With recent events in the Middle East leading to widespread airport closures and airspace restrictions, thousands of UK holidaymakers are facing cancelled flights, severe delays, and sudden changes to FCDO travel advice. From sudden airport closures in Dubai and Doha to suspended routes across the region, travel disruption is currently affecting journeys to, from, and transiting through the Middle East.
If your travel or holiday plans have been thrown into chaos, we answer the most common questions concerning consumer rights, refunds, and what compensation can be claimed if your travel to the Middle East is disrupted.
Can you get a refund or a new flight if your Middle East flight is cancelled?
Yes. Under UK and EU law (specifically UK261 / EU Regulation EC261), the airline is responsible for getting passengers to their destination regardless of the cause for the cancellation or delay. These rules apply if:
- Your flight departs from the UK or the EU
- Your flight arrives in the UK or the EU and was with a UK/EU airline
This means that even if your flight was cancelled due to an issue that had nothing to do with the airline, such as the sudden closure of airspace in the Middle East, your airline still needs to book you on to the next available flight to get you to your destination.
Crucially, they must book you on a rival airline if they cannot accommodate you on their own planes. Many airlines will initially try to rebook you only on their own services. If this causes a significant delay (for example, they say you have to wait three days for a seat on their own plane), but a rival carrier has a flight available sooner, your original airline must buy you a ticket on that rival flight. If they refuse to do so, you can buy the alternative flight yourself and claim the cost back (though ensure you have evidence of their refusal first).
Alternatively, if you no longer wish to travel or the delay is too significant, you are legally entitled to choose a full refund for the cost of your flight. Under UK law, the airline is legally required to process this flight refund within 7 days. (Note: If you booked a package holiday, the provider has 14 days to refund you). While airlines frequently drag their heels during mass disruptions, do not let them tell you it will take months, 7 days is your statutory right.
Watch out if you are flying with a Middle Eastern airline: The rules can be tricky if you are flying with carriers like Qatar Airways, Emirates, or Etihad. Because these are not UK or EU airlines, your rights depend on which direction you are travelling:
- Flying OUT of the UK: If you are flying from London to Dubai on Emirates, you are fully covered by UK law because your flight departs from a UK airport.
- Flying BACK to the UK: If you are flying from Dubai to London on Emirates, you are not covered by UK law. Because you are flying from a non-UK airport on a non-UK airline, you are subject to the airline's own terms and conditions of carriage, rather than statutory UK rights. Fortunately, major Gulf carriers generally have strong internal policies for rerouting and providing hotels during major disruptions, but they are not legally bound by UK261.
Will the airline pay for your hotel and food if you are stranded?
Yes, they should. Even during major international incidents, the airline has a duty of care towards you and must cover certain expenses while you wait for your rerouted flight. These include:
- Reasonable food and drink expenses
- Reasonable accommodation costs in a nearby hotel if you are rebooked on a flight the following day
- Transport costs to and from the hotel
- Communication costs (i.e. international phone calls may be reimbursed)
If airline staff are stretched and cannot provide vouchers or book a hotel directly, you have the right to organise reasonable care yourself and claim the costs back later. Keep all your receipts and ensure your expenses are "reasonable", extravagant meals or luxury hotels will be rejected by the airline.
Are you entitled to extra flight delay compensation up to £520?
No, you are highly unlikely to be entitled to fixed-sum financial compensation for the current Middle East disruption.
If your flight is cancelled or delayed as a result of actions that are the airline's fault (like a technical fault or staffing issue), you could be entitled to additional compensation of up to £520. However, the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed that disruptions directly caused by the security situation in the Middle East are classified as "extraordinary circumstances."
Because the disruption is entirely outside of the airline's control, they are legally exempt from paying this additional fixed-sum compensation. However, remember that "extraordinary circumstances" do not remove your right to a replacement flight, a refund, or the duty of care expenses mentioned above.
What if your package holiday to the Middle East has now been cancelled?
If you booked a package holiday which has now been cancelled, you typically benefit from additional protection under the law.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) currently advises against all but essential travel, and in some cases, all travel, to several countries in the Middle East. Check the latest FCDO advice for your specific destination.
