A British holidaymaker has been stranded in Thailand for 11 days beyond his planned return due to disruption caused by the war in the Middle East. Paul Lynn, from Chester-le-Street in County Durham, was due to fly from Bangkok on 7 March via Dubai and Dublin, but his journey was halted. He said multiple replacement flights offered by Emirates had been repeatedly cancelled or rescheduled, including four changes within 24 hours.

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Lynn had travelled to Thailand for a two-week holiday with a friend from Dublin, but their stay has now extended to nearly a month. The disruption followed conflict-related issues affecting air travel, including a reported drone incident near Dubai International Airport on Monday. Emirates does not operate direct flights from Bangkok to Dublin, meaning passengers must transit through Dubai.

Lynn expressed concern about being routed through Dubai, citing UK Foreign Office advice against travelling there unless essential. He said: “They’re saying, don’t worry, we’ll look after you. Well, I’m sorry, but if they’re going to fly us into a war zone, I don’t know how they’re going to look after us.” The maintenance engineer added that while his employer had been understanding, the situation was becoming unsustainable.

The airline has offered a refund if he chooses to book with another carrier, but Lynn said this would only cover a few hundred pounds, while a direct alternative flight could cost about £1,800. He added that he is currently paying expenses out of pocket, with his credit card nearly maxed out. Emirates advised affected passengers to check its website for available options.

The BBC reported that Lynn is currently scheduled to fly on Sunday 22 March, but remains uncertain whether the flight will proceed. He said that if it is cancelled again, he may book a more expensive route that avoids Dubai and attempt to reclaim the cost through travel insurance. The situation highlights the challenges faced by travellers navigating flight disruptions linked to geopolitical instability.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 19 Mar 2026

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I am sure there are many more having the same issues than this one guy. There's a vlogger who wasn't even changing planes in the Middle East, who has got stuck here. He was flying BKK-BOM-MAN.

He starnded himself because he wouldnt fly !

I had a friend change his flight to Emirates and flew into Dubai then on to London with NO ISSUES last week.

If its the only way to get home then its "essential" isnt it?

I only read success stories of people who travel by the Middle East to Europe.. But there is no mention of they were on a waiting list, or just had luck or paid a very expensive ticket. The news from emirates and Qatar is not that all flights are back to normal yet...

Some people believe that is without risks to fly through the Middle East now, but I am wondering if they see the reality...Exceptions are not the normality

It won’t be long before even those tourists with flights home that don’t go anywhere near the Middle East will be stranded in Thailand when there’s no more jet fuel for commercial flights. I’m booked to fly to Thailand next month, and on to Europe a couple of months later. If I do make it to Thailand, which is looking less likely by the day, I could be stranded there. It wouldn’t be a problem, except that I’ve carefully calculated my annual stays to be less than 180 days to avoid the new tax laws.

Eeeeh! Paul, just relax. Book a room, get out, feel the vibe and relax. Beer is good, food is good. Enjoy!

The outcome described is no different than \what follows after a weather related disruption and multiple flights are cancelled. The people with the lowest airfares have the lowest priority for rebookings. If one wants a higher priority, one must book into one of the more expensive fare codes. Airlines can have 10 codes for Economy, with the deep discount Saver fares having the lowest priority.

UAE airspace has been mostly open this week. There were some intermittent closures, but they did not last long. A visit to the traffic tracking websites will show the activity in UAE, KSA and Oman.

5 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

A British holidaymaker has been stranded in Thailand for 11 days beyond his planned return due to disruption caused by the war in the Middle East. Paul Lynn, from Chester-le-Street in County Durham, was due to fly from Bangkok on 7 March via Dubai and Dublin, but his journey was halted. He said multiple replacement flights offered by Emirates had been repeatedly cancelled or rescheduled, including four changes within 24 hours.

