Travel agencies in the UAE have advised stranded residents to avoid booking return tickets for flights until authorities announce final date and process for the resumption of flights. Thousands of UAE residents are currently stranded in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, South Africa, and Sri Lanka since the UAE placed travel ban on inbound flights amid rise of new Covid-19 variants.

Even though major airlines have opened booking for passengers in these countries, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) have not finalized a date for ending the travel suspension. 

“(Stranded residents) are anxious and desperate to return to their homes in the UAE. However, I would suggest that travellers wait and watch until they have clarity from official government sources,” said Mir Waseem Raja, manager for MICE and holidays at Galadari ITS. “It is better to have clarity before booking the tickets as each airline has its refund policy. In some cases, a cash refund is possible only after seven months.”

TP Sudheesh, general manager of Deira Travel, has strictly advised residents against booking return flight tickets until government directives are issued. “In case a passenger has made a booking, and if there is a surge in ticket prices, he or she will still have to pay the differential amount.” Sudheesh explained: “For example, if passengers purchased a Kochi-Dubai ticket for Dh500 and the final travel date ticket price is Dh 1,400, they still have to pay Dh900 as the differential amount. However, if another airline is offering that same ticket for Dh1,000, the travellers suffer a loss.” 

As flight bookings open without directives from authorities, several expats have taken chance and booked tickets. Abu Dhabi resident Sandeep Valsan, who went to India to attend his sister’s final rites, has booked tickets at least five times. “My last one was with Emirates airline, which got cancelled yesterday. I’ve booked tickets with Air India Express (AIE) and flydubai as well. In return, I’ve had no response from AIE and I have a travel voucher from flydubai, and will most likely receive another voucher from Emirates,” said Valsan. His last ticket was for a business-class seat. “Every time the flight suspensions are extended, I get depressed. I left my wife and three-year-old daughter in Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Another expatriate, Serhan Khan, has had an Emirates New Delhi-Dubai ticket that got cancelled eight times since April. “The booking is showing confirmed for July 22. The airline has these changes subject to UAE government regulations,” said Khan.

Afi Ahmed, managing director of Smart Travels, said: “Airlines have been showing fluctuating dates since April-end. While you don’t lose any money in booking, facing constant stress in date changes can take a mental toll on the individual.” For people who are worried about missing the first available ticket back, Ahmed said: “There could be a lack of availability for two days, and fares might be higher for two days. However, in a matter of two to three days, this should regularise.” 

Raheesh Babu, group COO of Musafir.com, also said: “Unless government officials give a final date, don’t book a ticket.” 

Recently, the IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) and its Consumer Protection forum IAAI Air Passenger Rights Forum (APRF) have urged the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation to intervene and stop airlines from opening the flight bookings for sectors with complete travel ban.

“Allowing airlines to issue tickets for the sectors which are not yet officially scheduled with appropriate permissions granted by regulatory authorities and respective countries is illegal, arbitrary, ambiguous, and devoid of logic. Resumption of flight ticket reservations, while regulatory authorities suspended flight operations to UAE from India, is a blatant violation of consumer rights. This, in turn, facilitates airlines to hold the hard-earned money of passengers illegally,” the association said in a statement to Economic Times.