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Original poster

To ask WWYD - flight home cancelled

258 replies

Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 12:01

Posting for traffic - we are in Sri Lanka and due to fly home on Friday 13th with Qatar airlines, via Doha, to London Heathrow.
we booked through BA -
both BA and Qatar are saying that flights up to 8th March can get a refund.
we think we can fly to Singapore then direct to London- there are not many flights available, and it would cost around £1400 each (double our original flight).

WWYD - should we wait and see if airspace clears over Middle East?
or book another flight while they’re available and hope our original flight remains cancelled?
we can afford it but that will be savings cleared out.
please help
YABU - hold tight, air space may clear
YANBU - book another flight now!

OP posts:
Franpie · 03/03/2026 15:18

KatieA12B3C · 03/03/2026 15:13

Sorry for jumping on your thread.
My daughter & partner are stuck in Malaysia, they were supposed to be home today. They flew with Etihad. They cancelled their flight 2 days ago.
Kuala Lumpur>Abu Dhabi>London. They are unable to get in contact with Etihad, they have had no updates or offers of alternatives etc. It looks like their insurance won't pay up either as it's war! It's a nightmare, I know things could be worse. They are safe.

Edited

did Etihad cancel the flight or your DD?

Original poster
Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 15:15

KatieA12B3C · 03/03/2026 15:13

Sorry for jumping on your thread.
My daughter & partner are stuck in Malaysia, they were supposed to be home today. They flew with Etihad. They cancelled their flight 2 days ago.
Kuala Lumpur>Abu Dhabi>London. They are unable to get in contact with Etihad, they have had no updates or offers of alternatives etc. It looks like their insurance won't pay up either as it's war! It's a nightmare, I know things could be worse. They are safe.

Edited

Im
so sorry, that sounds so stressful
we can’t get through to anyone on the phone, just online chat, but that’s awful if their flight is cancelled and no one has been in contact

OP posts:
Franpie · 03/03/2026 15:15

Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 15:05

No my flight is not cancelled, they are cancelled up to the 10th March so far
okay, if BA have to get me home if it’s cancelled then I’ll just wait

They will reroute you. Or Qatar will. They have to.

It’s tricky for them to give you rerouting options right now as they have so many aircraft that need repositioning.

ProfessorTeapot · 03/03/2026 15:14

Not if the flight is cancelled. That’s if you choose to change now. Entirely up to you what you choose when that’s offered. I assume it’s not been offered as far out 13th yet.

ETA. Thats in reply to OP’s most recent

KatieA12B3C · 03/03/2026 15:13

Sorry for jumping on your thread.
My daughter & partner are stuck in Malaysia, they were supposed to be home today. They flew with Etihad. They cancelled their flight 2 days ago.
Kuala Lumpur>Abu Dhabi>London. They are unable to get in contact with Etihad, they have had no updates or offers of alternatives etc. It looks like their insurance won't pay up either as it's war! It's a nightmare, I know things could be worse. They are safe.

Schoolparentbother · 03/03/2026 15:12

Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 15:05

No my flight is not cancelled, they are cancelled up to the 10th March so far
okay, if BA have to get me home if it’s cancelled then I’ll just wait

I would check the small print of the booking. If there is communication from the airline try to get it in writing/screengrab chats.

Original poster
Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 15:12

Oh it does say change of route, and will have to pay the fare difference!

OP posts:
ProfessorTeapot · 03/03/2026 15:11

If they offer a refund get on the phone or chat and decline it, requesting they re-route. They cannot leave you stranded but you may have a delay. They also owe you “duty of care” which means accommodation and meals during the delay. If it happens keep your expenses reasonable and keep receipts. Expect to pay for alcohol yourself but they should cover all food and accommodation.

Original poster
Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 15:06

Im not worried about the conflict for me, just want to get home next weekend, the flights that they have already cancelled it just says you’re entitled to a full refund- no mention of reroute

OP posts:
Original poster
Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 15:05

No my flight is not cancelled, they are cancelled up to the 10th March so far
okay, if BA have to get me home if it’s cancelled then I’ll just wait

OP posts:
Maybeitllneverhappen · 03/03/2026 15:03

Think Simon Calder (travel expert) was saying yesterday never take the refund as then you are no longer the airline's problem. If you are still booked with them, they have to get you home and look after you .

