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If your Instagram feed hasn't already told you, the easy route to Europe and Asia just got a lot more complicated. After the late-February regional conflict grounded the Big Three, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar, thousands of Joburgers found themselves playing a very stressful version of musical chairs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
Three weeks later, the birds are back in the sky, but the "new normal" at OR Tambo is looking a little different. We chatted with the pros at Corporate Traveller to see how you can navigate the turbulence.
The cheap flight is officially extinct (for now)
The Middle East is the primary artery for South Africans heading east or west. When that artery constricts, blood cells, or in this case, prices, bleed. Emirates is back to two daily flights from Joburg, but don't expect a bargain.
"Fares are climbing for several reasons. Yes, supply and demand are factors, but so are rising oil prices, longer flight paths and associated operational costs, and increased operational expenses, including insurance premiums, which are often passed on to travellers,” says Herman Heunes, GM of Corporate Traveller.
The alternative hub is the new black
Since the Gulf hubs became a gamble, everyone is pivoting. If you’re trying to book a last-minute getaway, you’re now competing with everyone else for seats on Ethiopian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, and Singapore Airlines.
Bookings for Virgin Atlantic from SA have spiked by a massive 303%. If you see a seat, click 'buy' before you finish your latte.
Heunes notes that if you're booking independently, you're "competing for constrained seats, without the expertise, priority access and supplier relationships that a managed travel programme provides."
Beware the war clause in your insurance
Here is the fine print nobody reads: War is a universal exclusion. If your trip is cancelled because of the conflict, your insurance provider likely won't pay for your missed hotel or that consolation shopping spree. The silver lining, however, is that while they won't pay for the flight delay, your medical cover is still active. If you’re stranded and get sick, you’re still covered.
Jason Veitch, Business Head at Santam Travel Insurance, recently clarified this during an ASATA webinar: “We have had policyholders in hospitals in the region being cared for under their travel insurance. That’s exactly what a policy is there for.”
Know your rights (and your airline’s)
If your flight is cancelled before you leave OR Tambo, you’re entitled to a full refund or a rebooking. If you’re stuck mid-journey, the airline is legally obligated to house you and feed you until they can get you home.
If your flight is still scheduled but you’re just feeling "anxious" about going? Standard cancellation fees apply. The airline won't pay for your change of heart.
The duty of care vibe
Whether you're travelling for a "work-cation" or a corporate hustle, someone needs to know where you are. The days of booking on a random third-party site and hoping for the best are over. If things go south, having a centralised booking or a travel manager means you aren't 400th in the queue at a transit desk in the middle of the night.
The bottom line is that you can still get to London, Bali, or Rome, but you might need to fly via Addis Ababa or Singapore to do so. Pack some extra snacks, double-check your policy, and maybe be a little extra nice to the check-in staff at OR Tambo this month.
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