QR Airspace
Jan 10, 2020, 9:20 am
#91
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: QR PC Platinum, TK M&S elite, UA silver, ITA Voltaire Executive (lol), Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,154
At this point I don’t think any of QRs routings that fly over southern Iran are worrisome. I am a bit anxious about flying over Iraq (a route that pretty much all QR flights from Europe and the US take), especially Shia majority areas. Iran’s next step is going to be using their proxy forces to retaliate against the US (the last attacks were just a show of force that intentionally caused no casualties so as to give trump an off ramp). Those Shia proxy forces in Iraq are notoriously unpredictable and are seeing red after the us strikes that killed Souliemani (remember along with Souliemani one of their leaders were killed too). With that being said, always remember the chances of anything happening to you in flight is still extremely slim and your greatest threat on a QR flight is getting an erratic Uber driver that leads to an accident on the way to the airport.
Jan 10, 2020, 10:44 am
#92
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,771
Jan 10, 2020, 12:10 pm
#93
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,446
Apologies for jumping in here, I normally live in the BA Exec Club forum. Most of my flights are BA due to routing via LHR from EDI. However several times per year I fly QR from EDI to DOH and DOH to BLR, and will be doing exactly that in 10 days from now. I've read the comments above re: Southern part of Iran, but I'm still getting a bit concerned that the region is going through some turbulent times. QR seem to indicate BAU, but does anyone here think I'm crazy (or not crazy) by planning EDI DOH and DOH BLR during this time of uncertainty? My last trip there (September), if I recall correctly, flew over both Iran and Iraq.
Many thanks.
Many thanks.
Jan 10, 2020, 12:21 pm
#94
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 409
i think we are a bit overreacting. if there would be a clear treat of danger qatar would not fly through iran/iraq. at least those are my thoughts when i try to rational the fact that im 100% flying through iraq and iran on next thursday.
Lufthansa cancelled and reverted the plane last night mid-flight (i cannot post links due to a new account, but check flight 'DLH600' (fra - ika) on flightradar) which is worrying, so i am basically waiting for european airlines to start flying through those regions again and that will make me feel better.
did any airline/agency release an official explanation why are they not flying through those regions (reasons are obvious, of course.. but would be good to see something written)
Lufthansa cancelled and reverted the plane last night mid-flight (i cannot post links due to a new account, but check flight 'DLH600' (fra - ika) on flightradar) which is worrying, so i am basically waiting for european airlines to start flying through those regions again and that will make me feel better.
did any airline/agency release an official explanation why are they not flying through those regions (reasons are obvious, of course.. but would be good to see something written)
1. FAA (US) banned US carriers from flying over Iranian/Iraqi airspace
2. BA flight departing from Turkey that had a flight path over the airspace was diverted
3. Singapore Airlines flying longer route to avoid the airspace
4. What I believe is the equivalent of the FAA in the EU advised European carriers not to fly over that airspace
5. Tehran plane crash.
Now, I agree that chances are slim to none of my QR flight getting shot down by a missile, but nevertheless I was nervous. I was also nervous that QR may cancel some flights for whatever reason. Combined with the fact that I don’t particularly like the Doha airport AND I found a cheap fare (more on that later), it was a no brainer for me to cancel. I had been willing to eat my QR fare which I thought was non-refundable but I was pleasantly surprised that it was mostly refundable.
For those interested, I was due to fly JFK-DOH-KUL. I cancelled and rebooked myself on AA-marketed CX flight JFK-HKG-KUL (which is my normal flight anyway). I paid a $465 cancellation fee on a flight that cost ~$3,200, AA/CX flight I rebooked was $2,200 so I was lucky to actually come out ahead. And I have no idea why AA was selling J seats for so cheap.
I’m not sure I would have cancelled if that AA fare wasn’t staring me in the face (these flights are typically $5,900, MAYBE $4,500-$5,000 if I were lucky).
*Edited to add that all this was through Amex Platinum Travel.
Jan 10, 2020, 1:18 pm
#95
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Great Britain
Programs: Air: QR Silver. BA Silver Emirates, Hotels: CC Gold, IHG Spire AMB, Hilton Diamond.
Posts: 1,487
Aren't they still in a blockade situation with all their other neighbours ?
And.....Iran seem to have accidentally shot down a Ukrainian plane in this airspace :-(
Last edited by Sisyphus1carus; Jan 10, 2020 at 1:26 pm
Jan 10, 2020, 3:00 pm
#96
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Programs: QR PC Platinum, TK M&S elite, UA silver, ITA Voltaire Executive (lol), Marriott Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,154
My 2cents as someone who cancelled my QR flight today. Everyone is entitled to do what’s best for them and if you feel nervous about it then cancel. My reason for cancelling:
1. FAA (US) banned US carriers from flying over Iranian/Iraqi airspace
2. BA flight departing from Turkey that had a flight path over the airspace was diverted
3. Singapore Airlines flying longer route to avoid the airspace
4. What I believe is the equivalent of the FAA in the EU advised European carriers not to fly over that airspace
5. Tehran plane crash.
Now, I agree that chances are slim to none of my QR flight getting shot down by a missile, but nevertheless I was nervous. I was also nervous that QR may cancel some flights for whatever reason. Combined with the fact that I don’t particularly like the Doha airport AND I found a cheap fare (more on that later), it was a no brainer for me to cancel. I had been willing to eat my QR fare which I thought was non-refundable but I was pleasantly surprised that it was mostly refundable.
For those interested, I was due to fly JFK-DOH-KUL. I cancelled and rebooked myself on AA-marketed CX flight JFK-HKG-KUL (which is my normal flight anyway). I paid a $465 cancellation fee on a flight that cost ~$3,200, AA/CX flight I rebooked was $2,200 so I was lucky to actually come out ahead. And I have no idea why AA was selling J seats for so cheap.
