Right now, with the war raging in Iran and affecting all the neighboring countries of the Persian Gulf, many airports are completely closed to all traffic.
Several airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and others have almost completely halted their operations.
Whether in the Middle East or Africa, many travelers are stranded—maybe for a long time... A heartfelt thought for them and the struggles this will cause.
Four months ago, I was in Kenya with a flight booked through Qatar Airways... I can’t even imagine how I’d react if I were stuck there now. ??
Wishing all these travelers courage, patience, and success in making it back home.
It’ll definitely take quite some time for these major hubs to get back to their usual activity. Thousands of passengers and countless planes and crews are stranded all over the world. I’m particularly keeping an eye on the situation because I have a Qatar Airways flight booked for March 21st to Sydney. The flight I was supposed to take from Barcelona found out about the airspace closure while flying over Tunisia and had to turn back to Barcelona.
There are tons of similar cases, including flights from the U.S. that landed in Europe while waiting for the situation to improve. It’s a massive mess that airlines will have to deal with, and there’s no doubt it’ll take time. The worst part is the transit passengers who are stuck in the middle of a war, along with all the people who live there or were traveling for work or tourism.
Airlines involved (Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air, Qatar, Etihad, and Emirates) are set to provide an update tomorrow. Qatar has already implemented this protocol:
Qatar Airways to allow refund for next 7 days as flights remain suspended | The Peninsula Qatar
Check for frequent updates on X.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Good evening,
Hope things calm down quickly, first and foremost for the residents of the affected countries, but also (selfishly) for us since we're currently in Vietnam and flying back on the 18th with Qatar.
Fingers crossed!!
Françoise
Four months ago, I was in Kenya with a trip booked on Qatar Airways.... I can’t even imagine how I’d react if I were stuck there now. ??b
Being stuck in Kenya wouldn’t be too much of a punishment for me
On the other hand, knowing I was in transit in Doha just a month ago, I’d have totally freaked out at the idea of being stuck at the airport 🏴☠️
I can't even imagine being stuck there now—how would I react? ??
Hey there,
That’s why you should always pack:
* Cans of cassoulet, pilchards, dry biscuits...
* For reading, a book by Immanuel Kant—it’ll be enough to keep you entertained.
* A super-lightweight foam mattress (easily foldable) or, even better, an inflatable mattress for sleeping in the airport.
* A razor and shaving foam for the guys.
* A toothbrush.
* Super important: an eye mask to help you sleep.
* Optionally, an inflatable neck pillow.
* A mini Esbit stove with fuel cubes.
I almost recommended a gas stove, but that probably wouldn’t fly with the airlines, ha ha hee hee 😉
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
if you're planning a trip to Asia, it's strongly recommended to postpone your travel for now.
Right now, the Middle East is heating up as I'm writing this.
You’ve been warned.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
France is starting to repatriate citizens with this special AF flight from Oman.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
A heartfelt thought for them and for the hassles this is going to cause
Thanks.
I’m currently in Yunnan and about to enter Laos in a few days. I’ve got a flight back home in mid-April from Bangkok with... Qatar.
If the situation drags on, with my Visa card, I think I can hold out for a few months under the coconut trees. Maybe even until my card expires in 2028. 😉
PS: I’m flagging for the mods that it’s almost always impossible to connect to VF from China, VPN or no VPN.
With a return flight home in mid-April from Bangkok with ... Qatar.
Hi there, make sure to check frequently that your flight is properly insured.
Due to the rising cost of oil and therefore fuel, your flight could simply be canceled.
Because if fuel prices stay quite high due to the geopolitical situation, the airline here—Qatar Airways—risks losing money.
Let’s say you paid 800 € for a round-trip when everything was fine, but it actually costs the airline 1200 € per passenger to operate the flights—they’re losing money.
Maybe I’m just unaware, but I’ve never heard of or read about a flight being canceled—whether before departure or once at the destination—due to a fuel price increase.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
However, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that the airline might charge a fuel surcharge.
Watch out for soaring consumer prices—at restaurants, supermarkets... and obviously in Southeast Asian countries too if the geopolitical crisis continues 🙁
However, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that the airline might charge a fuel surcharge.
True, but that’s at ticket issuance and it’s included in the total amount given. No readjustment afterward. Otherwise, why not the dollar exchange rate too, since oil is priced in dollars.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Yes, once the ticket is issued and paid for, the price can't be changed anymore—the airline will just profit from tickets sold afterward. The only thing they can do is cancel the flight and therefore offer a full refund.
