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. 🙁
Some folks have changed their holiday plans for the coming weeks because of the war and are staying in France or Europe (Spain and Italy are popular choices), and I think they’re absolutely right...
If there’s a fuel shortage, it’s better to be in a country close to France that’s accessible by train, for example (not to mention the travel conditions if you can’t get around as you’d like because of shortages...).
And things aren’t going to improve—yesterday, Israel bombed one of the world’s major natural gas fields.
" 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 )
Some have changed their holiday plans for the coming weeks because of the war and will stay in France or Europe (Spain and Italy are popular) and I think they’re absolutely right....
There are very few serious reasons to give in to panic like this for the coming weeks.
The regions of the world affected are in North Asia, but all—China, Japan, and Korea—have huge reserves to act as a buffer. Next summer, if nothing improves and no alternative is found, there could be a problem.
Vietnam and Sri Lanka had no stockpile reserves; that’s a very different situation. The Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries are also at rapid risk, except probably Malaysia, Indonesia, or Singapore.
The fear-based strategy, which has permeated media and institutional discourse for years, will find yet another opportunity to take hold—especially unfortunately in France, given the role of the state.
The strategy of fear, which permeates media and institutional discourse,
What scares Westerners are the reports about tourists stranded abroad. We see it in forums and on social media—people identify with them and wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.
Anyway, spring break starts on April 4th, and many have changed their plans. They’ll be traveling closer to home.
" 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 )
What scares Westerners are the reports about tourists stranded abroad. We see it in forums and on social media—people identify with them and wouldn’t want to be in their shoes.
There’s no reason for anyone to get unexpectedly stranded anywhere; we’re nowhere near international flights being canceled.
Anyway, spring break starts on April 4th, and many have changed their plans.
That’s what *you’re* saying.
Got any sources?
Sure, some passengers have given up flights with Gulf airlines, but not because there’s no jet fuel.
You’ll always find impressionable, misinformed people acting out of fear—no need to give examples 🙂
People travel with full awareness—everyone makes their own choices and has their own feelings or ways of handling these kinds of issues. Everyone has to own their decisions.
Passengers who canceled flights with Gulf carriers, yes, but not because there wouldn’t be any kerosene.
If you read the online travel industry press, they say that tour operators’ bookings to the Middle East, the United States, and Thailand (among others) have dropped, while they’ve increased for Spain and Italy. They write that people are adapting based on international news—until the war, bookings to Egypt and Jordan were on the rise.
The fuel shortage issue is more recent, but word is starting to spread, and I don’t think it’s encouraging people to travel far.
Personally, I’m leaving for Tunisia in three weeks and South Korea on July 4th—I’ll see how it goes...
" 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 )
If you read the online travel industry press, they say that among tour operators, bookings to the Middle East, the United States, and Thailand (among others) have dropped, while they’ve increased for Spain and Italy. They write that people are adapting based on international news—until the war, bookings to Egypt and Jordan were on the rise.
All of this is cyclical and multifactorial; I still maintain that the idea that flight cancellations are to be feared almost everywhere in the world in the coming weeks due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is a fantasy.
In Vietnam, maybe, and in a few countries that won’t have the power to pivot, but there’s a big difference between that and going to Italy or Spain.
The fuel shortage issue is more recent, but it’s starting to get known, and I don’t think it encourages people to travel far.
I don’t know.
Personally, I’m leaving for Tunisia in three weeks and then South Korea on July 4th—I’ll see how it goes...
South Korea is very dependent on Hormuz, and by July, it might have exhausted its stocks... But it will have sourced supplies elsewhere.
In case of a fuel shortage, it's better to be in a country close to France and accessible by train (not to mention the travel conditions if you can't get around as you'd like due to shortages...).
Good evening, you're right—let's hope train ticket prices stay steady.
And you can thank good ol' Charles for his energy policy back in the post-war period.
The strategy of fear, which has permeated media and institutional discourse in recent years, will find yet another opportunity to apply itself—especially unfortunately in France, given the role granted to the State.
yeah, you should go tell that to people who take their cars to work.
