Flying via The Middle East

[taaseesanuk 5,264]

So, it looks as though there is some stability with travel in and out of The Middle East.

We are seeing some very attractive deals from the likes of Emirates, Quatar, and Etihad as the companies

try to entice us back to using them? Would you be confident to take them up on this? Certainly, you will unlikely be

covered by Travel Insurance in the event of being stranded, trust me I was victim of this! Alongside the threat of conflict is

now the added concern of possible aviation fuel shortages. It's a difficult situation to balance as some deals do look attractive,

personally, I will be sticking with flying direct to LOS for the immediate future.

[Rosso 21]

Keep in mind another factor, as we speak: The total duration of our stay is also at risk (if you are expecting to stay 55-60 days and then they reduce the visa eventually to 30 days as they keep saying on the news).

[taaseesanuk 5,264]

5 hours ago, Rosso said:

Keep in mind another factor, as we speak: The total duration of our stay is also at risk (if you are expecting to stay 55-60 days and then they reduce the visa eventually to 30 days as they keep saying on the news).

I think if you are able to show that you have an issue with returning due to the Airline unable to fly then you will be

given dispensation with the visa to rebook or reschedule. This was the case back in March when the conflict started.

Edited May 18 by taaseesanuk

[Rosso 21]

2 minutes ago, taaseesanuk said:

I think if you are able to show that you have an issue with returning due to the Airline unable to fly then you will be

given dispensation to rebook or reschedule. This was the case back in March when the conflict started.

 

I only wanted to add this as a notice because you are hoping for some "stability" right now while planning to travel in the near future, and I would love myself to see that "stability" as well (we all want that), but in addition to the visa getting reduced soon (or at least that's what they say everyday for a couple of months now already), the "stability" seems a little uncertain, still.

[MarkSussex 1,276]

4 hours ago, taaseesanuk said:

So, it looks as though there is some stability with travel in and out of The Middle East.

We are seeing some very attractive deals from the likes of Emirates, Quatar, and Etihad as the companies

try to entice us back to using them? Would you be confident to take them up on this? Certainly, you will unlikely be

covered by Travel Insurance in the event of being stranded, trust me I was victim of this! Alongside the threat of conflict is

now the added concern of possible aviation fuel shortages. It's a difficult situation to balance as some deals do look attractive,

personally, I will be sticking with flying direct to LOS for the immediate future.

Exactly this - insurance. I am off to Asia for month next week. When booking the (company) flights, connections with EK, QR, EY etc are ~70% cheaper than what I am taking instead (BA direct, ANA etc).

FCDO is clear, advice against all but etc travel. Insurance companies will do whatever they can not pay out, so the moment you get stuck, let alone travel to the region (ME) and end up in hospital, medevac flight you are buggered. Queue a front page Daily Mail sob story image in your head of some family from shitsville in the UK stuck in Tenerife after granny had to have her kidneys removed. 

I will have to go to Oman, and that’s only possible with special company approval and dedicated insurance. Insurance Insurance insurance ….check check check.

I will be back in Bangkok as part of the trip - so may see some of you there. May even do a Lidl version of last years speed pool event. 
 

 

[taaseesanuk 5,264]

19 minutes ago, MarkSussex said:

Exactly this - insurance. I am off to Asia for month next week. When booking the (company) flights, connections with EK, QR, EY etc are ~70% cheaper than what I am taking instead (BA direct, ANA etc).

FCDO is clear, advice against all but etc travel. Insurance companies will do whatever they can not pay out, so the moment you get stuck, let alone travel to the region (ME) and end up in hospital, medevac flight you are buggered. Queue a front page Daily Mail sob story image in your head of some family from shitsville in the UK stuck in Tenerife after granny had to have her kidneys removed. 

I will have to go to Oman, and that’s only possible with special company approval and dedicated insurance. Insurance Insurance insurance ….check check check.

I will be back in Bangkok as part of the trip - so may see some of you there. May even do a Lidl version of last years speed pool event. 
 

 

I agree, I found out the hard way about Insurance and their "Act of war" get out clause!

I'm sure the girls will be pleased to see you in WN when you get back mate.

[CJ-BLF 384]

20 hours ago, Rosso said:

Keep in mind another factor, as we speak: The total duration of our stay is also at risk (if you are expecting to stay 55-60 days and then they reduce the visa eventually to 30 days as they keep saying on the news).

But that is not for a visa. A visa still gets 60 days. Waivers still do too as they have not actually changed anything yet.

 

Correction, they just did. No announcement on implementation. China and India are back to VOA.

[Mark22 571]

Having avoided the middle east now for at least the last decade there's no way I'm going to be tempted by saving a few hundred quid. Strange really as I used to have a gold card with Qatar Airways but after the Icelandic volcanic ash cloud incident left many stranded the decision was taken to fly direct to BKK whenever possible. That subsequently proved to be a very good decision during March this year when all flights through the middle east were grounded and our direct flight was unaffected.

That said I have occasionally flown via Paris & Amsterdam but getting stuck there shouldn't be anywhere near as much of an issue.

Edited May 19 by Mark22

[Unavowed 2,065]

 
I only wanted to add this as a notice because you are hoping for some "stability" right now while planning to travel in the near future, and I would love myself to see that "stability" as well (we all want that), but in addition to the visa getting reduced soon (or at least that's what they say everyday for a couple of months now already), the "stability" seems a little uncertain, still.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3257580/thailand-ends-60day-visafree-stay?tbref=hp

Not law just yet but expect the changes to go through soon

[taaseesanuk 5,264]

3 hours ago, Unavowed said:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3257580/thailand-ends-60day-visafree-stay?tbref=hp

Not law just yet but expect the changes to go through soon

Might be worth it if it curtails the hordes of Israeli's and Russians 

[worldtraveler3 42]

Well if you can fly direct why would you bother flying though the middle east.

[taaseesanuk 5,264]

2 hours ago, worldtraveler3 said:

Well if you can fly direct why would you bother flying though the middle east.

I have arthritis in my knees so flying from London to BKK via Saudi is a nice half way break. It's only a two hour layover so basically

you get of one plane and on to another with a decent leg stretcher in between. Also, I find that Emirates is a very well equipped plane with

decent food, Thai and EVA get the job done but the planes are dated and the food is adequate but nothing special.

[Mark22 571]

15 hours ago, worldtraveler3 said:

Well if you can fly direct why would you bother flying though the middle east.

Mainly because some of us have a long drive to and from the airports where direct flights depart.

Norse Atlantic ran a direct service from Manchester last winter which was brilliant. Unfortunately they have now knocked that on he head which leaves Heathrow and Gatwick as the only UK airports offering direct flights to BKK.

[kdfan 200]

On 5/21/2026 at 1:49 PM, worldtraveler3 said:

Well if you can fly direct why would you bother flying though the middle east.

Also the cost is usually higher and not everyone can afford the extra money.

[worldtraveler3 42]

I get it fellas thanks for sharing.