To Expect My Airline To Get Me Home?

[ZaraW]

I work in the Middle East and was on holiday in Thailand. A friend messaged me to say flights were banned from country of departure due to coronavirus.

Airline refused to help me. I asked for them to put me on a partner airline to a neighbouring country without travel restrictions they said no. I also asked for transit to London that was refused.

I have to wait three months to be refunded, not too happy about that.

AIBU to have expected to have some help?

I think you should get an immediate refund but beyond that I’m not too sure how much the airline can do as it’s out of their control. It would be really nice if they helped but if it was a flight only rather than a package I can see why they think a refund is sufficient as they’ve probably got thousands and thousands of customers in the same predicament. Hope you get home soon.

Depends on the terms of your travel insurance. What have they said?

That ^^

Check travel insurance but TBF it's not there fault and could be one of thesis "matters beyond out control" which it is.

When the chips are down, it's not 'your airline' it's an airline you've entered into a contract with. If they cannot fulfil the contract it then defaults to any legal rights to redress you may have. Which maybe, in this instance, none.

Where are you now OP? Can you get home or to London via a different route?

What airline is it?

When I initially spoke to the airline before any formal announcement was made I was told they will help me get home. Obviously that didn't happen. I'm in Dubai four a few days and will go home then. Will check travel insurance later. It's Gulf Air.

I suspect they will claim "force majeure" and if you are lucky you'll get a refund. They might tell you to claim from the government cancelling the flights.

OK so I have found out that they could have changed my ticket for transit to Dubai. They gave me the wrong information.