Transis routes or landings at major aviation hubs such as Dubai (UAE), Riyadh (Sai Arab), Doha (Qatar), Istanbul (Turkey)... are all affected.
According to announcements from airlines including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Cathay Pacific, China Southern Airlines, Singapore Airlines..., passengers who buy tickets to/from this area are supported with free refund or cancellation depending on specific conditions.
Conditions for refund and cancellation of tickets
Each airline has its own regulations on the application time and scope of support. However, most tickets departing to the Middle East, issued before or on February 28 (the time conflict breaks out), are eligible for free refund/destruction within a certain timeframe. The time usually lasts until March 7 or a few more days depending on the actual situation.
Passengers can choose to refund the entire unused ticket or be arranged for a replacement flight. The exchanged ticket must be of the same or lower class and comply with the initial booking conditions.
The deadline for completing a new journey ranges from one week to two months from the date of old ticket refund, depending on the regulations of each airline.
For tickets that have used a route, the airline will refund the unused value. The policy does not apply to the case of "no-show" (not present at the airport according to the flight schedule).
How to relate and handle
For customers who book tickets directly through the airline, they can contact the switchboard, email customer care or go to the ticket office for support. Some airlines such as Qatar Airways and Emirates have arranged support counters at airports in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to quickly handle requests for ticket exchange and refund.
Customers booking tickets through intermediary applications such as Trip.com, Traveloka... need to operate on the application or contact the platform's customer care department.
For tickets purchased through agents or travel companies, the issuing unit is responsible for supporting the implementation of procedures according to the airline's policy.
Notes for passengers stranded in the Middle East
Passengers staying in the Middle East are advised to follow official information on the airline's website and application and regularly check registered emails and messages. Flight changes, departure schedule adjustments, or safety regulations are usually updated at least twice a day.
Airlines also warn passengers not to provide passwords, OTP codes, or bank account information via social networks to avoid being exploited for fraud.
In case flights are canceled for a long time, passengers need to check their visa status to ensure compliance with entry and exit regulations. UAE and Oman authorities are currently requesting accommodation facilities to support extending stays for tourists stranded due to conflicts, with costs paid by the State.
Adjust flight paths to ensure safety
Many Asian airlines operating routes to Europe such as Vietnam Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways... have adjusted their flight paths to the North, avoiding Middle East airspace. Flight time may therefore be extended by about 60-90 minutes, but flights are still operated normally.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam also requested airlines departing from Vietnam to proactively adjust routes to ensure maximum safety.
On March 4, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam continued to update flight plans of airlines affected by the Middle East conflict. Qatar Airways canceled two passenger flights QR983 and QR977 from Hanoi to Doha on March 4 and one cargo flight QR8951.
Etihad Airways cancels EY433 Hanoi - Abu Dhabi flight scheduled to depart on the evening of March 05. Emirates has no official information about flight EK395 Hanoi - Dubai in the early morning of March 05.
Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines is still operating normally two flights between Istanbul and Hanoi on March 4th.