The only thing she can do is cancel the flight and therefore offer a full refund.
Unless I get incredibly lucky or there’s some kind of miracle, this is what’s likely gonna happen with my Qatar flight on 21/3 😢
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Things might calm down by the 21st—some flights are resuming to Abu Dhabi. I’m leaving on April 28th with Saudia. For now, they’re operating their flights except for the Gulf, of course. Stay tuned...
It’ll probably take some time for all the planes around the world to get back, for them to manage staff, for everyone stranded to leave, and for the hub to restart. Unless there’s a miracle, I’m preparing to forget about Australia—buying a last-minute ticket costs an arm and a leg, especially since I planned an itinerary entering Sydney and exiting Adelaide. Qatar Airways will update tomorrow morning 🤞 Plan B is to head back to South Korea where flight prices are still reasonable and enjoy the cherry blossoms. Could be worse for a Plan B, especially since I really love South Korea.
some flights are resuming in Abu Dhabi
I’m stopping there in September and even planned a week-long stopover.
I’m leaving on April 28th but with Saudia, for now they’re operating their flights except for the Gulf of course, to be continued...
With Saudia you’re good. Are you heading back to China?
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Yeah, we’re flying in and out of Guangzhou and leaving from Barcelona. We’re doing a 3-month trip: 15 days at the start, then off to Japan via Hong Kong for 15 days, then Seoul via Osaka for 7 days, then Vietnam for a month, and we’ll finish with 3 weeks in China exploring new cities. I snagged an amazing Saudia deal back in December when we were in China 🙂 275 € round-trip with 23 kg checked baggage and 75% of the miles credited to my Skypass card. Plus, since I booked through Trip—a site I always use for China—they upgraded me to Diamond status, and as a gift, I got lounge access in Jeddah. You can imagine I didn’t hesitate for a second, and I was right—the deal vanished an hour later. 😉
Since I'm about 3 hours from Barcelona, I often use this airport (especially my upcoming Qatar flight to Australia 🧳) where there are lots of airlines with good fares. 275 € is definitely an error fare because it should only cover the taxes. That’s why the price was pulled after just an hour. You’re lucky you can travel for that long. For family reasons, I can’t.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Allow me to remind you of the reasons and content of the message I wrote when starting this post:
"Many airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, and others have almost completely halted their traffic.
Whether in the East or in Africa, many travelers are stranded, possibly for a long time...
A heartfelt thought for them and for the struggles this will cause."
There are still, and likely will be for quite some time, some of our fellow citizens—and even members of this forum—who are stranded or will be in Asia, Africa, Australia, or at the Persian Gulf hubs, etc., "because they chose" to travel with one of the many airlines from the Gulf countries. (As many of us have done)
I can’t help but think of them, imagining I could be in their shoes. We all know their return will be complicated, long, and surely well beyond their original budget.
I regret to say that I find it a bit indecent when some people come here (in this post) to talk about their upcoming trips or vacations that haven’t even started yet...
I’m also somewhat "amused" by the optimism some have about the resumption of air traffic, but that’s another topic.
The content of this message simply reflects "my opinion," knowing full well that we’re all different... of course.
Good luck, and I wish a smooth return to all those struggling to get home.
Hi there,
I sympathize, but I also think that right now, thousands of people are facing situations more dramatic than those of tourists stranded in the Emirates. Yes, we’re all different and react differently to events.
You shouldn’t post a public message if you have a personal feeling about something. The forum is here so everyone can share their opinion on any post, or you can send a private message to people who might have the answer you’re looking for.
Everyone’s had travel struggles—cancelled flights, COVID abroad—it’s still part of traveling, and it affects those who are about to leave in the coming days, who’ve dreamed of this trip and saved for months to make it happen, only to see it possibly go up in smoke. A traveler knows that problems, no matter what kind, can happen until they’re back home—or else, they should just stay in France.
When I often read in private messages I get from "older" members, but also from more recent and less active ones, that they’re surprised by the low activity on the forum—here’s one explanation.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Most of all, a heartfelt thought for the people in bombed countries who risk DYING at any moment—and who will never be repatriated themselves.
Otherwise, I can’t help but feel a mix of sympathy and sincerity for all the influencers who moved to Dubai, often badmouthing France, and who are now begging for an emergency repatriation. They’re facing real life now, and it’s not easy for them...
