Jun 5, 2017, 6:48 am
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
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:
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
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:
Passengers who have purchased their Qatar Airways tickets through a Travel Agency can request their refund from the issuing Travel Agent.
For tickets booked on qatarairways.com, they can:
- Go to Refund requests;
- They can approach their nearest Qatar Airways Office; or
- They can call the Qatar Airways contact Centre at +974 4022 0072
- Contact their nearest Qatar Airways Office; or
- Call Qatar Airways Contact Centre on +974 4022 0072
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.
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
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
Qatar Airways - UAE, KSA, Bahrain and Egypt withdraw licenses and close airspace
Jun 13, 2017, 6:35 am
#766
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Wonder why QR did not offer you CAI-AMM-DOH. Its a lot nearer than LHR.
Jun 13, 2017, 7:25 am
#767
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ireland
Programs: BA Gold,Amex Centurion,Marriott LT Plat Prem Elite +AMBASS,Hilton Diamond,Priority Club Plat,VS Gold
Posts: 371
I was due to fly CAI-DOH-BKK return in First this Saturday. I called last Saturday and was offered to put the ticket "on hold". This I am told allows me to use the ticket within 90 days once they reinstate the route. As they are accepting bookings for November I will most likely call up in a few weeks and move it to those dates. If the route gets reinstated next year then so be it. I didn't want the refund as the fare was so good.
Jun 13, 2017, 8:37 am
#768
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: SIN
Programs: A3 Gold, SQ KF Elite Gold, QR Gold, IB Plata, Hilton Honors Gold
Posts: 175
Flying from Europe to SE Asia via Doha didn't present any problems. The only changes I'd read of was the cancellation of one of the KUL rotations due to very low loads. This did not affect my itinerary.
These are the only things I noticed:
1) The flight time for my KUL flight (QR848) was extended by 15 minutes. This resulted in a later arrival.
2) I was not notified of the schedule change until I decided to look up my reservation on the app a few hours before departure. Only after I clicked "Accept changes" did I get a MyFlights notification.
3) Business Class on the A340-600 was packed with only 1 spare seat. Perhaps some pax were moved from the cancelled rotation?
4) Al Mourjan seemed only slightly less busy though the showers adjoining the main lounge was still full with a waiting list. Fortunately, I got one immediately at the second shower complex past the deli. I guess there's a first time for everything! I always have to wait for a shower! I'm not sure if this is because of my schedule (1130pm to 2am), Ramadan or the Qatar Crisis?
These are the only things I noticed:
1) The flight time for my KUL flight (QR848) was extended by 15 minutes. This resulted in a later arrival.
2) I was not notified of the schedule change until I decided to look up my reservation on the app a few hours before departure. Only after I clicked "Accept changes" did I get a MyFlights notification.
3) Business Class on the A340-600 was packed with only 1 spare seat. Perhaps some pax were moved from the cancelled rotation?
4) Al Mourjan seemed only slightly less busy though the showers adjoining the main lounge was still full with a waiting list. Fortunately, I got one immediately at the second shower complex past the deli. I guess there's a first time for everything! I always have to wait for a shower! I'm not sure if this is because of my schedule (1130pm to 2am), Ramadan or the Qatar Crisis?
Jun 13, 2017, 8:42 am
#769
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,079
Your wonderful words on Kuwait encouraged me to ask QR to put me on the afternoon flight from DOH to KWI meaning 11 hours in the DOH first Class Lounge rather than 12 hours in whatever they have at KWI.
They tried to pull the "you have already accepted yesterday your free routing change so will have to pay $US80 change fee" trick. Needless to say I convinced them otherwise
They tried to pull the "you have already accepted yesterday your free routing change so will have to pay $US80 change fee" trick. Needless to say I convinced them otherwise
Jun 13, 2017, 8:54 am
#770
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,079
CAI-LHR-DOH been offered as alternative for CAI-DOH:
Just to share what been offered by QR..I have CAI-OSL with a 7 days DOH stop over. Since during the STO i do have other flights to other ME countries who sanctioned QR - those on diff PNR's , i tried and failed to seek more clarity regards which potential solution they would offer -1st leg is in 4 days hence called QR in Americas (tried once at DOH and been told to wait for the 3day window - no further comments).. While on phone with Americas QR customer support i believe that due to nature of my ticket multi cities & Stop-over DOH, the operator insisted in 'Full Refund' which i dont want for now (running out of time so forced myself today and already booked a plan B but will wait to get QR solution) for which they tried a couple of inconvenient MCT-DOH and DOH-KWI which wouldnt work due to my DXB connections, availability and timing. so they end up offering J BA CAI-DOH via London as alternative for the CAI-DOH! Both BA tickets but the LHR-DOH to be on QR metal and DOH-OSL per booked ticket.. found it interesting however due to time limitation, office needs and many fights in pipeline i end up not taking...
