It’s clear that we are navigating an exceptionally unpredictable global landscape, particularly for airlines operating in the Middle East. Cities such as Dubai have been renowned for their remarkable safety, which contributes to their popularity as major transit hubs.
To put it plainly, the last few weeks have posed significant challenges for the region and the airlines that operate there, and the conflict appears to be ongoing. In light of this, an OMAAT reader posed a question that I suspect many individuals are currently considering, which merits discussion here.
What to do about tickets on Emirates, Etihad, Qatar, etc.?
In the past, travelers have reserved flights with Gulf airlines without hesitation regarding potential global conflicts affecting their plans. However, the situation is quite different at the moment, leading me to a question from reader Stephen:
Many individuals (myself included) have upcoming award bookings on Emirates, Qatar, or Etihad, which transit through the region heading to places like the Maldives, India, South Africa, Australia, etc. I haven’t found much actionable advice on how to proceed in the immediate future.
I believe it would be beneficial to share your personal approach to navigating this situation over the next few weeks/months, considering all the uncertainty. For instance:
- Are travelers with imminent plans essentially in a wait-and-see approach, or is there a threshold at which you’d proactively change routes?
- How are these airlines managing reaccommodation during irregular operations, particularly for award tickets?
- Are there significant differences based on booking channels (direct vs. partner) or payment types (cash vs. miles)?
- At what moment (if any) would you contemplate shifting to non-ME3 routes?
- What actions would you take if alternative award options are unavailable?
Not so much about forecasting outcomes, but more of a “how to approach this” framework for readers attempting to make decisions with limited information.
Before I provide my perspective on the matter, I want to outline the current travel waivers that are in effect. Both Emirates and Etihad have established waivers covering travel through April 15, 2026, while Qatar Airways has waivers valid through March 28, 2026. Generally, changes to tickets are permitted, and flights that are canceled are eligible for refunds.
These travel policies are regularly updated, so it’s advisable to verify the specific policy that applies to the airline you are flying with. Clearly, if the conflict persists, the waivers will also likely be extended.
My approach to future travel with a Gulf airline
At this moment, there are far more questions than solutions. I honestly have no idea how this conflict will unfold, nor whether things will return to normal within a week or if we are on the brink of a prolonged war.
This situation somewhat reminds me of the initial phase of the coronavirus pandemic, where everyone wanted to make long-term predictions, yet no one truly understood how events would unfold. When considering future tickets with Gulf airlines, I find that the issues can be categorized into two main areas — safety and the likelihood of disruptions.
Each of us has different levels of risk tolerance, but personally, I do not have significant safety concerns, and I would likely feel okay flying through a Gulf hub right now (not that you should have the same perspective). In my view, “Dubai is still safer than traveling on the interstate in Florida.”
However, on a larger scale, I would definitely refrain from booking tickets with Gulf carriers right now, primarily due to concerns about reliably reaching your destination. Some may consider me a pessimist, but I don’t anticipate this resolving anytime soon, and I think this is a reality that we will need to navigate for a while (although I genuinely hope I am mistaken!). Moreover, just realistically speaking:
- Even as services resume, I expect a significant number of schedule changes, given the forthcoming shifts in demand patterns.
- I wouldn’t have high expectations for customer service from Gulf carriers at this time, as I can only imagine the volume of inquiries they are handling.