" Celui qui voyage sans rencontrer l'autre ne voyage pas , il se déplace "
( Alexandra David-Néel )
" Ahora todos quieren ser latinos , no , ey , pero les falta sazon , bateria y reggaeton " ( Bad Bunny )
And of course, I can't help but feel a touch of sincere emotion for all the influencers who moved to Dubai, often badmouthing France, and who are now begging for an emergency repatriation. They're facing real life now, and it's not easy for them...
😏😏😏
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
When I often read in private messages I receive from "veteran" members, as well as more recent and less active ones, that they’re surprised by the low activity on the forum, here’s an element of the answer.
I find this answer a bit cryptic: how does the low activity on the forum have anything to do with these exchanges?
As for geopolitical risks while traveling, I’ve already left a country at war—I did it on my own—and when I travel, I make sure I have enough "backup" to get home if needed, even by going the long way around the world.
I don’t ask for anything, and I’ll never ask for anything from the French state, especially not from Ariane, that leash.
And of course, I can't help but feel a touch of sincere emotion for all the influencers who moved to Dubai, often badmouthing France, and who are now begging for an emergency repatriation. They're facing real life now, and it's not easy for them...
Hey Puma, regarding your question about how I’d personally react—if I were stuck in Dubai or Doha, I think I’d end up getting really bored.
And I’d probably implode because, personally, I don’t like long waits 🙁
Honestly, big cities with skyscrapers don’t attract me at all—I prefer old towns like Warsaw, Marrakech, or Samarkand.
In Dubai, there aren’t any noisy souks packed with people like in Marrakech—correct me if I’m wrong.
Because going to the beach is all well and good (and even then, in a crisis, do you even have the means to get there?), but it gets boring.
Your question has the merit of sparking other questions, like: What makes a "new city"? What is the "new world"?
I find this response a bit cryptic: how does the low forum activity relate to these discussions?
See the initiator’s message 24 in this thread, where they take it upon themselves to "reframe" things 😕
The whole point of a forum is to exchange ideas—you know that very well, even if digressions happen all the time.
Yes, the situation of people stranded in the Emirates is a priority and the most worrying because they’re directly facing the conflict. But I’m especially thinking of Iranians and foreigners—around 1,000 French people in Iran 😢—no one’s talking about them, and the media’s ignoring them. What solutions are there to get them out of a country under bombardment? 😢 It’s also harder for those in Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait 🧳. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a few flights have resumed, but there’s no doubt it’s still really tough to get seats 🤯🧳. Evacuation through Oman is risky, long, and expensive too.
Others are stranded all over the world with multiple issues (finding a return flight, financial, professional, family problems, visa expirations to deal with on-site, etc.). A few people who don’t have scheduling or financial worries are taking it in stride by staying a little longer than planned.
I’ve experienced this to a lesser extent during the Gulf War, when I ended up staying an extra week in Thailand unintentionally. Back then, in the fall of 1990, there was no internet and none of today’s communication tools. Patience, luck, and resilience are key.
And then there are the upcoming travelers, which seems to worry the initiator of this post the most.
They’re living day-to-day based on often daily updates from airlines. Everyone’s situation is different depending on how their trip was planned and managed.
Some booked through a travel agency, so they have someone handling everything for them. Others booked everything in a few clicks. If they have non-refundable or non-changeable services on-site, they’ll have to try to get a refund or change their dates—but for when? Good luck and hang in there 🤯🧳. In some cases, it’s unfortunately a dream that’s slipping away, maybe along with their savings 😢
As for geopolitical risks while traveling, I’ve already left a war-torn country on my own, and when I travel, I make sure I have enough "backup" to get home if needed, even by going the long way around the world.
I don’t ask for anything, and I’ll never ask for anything from the French state, especially not Ariane, the ball and chain.
I’m exactly the same. I also always plan for services that can be canceled without fees up to the last minute, avoiding prepayments as much as possible, even if the cancellation terms are clear.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Even in cases of "extraordinary circumstances," if a flight is canceled—regardless of the reason (even war)—the airline must cover meals and accommodation (plus transportation to and from) while you wait for a rebooking flight, with no time limit.
If they don’t, they’re required to reimburse you for these expenses upon presentation of receipts or proof of purchase, provided you’ve kept costs reasonable (no need to stay in a palace or dine on caviar by the spoonful).
