Have an upcoming LHR-CGK flight for March 3, and the chat had no wait time. The rep was willing to rebook me on SQ F and went above and beyond to make it work; but no availability for 2 people.

That sucks. Were you rebooked on something else? And was that the WhatsApp chat or regular live chat? Regular live chat still appears closed to me, I also still haven't received a reply on Twitter... Just want to know if I can get a full refund if I request one before my flights are cancelled (they're before March 5, but there's conflicting info on whether the refund they refer to in their travel update is a full refund or a refund according to ticket conditions)

Just regular chat through the Emirates app. I ended up booking a backup flight on SQ way ahead, but was hoping to have EK change the flights rather than wait for a refund. I hear you about the refunds, as there is wording about fare rules on X…:but I can’t see Emirates not helping out here….

Internal memo to EK staff:

Thought so. It'll be rolling suspensions for the next few days.

Lots of aircraft need to be staged in posistion first before they can resume ops.

My mother was also affected. She wrapped up a 2 week India trip then flew EK225 (A6-EVS) on 2/28.

What’s baffling is EK215 took off 20 min earlier (A6-EUL) at 9:17am and EVS took off at 9:37am, and EK215 continued up North to LAX, but the SFO flight made 3 right turns and landed back at DXB. Such bad luck.

The good news is her flight was one of the first few which they gave them free hotels. She is safe, abiding all the orders, and having good food fed by the hotel & able to sleep.

The mental toll is real when it’s a family member.

My father is still in India so he has options. He isn’t canceling his ticket BUT we are working on a contigency plan and from what I see, CX is the best bet even though its via Colombo and a long layover in HKG. The focus is getting them back safely even with a long layover.

My mom is a teacher and fortunately her school principal was understanding and kind and contacted me.

I hope EK resumes flights soon or there is some way for her to get out of DXB even if it means connecting elsewhere in the Pacific. The reason we haven’t called EK yet is my mom is waiting to assess the options based on what EK says plus calling means lines would be tied up.

Official release is out on the EK Travel Updates page:

https://www.emirates.com/ae/english/...ravel-updates/

With the suggestion that the war will last for at least a month, this is looking like the biggest disruption to EK/EY/QR ops since the pandemic— and maybe more severe in some ways.

If there is a UAE-Iran ceasefire agreement, great. But in the fog of war, what is the risk of an errant missile targeting the wrong plane?

Just look at: Ukraine International Flight 752, accidentally shot down by Iran over Tehran in 2020– or Iran Air Flight 655, shot down by the US over the Gulf in 1988.

Not to mention Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014.

Flying near or over a war zone is potentially dangerous.

Seems there's about ~15 repatriation flights on EY for those stuck in transit, and airspace is open only along the Oman corridor, and arrival/departure points in the UAE (Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, and Al Bateen Executive Airport).

ETA relevant NOTAM:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...a9cd77aee2.png

ETA 2: EY repatriation flight list:
[image removed to protect sensitive movements]

Would there be some kind of protection for flights departing from AUH? Or maybe they'll try very steep takeoffs and sharp turns away from the gulf?

Well, if there's a ceasefire agreement, then there won't be any missiles operating in the area (that's what ceasefire means) and the risk will thus be zero. No missiles = nothing to accidentally hit anything. (But I don't consider ceasefire deal particularly likely.)

Which is why Emirates currently doesn't operate. That being said, if this becomes a prolonged conflict, I imagine some sort of service will be restored. With the exception of Ukraine, most of long-term war zones do get service because people still need to travel in and out - so countries take precautions and (local) airlines accept some level of risk. But of course if that were to happen, it would be a limited service primarily for O&D travel, not a thriving hub for connections.

Family (who booked via TA) getting pushback on a re-route for KUL-DXB-JNB and being told refund is the only option. That sounds incorrect to me based on the EK advisory?

This is absolutely terrible advice.

Under any circumstances do not apply to Emirates for a refund. If you do, that ends your entitlement for rebooking under UK261, which applies to Emirates flights departing the UK. UK261 is rebook or refund. Ask for a refund and that's your lot.

Speak to Emirates first, if you booked with them, and see if they will rebook you. There are plenty of options, Singapore Airlines are operating a normal service.

Only if they refuse to rebook should you rebook yourself.

The only waypoints open are ITRAX, SODEX, LABRI and RETAS which all go into Omani airspace.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d031146e56.png