Just to share what been offered by QR..I have CAI-OSL with a 7 days DOH stop over. Since during the STO i do have other flights to other ME countries who sanctioned QR - those on diff PNR's , i tried and failed to seek more clarity regards which potential solution they would offer -1st leg is in 4 days hence called QR in Americas (tried once at DOH and been told to wait for the 3day window - no further comments).. While on phone with Americas QR customer support i believe that due to nature of my ticket multi cities & Stop-over DOH, the operator insisted in 'Full Refund' which i dont want for now (running out of time so forced myself today and already booked a plan B but will wait to get QR solution) for which they tried a couple of inconvenient MCT-DOH and DOH-KWI which wouldnt work due to my DXB connections, availability and timing. so they end up offering J BA CAI-DOH via London as alternative for the CAI-DOH! Both BA tickets but the LHR-DOH to be on QR metal and DOH-OSL per booked ticket.. found it interesting however due to time limitation, office needs and many fights in pipeline i end up not taking...
Jun 13, 2017, 9:13 am
#772
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: FB Gold, Accor Platinum.
Posts: 47
In contrast to other people, I have had a terrible experience with Qatar, I have waited as they requested, but now 24 hours before my scheduled flight they have refused point blank to reroute me or provide anything other than a refund, or the option of being re-routed and dumped in Muscat.
My ticket was from KUL-DOH-LXR, tomorrow, returning in one months time LXR-DOH-CRK. Ticket class "N", though I paid to upgrade the DOH-LXR sector to Business (R) when they offered via an e-mail a couple of weeks ago.
I am currently staying in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, my home is in the UK, and I have a hotel in Luxor booked, prepaid, non-refundable for one month starting in two days time.
When I saw that my trip status had changed from "Confirmed" to "Not Confirmed" a few days ago I phoned the Qatar head office number and was told to phone back within 24 hours of my flight and something would be arranged.
Not happy with this I phoned London last night and was told the same, I was assured that everything was OK, the reason for the 24 hour limit was due to their agreements with regional airline partners not allowing confirmed re-routes outside this 24h window.
Now, 23 hours before my flight I phoned the London office again and was told that there is no availability to Luxor for the next few days.
I was reasonable, I offered to fly to Cairo instead but was refused, I offered to fly to ISTANBUL, but there was no availability. I pointed out that I could book a flight from KUL to IST on the Qatar Airways website using the same first flight number and date as on my ticket, but was told that there was no availability for my ticket to be re-routed to Istanbul because of the "rules and regulations he needed to follow". He implied these were international IATA rules but refused to confirm this.
Total phone call time was 1h 27m.
EDIT: Booked myself to Cairo with Turkish Airlines.
Christ I neeed a beer!
My ticket was from KUL-DOH-LXR, tomorrow, returning in one months time LXR-DOH-CRK. Ticket class "N", though I paid to upgrade the DOH-LXR sector to Business (R) when they offered via an e-mail a couple of weeks ago.
I am currently staying in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, my home is in the UK, and I have a hotel in Luxor booked, prepaid, non-refundable for one month starting in two days time.
When I saw that my trip status had changed from "Confirmed" to "Not Confirmed" a few days ago I phoned the Qatar head office number and was told to phone back within 24 hours of my flight and something would be arranged.
Not happy with this I phoned London last night and was told the same, I was assured that everything was OK, the reason for the 24 hour limit was due to their agreements with regional airline partners not allowing confirmed re-routes outside this 24h window.
Now, 23 hours before my flight I phoned the London office again and was told that there is no availability to Luxor for the next few days.
I was reasonable, I offered to fly to Cairo instead but was refused, I offered to fly to ISTANBUL, but there was no availability. I pointed out that I could book a flight from KUL to IST on the Qatar Airways website using the same first flight number and date as on my ticket, but was told that there was no availability for my ticket to be re-routed to Istanbul because of the "rules and regulations he needed to follow". He implied these were international IATA rules but refused to confirm this.
Total phone call time was 1h 27m.
EDIT: Booked myself to Cairo with Turkish Airlines.
Christ I neeed a beer!
Last edited by Davee58; Jun 13, 2017 at 1:09 pm Reason: update
Jun 13, 2017, 10:12 am
#773
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,671
Jun 13, 2017, 1:20 pm
#774
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: Qatar Airways Privilege Club Platinum; Accor Le Club Platinum
Posts: 1,079
Interesting. Egypt has just announced that airlines not registered in Egypt or Qatar would be able to use Egyptian Airspace and fly between the two countries. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/0...105550769.html
I wonder if Qatar Airways will be creative enough to wet lease a few planes to fly those routes!?
I wonder if Qatar Airways will be creative enough to wet lease a few planes to fly those routes!?
Jun 13, 2017, 6:30 pm
#777
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Brunei
Programs: Enrich Sapphire. Kris Flyer Silver.Le Club Accorhotels,Starwood.
