Hi guys - apologies if this has been covered.

Emirates is cancelling all flights between 25 march and 25 june. The airline however is refusing to give a refund. They are willing to give a voucher for my economy non refundable ticket but no refund. Are they allowed to do so?

They were actively giving refunds up until tuesday last week but I couldn't get through. Their policy has changed.

I understand why they want to issue vouchers but the question here is can I force them to give me a refund because they are cancelling?

Well, to be fair, EK management have got to deal with their own company’s viability but also with the inputs from a hundred or so counties, not in the least their own which has just closed down their home base. I have some sympathy here.

Well looks like the UAE authorities do not communicate decisions in advance, surely EK would have stuck to their original message/plan had it not been for requests from governments to assist in repatriation..Everywhere, countries are changing their restrictions so fast, it’s hard to keep tracks. HK and SIN now also clamping down. SQ apparently has 98% of their fleet grounded..

If you're in the EU (and it looks like you are), then yes. You can force them to issue a full refund under EU regulations. If they refuse, and you've paid by credit card, then ask the credit card company to do a charge back.

I'm in a similar situation, although slightly more complex. I have a multi-city trip in May: LHR-DXB, spend a few days there, then DXB-HAN, spend a few days there then return home HAN-DXB/DXB-LHR.

Emirates has cancelled the Hanoi part: DXB-HAN and HAN-DXB. But they've left the LHR-DXB and DXB-LHR legs alone. I'm hoping I can get a full refund as I really don't want to travel now.

On the Travel Voucher web page you currently still have the option to either request a voucher or a refund (option is at bottom of web page).

Went to talk to Emirates again just now, no full refund even if they are the ones who cancelled the flight. So for those outside EU, prepare for a long battle.

Can you advise where you saw it is up til 25th June? I thought it was for 2 weeks?

Spoke to Emirates twice today, and both times been refused a full refund for our cancelled ex-EU flights, as UK residents. Have been left with no choice but to pursue a chargeback with MasterCard

I will be opening one up with Amex too.

This is dangerous.

Selecting that option will give people a refund minus cancellation penalties. Am sure many people will have selected this option and not get what they wanted.

If it's an unused ticket and bought with a credit card then its fairly straightforward.

AMEX were very good when I did this .

The problem is when you have already used part of the ticket or if you have booked via a TA

The problem I faced is that the Emirates Customer Service Agent said I would be waivered for any cancellation fees.
If they process it and deduct fees I have informed Amex and they said Emirates should listen back to their recorded calls and follow through.

All airlines of course prefer to issue travel vouchers with up to 12 months validity (cash flow) but the majority of them also do offer refunds (LX for example is desperately trying to avoid doing so, but that’s another topic). The situation is so fluid and fast moving and airlines just try to catch up as fast as they can.

This is a force majeure situation, none of the airlines purposely cancel their flights, they are forced to do so by circumstances beyond their control (COVID-19 and worldwide travel restrictions).

I have handed a claim to my travel insurance (not EK related) and hope to get a reimbursement for deducted fees on a refund.

Good. The more people that do this, the sooner Emirates will change this ridiculous policy.

I believe Emirates will be charged a fee on top of the refund for the charge back.