If your packaged holiday is cancelled as a result of unforeseen circumstances beyond the holiday company's control, or because FCDO advice changes to warn against travel to your destination, then you should receive a full refund of both the flight and the holiday portion. The company may also offer you an alternative holiday on a different date instead, if this is possible.
Ensure your package holiday is ATOL-protected, as this guarantees you won't be left out of pocket if the travel operator goes bust during the crisis.
What should you do if your Middle East holiday is booked for later this year?
If you have a holiday to the Middle East booked for later this spring or summer, it is completely understandable that you might be feeling anxious about whether your trip will go ahead. Here is what you should (and shouldn't) do if your trip is a few weeks or months away:
- Don't panic and cancel your trip yourself right now: This is the most important rule. If you call up and choose to cancel your trip yourself, you will be subject to the company's standard cancellation terms. For flights, this usually means losing your money entirely unless you bought a fully flexible ticket. For package holidays, you could lose your deposit or face hefty cancellation fees.
- Wait for the airline or operator to cancel: Travel companies typically cancel holidays on a rolling basis, focusing first on trips scheduled for the next 7 to 14 days. If the situation doesn't improve and the FCDO warning remains in place when your departure date approaches, your package holiday provider will likely be forced to cancel your trip. If they cancel, you are legally entitled to a full refund within 14 days. Simply put: whoever blinks first pays.
- Check for flexible amendment policies: While you shouldn't outright cancel, check the terms and conditions of your booking to see if you have flexibility. Some airlines and travel agents allow you to change the dates of your trip or swap your destination for free (though you'll have to pay any fare difference). Moving your booking to a different destination might be a stress-free solution. So contact your travel operator or airline.
- Keep a close eye on FCDO advice: The FCDO travel advice is the ultimate deciding factor for both package holiday refunds and travel insurance validity. The situation is highly volatile and advice can change daily. Bookmark the FCDO travel advice page for your specific destination and sign up for their email alerts so you are notified the moment the official guidance changes.
Can you just cancel your trip if you are worried about travelling?
If your flight is still scheduled to operate and the FCDO has not advised against travel to your specific destination, you do not have an automatic legal right to a refund just because you no longer wish to go.
In this scenario, if you choose to cancel:
- Flights: You will likely lose your money unless you purchased a fully flexible ticket.
- Hotels: It will depend entirely on the cancellation policy of the accommodation provider.
Always check the latest FCDO travel advice for your specific destination before making a decision.
What if the airline or travel operator refuses a refund after cancellation
If you are struggling to get your money back from an uncooperative airline or if a travel operator goes bust during the disruption, the card you used to pay for your trip could come to the rescue.
- Section 75: If you paid for your flights or holiday using a credit card, and the cost was between £100 and £30,000, you are legally protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This means your credit card provider is jointly liable if you don't receive the service you paid for. If the airline cancels your trip and refuses to refund you (or goes bankrupt), you can claim the money back directly from your credit card company.
- Chargeback: If you paid by debit card, or your credit card purchase was under £100, you can ask your bank to use the Chargeback scheme. While not a legal right like Section 75, it is a widely used banking rule where your bank attempts to reverse the transaction. You typically have 120 days from the date of the cancelled flight to make a Chargeback claim.
Always try to resolve the issue directly with the airline or holiday provider first. But if they go quiet or refuse a legitimate refund, contact your bank and cite these protections.
Will your travel insurance cover Middle East travel disruption?
Travel insurance can be a lifeline, but it comes with strict conditions regarding geopolitical events.
If you booked your trip and bought your insurance before the FCDO advised against travel to your destination, your policy's "travel disruption" cover may reimburse you for non-refundable expenses (like independently booked hotels or car hire) if you have to cancel.
However, your travel insurance will almost certainly be invalidated if you choose to travel to a destination against the advice of the FCDO. If you ignore the warnings and travel anyway, you will not be covered for medical emergencies, lost luggage, or repatriation. Always read the fine print of your policy and contact your insurer directly if you are unsure how the current Middle East situation affects your specific cover.
MTTM AI (beta) 