Posts: 2,201
In contrast to other people, I have had a terrible experience with Qatar, I have waited as they requested, but now 24 hours before my scheduled flight they have refused point blank to reroute me or provide anything other than a refund, or the option of being re-routed and dumped in Muscat.
My ticket was from KUL-DOH-LXR, tomorrow, returning in one months time LXR-DOH-CRK. Ticket class "N", though I paid to upgrade the DOH-LXR sector to Business (R) when they offered via an e-mail a couple of weeks ago.
I am currently staying in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, my home is in the UK, and I have a hotel in Luxor booked, prepaid, non-refundable for one month starting in two days time.
When I saw that my trip status had changed from "Confirmed" to "Not Confirmed" a few days ago I phoned the Qatar head office number and was told to phone back within 24 hours of my flight and something would be arranged.
Not happy with this I phoned London last night and was told the same, I was assured that everything was OK, the reason for the 24 hour limit was due to their agreements with regional airline partners not allowing confirmed re-routes outside this 24h window.
Now, 23 hours before my flight I phoned the London office again and was told that there is no availability to Luxor for the next few days.
I was reasonable, I offered to fly to Cairo instead but was refused, I offered to fly to ISTANBUL, but there was no availability. I pointed out that I could book a flight from KUL to IST on the Qatar Airways website using the same first flight number and date as on my ticket, but was told that there was no availability for my ticket to be re-routed to Istanbul because of the "rules and regulations he needed to follow". He implied these were international IATA rules but refused to confirm this.
Total phone call time was 1h 27m.
EDIT: Booked myself to Cairo with Turkish Airlines.
Christ I neeed a beer!
My ticket was from KUL-DOH-LXR, tomorrow, returning in one months time LXR-DOH-CRK. Ticket class "N", though I paid to upgrade the DOH-LXR sector to Business (R) when they offered via an e-mail a couple of weeks ago.
I am currently staying in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, my home is in the UK, and I have a hotel in Luxor booked, prepaid, non-refundable for one month starting in two days time.
When I saw that my trip status had changed from "Confirmed" to "Not Confirmed" a few days ago I phoned the Qatar head office number and was told to phone back within 24 hours of my flight and something would be arranged.
Not happy with this I phoned London last night and was told the same, I was assured that everything was OK, the reason for the 24 hour limit was due to their agreements with regional airline partners not allowing confirmed re-routes outside this 24h window.
Now, 23 hours before my flight I phoned the London office again and was told that there is no availability to Luxor for the next few days.
I was reasonable, I offered to fly to Cairo instead but was refused, I offered to fly to ISTANBUL, but there was no availability. I pointed out that I could book a flight from KUL to IST on the Qatar Airways website using the same first flight number and date as on my ticket, but was told that there was no availability for my ticket to be re-routed to Istanbul because of the "rules and regulations he needed to follow". He implied these were international IATA rules but refused to confirm this.
Total phone call time was 1h 27m.
EDIT: Booked myself to Cairo with Turkish Airlines.
Christ I neeed a beer!
I would have gone to the airline office since you are in KL and sorted it out face to face. I find you get problems solved sometimes better in that manner than via the phone.
Hope it worked out for you though. I can imagine how fustrated it was for you. Especially if they had seats but we insisting on you not being able to fly via Istanbul.
Jun 13, 2017, 9:56 pm
#778
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: FB Gold, Accor Platinum.
Posts: 47
Did you get a full refund then after all that?
I would have gone to the airline office since you are in KL and sorted it out face to face. I find you get problems solved sometimes better in that manner than via the phone.
Hope it worked out for you though. I can imagine how fustrated it was for you. Especially if they had seats but we insisting on you not being able to fly via Istanbul.
I would have gone to the airline office since you are in KL and sorted it out face to face. I find you get problems solved sometimes better in that manner than via the phone.
Hope it worked out for you though. I can imagine how fustrated it was for you. Especially if they had seats but we insisting on you not being able to fly via Istanbul.
I was up late into the night checking alternate flights and finally managed to book a last minute KUL-IST-CAI on Turkish, flying down to Luxor on Egyptair and arriving three hours after my original scheduled time.
As far as the Qatar office in KL, I went down there on Monday as I obviously wanted to get matters resolved earlier than 24 hours before the flight. The office was closed all day for Nazul Al Quran.
Jun 13, 2017, 10:10 pm
#779
Join Date: Apr 2003
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interesting. Egypt has just announced that airlines not registered in egypt or qatar would be able to use egyptian airspace and fly between the two countries. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/0...105550769.html
i wonder if qatar airways will be creative enough to wet lease a few planes to fly those routes!?
i wonder if qatar airways will be creative enough to wet lease a few planes to fly those routes!?
Jun 13, 2017, 10:25 pm
#780
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