A British couple stranded in Thailand say their dream holiday has turned into a “holiday from hell” after flight cancellations linked to the US–Israel conflict with Iran left them unable to return home. Laura Webster, 40, from Birmingham, said she and her husband have been told by their travel agent that there are no available flights to the UK for at least two weeks. The pair have young children in the UK who are currently being cared for by former partners.

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The couple had planned to fly with Emirates to Dubai on Wednesday 5 March, for a three-night stay before taking a connecting flight to Birmingham. However, the flight was cancelled as airlines reduced operations in the region. Emirates told passengers it was operating “a reduced flight schedule until further notice” and said travellers transiting through Dubai would “only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating”.

Webster said the couple are urgently trying to find an alternative way home. “We’ve got work, we’ve got kids. We want to get back ASAP. We don’t care if that means four flights,” she said. One option they found involved travelling via Japan, but tickets were priced at £10,000 each, which they said was unaffordable.

The disruption follows widespread airspace closures across the Middle East after the conflict began last weekend. As a result, the vast majority of flights to and from the region have been cancelled or significantly reduced. The situation made worse by images from Dubai showed thick black smoke billowing into the air above Jebel Ali port after debris from an intercepted Iranian missile struck the area.

The situation has also highlighted limits in passenger protections for some travellers. Passengers arriving in the UK on flights operated by airlines based outside the UK or European Union are not covered by UK consumer law. This means airlines are not required to rebook affected passengers on alternative carriers even if another route would get them home sooner.

Webster said their travel agent managed to arrange three additional nights of accommodation in Thailand, but after that they have had to make their own arrangements. She said their travel insurance would not cover the disruption because it is related to war.

“Unless you have a direct flight that’s already booked from Bangkok to London, you’re stuffed for two weeks at least,” she said. “It’s just horrible. It’s literally a holiday from hell.”

The BBC reported that as flight schedules remain reduced and regional airspace restrictions continue, stranded travellers face uncertainty about when normal routes will resume. Airlines have not indicated when full services through Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai may be restored.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 8 Mar 2026

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Same situation, got bumped the 3rd.

There 'were' flights available on the 5th when i purchased mine via china for £390 but a 30 hour journey, i bet even the horrible routes are now a £1,000 plus.

Not a nice end to peoples holidays.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Laura Webster, 40, from Birmingham, said she and her husband have been told by their travel agent that there are no available flights to the UK for at least two weeks.

I think they should sack their travel agent and do some research. Both Qatar and British Airways are flying from the 13th.

So this should highlight, some people shouldn't really be on holiday to begin with. They cant' even afford an alternate flight home.

Welcome to 'Economics 101'. Guessing many not only don't have an oops fund, but their holiday was financed by CC. And some wonder why they can't get ahead in life, living way beyond their means.

@WHansen Yep, 30 hours, that's why I haven't returned to USA, welcome to being a Yank, and how long it takes to get to SEA, along with the cost. And why most stay in the Americas for a holiday.

Took the non stop BKK - JFK flight once, ~18 hours on one plane, but it way better than conx flights to USA.

29 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

I think they should sack their travel agent and do some research. Both Qatar and British Airways are flying from the 13th.

British Airways flights are Qatar. I guess people want to avoid travelling via the ME.

But there are still direct flights for under £1000. £10,000 is a gross exaggeration.

Maybe 'holiday from heck' but not being able to fly out is hardly 'hell'. OMG have to spend a few more weeks in Thailand....

2 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

British Airways flights are Qatar. I guess people want to avoid travelling via the ME.

But there are still direct flights for under £1000. £10,000 is a gross exaggeration.

No, British Airways is not Qatar. They have no connection whatsoever, except that they have an agreement of cooperation, which is the largest between two airlines in the world.

The reason why they are active and available, is that they do not fly via ME, and re-route their flight path.

2 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

No, British Airways is not Qatar. They have no connection whatsoever, except that they have an agreement of cooperation, which is the largest between two airlines in the world.

The reason why they are active and available, is that they do not fly via ME, and re-route their flight path.

They are Qatar metal and they fly via Doha. You are welcome to show different if you can.

1 hour ago, IsmeUno said:

They are Qatar metal and they fly via Doha. You are welcome to show different if you can.

Here are some of the text, and it comes from the URL below

The closure of Iranian Iraqi and parts of Gulf airspace has forced airlines to adopt longer and less efficient routings.

