- Several major airlines, including American Airlines, United Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways, recently issued travel advisories due to ongoing geopolitical events.
- Airlines are also making exceptions to their booking rules, allowing travelers to make changes to their itineraries without additional fees.
- Additionally, the U.S. Department of State released a “Worldwide Caution Security Alert,” encouraging travelers to be vigilant while abroad, no matter where they are.
International travelers may want to carefully review their upcoming itineraries for potential disruptions or cancellations.
Following recent international conflicts, domestic and international airlines are issuing travel alerts and making temporary changes to their booking policies to help passengers safely get to their destinations—some are even giving the option to reschedule or request a refund if needed.
Qatar Airways published a travel alert and offered guidance for customers who have travel booked with the airline. For travelers who are flying with the airline through June 30, Qatar Airways is giving passengers flexibility. It’s waiving change fees and refunding the unused value of tickets without any penalty for bookings extending through July 15.
“Following the temporary closure of Qatari airspace on 23 June, Qatar Airways is now making progress in restoring its schedule with possible disruptions until 26 June 2025,” the airline said in a statement on its website.
Emirates recently published a travel update as well. The Dubai-based airline said there was minimal impact to its operations, and the airline activated a contingency plan to navigate around any potential delays.
“In the past two weeks, Emirates has maintained scheduled services by rerouting flights to avoid conflict zones, successfully serving over 1.7 million passengers on more than 5,800 flights across its global network and delivering certainty to their travel plans when they needed it the most, while upholding its commitment to safe, reliable travel,” Emirates said in a news release.
Airlines based in the United States are also taking steps to accommodate travelers. For example, United Airlines passengers who booked flights to Dubai between June 18 and July 3 can reschedule their trip without change fees or request a refund. Similarly, American Airlines issued a travel alert for Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, with the option to rebook flights without penalty.
But beyond precautions taken by individual airlines, the U.S. Department of State issued a rare “Worldwide Caution Security Alert” on June 22, for all United States citizens living or traveling internationally.
“There is the potential for demonstrations against U.S. citizens and interests abroad,” the statement says. “The Department of State advises U.S. citizens worldwide to exercise increased caution.”
If you are traveling abroad in the near future, consider registering with the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program. When you sign up for the program, you can get up-to-date alerts about things like weather, safety, and security information about the destination you’re visiting. Registering for STEP also lets the Department of State contact you in case of an emergency. But before you even get to the airport, it’s a good idea to check your flight status for any potential changes or delays.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/airlines-suspend-and-cancel-flights-to-middle-east-11760121