They’ll *love* what you’re writing.
Diesel in France has now hit 2.50 € per liter
from there to going to Italy or Spain, there’s a big difference.
This morning I was reading in *Sud Ouest* an interview with Michael O’Leary, Ryanair’s CEO, who noted a "massive" shift in bookings toward Europe for April, especially southern Europe (southern France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece). He said he’s not sure if this trend will continue through the summer, but he wonders, "how many Europeans will want to return to the Gulf in the short term? I don’t know."
" 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 )
Yes, but there are also quite a few low-cost carriers that have preemptively canceled flights to these regions—citing lower profitability. I won’t name names, but everyone knows who I’m talking about.
For me, long-haul customers heading to Thailand or Australia via the Gulf won’t suddenly switch to Ryanair for Malaga. These aren’t the same traveler profiles or expectations.
O’Leary can’t really talk about a "shift"—he doesn’t have the data to back it up. But from a PR standpoint, it works in his favor to say so.
Yes, but there are also quite a few low-cost carriers that have preemptively canceled flights to these regions—ostensibly for lower profit margins—I won’t name names, but everyone knows who I’m talking about.
SAS is also affected;
Poor fuel coverage: SAS grounds 1,000 flights after jet fuel prices double | Air Journal
In my opinion, long-haul passengers heading to Thailand or Australia via the Gulf won’t switch to Ryanair for Malaga—those aren’t the same traveler profiles or expectations.
Just to confirm, I’m leaving for Sydney tonight via Shanghai since Qatar Airways wasn’t an option. If I hadn’t found an interesting plan B for Australia, I’d have happily gone back to South Korea, especially since it’s cherry blossom season.
"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"
SAS had chosen not to have "hedging" against rising fuel prices, making it one of the few major airlines in this situation.
The airline made this choice in search of a competitive edge after a very tough period and many changes.
Risky bet, forced bet.
For me, long-haul customers heading to Thailand or Australia via the Gulf won’t switch to Ryanair for Malaga—those aren’t the same traveler profiles or expectations.
I think it depends on the traveler profiles. Those traveling with kids and/or still working won’t want to take risks during this period of uncertainty—uncertainty and tourism don’t mix well.
Someone traveling without kids and with no work constraints might see things differently.
In any case, for April, tour operators are seeing a drop in bookings to the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, and an increase toward Europe (and France).
Some operators are even noticing this trend for the summer holidays already. For example, I read that Sunweb is seeing a shift in bookings, with a 220% increase for Portugal and +32% for Spain and Greece.
" 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 )
For me, long-haul passengers heading to Thailand or Australia via the Gulf won’t switch to Ryanair for Malaga—these aren’t the same profiles or expectations.
I’m sorry, but I don’t know what world you’re living in... For a long time now, the so-called upper classes, the "CSP +" as we say in France, have been shopping at Lidl or Aldi—basically, hard-discount stores.
Given that many executives live in Île-de-France, where real estate prices are exorbitant, they have nothing left at the end of the month after paying school fees, groceries, rent, etc...
So if the crisis continues, the profiles you’re talking about will have no choice but to settle for vacations in Europe, in Spain or Italy.
I think it depends on traveler profiles—those traveling with kids and/or still working won’t want to take risks during this period of uncertainty
Traveling with kids is a money pit, especially if fuel prices keep rising.
Do the math—it must cost around 10,000 € for a family of four to go to Thailand.
And unless you work for a multinational or a CAC 40 company—and even then—few households in France can afford that.
I had avoided naming the airline I was thinking of, but you’ve done it. There could also be another low-cost carrier, often based in Budapest.
These companies make business decisions, likely constrained by earlier strategic choices.
You’re talking about "package tours"; not independent travelers.
If tourists traveling with an agency that can support them in case of problems are giving up on certain destinations, I don’t think families traveling as "independents" are any more reckless.