For Emirates and Qatar Airways in particular whose networks depend on overflying Iran to connect Europe with South Asia and Australasia the loss of this corridor is strategically damaging.

Longer routings not only increase fuel burn but also reduce aircraft utilisation a critical metric for carriers operating high density hub and spoke models.

Lower utilisation means fewer daily rotations per aircraft and therefore reduced revenue generating potential.

For airlines that operate some of the world’s largest widebody fleets the opportunity cost alone is substantial.

Even if aircraft remain technically available the inability to operate optimised routings suppresses yield and erodes the efficiency advantages that underpin the ME3’s competitive position.

https://theaviationhub.co.uk/how-the-us-iran-conflict-is-affecting-emirates-etihad-airways-qatar-airways/

29 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Here are some of the text, and it comes from the URL below

The closure of Iranian Iraqi and parts of Gulf airspace has forced airlines to adopt longer and less efficient routings.

For Emirates and Qatar Airways in particular whose networks depend on overflying Iran to connect Europe with South Asia and Australasia the loss of this corridor is strategically damaging.

Longer routings not only increase fuel burn but also reduce aircraft utilisation a critical metric for carriers operating high density hub and spoke models.

Lower utilisation means fewer daily rotations per aircraft and therefore reduced revenue generating potential.

For airlines that operate some of the world’s largest widebody fleets the opportunity cost alone is substantial.

Even if aircraft remain technically available the inability to operate optimised routings suppresses yield and erodes the efficiency advantages that underpin the ME3’s competitive position.

https://theaviationhub.co.uk/how-the-us-iran-conflict-is-affecting-emirates-etihad-airways-qatar-airways/

What has that to do with what you asserted earlier?

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

They have no connection whatsoever, except that they have an agreement of cooperation, which is the largest between two airlines in the world.

The reason why they are active and available, is that they do not fly via ME

Is Doha not part of the Middle East in your world? Is it so hard to admit that you got it wrong?

For me it would have been a great excuse to extend the holiday,

happen to me once in Florida , Eastern airways cancelled the flight

and we had to stay another week , no problem , even gave us a

one way back ticket from UK , the people need to blame Trump 🤡

he started the war....

regards worgeordie

18 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

I think they should sack their travel agent and do some research. Both Qatar and British Airways are flying from the 13th.

No, Qatar are selling flights in the full knowledge they may not operate to pocket customers money and attempt to lock them in to flying with them eventually. The BA offerings come up because they codeshare on these Qatar operated flights.

Earliest BA operated flight to UK I can see in economy class is on the 29th March.

"Webster said their travel agent managed to arrange three additional nights of accommodation in Thailand, but after that they have had to make their own arrangements".. is it really that hard to book accommodation yourself in Thailand ???

All good for clicks... entitled or.what

15 hours ago, IsmeUno said:

What has that to do with what you asserted earlier?

Is Doha not part of the Middle East in your world? Is it so hard to admit that you got it wrong?

Regular flight path might still be visible in 3rd party websites

Cannot afford alternative flights home?

So no travel insurance?

On 3/8/2026 at 4:48 AM, Georgealbert said:

A British couple stranded in Thailand say their dream holiday has turned into a “holiday from hell” after flight cancellations linked to the US–Israel conflict with Iran left them unable to return home. Laura Webster, 40, from Birmingham, said she and her husband have been told by their travel agent that there are no available flights to the UK for at least two weeks. The pair have young children in the UK who are currently being cared for by former partners.

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The couple had planned to fly with Emirates to Dubai on Wednesday 5 March, for a three-night stay before taking a connecting flight to Birmingham. However, the flight was cancelled as airlines reduced operations in the region. Emirates told passengers it was operating “a reduced flight schedule until further notice” and said travellers transiting through Dubai would “only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating”.

Webster said the couple are urgently trying to find an alternative way home. “We’ve got work, we’ve got kids. We want to get back ASAP. We don’t care if that means four flights,” she said. One option they found involved travelling via Japan, but tickets were priced at £10,000 each, which they said was unaffordable.

The disruption follows widespread airspace closures across the Middle East after the conflict began last weekend. As a result, the vast majority of flights to and from the region have been cancelled or significantly reduced. The situation made worse by images from Dubai showed thick black smoke billowing into the air above Jebel Ali port after debris from an intercepted Iranian missile struck the area.