Check it out here: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2021/03/02/remboursement-frais-en-attente-du-vol-retarde-ou-de-reacheminement/
Additionally, the airline must rebook you "as soon as possible." However, this doesn’t mean they’re obligated to perform miracles—after all, no one’s expected to do the impossible. It’s clearly impossible if your departure or final destination airport is closed and no other transport options are available to reach another open airport.
With these exceptions, if the airline doesn’t offer rebooking "as soon as possible" and you find your own alternative—even with another airline—you can purchase the ticket and demand reimbursement. The main challenge will be patience.
Of course, if the closed airport is just a layover you haven’t reached yet, you can look for rebooking options that avoid that airport. What matters is your starting point and final destination, not the stopovers.
Naturally, if your flight was canceled due to "extraordinary circumstances" (which war certainly qualifies as), your rights are limited to what’s outlined above. You’ll only be entitled to compensation if the airline didn’t rebook you "as soon as possible." See an example here:
Thanks for this info—always super helpful and interesting.
"Si partir vivre ses rêves remplit l'âme, les partager après les avoir réalisés la grandit"
"Qui veut apprendre à se connaître commence par explorer le monde"
Good evening,
Some airlines are taking the initiative. A friend called me this morning to say that her flight to Doha via Jeddah, scheduled for March 29th, has been outright canceled. The full refund has already been issued to her account, with no explanation—though we know why. She called them, and their response was, "We’re currently unable to guarantee our flights to Gulf destinations until the end of March."
Things are heating up around the airport tonight—Emirates flights that were supposed to leave are canceled again. Personally, I’d be too scared to chance it, flying between missiles, drones, and all kinds of fire. Way too risky.
Approaching, and it's busy...
An A380 just arrived from Vienna, a 777 from Frankfurt, an A380 from Paris, a 777 from Budapest, a 777 from Athens, and a 777 from Düsseldorf—I guess they’re planning to land.
Though I think this is just repositioning.
Lol! Some flights are resuming from DXB, which is pretty intense, but only to several cities in India or the Indian Ocean.
I took a look at Flightradar. Flights are returning from Melbourne, Auckland, New York, Hong Kong, Taipei, São Paulo... and quite a few A380s coming from Europe (Prague and Vienna x2, Manchester, Glasgow, Madrid...).
There’s some repositioning going on. But when you check the flights, you see rotations to Mauritius, San Francisco, Bangkok, HK, and of course CDG, London, etc...
Doha, on the other hand, is completely dry 😕
Il n'y a pas de problème sans solution... et si il n'y a pas de solution, il n'y a pas de problème !
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Pour des raisons de facilité est il possible d'enregistrer les bagages la veille du la date de départ (vers 10h et départ le lendemain 8 h)à l'aéroport de…
Compagnies aériennes › France › Paris - Île de France · 3 replies
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Hi there,
We had planned a trip to Sicily in August, and due to the volcanic eruption of Mount Etna, my flight was canceled. The airline is refunding the outbound flight, but none of the non-refundable expenses: accommodation booked through Booking, rental car, and the return flight aren’t covered. My SUPER Gold card doesn’t work in this specific case! :( If anyone has been in this situation, could you let me know if you were able to get any recourse and, if so, how?
Thanks in advance
Back in February, I booked a flight with Air France-KLM from Lyon to San Diego with a layover in Amsterdam (flights operated by KLM). The flight is scheduled for late August.
My Lyon→Amsterdam flight was canceled by KLM in June, and a replacement flight the evening before was booked for me. So, I’ll end up spending the night at Amsterdam Airport to catch my flight to San Diego the next morning.
Since the cancellation happened more than 14 days before departure, I know I’m not entitled to financial compensation (EU Regulation 261/2004). But am I entitled to reimbursement for a hotel night in Amsterdam?
Hi,
Air Cairo offers good prices on domestic flights and schedules that work for us, but is this airline reliable?
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Hi,
I booked an Etihad ticket on their website for Dusseldorf-Abu Dhabi. In the first name field, I entered all my first names (something I never do and I regret it, but the site was confusing). Everything is spelled correctly, but the problem is that I just received my new passport and only my first two first names and the first letter of the third appear—there’s no trace of the last one.
I called Etihad, and of course, they tried to charge me $100 USD to remove that last first name. But I’m hesitant because usually, I only put my first first name and not the others, and I’ve never had an issue... So I’m wondering if having that extra first name, which isn’t on my passport, could get me denied at check-in.
Thanks for your feedback!
Hi everyone,
Next January, I’m heading to India.
