on the 6th of June restrictions were put in place limiting flights to Doha to one particular corridor through the airspace of Bahrain. This has since been relaxed to two specific corridors through Bahrain airspace with a second corridor up the Saudi Arabia the new addition.

All other flights to other Qatar Airways destinations including the Maldives are still operating although some have delays due to the extended time required to avoid restricted airspace.

There are a couple of routes that are having to make fuel stops in Athens or Muscat but this seems to be dependent on the type of aircraft as well.

Details on the Airspace can be found here - https://www.flightradar24.com/blog/f...ain-and-egypt/

What about my Flights to other destinations?

Flights to Europe, Asia, Pacific and Norte America are operating as per schedule with minimal delays. There is no need to contact QR regarding these services.

Flights between Doha and Souto America are facing delays due to longer times and/or need for a technical stop-over. Flights to GRU and EZE are 2hr to 5hrs longer.

Flight between Doha and Africa/Middle East have longer flights times due to the airspace restrictions. Some routes like Doha to Khartoum have felt the full force of the restrictions with the flight now taking 2hr 30 mins longer than normal.

Qatar has begun to re-time flights to ensure the network continues running smoothly. Changes have been since Monday 12 June 2017, so it is advised to check your flight status and times on the Qatar website.


What about my flight to a suspended destination?

If you are due to fly in the next few days, search for alternative routings and note them down.

24 hours before your scheduled departure time, contact your LOCAL QR office, and ask for their assistance. Advise them that you have found an alternative routing which you would be willing to accept and see if they will book it for you.

If you are due to fly more than 5 days from today, try and relax. Do not panic and please do not call QR as you are blocking the lines for those flying in the next 24 hours. At this stage, Qatar is only offering options to those who are traveling in the next 24 hours.

Currently, people in the thread have suggested that Qatar is rebooking on flights through Muscat, Kuwait, Amman, Istanbul, Mumbai, Beirut, Athens and Tunis.

You can only get a refund if your booking is to one of the destinations listed at the top! (The number of people asking QR on Twitter for a refund of other flights is amazing)

What about other airlines?

Most other carriers in and out of Doha are still operating except for Air Arabia, Air Arabia Egypt, Air Cairo, EgyptAir, Emirates, Etihad, FlyDubai, Rotana Jet and Saudia.

Most other carriers are using the new restricted routes into Doha although provided the aircraft is not registered in Qatar they are allowed to use the Saudi Arabia or Egypt Airspace.

Timeline of Events:


5 June 2017

- UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Egypt withdraw licenses and close airspace
- All MS flights between CAI and DOH was zeroed out
- All GF flights between BAH and DOH closed for sale
- All QR flights between DOH and CAI closed for sale
- All QR staff travel was canceled

6 June 2017

- Airspace Restriction came into effect at 00:00 (UTC)
- All QR flights between DOH and UAE/Bahrain/KSA closed for sale
- QR flights between DOH and MLE still bookable
- QR Charters 3 aircraft from Jeddah to Muscat

7 June 2017
- QR Charters an aircraft from Jeddah to Kuwait

8 June 2017
- Qatar Airways website blocked in the UAE
- Qatar Airways offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain close

11 June 2017
- Second flight corridor added along the Saudi Arabia Coast

13 June 2017
- UAE Relaxes rules allowing non Qatari registered aircraft to use their airspace to/from Qatar but they are still not allowing flights between the UAE and Qatar from any operators.
- Egypt Relaxes rules allowing non Qatari registered aircraft to use their airspace to/from Qatar. The new rules also allow for non Qatar or Egypt registered aircraft to operate flights between the two countries.

14 June 2017
- Agreement between QR and BA/A3 on reticketing passengers (link below)



Further information:
- QR Travel Alert http://support.qatarairways.com/hc/e...bile_site=true
- QR FAQs http://support.qatarairways.com/hc/e...002369667-FAQs
- QR Charter flights arranged from Jeddah KSA to Muscat Oman http://support.qatarairways.com/hc/e...Muscat-to-Doha
- QR agreement with BA & A3 to reticket their flights http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/qatar...r-help-qr.html
- Political background and latest updates: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40155829
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Qatar Airways - UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Egypt withdraw licenses and close airspace

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Old Aug 15, 2017, 12:17 am
  #1351  
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They keep saying they can't change my ticket as the ticket involves other carriers - my only option is full refund. This is the third time I was told this!
That sounds like total BS, especially if I am not changing any of the other carriers...
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Old Aug 15, 2017, 12:39 am
  #1352  
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Data Point:

Requested a cancellation and refund on a future booking. Refund Email received within 48 hours, and funds back onto my credit card 3 days later. 7 Days processing time in total.
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Old Aug 15, 2017, 12:47 am
  #1353  
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Progress, they offered a flight via Kuwait, with 13 hours of extra flying time, and in economy... Said NOOOOOO
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Old Aug 15, 2017, 12:33 pm
  #1354  
 
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I have a 3rd party booking where QR canceled some segments a week out. I called 72h before the flight but was told (several times) and QR won't rebook and that I need to talk the the issuing carrier. I've rebooked by calling the issuing carrier and had to pay $600+ in fees. Did anybody have any luck getting this money back from QR? The online refund process doesn't work and I am looking for an email address.
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Old Aug 15, 2017, 10:07 pm
  #1355  
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Re-routed an ex-DWC F/J booking DWC-DOH-HKT to a: DXB-IST-DOH-HKT all in Business on QR except DXB-IST on TK. This was the only option “available”. A circuitous route to say the least but hopefully a nice day out, with decent connections, all on long- haul aircraft
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Old Aug 16, 2017, 1:54 am
  #1356  
 
