Middle East Crisis & Travel Plans

[del boy]

The plan for me is to come to Phuket again at the end of October till early November. I’m shopping around for flights at the moment and hoping to book up soon. The best offers for me (on pretty much every travel website I go on) in terms of time, convenience and price involve a stop over in the middle east on the way to Bangkok from Birmingham, UK.

Last year, I flew from Birmingham to Bangkok via Dubai with Emirates. This seems yet again like the best deal for me by an absolute country mile! The middle east is becoming an increasingly popular and likely stop over point for flights from Europe to Asia.

Last time, I used Emirates who flew from Birmingham, over central Europe and then over Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia (conveniently bypassing Iraq on the way!!!!) and onto Dubai.

As the current crisis in the middle east looks likely to get worse before it gets better, I’m wondering if anyone else is wondering if this crisis has the potential to escalate and disrupt their travel plans!?

I know that a commercial airline is not going to fly over a war zone. Its not my safety that I’m concerned about. What I’m thinking of is the possibility for disruption to my travel plans. That has got me wondering if I should pay the extra £100 or so, for a ‘safer’ flight via Europe.

Is anyone else concerned about how this crisis may affect travel plans in the near future?

PS, to HS, I’ve got my eye on a trip from Saturday 23rd October till Sunday 6th November. Looking forward to a beer in MTB mate!

[stevem]

I think your worrying unnecessarily.

[IRISH JONNY]

Originally Posted by del boy

That has got me wondering if I should pay the extra £100 or so, for a ‘safer’ flight via Europe.

ID PAY THE EXTRA 100.............
YOU CAN GET OVER THE 100.......I DOUBT IF SOMETHING WOULD HAPPEN.BUT IF IT DID.........YOUR LIFE IS UNREPLACEABLE......AND PRICELESS !!!!!!!
THE QUESTION IS.....IS YOUR LIFE WORTH 100?
IJ

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by del boy

The plan for me is to come to Phuket again at the end of October till early November. I’m shopping around for flights at the moment and hoping to book up soon. The best offers for me (on pretty much every travel website I go on) in terms of time, convenience and price involve a stop over in the middle east on the way to Bangkok from Birmingham, UK.

Last year, I flew from Birmingham to Bangkok via Dubai with Emirates. This seems yet again like the best deal for me by an absolute country mile! The middle east is becoming an increasingly popular and likely stop over point for flights from Europe to Asia.

Last time, I used Emirates who flew from Birmingham, over central Europe and then over Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia (conveniently bypassing Iraq on the way!!!!) and onto Dubai.

As the current crisis in the middle east looks likely to get worse before it gets better, I’m wondering if anyone else is wondering if this crisis has the potential to escalate and disrupt their travel plans!?

I know that a commercial airline is not going to fly over a war zone. Its not my safety that I’m concerned about. What I’m thinking of is the possibility for disruption to my travel plans. That has got me wondering if I should pay the extra £100 or so, for a ‘safer’ flight via Europe.

Is anyone else concerned about how this crisis may affect travel plans in the near future?

PS, to HS, I’ve got my eye on a trip from Saturday 23rd October till Sunday 6th November. Looking forward to a beer in MTB mate!

Not concerned in the slightest. As you say,the airlines keep well away from any warzones,so what problems do you anticipate?

The only problems I can see is that fuel surcharges will escalate as oil prices increase.
I don't know what alternative route non Middle Eastern Airlines take other than Singapore flying north over Russia and Afghanistan and then down through Pakistan and Burma. To take a southerly route,the planes would have to keep well south of Saudi Arabia,but still cross the Emirates/Oman and India to LOS. I doubt if you'll find an airline that does this. Don't worry,just book it

[steve@thaib]

I've avoided the Mid-East routes for years. I imagine there is no avoiding the airspace but if you want to route through Europe instead of there it's easy, might be a touch more expensive but that's your equation.

.

[steve@thaib]

As a side note, I have a friend (honest!) in Dubai and am currently trying to convince myself to suck it up and go there: supposed to be an amazing place.

[dawsey]

Originally Posted by steve@thaib

As a side note, I have a friend (honest!) in Dubai and am currently trying to convince myself to suck it up and go there: supposed to be an amazing place.

For the sheer size of the place considering it was a fishing town in the 70's it is amazing. Beautiful buildings and unashamed luxury. But there isn't a lot to do.
Once you have taken in the souks, the shopping malls and the desert safaris,there is really only the beach and drinking in the evenings to do.

Still worth a trip though,and the hospitality is great. Just choose you time to visit, between May and October you will melt

[steve w]

look man you will not fly over israel/lebanon so what is the problem?

[ThaiLearner]

You could get a direct flight from heathrow just travel down from where ever you live which is what i will be doing. try www.airlinenetwork.co.uk thaiair seem to be doing a good price.

[Captain]

Originally Posted by steve w

look man you will not fly over israel/lebanon so what is the problem?

Yes, they mostly fly over Iran and Afghanistan