Otherwise, using a travel agent doesn’t necessarily mean "package tours"—you can just use one to buy a flight ticket. Even on travel forums, you’ll find plenty of people who use travel agents without actually going on "package tours" with a group.
" 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 )
It’s been a long time since the so-called upper classes, the "CSP+" as we say in France, have been shopping at Lidl or Aldi—basically, hard-discount stores.
Uhhh.
I’m just at the upper limit of the middle class, and I don’t shop at those kinds of stores (the aisles really don’t appeal to me—it’s the best way for a foodie to go on a diet...).
Eating well is losing ground to owning an iPhone, a fancy car, going out to restaurants regularly, and doing all sorts of expensive (and useless) activities.
This largely explains the rise of the low-cost junk food basket.
It has nothing to do with the wallet of a CSP+—they’d happily splurge on an overpriced gadget but not on a Charolais rib steak.
And honestly, isn’t it better to eat a homemade lentil dish with a good pork chop or a nice omelet than some gross frozen ground beef from a cull cow with fries of the same quality?
It’s not about price.
It’s just sheer laziness and a palate that’s lost its way.
Back to the topic: Gulf countries used to offer good deals and the chance to break up the long trip to the East.
Travelers put off by very long flights will opt for closer destinations, not necessarily in Europe (Africa, Cape Verde, Brazil, direct flights to India, etc.).
Budget-conscious travelers will go wherever the cheapest fares are, which will be tough to find just a few months before this summer.
Think Maghreb, Senegal, Canary Islands, Eastern Europe, South Africa, maybe Central Asia, Brazil, or Colombia.
Venezuela for the more adventurous...
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C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
If tourists traveling with an agency that can support them in case of problems avoid certain destinations, I don’t think families traveling as "independents" are any more reckless.
On the contrary, it seems to me that the most confident or experienced travelers don’t go through agencies. Even assuming an agency could really be a big help—which I doubt.
Besides, using a travel agent doesn’t necessarily mean "package tours"; you can use one just to buy a flight ticket, and even on travel forums, many contributors use travel agents without necessarily doing "organized group trips."
I struggle to see the point of buying standalone flights from travel agencies. Maybe 20 years ago, sure, but not now.
So if you’re saying agencies are seeing a shift in clientele toward certain destinations, that’s probably skewed by the sample. As for buying a trip to Spain from an agency—I just don’t get the concept at all… 🙂
Travelers chasing the lowest prices will go wherever they can find them, making it tough with just a few months to go before this summer.
Maghreb, Senegal, Canary Islands, Eastern Europe, South Africa, maybe Central Asia, Brazil, or Colombia.
Venezuela for the more adventurous...
You reminded me that Afghanistan just introduced an e-visa—pretty pricey, I think it’s $120, but super easy to get, with or without a LOI.
I don’t know how you find the time to whip up that kind of French-style cooking, but personally, I prefer simple stuff, and I find the quality of the chain you’re criticizing really satisfying—sometimes even excellent. True, I’m not as well-off as you are 🙂.
Yes, Patrick, Air New Zealand is also highly exposed.
Some airlines have little coverage on jet fuel prices, are restructuring, or were already vulnerable.
On the Europe-Asia route (Korea, for Marie’s flight this summer), the safest flights will be those with a layover at a major hub.
It’s really a hassle to make a fried egg (2 minutes), lentils (20–25 minutes of cooking with no prep), and a pork chop (barely 10 minutes on the grill). You can do whatever you want during the cooking times, so it’s just 30 seconds + 30 seconds of actual work for the cook.
You’re the perfect example of the laziness that’s taken over people...
As for Lidl and Aldi, I’ve gone into those stores for toilet paper and left feeling totally depressed.
Aldi is even worse, by the way.
Anyway, Afghanistan isn’t for women or people who don’t like voyeurism...
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
It’s really super complicated to make a fried egg (2 minutes), lentils (20/25 minutes cooking with no prep), and a pork chop (barely 10 minutes on the grill). You can do whatever you want during the cooking times, so it’s 30 seconds + 30 seconds for the cook.
