Emirates & Qatar Cancellations/Issues?

[COSA]

Has Emirates or Qatar airlines been cancelling flights, or other issues? A travel agent is not recommending them; their schedules look better for my trip, and I would avoid JNB. I’m wondering if their commission rate drop has something to do with it…

 

[Milo]

I flew Qatar back in April 2021 which admittedly is a long time ago in the covid world we live in.
My flights were probably 70% empty but still no cancellation. The US based airlines were cancelling a ton of flights at that time. Take it for what its worth.

 

[Red Leg]

Qatar was seemingly the only dependable airline last summer when I flew them from Houston to Lusaka, Zambia. They have a pretty well earned reputation as the best airline in the world. I had an excellent experience. I have heard of no recent issues. Is your travel agent a hunting travel specialist?

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I was told by an agent this past summer perhaps early fall that Qatar was by far the most reliable. Same agent said Emirates was really dropping the ball with very short notice cancellations and not working with customers to make other arrangements.

But as I say that was months ago, hard to say if either case is still the situation now.

 

[Rare Breed]

July this year for my trip Qatar was excellent no issues

 

[YancyW]

I am almost certainly going use them for my trip this year. I would want a pretty detailed explanation why someone feels they wouldn't be a good choice for your travel, because that is certainly an outlier opinion from the multiple agents I have talked to.

 

[R.M.C.]

I agree with everyone else, I'm gambling on United out of Newark NJ in July lol. I would think Qatar is a safer bet.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I flew Qatar June 2021 no issues. Great service. I had them booked for May 2022 trip since September of 2021. About 3 weeks ago I needed to change up my return date, adding a few days since decided to hunt Buff again! Jennifer is handling all tickets by the way. Qatar wanted an additional $3000 on top of the $4300 I had already paid for Business class to change return date. That’s is what current prices were. So we cancelled Qatar flight for full refund. Booked United Polaris now and saved $300. Only reason I’m not flying Qatar this June. Also less air travel time helps

 

[Philip Glass]

Has Emirates or Qatar airlines been cancelling flights, or other issues? A travel agent is not recommending them; their schedules look better for my trip, and I would avoid JNB. I’m wondering if their commission rate drop has something to do with it…

May need a new travel agent. Yes Emirates has and will cancel many flights. They’ve done this off and an the last two years. Qatar is one of the few that kept flying. I’ve booked my third flights with them recently and can not recommend them highly enough. I agree with bypassing JNB when possible.
I use TWG.travel and they will give you all your fun friendly options for your flights.
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

I flew Qatar June 2021 no issues. Great service. I had them booked for May 2022 trip since September of 2021. About 3 weeks ago I needed to change up my return date, adding a few days since decided to hunt Buff again! Jennifer is handling all tickets by the way. Qatar wanted an additional $3000 on top of the $4300 I had already paid for Business class to change return date. That’s is what current prices were. So we cancelled Qatar flight for full refund. Booked United Polaris now and saved $300. Only reason I’m not flying Qatar this June. Also less air travel time helps

Mark it seems those $4000 business class flights are gone and it was showing $7500 for all of them. However it looks like the prices are going down finally. Let us know how United business treats you.
Philip

 

[Red Leg]

I am hoping that the airlines are perhaps betting on a very competitive late spring and summer in a more normal world. My son and I are flying economy plus to Buenos Aires at the end of March. Business was astronomical. However, I just purchased business class seats to Barcelona for our Spanish adventure in late April and had multiple options just under $2500 a ticket.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

We flew economy class to Zambia in 2019 and it was by far the most comfortable econo flying I've ever done.

We flew Qatar to Johannesburg in 2021 economy class. It wasn't bad but not my petite wife commented how small the seat were... The service was however even better that that of Emirates.

If Emirates stops canceling so many flights I will chose them over Qatar. If...

 

[Royal27]

Why is the travel agent not recommending them ?

I had an agent flat footed tell me they wouldn't book Qatar Air one time because of commissions. They wanted me to book a flight that was almost $2k more. I booked my own on Qatar. So yeah, commission could definitely be part of the issue.

 

[R.M.C.]

Why is the travel agent not recommending them ?

I had an agent flat footed tell me they wouldn't book Qatar Air one time because of commissions. They wanted me to book a flight that was almost $2k more. I booked my own on Qatar. So yeah, commission could definitely be part of the issue.

That's gotta be why they wouldn't suggest them. Commission .

 

[Areaonereal]

I am assuming that the travel agents receive a commission from the airlines in addition to the fee they charge for booking the travel arrangements for the client.

 

[Royal27]

I am assuming that the travel agents receive a commission from the airlines in addition to the fee they charge for booking the travel arrangements for the client.

In my experience it is usually one and the same.

Example:

I use ITA Software and find flight for $2k.

Then call travel agent and they give me same flight for $1800, plus there $200 fee.

 

[CJW]

I agree with everyone else, I'm gambling on United out of Newark NJ in July lol. I would think Qatar is a safer bet.

That route and schedule is fine and I found nothing to complain about as far as United goes. Travel time is shorter than with Qatar as well.

 

[rinehart0050]

We flew Emirates last summer from IAD to DXB to HRE. No issues with cancelations and service was great.

I believe Emirates suspended flights to many Southern African countries over the omicron scare. I think they may have reinstated flights since then?

 

[R.M.C.]

That route and schedule is fine and I found nothing to complain about as far as United goes. Travel time is shorter than with Qatar as well.

Cool!!! Thank you for the info! I only booked it because I wanted to fly straight there and start hunting.