Would you trust your government to get you home

[Cherie]

if you were stuck in Dubai, Saudi, Oatar

The advice was to shelter in place, now holiday makers and those wanting to get back have been told if they are in Oman they will be flown home :facepalm:

and while Cyprus was being targetted at the weekend the Foreign Office were sending out emails about staff development

[Crimson Dynamo]

https://5pillarsuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/481707859_1081010260739588_5170549922515042879_n.j pg

Westminster Hall. The venue for monarchs and statesmen. Now the backdrop for Keir Starmer to beg for validation from Pakistani and Palestinian officials at a 'Big Iftar'.

Watch him squirm as he promises he didn’t lift a finger against Tehran. He is more concerned with appeasing the Gaza lobby in that room than defending our interests or our allies.

Weak, wobbly, and a total embarrassment to the office he holds.

video: https://x.com/darrengrimes/status/2029097937276375251?s=20

[thesheriff443]

What is a p1ss take is those that flew out for a luxury holiday saying they can’t afford to fly home
You got yourself there get yourself back
Most Hard working people can’t afford a holiday

[Crimson Dynamo]

Where will prem league footballer go on holiday this year now :worry:

[bots]

The war with iran has been flagged for at least a month before it happened. People can't say that they didn't think there would be an issue. The only country that was probably unexpected was Cyprus.

[Cherie]

The war with iran has been flagged for at least a month before it happened. People can't say that they didn't think there would be an issue. The only country that was probably unexpected was Cyprus.

tbf the UAE has never been targetted previously and was always considered 'safe'

[Cherie]

What is a p1ss take is those that flew out for a luxury holiday saying they can’t afford to fly home
You got yourself there get yourself back
Most Hard working people can’t afford a holiday

How are they meant to get themselves back when the airport is closed?

This is the UKs responsibility to do all it can to ensure civilian safety

So far not so good

[thesheriff443]

How are they meant to get themselves back when the airport is closed?

This is the UKs responsibility to do all it can to ensure civilian safety

So far not so good

Tough

[Cherie]

Tough

Hopefully you will get stuck somewhere abroad through no fault of your own

[bots]

How are they meant to get themselves back when the airport is closed?

This is the UKs responsibility to do all it can to ensure civilian safety

So far not so good

To me, it's obvious Starmer is completely out of his depth at the moment. I'm not sure any of the current crop of politicians could do any better though. We don't have any diplomatic heavy weights anymore and thats where we used to excel in the past.

When people are out of their depth, they hunker down and focus on the world they know. Starmer is an uncompromising human rights lawyer and that's the last thing we need at the moment. What is the point in having a rules based system when the main superpowers in the world ignore them

[Cherie]

To me, it's obvious Starmer is completely out of his depth at the moment. I'm not sure any of the current crop of politicians could do any better though. We don't have any diplomatic heavy weights anymore and thats where we used to excel in the past.

When people are out of their depth, they hunker down and focus on the world they know. Starmer is an uncompromising human rights lawyer and that's the last thing we need at the moment. What is the point in having a rules based system when the main superpowers in the world ignore them

If it were me the last people I would be listening to is the government

[Cherie]

Where will prem league footballer go on holiday this year now :worry:

Will Katie Price get back to her new husband :worry:

[thesheriff443]

Hopefully you will get stuck somewhere abroad through no fault of your own

It’s not about getting stuck it’s about claiming they haven’t got the money to get home

I wouldn’t be crying about it, i take the sh1t that life throws at me and get on with it.

[bots]

It’s not about getting stuck it’s about claiming they haven’t got the money to get home

I wouldn’t be crying about it, i take the sh1t that life throws at me and get on with it.

Not everyone who goes to Dubai is rich. Some people save up for years to go there as a trip of a lifetime and are on a tight budget

[thesheriff443]

Not everyone who goes to Dubai is rich. Some people save up for years to go there as a trip of a lifetime and are on a tight budget

The ones I saw on the news were trying it on

[Livia]

I wouldn't trust this government.

[Cherie]

Not everyone who goes to Dubai is rich. Some people save up for years to go there as a trip of a lifetime and are on a tight budget

and some people are on a lay over and Dubai was just a stop they had to make to get home... its not exactly cut and dried

[Cherie]

I wouldn't trust this government.