ProfessorTeapot · 03/03/2026 15:02

This is all very confusing. Your OP says your flight on 13th is cancelled but the updates suggest not. What is the actual current status?
If it’s just your very understandable uneasiness then you have choices.
Either wait until nearer the time and if it is cancelled the airline you are booked with must re-route you. That may take them some time and they may act grudgingly but it’s on them to do so.
Or make your own arrangements now and accept you will forfeit the cost of the original flight if it runs and you have chosen not to use it.
There are all sorts of possible outcomes in the ME in the next few weeks and we need to wait and see what happens and what FCDO advises.

WheresMyHatGone · 03/03/2026 14:53

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/03/2026 14:48

Not until they cancel the flight...which they haven't (yet!!)

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But they have to get them home in the long run, whether it is cancelled yet or not, they still have an obligation.

CatNoBag · 03/03/2026 14:52

WheresMyHatGone · 03/03/2026 14:37

Yes they do. Don't let them tell you otherwise!

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This. They are legally obliged to help you get back if your flight is cancelled, but they won't do anything until they know it is cancelled. They won't be thinking that far ahead yet.

CatNoBag · 03/03/2026 14:51

Swiftie1878 · 03/03/2026 14:40

Pakistan are getting involved, which could then spread to India.
I’d want to get out now.

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I think Pakistan is busy with its own separate fight with Afghanistan, completely separate to the Iran situation.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/03/2026 14:48

WheresMyHatGone · 03/03/2026 14:37

Yes they do. Don't let them tell you otherwise!

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Not until they cancel the flight...which they haven't (yet!!)

Tryingtokeepgoing · 03/03/2026 14:47

WheresMyHatGone · 03/03/2026 13:01

Call BA back and quote UK/EU261 regulations. They have to get you home even if it is with another airline or a different route. DO NOT let them refund you as that pushes the onus on you to get yourself home. Tell them you want them to book you on the Singapore flight and be firm about it.
Having been extremely lucky to return from Dubai just before this all kicked off there is no way I would be transiting through Doha any time soon.

But BA don't have to do anything yet, as they haven't cancelled the flight. From Sri Lanka if I was the OP I think I'd wait until they are re-routed, if they do cancel the flight, and would have thought vi Delhi, Mumbai or Chennai with Sri Lankan and BA would be the logical way home

Silvers11 · 03/03/2026 14:43

Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 14:24

BA don’t have to get me home - but chatting with them now to see reroute options

Well either BA or Qatar airlines will have to get you home, for free if your flight is cancelled. Not sure what the protocol is when you book through an airline who also uses other named airlines. If you cancel and rebook flights, then you will not be entitled to ANY refunds at all.

Swiftie1878 · 03/03/2026 14:40

notimagain · 03/03/2026 14:37

It's not that bad,.nor likely to be..

Gulf connections might be iffy for an unknown period but it is possible to avoid the area completely.

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Pakistan are getting involved, which could then spread to India.
I’d want to get out now.

Franpie · 03/03/2026 14:38

Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 13:06

Okay, going to call BA - but I think they will not do anything as my flight isn’t cancelled yet

I’d also call Qatar

notimagain · 03/03/2026 14:37

Swiftie1878 · 03/03/2026 14:13

I’d be booking now and coming home as soon as I could. Things could get a lot worse the way everyone is talking.

It's not that bad,.nor likely to be..

Gulf connections might be iffy for an unknown period but it is possible to avoid the area completely.

WheresMyHatGone · 03/03/2026 14:37

Twoshoesnewshoes · 03/03/2026 14:24

BA don’t have to get me home - but chatting with them now to see reroute options

Yes they do. Don't let them tell you otherwise!

Franpie · 03/03/2026 14:36

Do not cancel. Cancellation options are good for those about to embark on outbound travel, you are returning home so it’s not a good idea.

You need to be BA/Qatar’s problem whereby they book you into a rerouted flight if they cancel your return flight.

Usernamenotfound1 · 03/03/2026 14:33

I have you spoken to BA? Won’t they reroute you?

recent storms in the US my brother was supposed to route through NY-when the NY flight was cancelled they changed him to the Atlanta flight instead.

although I suppose there aren’t going to be many flights with space as everyone will be trying to reroute/get home.

TerrorAustralis · 03/03/2026 14:28

If your flight does end up cancelled, I would try to get a direct flight with Sri Lankan Airlines. If you can’t get a flight to London, look at any other European destination, because you can much more easily get home from there (even if you end up having to travel overland).

Any connecting flights you add into the equation add a layer of risk and another potential point of failure. You could end up stuck in Singapore/KL/Mumbai instead of Colombo.