My outbound flight is with Emirates from Paris to Dubai, then another Emirates flight from Dubai to Calcutta.
Could anyone tell me how the connection works? I’ve heard there’s a dedicated Emirates zone, but how does it actually work in practice—I’ve got a 2-hour layover.
Thanks so much!
Take care.
I’d like to fly to Malta from Lyon.
I’ve read a lot of negative reviews about KM MALTA, especially regarding baggage fees at the airport.
Of course, I don’t want to book through third parties (like SkyScanner, Opodo…).
AIR FRANCE offers tickets to MALTA in partnership, if I understood correctly.
On AIR FRANCE, the tickets include everything (checked baggage, cabin bag, small personal item, seat), whereas with KM MALTA, everything is extra and the final price is almost double!
In this case, is AIR FRANCE considered the same as sites like Opodo or others?
Given the price difference, I’m hesitant…
Have any of you booked with AIR FRANCE for this destination? How did it go?
Thanks,
HERVE
Hi everyone, I’ve unfortunately only just noticed that I booked two flight tickets, but I made a mistake on the second first name. Basically, my computer auto-filled and typed my first name twice, so both tickets are in my first name. Only the last names—mine and my friend’s—are correct.
TAP Portugal refuses to make the change because they consider it a change of passenger, even though it’s clearly a typo (plus, my last name isn’t common).
I’m leaving in 5 days, and buying a new ticket would cost 3 times the original price. Has anyone been in this situation before? I’d like to try negotiating at the airport, but it’s a gamble… Thanks in advance for any advice!
Since it came into force, Regulation 261/2004 of the European Parliament and Council, which defines air passenger rights, has faced fierce resistance from airlines, backed by IATA (the association representing almost all passenger airlines).
Beyond the airlines' often abusive—and even frequently bad-faith—resistance to passenger rights, IATA has been lobbying EU institutions for years, with the Council paying close attention for a long time.
As a result, the Council and the Commission have been proposing revisions to Regulation 261/2004 for years that are particularly unfavorable to passengers. The latest attempt nearly eliminated the right to compensation for delays of 3 hours or more upon arrival at the final destination.
However, since this is a regulation of both the European Parliament AND the Council, the two bodies had to agree.
But the European Parliament has always stood firm, consistently responding that passenger rights must be preserved.
After 11 years of struggle, it seems likely that we’re finally nearing the end of the match between the European Commission, the Council (the 27 heads of state or government), and the European Parliament.
Indeed, the Commission and the European Parliament have agreed on a text that will be debated again on Monday, July 6, 2026, with a vote scheduled for July 7, 2026. It’s very likely that this text, which would come into force in a year, will be adopted.
The main changes would be as follows:
- Families with children will no longer be forced to pay to sit together on planes;
- A flight will be considered canceled (not just delayed) if it departs more than one hour late;
- Right to compensation for arrival at the final destination if the delay exceeds 3 hours (no longer "3 hours OR more"). The arrival time will be when the plane, having reached its parking spot, engages its parking brakes (no longer when the aircraft door opens);
- Airlines can no longer refuse boarding or charge extra on the return flight for a passenger who didn’t take the outbound flight;
- If a flight is canceled, the airline must, at the same time as informing passengers of the event, offer the choice between a refund and re-routing, and inform them of their rights to assistance and, if applicable, compensation;
- The airline must, without undue delay, inform passengers of the reason;
- In the case of a connecting flight, if the connection is missed and the delay at the final destination entitles the passenger to compensation, the responsible airline will be liable. This is very different from the current situation, where, under the KLM ruling, any airline operating a segment of the flight is liable for compensation. This promises more disputes that the Court of Justice of the European Union will have to resolve if two separate airlines operating segments of a connecting flight are both responsible for the delay. See this case for an example: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2026/04/18/swiss-international-air-lines-la-mauvaise-foi/
Moreover, this case demonstrates in advance another potential dispute: It could be argued that it wasn’t a missed connection since the flight was canceled before the first leg even departed.
- Within 96 hours of a flight that could entitle passengers to compensation, the airline must contact them to inform them of their rights and explain the next steps.