The repatriation flight that was due to take off last night didn't as they couldn't get the passengers on the plane on time...one job

Now it will leave tonight

[Cherie]

The ones I saw on the news were trying it on

Most people will be repatriated free of change they will not be charged so not sure what they are trying on?

The Emirates have picked up the hotel tab for anyone who has had to extend their stay so not sure what these people are claiming for?

[bots]

and some people are on a lay over and Dubai was just a stop they had to make to get home... its not exactly cut and dried

it's the busiest flight hub in the world :laugh:

I got a connection there on my way to the Maldives.

[thesheriff443]

Most people will be repatriated free of change they will not be charged so not sure what they are trying on?

The Emirates have picked up the hotel tab for anyone who has had to extend their stay so not sure what these people are claiming for?

Exactly they are not paying to get home or to stay longer

Why pay when you can plead poverty

[Livia]

Our government's reaction to this whole event is shameful.

[Ammi]

…I’m not sure if this is/was the first flight arriving back in Dublin, I think it might have been and yay for the people on board to be back on their home earth…:love:…you know when some passengers give a round of applause on a landing…?..and many have said, oh that’s so annoying that passengers do that…I imagine there’ll be many applause for days and weeks to come when passenger flights have landed back on their home earth again and their passengers been reunited with families…:love:…

Passengers arriving into Dublin Airport from Dubai has described how happy they are to return home.
The Emirates flight, which had almost 400 passengers on board, was the first in a number of days after the United States-Israeli attacks on Iran led to the closure of nearly all airspace in the Middle East.
Rushali Lakhani said she is "very happy" and "very grateful" to be back.
Thousands of people from the UK and Republic of Ireland have been unable to leave the Middle East after US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran across the region.
"It was quite a stressful time but grateful and thanking our lucky stars really," said Lakhani.
She said it was "quite nerve-racking, we couldn't really sleep much".
"A lot of sleepless nights, a lot of bangs. There were no airplanes flying so whenever we heard some noises we knew that it wasn't good news."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yvvz7p9xdo

https://media3.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExNndoMTRyZDBqdGpma3RucmZ0dW1uOTI 1NTB6ZWg1ejN4MTRjYXI3eCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfY nlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/3ohc0Pz7UhEOS5dVa8/giphy.gif

[Ammi]

it's the busiest flight hub in the world :laugh:

I got a connection there on my way to the Maldives.

…and same also when we were at the Maldives at Christmas, we connected from Dubai…of all the people we chatted with on the flight …(…and we had many chats on such a long haul flight…)…I would say that most of them were connecting to other world destinations…hence it being such a terribly busy airport and the impact of flights being disrupted there is huge on many levels…

[Cherie]

Exactly they are not paying to get home or to stay longer

Why pay when you can plead poverty

As I understand it airfares have gone through the roof as the insurance companies have naturally upped the ante, not everyone who goes on holiday as BOTS said is minted, people save and treat themselves

[hijaxers]

I wouldn't trust this government.

I hate this bunch. quicker they are gone the better, they disgust me .

[MTVN]

I mean things get confused and move fast in any war so I wouldn't be too critical of our government or the tourists themselves. Back in 2022 I visited Ukraine ten days before Russia invaded so I was very close to needing to be bailed out by our government then :worry: part of my reason for going ahead with the trip was thinking our government would take care of British tourists and issue new advice if things did get a bit more hairy but I never imagined that things would unfold as they did

[Cherie]

I mean things get confused and move fast in any war so I wouldn't be too critical of our government or the tourists themselves. Back in 2022 I visited Ukraine ten days before Russia invaded so I was very close to needing to be bailed out by our government then :worry: part of my reason for going ahead with the trip was thinking our government would take care of British tourists and issue new advice if things did get a bit more hairy but I never imagined that things would unfold as they did

I remember you doing this and thinking you were a bit crazy :laugh:

[MTVN]

I remember you doing this and thinking you were a bit crazy :laugh:

Perfectly judged in the end :smug:

[Ammi]

…I mean in the end, to get home you would have to trust the government’s arrangements surely…who else would you trust and how else would you get home…apparently with some first flights out, there were many panic attacks and I can understand that but the alternative would be to stay in an uncertain situation that is developing and escalating rapidly…it really would be a rock and a hard place for any mistrust, but I can’t see an alternative…those poor terrified people have to trust in flights that are entering airspace which is filled with hostile fire atm…sadly all they have is trust…