I’m not sure I would have cancelled if that AA fare wasn’t staring me in the face (these flights are typically $5,900, MAYBE $4,500-$5,000 if I were lucky).
*Edited to add that all this was through Amex Platinum Travel.
1. FAA (US) banned US carriers from flying over Iranian/Iraqi airspace
2. BA flight departing from Turkey that had a flight path over the airspace was diverted
3. Singapore Airlines flying longer route to avoid the airspace
4. What I believe is the equivalent of the FAA in the EU advised European carriers not to fly over that airspace
5. Tehran plane crash.
Now, I agree that chances are slim to none of my QR flight getting shot down by a missile, but nevertheless I was nervous. I was also nervous that QR may cancel some flights for whatever reason. Combined with the fact that I don’t particularly like the Doha airport AND I found a cheap fare (more on that later), it was a no brainer for me to cancel. I had been willing to eat my QR fare which I thought was non-refundable but I was pleasantly surprised that it was mostly refundable.
For those interested, I was due to fly JFK-DOH-KUL. I cancelled and rebooked myself on AA-marketed CX flight JFK-HKG-KUL (which is my normal flight anyway). I paid a $465 cancellation fee on a flight that cost ~$3,200, AA/CX flight I rebooked was $2,200 so I was lucky to actually come out ahead. And I have no idea why AA was selling J seats for so cheap.
I’m not sure I would have cancelled if that AA fare wasn’t staring me in the face (these flights are typically $5,900, MAYBE $4,500-$5,000 if I were lucky).
*Edited to add that all this was through Amex Platinum Travel.
Jan 10, 2020, 4:12 pm
#97
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Travel Safety/Security & Texas, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: AUS / GRK
Programs: AA, HHonors, Hertz
Posts: 13,484
I'm flying DFW-DOH-ADL next week. If the flights are going, then I'll be on them.
I can't say that I won't be a little worried, especially in the last/first ~2 hours, but heck I was in the Army when I was younger, looked over the DMZ into North Korea from several vantage points and survived. QR must have about 30 flights a day between the US and DOH, and I have yet to hear of an issue with any of them.
I can't say that I won't be a little worried, especially in the last/first ~2 hours, but heck I was in the Army when I was younger, looked over the DMZ into North Korea from several vantage points and survived. QR must have about 30 flights a day between the US and DOH, and I have yet to hear of an issue with any of them.
Jan 10, 2020, 6:26 pm
#98
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: LHR, DFW, J Cabins WorldWide
Programs: AA EXP, UA GS, FB Gold, AS MVPG, MR Titanium, VS Gold
Posts: 954
I had a DFW-DOH-HKG Booked for CNY, I dont really see the risk as worth it, and my travel insurance might cover part of the cancelation/difference in fares. Otherwise, just not worth the risk for the difference cost. Found a resonable DAL-SEA-YVR-HKG-YVR-PDX-DAL in AS/Cathay in F/J, so pretty ok in the end.
Jan 10, 2020, 7:43 pm
#100
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 3
Thank you so much for sharing this. I had the same exact itinerary actually...checked Amex Travel and sure enough...$2200 a ticket. Couldn't believe it. Booked it, called and reserved my seats already.
Waiting another week or so to see if any political events cause QR to have to cancel flights...which would save me $2200 in cancellation fees. Otherwise I'll just cancel prior to 24 hours out.
Waiting another week or so to see if any political events cause QR to have to cancel flights...which would save me $2200 in cancellation fees. Otherwise I'll just cancel prior to 24 hours out.
Jan 10, 2020, 8:19 pm
#101
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: EK Gold, A3 *G, AB Gold, Jetblue Mosaic
Posts: 1,386
They could do a longer routing avoid overflying the Iran/Iraq mainland (e.g. what BA is doing to DXB or how EK flies to PEK) but looking at the most recent flights for this route, QR are flying right over Iran
Jan 10, 2020, 11:43 pm
#102
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: LON
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 3,911
Not wanting to stray into OMNI but with the announcement and admission in the past few hours that the fated Ukrainian flight was taken down by a missile and it was an accident, I would imagine there will be every scrutiny now in place to prevent a reoccurrence in their airspace.
Jan 11, 2020, 12:57 am
#103
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Programs: BAEC Silver, UA2MM, QF Platinum, VA Platinum., Volare Executive Club
Posts: 2,507
Not wanting to stray into OMNI but with the announcement and admission in the past few hours that the fated Ukrainian flight was taken down by a missile and it was an accident, I would imagine there will be every scrutiny now in place to prevent a reoccurrence in their airspace.
Jan 11, 2020, 1:55 am
#104
Join Date: Oct 2013
Programs: BA Gold, VS Gold, IHG Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hertz Presidents Circle.
Posts: 1,446
Not wanting to stray into OMNI but with the announcement and admission in the past few hours that the fated Ukrainian flight was taken down by a missile and it was an accident, I would imagine there will be every scrutiny now in place to prevent a reoccurrence in their airspace.
What really surprises me is that a). They have such a site under a defined flight path away from the airport. B). They were surprised to find something flying near by on a departure flight path that has presumably existed for years.
Jan 11, 2020, 5:35 am
#105
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA MM, AA EXP; OW Emerald, EK silver
Posts: 928
Were I booking my current trip would definitely go the 'long' way round the world to South Africa - unfortunately am in the middle of a trip and pretty well committed to my flight over Iraq and Iran to New York. At least we now know what happened and can only hope that the risk of a repeat is now minimal. Can't say I feel comfortable though.