- Passengers must claim their right to compensation within 9 months. This is very different from the current situation, as Regulation 261/2004 sets no time limit. Currently, national law applies—in France, the limit is 5 years. The airline must respond within 30 days. If the airline refuses compensation on the grounds of "extraordinary circumstances," it must specify which type of case it refers to from the list in the annex of the new regulation. If the case isn’t on the list, the airline must explain what the event was, why it qualifies as extraordinary circumstances with "clear, substantial, and concise" explanations, and why it’s directly linked to the reason given. It must also declare what "reasonable measures" were taken to mitigate the issue. This is, of course, a huge change in the regulation, with the clear goal of preventing airlines from declaring just anything as "extraordinary circumstances" to avoid compensation.
- If, within 3 hours of a last-minute canceled or delayed flight, the airline hasn’t offered re-routing under comparable transport conditions and as soon as possible—whether on one of its own flights or another airline’s—the passenger will have the right to arrange their own re-routing and demand a refund for the new ticket, up to 400% of the original ticket price. This is a significant improvement that would have likely prevented the case described here: https://retardimportantavion.wordpress.com/2024/01/12/reacheminement-catastrophique-droit-indemnisation-meme-circonstances-extraordinaires-2/
- If a flight is canceled due to "extraordinary circumstances," the airline will only be required to offer up to 3 nights in a hotel. This is a major change, as there’s currently no limit. Expect disputes if the extraordinary circumstances end while the passenger hasn’t been re-routed.
- The price of a flight, as first displayed, must obligatorily include a cabin bag. This doesn’t prevent the airline from offering a price reduction if the passenger waives the cabin bag. This will put an end to abnormal practices, such as (just one example) Condor charging extra for a cabin bag on long-haul flights like Frankfurt (Germany)–Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic)–Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic)–Frankfurt.
- Free correction of a passenger’s name if requested 48 hours before departure. Note: This can’t be used to replace one passenger with another—just to correct a typo, e.g., Dupont instead of Dpont.
- Airlines’ websites and apps must include information on how to file a claim.
It’s clear that, despite a few details, these changes are very positive for upholding passenger rights. It remains to be seen whether this text will be definitively adopted on July 7, 2026, as is very likely, and, more importantly, whether IATA will encourage airlines to loyally respect these new rules or persist in their old habits.
I’m planning a trip to Georgia this summer and I’ve been comparing some airlines. I’m not particularly set on flying with Pegasus (though it’s convenient with direct flights from Lyon to Tbilisi), but right off the bat, Pegasus states this:
As of January 1, 2026, all foreign nationals traveling to Georgia for tourism purposes will be required to present valid travel health insurance. Guests who fail to provide the relevant health insurance will not be accepted on our flights to Georgia.
Sincerely,
Pegasus Airlines
In other words, if you don’t show proof of travel health insurance, you’ll be denied boarding.
Personally, my credit card insurance has always been enough for me, and I’d rather not take out extra coverage...
Have any of you run into this issue before? If not, what do you think? Why is Pegasus asking for this proof? Other airlines don’t mention it at all.
I bought my flight ticket with my first (usual) first name, which appears first on my passport. However, I have two first names on my passport, and of course, it’s mentioned in the machine-readable zone at the bottom.
I booked with Turkish Airlines (through an online agency) for a trip to South Korea.
I wanted to know if it would be a problem that I only used my first first name on the ticket, while my passport has two. I had requested through the agency to add the second first name, but the airline refused because it doesn’t meet their general conditions. (They must have seen that the last name and first name were the same, and only the second first name was added.)
So, my ticket has my last name and first first name correctly spelled, and when I check in online, I’ll enter the passport details correctly.
I’ll have a layover in Istanbul on the flight.
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Have a great day.
Hi there,
I traveled in June 2025 with Nouvelair Destinations to Hammamet.
I had one checked bag and one carry-on sized 40x24x30, which I usually take on low-cost flights, and I didn’t have any issues. But I just read on a website that Nouvel Air only accepts carry-ons of 40x20x15. I’m flying back to Djerba in June—what do you think? Especially since that size is impossible to find??????? Thanks
Hi, it's my first time taking a plane and I chose EasyJet for a Geneva -> Barcelona flight.
I booked my ticket.
I received my booking reference by email, but I don’t see the actual ticket (barcode or QR code?).
Then I checked in to get the boarding pass with the flight details, QR code, etc. But does this boarding pass act as the ticket?
Because I’ve seen several times online that the flight ticket and the boarding pass aren’t the same thing.
We're leaving for Albania on June 18th. When I validated the flight tickets with Wizz Air on Booking, I only put my son's first name but forgot to include his other three first names on the ticket.