Get today's headlines by email

Lynn had travelled to Thailand for a two-week holiday with a friend from Dublin, but their stay has now extended to nearly a month. The disruption followed conflict-related issues affecting air travel, including a reported drone incident near Dubai International Airport on Monday. Emirates does not operate direct flights from Bangkok to Dublin, meaning passengers must transit through Dubai.

Lynn expressed concern about being routed through Dubai, citing UK Foreign Office advice against travelling there unless essential. He said: “They’re saying, don’t worry, we’ll look after you. Well, I’m sorry, but if they’re going to fly us into a war zone, I don’t know how they’re going to look after us.” The maintenance engineer added that while his employer had been understanding, the situation was becoming unsustainable.

The airline has offered a refund if he chooses to book with another carrier, but Lynn said this would only cover a few hundred pounds, while a direct alternative flight could cost about £1,800. He added that he is currently paying expenses out of pocket, with his credit card nearly maxed out. Emirates advised affected passengers to check its website for available options.

The BBC reported that Lynn is currently scheduled to fly on Sunday 22 March, but remains uncertain whether the flight will proceed. He said that if it is cancelled again, he may book a more expensive route that avoids Dubai and attempt to reclaim the cost through travel insurance. The situation highlights the challenges faced by travellers navigating flight disruptions linked to geopolitical instability.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

Adapted by ASEAN Now BBC 19 Mar 2026

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Did I miss his #gofundme begging what Brits are so proud of?🤣

If I read this right, the guy had travel insurance. Can't think of many better places to be stranded!

Except Dubai, of course!

7 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

If I read this right, the guy had travel insurance. Can't think of many better places to be stranded!

Except Dubai, of course!

Highly unlikely any insurance company would settle any claims due to acts of war.

I was in the same situation, flights cancelled on the 3rd, 3 hours before i was going to jump on the coach to swampy.

Emirates offered a rebooking or refund, tried without joy to call them for a rebooking so i purchased another flight with Royal Jordanian as Jordan hadn't had any issues with drones. Four days before the flight they changed my connection to the following day, wanting me to sit in AMM for 30 hours.

I was a bit peeved by this time as already on a visa overstay so i requested a refund, bit the bullet and booked with Singapore airlines. Cost far too much but i needed to get back for work.

Requested a refund from Emirates 10 days after they cancelled the flights and got £320 back from the £410 return leg. Waiting to see what Bookingdotcom get me back on my £670 flight through Jordan.

I did see a few cancelled flights to/through Dubai last night whilst in Changi.

Thai immigration were great about the overstay, took photos of the cancellation on the 3rd and waived the usual fees.

So he refuses a refund, refuses to pay more for a different flight that would get him home, but pays the expenses to stay 11 extra days(so far)? Sounds to me like he’s enjoying walking street too much and really doesn’t want to go back.

On 3/18/2026 at 9:18 PM, CharlieH said:

If its the only way to get home then its "essential" isnt it?

It's not the only way home. He can still get there going the long way back home. It's not the only way.

1 minute ago, NedR69 said:

It's not the only way home. He can still get there going the long way back home. It's not the only way.

I was booked to fly Qatar BKK-DOH-MAN on 28th March to visit family, 10 days out I couldn't see the flight going ahead so cancelled it & booked Hainan via Beijing (PEK)... Cost me £350 more (that's round trip in Business class so I'm sure it would be < 1/2 that in economy) & an extra 7 hours but that's life, you suck it up.

BTW Qatar refunded me in full today (2 days after cancelling)

He's not the only one. I know three guys here in the province who have or have had the same problem.
So what's so special about this case?
Conversely, however, it is an advantage: fewer unpleasant characters come to Thailand and that will not change so quickly after the latest attacks by Donnie's friend Netanyahu on the gas production facilities in Iran and Qatar and the expansion of this war.

23 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Eeeeh! Paul, just relax. Book a room, get out, feel the vibe and relax. Beer is good, food is good. Enjoy!

....and plenty of company available if you want it.

There are plenty of flights out of Thailand.