I don’t attach that much importance to it—honestly, I don’t care.
It’s been about 40 years since I last ate French-style red meat, and I rarely eat pork.
But is that really the point?
After all, Afghanistan isn’t for women or people who don’t like voyeurism...
I don’t know, but it’s probably true that it doesn’t suit your style of tourism. There have always been travelers—men and women—who go there.
I’m a bit confused about why anyone would still buy dry flights from travel agencies. Twenty years ago, maybe, but not now.
Hi there,
A couple of years ago, I couldn’t buy a flight ticket online—there was a glitch, so I went through a travel agency. They told me some people still buy dry flights from agencies, fewer than before, but it still happens.
Anyway, the real topic is people postponing vacations to destinations closer to France because of the war (bombings in Gulf countries, fuel shortages elsewhere). I don’t think it has anything to do with booking through an agency or being more confident or experienced—it’s just that people with family or work obligations don’t want to take any risks.
Either way, if airlines cancel flights, we won’t have a choice.
" 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 )
A couple of years ago, I couldn't buy a flight ticket—there was a bug, so I bought it through a travel agency. They told me some people still book dry flights through agencies, fewer than before but it still happens.
Of course it still exists.
Anyway, if airlines cancel flights, we won’t have a choice.
There’s a higher risk of flight cancellations from France to Spain or Italy than from France to Korea.
Hope so! But you did write that if things keep going, Korea could be bone-dry by summer....
Korea has reserves, much like Japan, and is highly dependent on the Strait of Hormuz. But Koreans won’t drain strategic stocks to the last drop—they’ll use them to buy time to find other supply sources.
You’re flying Korean Air; if they need to cut back, it won’t be by grounding planes overnight. Instead, they’ll rationalize, reduce frequencies, consolidate routes, and raise fares. Short-haul domestic flights or medium-haul routes to China or Japan would be hit first.
The long-haul flight you’re on? I’d be surprised if it’s affected—maybe reduced frequency, but not canceled.
I'm leaving on July 4th with Lufthansa via Munich.
Okay, I misread or misunderstood.
Lufthansa is quite exposed; in case of tension, there could be a cancellation on the flight to Munich with an offer of a different time slot—that’s possible and conceivable.
But you just need to wait calmly, no reason to worry.
But you just have to wait calmly, no reason to worry.
I’m not really worried about it—we’ll see how it goes by then.
Anyway, in three weeks, on April 11th, I’ve got a flight with Tunisair. I think they’re struggling a bit, so I’m hoping I’ll be able to leave *and* come back since I’ve got work commitments.
" 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 )
Travelers put off by very long flights will opt for closer destinations, but not necessarily in Europe (direct flights to India...)
The sentence is a bit contradictory: India, a "closer" destination?
Anyway, now might not be the best time to go to India, because due to the war in Iran, they're facing a gas shortage—even for cooking—all the press is covering it.
Luckily, Trump has eased sanctions against Putin, so he’ll be able to sell his gas.
I remember a distant discussion on this very forum about your approach to food.
It’s not really your thing.
For me, it’s one of life’s pleasures: a good cut of sirloin with a few potatoes baked in the ashes and a glass of red wine—pure bliss!
And don’t even get me started on a raw-milk cheese platter with a slice of sourdough bread!
I also remember eating well in Sri Lanka and Vietnam, even if the dishes I mentioned earlier weren’t on the menu...
I don’t think Afghanistan would suit me in that regard—or in any other, for that matter...
La rue comme gagne-pain : concours de photos amical de septembre 2026
Rubrique Jeux Voyages
C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !
What can I say, I was young in Brittany.
There was no gastronomy—just excellent food, always simple.
Not the kind of French fine dining with sauces, wine pairings, or elaborate meals. Quick bites, no fuss.
That doesn’t stop me from trying local dishes when I travel, always within my limits, though.
I really don’t like dishes like plov, for example, and I’m not big on street food or eating at markets.