[Cherie]

…I mean in the end, to get home you would have to trust the government’s arrangements surely…who else would you trust and how else would you get home…apparently with some first flights out, there were many panic attacks and I can understand that but the alternative would be to stay in an uncertain situation that is developing and escalating rapidly…it really would be a rock and a hard place for any mistrust, but I can’t see an alternative…those poor terrified people have to trust in flights that are entering airspace which is filled with hostile fire atm…sadly all they have is trust…

This is an interesting read

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/mum-trapped-on-cruise-ship-with-son-3-in-dubai-with-missiles-firing-overhead/ar-AA1XzY6F?ocid=msedgntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=69aa8295612c400fa9bec8c6ca8049f5&ei=8

Just two experiences, how many more are getting the runaround like this?

‘For now I’m just trying my hardest to get some information from the airline or embassy but nobody gets back to us. It is so upsetting

Emma claimed that British Airways told her to go to the bombed Dubai airport to seek help with accommodation, which is costing her £350 a day.

This can’t be paid for by her insurance because they don’t cover ‘war’, she added.

The mum said the British Embassy told her to ‘stay inside’ and ask local charities to help with funding.

Calling on the government to do more to help Brits, the learning support assistant, from Middlesborough said: ‘British Airways and the government have 100% failed their own.

‘The airline told me the only way they can help with accommodation is if I go to the airport and speak to ground staff.

‘I said, “is that a joke?”, the airport has been bombed twice.

[Ammi]

This is an interesting read

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/mum-trapped-on-cruise-ship-with-son-3-in-dubai-with-missiles-firing-overhead/ar-AA1XzY6F?ocid=msedgntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=69aa8295612c400fa9bec8c6ca8049f5&ei=8

…that’s very reminiscent of all of those poor terrified people confined and trapped on cruise ships when COVID hit the world…

[Ammi]

This is an interesting read

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/mum-trapped-on-cruise-ship-with-son-3-in-dubai-with-missiles-firing-overhead/ar-AA1XzY6F?ocid=msedgntp&pc=LCTS&cvid=69aa8295612c400fa9bec8c6ca8049f5&ei=8

Just two experiences, how many more are getting the runaround like this?

‘For now I’m just trying my hardest to get some information from the airline or embassy but nobody gets back to us. It is so upsetting

Emma claimed that British Airways told her to go to the bombed Dubai airport to seek help with accommodation, which is costing her £350 a day.

This can’t be paid for by her insurance because they don’t cover ‘war’, she added.

The mum said the British Embassy told her to ‘stay inside’ and ask local charities to help with funding.

Calling on the government to do more to help Brits, the learning support assistant, from Middlesborough said: ‘British Airways and the government have 100% failed their own.

‘The airline told me the only way they can help with accommodation is if I go to the airport and speak to ground staff.

‘I said, “is that a joke?”, the airport has been bombed twice.

…oh, I think I must have been reading a different bit there…we have friends who work/live in Dubai and the one thing that they’re screaming at us is not to read the UK media as it’s such an inaccurate source of anything…I guess this is what was said in the thread above that is conflicted in that the Dubai government are covering all extra accommodation/expenses etc so I’m not sure whether that’s not being realised by people or…I’m just being very selective in receiving information of the terrifying situation because I fear that it can be quite selective, which only enhances fears and worries…

[bots]

…oh, I think I must have been reading a different bit there…we have friends who work/live in Dubai and the one thing that they’re screaming at us is not to read the UK media as it’s such an inaccurate source of anything…I guess this is what was said in the thread above that is conflicted in that the Dubai government are covering all extra accommodation/expenses etc so I’m not sure whether that’s not being realised by people or…I’m just being very selective in receiving information of the terrifying situation because I fear that it can be quite selective, which only enhances fears and worries…

i think the issue is that everything can be true at the same time. Insurance don't pay up in these circumstances. The Dubai authorities may well pay for extended stays, but not if they don't know the people affected etc etc

Historically, the UK has never been good at getting citizens out of a jam. They usually don't really care. That is coming from watching their reaction to events over decades. We need to accept that the government and embassies really don't give a crap.