21 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

....and plenty of company available if you want it.

But of course. Paul will get it right in the end. Oh, sorry, I didn´t really mean that. 😉

Do insurance cover anything of the circumstances?

As many has said, he do not want to go home! Just excuses

On 3/19/2026 at 9:07 AM, Georgealbert said:

The airline has offered a refund if he chooses to book with another carrier, but Lynn said this would only cover a few hundred pounds, while a direct alternative flight could cost about £1,800.

Don't go direct then. I just looked - it is less than £900 to get to Manchester from BKK. One stop in China, long enough to make use the transit visa he'd be able to get.

Funnily enough, I got caught out in Dublin a couple of years ago due to a typhoon hitting Hong Kong. I got rebooked, with 2 stops rather than 1. I got a night in Amsterdam and a look at how Chinese Immigration worked whilst transiting through Shanghai on the way home. No complaints whatsoever. Just a bit of extra time. Zero complaints from me.

17 hours ago, LennyW said:

Highly unlikely any insurance company would settle any claims due to acts of war.

Correct, but if had insurance and he needed hospital treatment, for example, he should still be covered, but anything to do with flying, like..."he may book a more expensive route that avoids Dubai and attempt to reclaim the cost through travel insurance."

he can forget it!

Travel insurance will not support much either, and it is the carrier that takes the responsibility,

On 3/19/2026 at 8:18 AM, CharlieH said:

He starnded himself because he wouldnt fly !

Quite, a couple of weeks ago a friend of mine who had flown with Emirates didn't like the uncertainty and asked me to check out flights back to the UK.

There were many available via the European hubs or China. In the end he opted for convenience and paid the extra for Thai Airways direct into Heathrow.

On 3/19/2026 at 9:41 AM, CygnusX1 said:

It won’t be long before even those tourists with flights home that don’t go anywhere near the Middle East will be stranded in Thailand when there’s no more jet fuel for commercial flights. I’m booked to fly to Thailand next month, and on to Europe a couple of months later. If I do make it to Thailand, which is looking less likely by the day, I could be stranded there. It wouldn’t be a problem, except that I’ve carefully calculated my annual stays to be less than 180 days to avoid the new tax laws.

And what tax laws is that?

8 minutes ago, baansgr said:

And what tax laws is that?

If you’re in Thailand 180 days or more in a year, you’ll be a tax resident of Thailand, and have to file a tax return and possibly pay tax, depending on your situation, double taxation treaties with your country etc.

Hundreds of pages of discussion on this forum.

2 hours ago, JoeRan said:

So he refuses a refund, refuses to pay more for a different flight that would get him home, but pays the expenses to stay 11 extra days(so far)? Sounds to me like he’s enjoying walking street too much and really doesn’t want to go back.

My suspicions as well- if he really wanted to keep his job and get home he would do so - but we all know the attractions of Bkk can be difficult to resist

21 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

If you’re in Thailand 180 days or more in a year, you’ll be a tax resident of Thailand, and have to file a tax return and possibly pay tax, depending on your situation, double taxation treaties with your country etc.

Hundreds of pages of discussion on this forum.

Oh, that ole chestnut 😊

There are certainly worse places in the world to be stranded than in Thailand God forbid one could end up stranded in Dubai that would be like being inside of a horror movie. $900 a day for nothing.

There's no question that this ridiculous war is causing huge amounts of inconvenience around the world and the reverberations are just beginning to be felt. The clowns in Washington have absolutely no idea what they got themselves into, and they have absolutely no idea how to get out of this thing. At best it could be described as an

unnecessary Donnie quagmire.

Plenty of flights going to England without transit in Dubai. It seems he can't or don't want to pay for the extra ticket. Can't help him then...

39 minutes ago, CLW said:

Plenty of flights going to England without transit in Dubai. It seems he can't or don't want to pay for the extra ticket. Can't help him then...

GoFundMe and let it take a long time.... ;-)