The situation has also highlighted limits in passenger protections for some travellers. Passengers arriving in the UK on flights operated by airlines based outside the UK or European Union are not covered by UK consumer law. This means airlines are not required to rebook affected passengers on alternative carriers even if another route would get them home sooner.

Webster said their travel agent managed to arrange three additional nights of accommodation in Thailand, but after that they have had to make their own arrangements. She said their travel insurance would not cover the disruption because it is related to war.

“Unless you have a direct flight that’s already booked from Bangkok to London, you’re stuffed for two weeks at least,” she said. “It’s just horrible. It’s literally a holiday from hell.”

The BBC reported that as flight schedules remain reduced and regional airspace restrictions continue, stranded travellers face uncertainty about when normal routes will resume. Airlines have not indicated when full services through Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai may be restored.

Join the discussion?

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Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 8 Mar 2026

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Am I misreading this? Their flight home is delayed because of war conditions. I understand that. But why is it their 'holiday from hell'? It's not like they are sleeping on the streets, have no food, have been robbed or assaulted, etc.

Some Brits would be best advised not to travel outside the UK.

On 3/8/2026 at 7:34 AM, WHansen said:

Same situation, got bumped the 3rd.

There 'were' flights available on the 5th when i purchased mine via china for £390 but a 30 hour journey, i bet even the horrible routes are now a £1,000 plus.

Not a nice end to peoples holidays.

Try to search SAS and NORSE, my friend fly back last night with SAS through Copenhagen. No delay, and no problem. Good luck. 😀

Fly to Toronto or Vancouver via Seoul Taipei Tokyo or Hong Kong. Then onward to Heathrow. You should have alternatives at a fairly reasonable price

Just adding my two cents, if I had to get back to family and work and my normal path is blocked or closed.

In this case and during the conflict I flew to SFO, 25,000 baht and back had no problems no delays, then take a flight to east coach then each coast back home.

Sure flight time, increase cost, but reality I'm a grown up with credit cards charge the damn thing eat the cost be home with kids and your job. 🤔 One not need to flight through the storm.

There are other airlines and flights on different routes and different connection points. Singapore Air, Malaysian Air, Cathay, even BA nonstop out of KL 2 or 3 times a week. Of course there are also Chinese routes. Will they take longer to get to the destination and cost more during the next few weeks? Of course. (BTW - who still uses 'travel agents'?)

It’s all Trump‘s fault he had no plan he doesn’t know what to do next and he’s just playing it by ear he had a gut feeling he lies the American public he tells more lies than any president ever he’ll go down in his history the worst president America ever had TIA

I read just yesterday Qatar said if your not staying in Doha, you can't fly in. No flights out of Doha to anywhere in Europe.

21 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

No, British Airways is not Qatar. They have no connection whatsoever, except that they have an agreement of cooperation, which is the largest between two airlines in the world.

Of course there is a connection. Qatar Airways is a major shareholder in the company that owns BA and looks after their interests.

It was Qatar aircraft and crews that got BA out of the brown stuff when they had the strike.

• Equity Stake: As of September 2025, Qatar Airways held a 26.5% stake in International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways.

4 minutes ago, PeterA said:

I read just yesterday Qatar said if your not staying in Doha, you can't fly in. No flights out of Doha to anywhere in Europe.

Maybe they are trying to get all their aircraft back to Doha so they don't pay parking costs at other airports?

39 minutes ago, hannoman said:

Try to search SAS and NORSE, my friend fly back last night with SAS through Copenhagen. No delay, and no problem. Good luck. 😀

I have been looking for a friend who is starting to panic and there have been quite a few available to the UK via the EU countries. Also via China but they tend to have long stopovers, not really a deterrent if struggling.

He wants to go direct and this morning Thai have flights available after 26th March at 53K THB.

Stop moaning worse places to be stuck, daughter is airhostess stranded in Kuwait even if she could find a way out of the country, you need an exit stamp for employees to be able to leave the country which Kuwaiti airlines are refusing to do because they don't want to be left without staffing if suddenly open up again

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

Regular flight path might still be visible in 3rd party websites

Your posts don't make any sense.

1 hour ago, Homburg said:

Cannot afford alternative flights home?

So no travel insurance?

I think in this war situation, travel insurance won't cover you...