On the passport: SURNAME: Dupont, FIRST NAMES: toto titi tutu tata
On the flight ticket: SURNAME: Dupont, FIRST NAME: toto
I can't seem to reach anyone at Wizz Air to get an answer.
Booking and Wizz Air's chat say I need to modify it, but ChatGPT says it should be fine.
I wanted to know if he can fly like this or if I need to change his ticket?
(It costs 140 €, I know I shouldn't have made a mistake🙁)
Basically, all airlines have been blacklisted because they don’t meet European safety standards. They’re banned from flying in Europe but continue operating in Tanzania.
The main issue is that travel agencies’ civil liability no longer applies to blacklisted airlines.
So we can’t allow clients to fly with these carriers.
Of course, there’s huge pressure from European agencies, which are forced to disrupt their plans or even cancel trips because of this.
Personally, I’ve got a trip planned for February 2026 to the southern parks in Tanzania, so I’ll be keeping an eye on how this develops.
Do any of you have updates?
Thanks!
Hello, some (potentially) good news for Brazil lovers—GOL airline is launching a route to Europe from Rio, starting in September for Lisbon, then Paris at a later date that hasn’t been announced yet.
They’ll be using their new A330-900 neo.
No prices have been announced so far, but hopefully we’ll find direct flights from GIG at a more interesting fare than AF or Latam…
I’m really surprised because in TUI’s new tour packages, the airlines they’re using are of low quality. Before, they used to prioritize major airlines, but now it’s small airlines from small countries—companies with terrible ratings and borderline safety concerns. I even just noticed this note for a Tanzania trip: "We inform you that the domestic flight segment in Tanzania included in your trip is operated by an airline listed on the European Union’s list of air carriers subject to an operating ban within the European Union. This ban only applies to European Union airspace, meaning this airline is not permitted to take off, land, or fly over European airspace. However, this airline is authorized to operate in Tanzania."
This means they’re using airlines on the blacklist!! It’s pretty worrying for safety. What do you all think?
We’re planning a cruise to the UAE/QATAR/OMAN starting from DUBAI, with flights departing from Paris CDG.
Which airlines would you recommend for round-trip flights, with or without a layover?
We need assistance for check-in and boarding/disembarking (my husband is a mobility-impaired traveler who uses a cane and/or a walker).
We’ve done a cruise return from Dubai to Paris CDG before in 2016, with a layover in Istanbul, but we booked the transfer and return flight with COSTA.
For our current plan, it would be with Celestyal, which doesn’t offer round-trip flights from Paris to Dubai.
Should we book very far in advance, or is a few months before departure enough (4/6 months)?
We’re thinking of arriving the day before the ship departs, so we’d need to stay overnight in Dubai—either on the way there or for the return flight, depending on the flight schedules. Could you recommend a hotel not too far from the airport, and how to get to the port from the airport?
Thanks so much for your advice. Have a great Sunday! Mum49
Hi,
It's all in the title—this means nothing's getting through, so no more oil.
In Europe, kerosene reserves are still good, but by the end of April, flights will have to be reduced.
European airports fear running out of kerosene if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened within three weeks
I’m reaching out to ask for your help with a bit of a problem:
I booked a flight to Berlin from Orly for April 15th—it’s coming up fast. But I just made an annoying discovery: my passport expired two weeks ago.
From what I understand, in principle, I can still travel within the Schengen Zone with an expired passport as long as it’s been less than five years. However, EasyJet’s website explicitly requires a valid ID (and just to add to the fun, my national ID card has been expired for a while now).
So, I’d love to know: how strict are EasyJet’s ID checks? Do they enforce validity rules strictly and refuse boarding if the ID isn’t valid? Or is it more of a luck-of-the-draw situation?
Basically, should I just write off this trip now, or should I still try my luck—maybe with a little tearful plea? Has anyone here had a similar experience? I can’t be the only one, right!
I booked a flight with RyanAir for next month, with the priority+ option and two cabin bags. So I can take a 10 kg bag with dimensions 55x40x20 in the cabin (plus another smaller one).
The problem is that the smallest suitcase I have (which is supposed to be designed specifically for cabin size standards, according to the manual) has the following dimensions: 55x37x21, so it's just 1 cm over (wheels included) on one of the measurements.
I wasn’t too worried at first, but I’ve read dozens of stories about people’s misadventures and the hassles they’ve had with RyanAir.