The government have so far chartered 1 plane to get citizens back ..... let that sink in ..... 1 plane

[Ammi]

i think the issue is that everything can be true at the same time. Insurance don't pay up in these circumstances. The Dubai authorities may well pay for extended stays, but not if they don't know the people affected etc etc

Historically, the UK has never been good at getting citizens out of a jam. They usually don't really care. That is coming from watching their reaction to events over decades. We need to accept that the government and embassies really don't give a crap.

The government have so far chartered 1 plane to get citizens back ..... let that sink in ..... 1 plane

…honestly I don’t need to let it sink in because I have no understanding of safe airspace in terms of the safety of getting passengers home so that’s not something that I can be critical of and I know that other country governments are facing the same issues, obviously…when it comes to ‘trust’ in unpredictable circumstances like this that have many risk factors, there are really very few alternatives other than trust…governments in general and most definitely U.K. governments over the last decades are very ill prepared but then these are world events and circumstances that have to be worked through as and when they happen….and as I’ve said, all U.K. media’s are the most untrustworthy in their false information…

[Cherie]

Yeah I don't doubt the media are obviously hysterical that said living in Dubai and being on holiday and desperate to get home are two different things we have all been on the wrong end of a delayed plane and that's bad enough but not knowing when you will get out is a whole different ballgame the airspace is closed so they will have to travel to get out and like BOTs said it's been a week and one plane ...abysmal

[bots]

None of the strikes coming in are unknown. They can track the missiles for a long time. The danger is that air defence systems think that a charter plane is an enemy missile and shoot it down by mistake.

Everything looks unpredictable and a mess because that is the impression they want people to have. The fact is that the strikes are entirely predictable and they have huge amounts of advance warning

[Ammi]

….this is only a small part of a complete article but I think ‘slowly’ is going to sadly be what we see atm for many countries and many governments…and everyone getting home safely is the most important thing which is what everyone I’m sure is striving to do…

It will likely be a “messy” month for airlines operating throughout the Middle East as travellers stuck in major transit hubs are slowly rerouted and repatriated after days of turmoil due to the ongoing conflict in Iran.

Experts say airlines are well-versed in disruptions, with entire teams dedicated to what is known as “irregular operations”. But while minor issues can be resolved in a matter of days, the sheer scale of the airline industry that operates in the region will be a complex puzzle that will take much longer to work through.

Dubai international airport is one of the busiest in the world, with more than 95 million passengers transiting through in 2025 alone. Doha’s Hamad international airport handled more than 54 million. Both have been shuttered for days.

[Ammi]

…I guess for me ultimately the question wouldn’t be would I trust my government but more, what choice would I have…people are being faced with extraordinary circumstances and very few choices…/… citizens of this country and many others…

[bots]

They won't have a problem with accommodation and catering though because no-one new is coming in. They have a predictable situation regarding passenger needs and we are now a week into it all, so really, no-one should be having problems. The frequency of attacks is going down, so everyone is really ok for now given the circumstances.

It's human nature to want to get the hell out of there as quick as they can, but, if people just relaxed and enjoyed themselves, its probably the best holiday they ever had

[Ammi]

…well maybe actually I’m reframing my thoughts atm because I am aware of some things which have been terribly ‘dramatised’ by the media to the point of completely misleading…why the need to ‘dramatise’ an already terrifying situation, it doesn’t need that, does it…?…there is sufficient ‘worrying enough information and media legs in truth and fact’…but maybe that media portrayal is to excuse/cover up/distract from etc an extremely bad plan to get people home…I mean, we just don’t know ….

[bots]

…well maybe actually I’m reframing my thoughts atm because I am aware of some things which have been terribly ‘dramatised’ by the media to the point of completely misleading…why the need to ‘dramatise’ an already terrifying situation, it doesn’t need that, does it…?…there is sufficient ‘worrying enough information and media legs in truth and fact’…but maybe that media portrayal is to excuse/cover up/distract from etc an extremely bad plan to get people home…I mean, we just don’t know ….

to me it's reminiscent of the times during covid. Everyone knew it was a bad situation, and what did the media do? They rammed it down our throats 24/7. There are times when its good that the media is involved, to hold government etc accountable, but then they go too far. We don't need to know that iran sent a load of missiles/drones and that they were blown up .... well maybe one time to reassure people, but after that .... who cares. Ukraine gets hit by more missiles every night than any of our stupidly wealthy "allies" in the middle east. They have more air defence than ukraine has ever had, but how much have we heard on ukraine recently? .... and that's happening on our door step

