It goes without saying that it’s a really uncertain time globally, and in particular, for airlines in the Middle East. Places like Dubai have long been known for their incredible safety, and that’s part of why it has become so popular (and such a big transit hub).
Suffice it to say that the past few weeks has proven to be a massive challenge for the region and the airlines based there, and the conflict seems to be far from over. With that in mind, an OMAAT reader asked me a question that I imagine a lot of people are facing, which I figure is worth addressing here.
How to handle tickets on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, etc.?
Historically, travelers have booked Gulf airlines without thinking twice, in terms of being worried about global conflicts impacting their journey. However, it’s a different story right now, and that brings me to the question from reader Stephen:
There are a lot of people (myself included) who have upcoming award bookings on Emirates, Qatar, or Etihad, that transit the region en route to destinations like the Maldives, India, South Africa, Australia, etc. I haven’t seen much practical guidance on what to actually do in the near term.
I think it could be really valuable to walk through how you’d personally approach this over the next few weeks/months, acknowledging all the uncertainty. For example:
- Are people with near-term travel essentially in a wait-and-see mode, or is there a point where you’d proactively reroute?
- How are these airlines currently handling reaccommodation in irregular ops, especially for award tickets?
- Any meaningful differences depending on booking channel (direct vs. partner) or currency (cash vs. miles)?
- At what point (if any) would you consider proactively changing to non-ME3 routings?
- What would you do if alternative award options don’t exist?
Not so much predicting outcomes, but more a “how to think about this” framework for readers who are trying to make decisions with incomplete information.
Before I share my own take on the situation, let me broadly share the current travel waivers that are in place. Both Emirates and Etihad currently have waivers in place for travel through April 15, 2026, while Qatar Airways has waivers in place for travel through March 28, 2026. Generally ticket changes are allowed, and if flights are canceled, they’re eligible for refunds as well.
These travel policies are constantly being updated, so you’ll want to check the policy that applies for the airline you’re flying with. Obviously if this conflict continues, the waivers will also be extended.
How I’d handle future travel on a Gulf airline
Currently there are a lot more questions than answers. I have absolutely no clue how this conflict is going to play out, and whether things will be back to normal in a week, or if we’re at the start of a war that will last many years.
It reminds me a little bit of the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, where we all wanted to make long term predictions, but no one really knew how things would play out. When it comes to future tickets booked on Gulf airlines, I tend to think the question falls into two categories — safety and the potential for disruptions.
We all have different risk tolerances, but personally, I don’t necessarily have huge safety concerns, and would probably feel comfortable flying through a Gulf hub right now (which is not to say you should feel the same way). To me, this fits in the category of “Dubai is still safer than being on the interstate in Florida.”
But bigger picture, personally I’d absolutely avoid booking tickets on Gulf carriers right now, simply in terms of being able to reliably get to your destination. Some people might think I’m a pessimist, but I just don’t see this ending any time soon, and I think this is a reality we’re going to have to deal with for some time (I really hope I’m wrong, though!). Even beyond that, just realistically speaking:
- Even as service resumes, I suspect we’re going to see a huge number of schedule changes, given how demand patterns will evolve
- I wouldn’t have high hopes of customer service at Gulf carriers right now, since I can only imagine the volume of contact they’re receiving
So as much as I enjoy flying with Gulf carriers, personally I’m not booking any tickets on them until something materially changes. That includes for travel a few days from now, and it includes for travel months from now. I just don’t have the confidence that things will normalize any time soon.
But what if you have a ticket already booked, or are thinking of booking one?
- While I think it’s likely that travel waivers will be extended, as of now you’re likely not going to be able to cancel a ticket without penalty if it’s beyond the waiver period, so you’re stuck waiting
- Generally I wouldn’t expect Gulf carriers to be overly helpful with rebooking you on other airlines; in theory they should, especially for markets covered by EC261, but that’s easier said than done, and only helps with short notice cancelations, and it’s also easiest to do at the airport
- It’s always a best practice to book direct (or with a knowledgeable travel advisor who specializes in air) rather than through a third party, which adds an unnecessary middle man when things go wrong
- If I had a ticket on a Gulf carrier booked, I would try to book a backup award ticket on another airline that I could easily cancel, or keep an eye on better options
I wish I had some magic answer, but there’s just so much uncertainty. So I guess I’d sum up my advice is follows:
- If I actually want to reliably get to my destination, I wouldn’t be booking a ticket on a Gulf carrier right now, and would be pursuing alternatives
- If you already have a ticket booked but it’s outside of the waiver period, you’re going to have to wait it out, though maybe book a backup you can easily cancel, until a waiver is put in place
- If you’re in for an adventure, hey, there are plenty of flights to the Middle East with lots of empty seats, so maybe there’s an opportunity there; however, I also don’t think that’s a best practice at the moment
Bottom line
There’s simply no knowing how the current conflict in the Gulf will play out, and for how long it will impact operations. Airlines do have travel waivers in place, but those only cover the coming days and weeks.
Personally I’m pessimistic about things returning to normal in the near future (hopefully I’m wrong!), and I’m not booking any travel on Gulf airlines at the moment, even months out. If you do have tickets booked, there’s a lot of merit to booking a backup ticket with points, assuming you can easily cancel it. At least that’s my take.
What approach are you taking when it comes to future travel on Gulf airlines?
