The war in the Middle East cannot stop Australians from vacationing! New Zealand and Asia have become alternatives. Experts remind: Be wary of cheap air tickets from Middle Eastern airlines

This article is reproduced from the WeChat public account: Sydney News

While conflict in the Middle East threatens to escalate further, Australians have been told it’s still possible to plan a dream summer holiday to Europe.

Despite the tension, Helloworld travel consultant Kim Owen said the current situation, while “very tense”, should not stop Australians from traveling overseas.

“It will be difficult to travel to Europe in the next few weeks because flights are very tight and the situation is similar no matter which hub you go through,” she said.

“But if we travel in May or June, it’s still okay because we can transfer to Europe through Asia. Why should your life change because of this?”

Owen said Australians who have booked trips to Europe will still travel as planned, but may encounter some inconveniences if they set out this month.

“We are doing everything we can to get travelers to their destinations,” she said. “I have guests who are going to Paris in a few weeks and they will be connecting through the United States.”

At the same time, Australia has closed its embassies in Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, as well as its consulate in Dubai, and called on Australians living in the Middle East to return to the country as soon as possible.

Owen said the travel warnings were also creating new headaches for Australians planning to travel overseas, as many were put off booking holidays.

“What do people do if they’ve bought a ticket and the airline is still flying? Because travel insurance won’t pay out if they’re going to a place they’ve been told not to go to,” she said.

She also said,More and more Australians are looking to New Zealand and Asian countries as alternative destinations to Europe.

Hilary Dubyk, general manager of Eclipse Travel, said that since the company mainly operates wildlife and nature tourism destinations such as Africa and Latin America, the impact of the Iran war on its business will not be obvious.

“We do see some significant changes in traveler behavior,” Dubyk said.

“There have been more last-minute inquiries from travelers recently, and they seem to be adjusting their short-term travel plans and no longer choosing Europe.”

She said Australian travelers were beginning to choose destinations away from the Middle East and even away from the Northern Hemisphere.

Such as South America and southern Africa, these places can avoid the Middle East route.

“Travelers can fly directly east to Santiago into South America, or west to Johannesburg to South Africa,” she said.

“So it seems to us that many Australians are still willing to travel, just choosing destinations and routes that feel further removed from current geopolitical tensions.”

Peter Carter, head of Carter Capner Law, reminded Australians,Don’t blindly buy cheap tickets from Middle Eastern airlines because of the war in the Middle East.

Mr Carter said while cheaper flights could save money in the short term, there were risks involved.

“Airlines will generally not be held responsible if a flight is diverted or delayed causing subsequent itineraries to be disrupted,” he said.

“Most travel insurance policies do not cover war-related risks such as invasion, hostilities, civil war, rebellion or uprising.”

“This exclusion also applies to related claims arising out of war, such as trip cancellations, medical expenses or emergency evacuation costs, regardless of whether war has been officially declared.”

Carter suggested that if the flight ends or transits in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel or Lebanon, passengers should confirm with the insurance company in advance whether the coverage can be extended.

“If you don’t check in advance, or if the insurance company refuses to provide additional cover, you may have to bear very high costs if your trip is interrupted, luggage is lost or medical problems occur due to conflicts,” he said.

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