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Originally Posted by El_Duderito
I have a 3rd party booking where QR canceled some segments a week out. I called 72h before the flight but was told (several times) and QR won't rebook and that I need to talk the the issuing carrier. I've rebooked by calling the issuing carrier and had to pay $600+ in fees. Did anybody have any luck getting this money back from QR? The online refund process doesn't work and I am looking for an email address.
This sounds weird. I hold an AA ticket where QR cancelled CAI-DOH. I was rerouted on BA CAI-LON-MOW (instead of CAI-DOH-MOW on QR). Another option was EY which is better service but not One World...

Now QR cancelled the part of the inbound too But i did not bother with rerouting yet as its in April 2018 and is after long stopover in Moscow.

Involuntary rerouting is at the expense of the issuing carrier, not a passenger.
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Old Aug 17, 2017, 1:26 am
  #1357  
 
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Have any of the other UAE residents on this board booked flights on QR since the embargo (out of/into MCT/KWI, for example)? I just wondered if there would be any issues paying for such a ticket with my UAE Citibank credit card.
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Old Aug 17, 2017, 5:02 am
  #1358  
 
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Originally Posted by Work-Shy
Have any of the other UAE residents on this board booked flights on QR since the embargo (out of/into MCT/KWI, for example)? I just wondered if there would be any issues paying for such a ticket with my UAE Citibank credit card.
Qatar (as in the country) keep public stating they will not be discriminating against any of the nationals/residents from the blockade countries (hence the QR no boundaries video!)
The UAE banks, may however, have some sort of block on any sort of payment to Qatari companies.
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Old Aug 17, 2017, 5:11 am
  #1359  
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Originally Posted by Work-Shy
Have any of the other UAE residents on this board booked flights on QR since the embargo (out of/into MCT/KWI, for example)? I just wondered if there would be any issues paying for such a ticket with my UAE Citibank credit card.
No, I haven’t. Good point about UAE banks though @:-)

Franky, I am just not booking any more QR flights until this mess is suitably resolved. It’s not QR that caused this of course but sadly they have lost some recent Business Class bookings of mine to SQ & CX because I need their reliability of date/time/routing etc. Their back office isn’t helping matters either
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Old Aug 18, 2017, 12:47 am
  #1360  
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I just came off the phone with the HKG office and they were super helpful. (So different to the other centres I have spoken to).

- Ticket 1
CAI-DOH-BKK-DOH-CAI is now AMM-DOH-BKK-DOH-AMM. Was offered Beirut from Cairo but declined. 30 October / 3 November. Now to decide on a Ł400+ RJ business ticket or 18,000 Avios plus Ł280 in taxes.
- Ticket 2
CAI-DOH-AHU-DOH-CAI is cancelled and refund requested. Just not enough time on the trip to do it when rebooked.

So a good'ish outcome.

Just to confirm other reports that seats are released when the booking becomes 'Not Confirmed' as I had to rebook all of mine and re-enter passport data on re-issue.

Phew!
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Old Aug 20, 2017, 2:28 am
  #1361  
NoY
 
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Just re-routed a HKT-DOH-DWC (September) to HKT-DOH-MCT all on QR metal and will book MCT-AUH separately on my own dime. Otherwise wait until less than 72 hours or accept bad connections via IST or KWI. Just a March 2018 booking left to change now, thank god. Hello, CX, SQ, EY.
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Old Aug 21, 2017, 6:46 pm
  #1362  
 
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Originally Posted by nufnuf77
Progress, they offered a flight via Kuwait, with 13 hours of extra flying time, and in economy... Said NOOOOOO
Thats the opposite to the famous line in "The Godfather".
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Old Aug 22, 2017, 7:35 am
  #1363  
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Spotted this earlier which did make me chuckle - http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/e...airways-flight

M
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Old Aug 22, 2017, 8:48 am
  #1364  
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Originally Posted by msm2000uk
Spotted this earlier which did make me chuckle - http://www.khaleejtimes.com/nation/e...airways-flight

M
I don't know if you are aware just how well supported the UAE government's position is regarding Qatar.

The man on the Deira omnibus may well have been fed some elements of fake-news, but he dislikes and mistrusts Doha.
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Old Aug 23, 2017, 12:03 am
  #1365  
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
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After multiple unsuccessful attempts with the Indian and US reservation desks, I was able to change a CMB-DOH-CAI-DOH-CMB to CMB-DOH-AMM-DOH-CMB and a nested CAI-DOH-JNB-DOH-CAI to AMM-DOH-JNB-DOH-AMM, after speaking to the HKG reservations desk.

The Indian and US teams gave conflicting, constantly changing, information and in a couple of instances were borderline incompetent, whereas the HKG agent was clued in and helpful.

The only slightly sour note was the HKG agent volunteering that one of my DOH layovers qualified for STPC, which I knew was incorrect based on the advice posted on this forum. Sure enough, I got an email 30 min later stating that I was not eligible.

I would echo the advice posted up thread that the HKG office is the one to call if you need to reroute.
awarty is offline  


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