With the rising fuel prices, United Airlines is set to cut 5% of its operations by eliminating the least profitable flights over the next two quarters.
United expects oil to reach $175 a barrel, and U.S. airlines are already passing the increase on to flight ticket prices.
But if the war continues, all planes could end up grounded for one reason or another....
You’ll probably find something new to read every evening that you’ll interpret as alarming, but there isn’t a shortage of oil—what’s missing right now is access to 20% of the supply.
The players in this war are deeply tied to financial interests, so I don’t see them letting the global economy collapse. Solutions will be found.
Just tonight, a Russian oil shipment was delivered to the Philippines—so, a new supplier.
Countries like Vietnam and the Philippines are taking precautionary measures to ensure better supply security in the meantime.
This is a question: you mention that the shortage affects 20% of the energy resource—okay, that’s what we’re reading or hearing. However, I’ve heard that it might impact aviation kerosene even more, as a higher percentage of it comes from this tense region.
Do you have any information to confirm or deny this?
Thanks, and have a good evening.
Eric
Hi,
Planes from airlines heading to Southeast Asia or China, like Ethiopian Airlines, make a technical stop in Muscat to refuel due to the jet A1 shortage at their base.
As far as I know, what passes through the strait is mostly crude oil, so no, there’s no reason to say that "aviation kerosene coming from this tense region in a higher percentage."
That said, refineries need to be able to produce it, and maybe there’s less precaution and stock for jet fuel than for other products. When a system is destabilized, it takes time to recover.
Ethiopian Airlines has always been the go-to for technical stopovers. In fact, they do some pretty cool ones—I once had the fun of flying from Copenhagen to Vienna on one of their long-haul flights. They make stopovers in Bangkok to continue on to Hong Kong, Jakarta, and more.
That said, I’m surprised by what you’re saying. After spending a few minutes checking specialized sites, I didn’t find any trace of such a stopover on flights to Bangkok, for example.
Hi there,
I’m planning a winter trip across India. Departing in early December and returning to France in mid-April.
My main concern is finding an airline that offers this round-trip with the fewest hassles regarding cancellations or flight schedule changes. The unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East isn’t making this search any easier—recent reviews online about airlines from Gulf states describe quite a few struggles over the past few months.
The direct Paris-Delhi round-trip flights offered by Air France or Air India are probably the safest options, but not the cheapest!
Given this uncertainty, I’m still holding off on finalizing my ticket purchase... Maybe some of you India lovers on VoyageForum have tips or experiences to share?
Thanks, and happy travels to all.
Bonjour à la communauté;
Je pars début octobre à Madagascar pour relier tana à diégo par la côte est et à vélo.
Je tiens absolument à voir la péninsule du masoala avec sa forêt primaire. Si il y a des candidats je suis open.
Peut être à bientôt
Hi,
I’m thinking of heading to Malaysia soon.
I’ve seen some great prices and direct flights from Paris with Malaysia Airlines.
Is it a reliable airline?
Thanks for your feedback!
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 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
I’ve been traveling regularly for over twenty years,
but this is the first time an airline has treated me as poorly as Air France.
Two trips, two problems. The latest:
Trip from Seoul to Rennes. Last leg from Paris CDG to Rennes with Air France.
I arrive in Paris and go straight to Air France to get my boarding pass to Rennes. They assure me my baggage is continuing to Rennes.
Arriving in Rennes, no baggage—same as five other people.
The Air France office is closed, and the airport staff tell me there’s rarely anyone there.
With the help of the airport staff, I file a claim online, and my baggage is almost immediately located. As a result, I’m told I’ll have it the next day.
Four days later, the baggage is still in the same place at CDG—nothing’s moving.
The problem is Air France has no customer service. What they call customer service is a department that takes an hour to answer and just repeats what’s on the online form. No coordination, no way to get things moving. I guess Air France would rather pay the compensation after 21 days than actually do something.
I’ve had lost baggage on other trips, but this is the first time I’ve seen such indifference and lack of professionalism.
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!
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.
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