[bots]

America have returned 24k people, the UK 4k people

[Cherie]

Dubai airport has partially reopened so that will give some relief as Emirates, British Airways and Ethihad are all flying people out


I have heard stories of people getting themselves bussed or taxied to Saudi and Oman, one couple were dropped at the Saudi Border as the taxi did not have a visa to cross into Saudi the walk to the border was 3 miles but a pilgrimage coach picked them up and took them across

[Ammi]

Virgin Atlantic to suspend Dubai operations after 16-hour ‘flight to nowhere’


https://uk.yahoo.com/news/virgin-atlantic-suspend-dubai-operations-224715880.html

[Benjamin]

As I understand it airfares have gone through the roof as the insurance companies have naturally upped the ante, not everyone who goes on holiday as BOTS said is minted, people save and treat themselves

The same happened during Covid. The cost for me to come home was extortionate, but I had no choice.

[Cherie]

Taken from FB

Well we made it after 14 days were finally home safe & exhausted.
After three cancelled flights, we finally managed to buy an alternative flight home from Doha in the tiny corridor of airspace that briefly opened. At that point it felt less like travel planning and more like a game of Russian roulette… but with airline bookings.
Like many people, we assumed that if you get stuck in a foreign country—especially during a war—your government and organisations like ABTA would do everything in their power to get you home.
It turns out that’s a bit of an illusion.
If we had waited for that help, we would probably still be there now… and many people still are.
Everyone said, “Contact the British Embassy.” So we did. Their advice?
Stay safe… and register with the FCDO for repatriation flights.
We registered.
What did we receive from the FCDO?
A text message saying… stay safe.
No advice on how to stay safe. No information about what might happen next. No real communication at all.
We had also assumed that repatriation flights were free. Not in our case. When a flight finally appeared, you had to pay to get on it—and after 13 days of sirens, missiles and drone attacks, we were more than ready to be home.
Our holiday company did keep in touch daily, and to be fair I actually felt sorry for the team trying to help us. They clearly cared—but they were powerless. They couldn’t even see the repatriation flights to try and book them.
What they could see were commercial flights that were almost guaranteed to be cancelled because the airspace was closed. Booking those felt like an emotional yo-yo: the hope of going home, followed quickly by another cancellation.
We even contacted our MP, Andrew Mitchell. By the time his response arrived—after we had already managed to get ourselves home—the advice was… you guessed it: register with the FCDO.
Good gracious. Thank you for the enlightening support.
Meanwhile, the Qatar government was outstanding. Not only did they keep everyone safe by intercepting hundreds of missiles and drones, they also covered all of our hotel costs, including half-board.
It does make you wonder: how is it that a foreign government stepped in to help when our own seemingly couldn’t?
The biggest issue throughout the whole experience was the complete lack of clear, accessible, accurate information from anyone.
At one point we had four different people all trying to contact Qatar Airways, each stuck on hold for up to three hours… and still no answer.
In the end, the reality is simple: you have to figure it out yourself and pay to get out.
And then you feel guilty, because you know many others simply can’t do that—and they’re still stuck there.
It will certainly be a story to tell the grandchildren one day, once the trauma has faded a little.
But it’s definitely an adventure we never want to repeat.
As they say a picture pairs a 1000 words - never been so happy to get on a plane despite the sirens we new we would be ok xx

[Livia]

Jesus that's a harrowing read, Cherie. The stuff of nightmares but it's hardly surprising. I would not trust Starmer and his mob to toss my salad.

[Cherie]

Jesus that's a harrowing read, Cherie. The stuff of nightmares but it's hardly surprising. I would not trust Starmer and his mob to toss my salad.

Incredible isn't it, could not organise their way out of a paper bag, yet you land on these shores illegally your safety is prioritised and you are housed literally the same day

[arista]

[Would you trust your government to get you home]


NO
I would do it myself

[arista]

The same happened during Covid. The cost for me to come home was extortionate, but I had no choice.


Bugger Ben


Poxy China's Covid -19


Screwed your great days in NZ

[Cherie]

Bugger Ben


Poxy China's Covid -19


Screwed your great days in NZ

poor Ben being buggered :oh:

[Maru]

*reads to self* "Would you trust your government—" No.