Travel and tourism experts are advising passengers to refrain from changing or cancelling their bookings preemptively due to ongoing airspace closures across various regions and the rapid evolution of the situation.

Airline representatives clarified that they are responsible for rescheduling flights or rebooking at no extra cost if a flight cannot operate.

Any individual decision by travelers to cancel or modify their bookings before receiving an official notice from the airline could result in additional fees, whereas airlines assume responsibility for adjustments due to operational circumstances.

Badr Ahli, the CEO of Dubai Global Travel Company, noted that airlines and thousands of passengers are currently facing a challenging reality, which has led to the postponement or cancellation of numerous flights to regional destinations such as Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran.

As airlines closely monitor the situation, travelers are presented with a fundamental question: what is the best course of action for dealing with tickets affected by these developments?

Ahli suggested that it is advisable for travelers to wait and avoid hastily changing their bookings.

Airlines are continuously updating their responses based on real-time developments, making necessary decisions regarding the rescheduling of flights or complimentary rebooking when a journey cannot proceed.

Airlines generally communicate directly with customers to inform them of updates, which underscores the importance for travelers to keep their contact information current through official booking channels.

However, it has been noted that some airlines may not provide timely notifications, necessitating travelers to actively monitor their flight status via official websites.

Some destinations may indirectly experience disruptions due to the airspace closures, requiring a more diligent approach to tracking flight statuses.

Airlines have announced a range of flexible solutions intended to ensure passenger rights and mitigate the impact of the current disruptions.

Options include retaining tickets for future travel, which may be the most suitable choice for travelers planning to complete their journeys once conditions normalize, as well as other solutions such as ticket refunds or rebooking.

Yaseen Diab, General Manager of Al Faisal Travel and Tourism Agency, highlighted the rapidly evolving situation, indicating that changes could occur at any moment and that an airline may yet be able to operate a previously scheduled flight.

He further emphasized that it may be in the traveler’s best interest to leave decisions regarding cancellations or changes to the airline.

Should an airline cancel a flight, it will manage rebooking the affected passengers without additional costs.

In contrast, if a traveler chooses to cancel or modify their booking preemptively, they may incur extra fees for rebooking later.

Diab explained that airlines operate within an integrated system and are subject to the directives of civil aviation authorities in each country, making their operational decisions contingent upon these guidelines.

Consequently, they may need to adjust flight schedules in response to changing instructions.

Airlines also permit travelers to rebook without incurring change fees, enabling passengers to alter their bookings to later dates or even change destinations in accordance with each airline's policies and without any additional costs associated with the alteration.

This option is particularly practical for those with flexibility in their travel plans.

Salah Mansour, the CEO of STS in the Dubai Link Group, advised that travelers who harbor concerns regarding the possibility of flight cancellations are better off allowing the airline to dictate the course of action.

If a cancellation occurs, the airline will rebook affected passengers at no financial burden to them.

He affirmed that rushing to change a booking may complicate the traveler’s situation when attempting to rearrange their travel, especially given the current unstable conditions.

Mansour also confirmed that airlines are offering affected travelers the option of receiving a full refund in cash, whether booked directly through the airline's website or via a travel agent.

However, the refund process may face delays due to high volumes of requests at this time.

Several airlines are also providing options for travelers to receive vouchers equivalent to the ticket price paid, which can be utilized later for new flight bookings.

Travelers are advised to communicate directly with airline offices or licensed travel agents to determine the most appropriate option and to regularly check flight updates through official websites.

Additionally, they are encouraged to update their contact information via the 'Manage Booking' service to ensure they receive the latest updates regarding their flights.