Since I don’t want my suitcase to end up in the hold (that would waste time picking it up when I’m already arriving late and need to get to the city center), nor do I want to pay an extra fee (apparently 50 €) for the outbound and return flights for just 1 centimeter—especially since I paid for the "priority+" option and I’m not exactly rolling in money—I’d love some advice.
Have any of you been in the same situation? I’ve read that with this airline, they check bags in templates (testing them in different positions) and are completely uncompromising. I tried contacting customer service, who, as luck would have it, "don’t handle this kind of request," and a rep I spoke to wasn’t much help.
I know it’s a low-cost airline, and I don’t expect luxury or even kindness, but come on—just 1 cm on a short flight with the + option... I’m a bit overwhelmed by everything I’ve read...
Just to clarify, since I’m going for 8 days, I can’t just take one bag for my stuff. I’ve done that for shorter trips before, and it was a hassle—I even had to buy an extra bag for the return trip... Luckily, the inspector was nice about it!
Thanks so much!
I’m a newbie when it comes to air travel :) Hope I posted this in the right section!
When I run searches on Skyscanner, I see that only Lufthansa has flights to Seoul with just one stop. Air France doesn’t show up, even though I thought the French airline served Seoul?
I can’t even log into the Air France website—it keeps glitching.
Hi there,
I’d like to return to Uzbekistan next April for 10 days with my husband to visit our son who lives there. We went last July and I bought the flight tickets (direct flight from Paris on Uzbekistan Airways) about 2 months in advance at very reasonable prices. I’ve been checking for late April for a few weeks now, and the tickets are much more expensive and keep rising. I can’t figure out if the prices are going up because it’s still a bit too early to buy and they’ll likely drop if the planes aren’t full, or if it’s because the period is actually in high demand. For reference, last year I bought my son’s ticket on May 30th for a departure on June 3rd—just 3 days later—at a very low price that didn’t budge at all.
Just in case, does anyone know the pricing trends for this airline and can advise me? Should I wait or not?
Thanks, and feel free to ask if you need any tips about the country!
My wife bought a flight ticket (Lucky Air) under her Thai maiden name and was issued a Chinese visa on her new Thai passport but with her French married name (due to administrative requirements). She was denied boarding by the airline in Bangkok for the flight to Kunming—resulting in the loss of our round-trip flight tickets, including mine since we were traveling together—despite presenting both passports at the airline counter at the same time.
Hi there.
I’m planning a trip to Chile, and the fares from the Colombian airline Avianca are really appealing.
Way cheaper than Air France, for example.
That said, the reviews I’ve seen online aren’t great.
What do you think of this airline?
Have any of you taken long-haul flights with Avianca?
Thanks in advance for your replies.
Eric
This might be a silly question, but I’m traveling to Japan from CDG and returning via Osaka with EVA Air, and I have a pretty bulky aluminum knee brace.
It’s this model:
https://enovis-medtech.eu/fr_FR/OA-FullForce-74358.html
Has anyone had any experience with airport security checks or flying with one of these?
I can't seem to find flights between the Cape Verde islands on the airline's website. No matter the date or route, I always get the same response: "no flights on this date."
See the photo.
Would anyone have an explanation? Surely not all flights are fully booked in July?
Hi there,
I have a question...
Has anyone managed to get a refund from Oman Air?
After a delayed flight, we missed our connecting flight to get home!!
At midnight, the flight attendant booked us on a flight to Nice via Munich, even though we were in Munich and wanted to get back to Nice... Too tired from the trip, we didn’t notice the mistake!!
The next day, of course, the booking wasn’t valid!!
We had to pay again for the flight back to Nice...
I’m really struggling!! I think they’re giving me the runaround!!
I’ve sent several emails, tried Messenger and WhatsApp, but the only responses I get are: "We need to investigate!! We’ll get back to you in 15 days!!"
It’s been over a month!!
I just sent a registered letter (LRAR) to their office at Paris Charles de Gaulle, which is still open!!
Hi!
Sri Lanka has announced it could run out of fuel in the coming weeks if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked. The government has implemented a mandatory four-day workweek to save oil, and there are long lines at gas stations due to fears of an early shortage.
In Vietnam, the government has warned all airlines that flights will need to be reduced due to a lack of kerosene. The country imports two-thirds of its jet fuel from China and Thailand, but both countries have now banned exports out of fear of domestic shortages.
The state is asking airlines to plan ahead and park aircraft to drastically reduce operations, starting with domestic flights and then international ones. International carriers will also need to cut back on their rotations.
This will begin in the coming days. 🙁
