To ask WWYD - flight home cancelled

I’d hold out. It’s not expensive to stay in Sri Lanka, BA have to get you home and work will have to wait! What are they going to do in all honesty?

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

@notimagain thanks, I've got lots of colleagues originally from SL but they always go via the middle east when they go home, one due to go this weekend which won't be happening now.
I know Ethiad go via Maldives as well as Abu Dhabi but thought there was also a direct flight but maybe not

@Twoshoesnewshoes going against the grain. I'd book the Singapore flights and take a chance on the cancellation. The situation in the Middle East could escalate rather than subside. I'd want a guaranteed route home. This is war. It is likely to increase in brutality. Frankly, £2,800 is peanuts to ensure your safe return.

Thanks, that's really interesting as we are flying with Emirates. Was the flight back changed as well or just outgoing? Was it same departure airport? Thanks

Do you have to go back to London? Could you fly to Europe if there are flights available there and then onwards from there?

Personally I'd get a refund and book a flight the other way, via USA etc. I'm not sure this is going to end quickly unfortunately.

Originally Emirates. Now on a Thai Airways which Emirates booked automatically (same time and class).

@niknakw12

If you're with BA isn't there a direct flight back from Sri Lanka?

From memory it's only been an occasional on BAs network, last time I think it was an extension of their Maldives service, don't think it's on the network at all ATM.

or with Sri Lanka/Air india airlines via somewhere?

Again from memory think there's maybe one Sri Lankan service none-stop a day up to London.

Should be plenty of options via India (suddenly has a thinks bubble about Visas for any transit).

That said I think I'm still in agreement with the view that it's worth the OP holding on for a few days, if their nerves can stand it.

Qatar website has updated until the 10th now and will update again tomorrow. If you're with BA isn't there a direct flight back from Sri Lanka? Or with Sri Lanka/Air india airlines via somewhere?
If you cancel, you won't get a refund so I'd be holding out and hoping the airline cancels or puts you on another flight. I'm due to fly with Qatar in a few weeks via Doha and hoping it gets cancelled so I'm refunded.

I'd sit tight.

One tip, somewhere like Skyscanner may just show the only alternative as Kuwait, but if you go onto Sri Lanka airlines and look where they fly to in say Europe, you might be able to get an independent connection from say Paris to London.

Ok. I'm just going on what Simon Calder was advising on the BBC news.
Perhaps some airlines will be kinder.
However, it's worth trying your suggestions.

I’d wait a bit longer, but in the meantime check what alternatives might be available in terms of work and warn your boss that you might need to ask for some special
leave depending on how the situation develops.

I would wait, they will rebook you if they do cancel and the 13th is a long way off.

You’d be second guessing with a rebook and it’s not any less likely to get cancelled. You would then be stressed by the rebook, and waiting for the cancellation that might not come. If you do rebook and have a choice, would go via India which has excellent connections from SL. You can also fly direct with SriLankan Air.

Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) and Interruption For Any Reason (IFAR) coverage may still cover flight issues.

Being back for work would be the last thing on my mind. Your employer cannot penalise you for being caugh tup in a situation involving a war that is beyond your control. Its not as if you have deliberately extended your trip to nab a few days holiday. Your safety is the main consideration.The worst you should lose is a few days pay. I would try to negotiate another route with the airline of hang on and wait to see what happens. Emirates and some of the other airlines have beenmanaging to get a few flights out.

Which airline was this with? I’m heading towards a similar situation in a couple of weeks and hoping to just be rerouted.

They don't insure war.

DH is currently stranded in Cyprus with easyjet saying next available flight is Saturday. Called the insurers - Nationwide Flex Plus - via Aviva - who were beyond useless. First of all their IVR took me round in circles for 15 min until I kept saying "speak to someone" on the voice recognition then the guy told me this is a new situation and they are waiting for their underwriters to confirm what is and isn't covered so he said he couldn't tell me if they would cover an alternative flight home!

I would hold out - they might instigate a rolling deadline of refunds if the situation continues.

This is worth looking at closely both for the flight you currently have and any other you may book as it may affect what rights you have for any subsequent issues.

BA will be wanting people who are in a position to to cancel to free up space for passengers who they have to reschedule.