“A watch and wait situation”: Gippsland travel agent’s advice on international flights

Almost 200,000 passengers pass through Dubai airport every day, so it’s no wonder the ripples from the war in the Middle East - which has led to airport closures in key transit destinations such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi - have reached Renee McLennan of Mobile Travel Agents in Leongatha.

Big outlay, big worry: Gippsland travel agents are fielding calls from worried passengers who had pre-booked flights to the Middle East, or to transit through enroute to Europe, as well as hotel rooms and tours.

“There's hundreds of thousands of passengers worldwide looking to change flights,” McLennan told the Monitor.

European summer

“I've got hundreds of clients who will be going to Europe for summer.” 

McLennan said roughly 80 percent of her clients flying to Europe this year are flying with Qatar Airways or Emirates, with stopovers in the Middle East.

Personal experience

McLennan was also planning to fly to Europe on Qatar Airways on March 15 - Qatar Airways have currently cancelled flights until March 10. 

McLennan was able to rebook with an Asian airline.

“Travel insurance does not cover acts of war or civil unrest,” McLennan said. “Unless the airlines are waiving their penalties for their fare rules, then it really is up to the individual traveller.

“If I need to [change flights] at the last minute, then obviously the flight prices via Asia are going to be significantly more expensive.”

McLennan’s advice for people wanting to travel to Europe in the near future was to try and book a flight with an Asian stopover.

The latest travel advice from the Australian government is available here.