Three things jumped out at me from this week's news - and honestly, one of them is genuinely jaw-dropping. A 16-hour "flight to nowhere", a diversion to Budapest for fuel, and passengers finally landing back where they started. That was apparently enough for Virgin Atlantic to pull the plug on Dubai entirely for the rest of the winter season.

There's a lot to unpack this week - Middle East disruption affecting multiple carriers, a rare ITA spring sale ending tomorrow, and some interesting Avios availability data worth knowing about. Let's get into it.

Which airline alliance does Qatar Airways belong to?

The answer is waiting near the bottom... keep scrolling 👇

Friday night's VS400 flight to Dubai has become one of those stories that'll be talked about for a while. The aircraft was almost at its destination when airspace was closed due to escalating tensions in the Middle East. The plane turned back towards the UK - but didn't have enough fuel to make it home. It diverted to Budapest to refuel before eventually limping back to Heathrow Terminal 3.

Passengers arrived back roughly 16 hours after they'd originally departed. That's not a delay - that's practically a full working day in the air going absolutely nowhere.

That appears to have been the final straw. Virgin Atlantic has now announced that all Dubai flights are suspended from yesterday (9th March) until the end of the Winter 25 season on 28th March. Riyadh has also been paused for at least two weeks from 8th March.

Here's the genuinely good news: if you're booked on a Virgin Atlantic flight to Dubai between 10th March and 28th March, you can request a rebooking on Emirates. That's a pretty solid outcome - Emirates is one of the best airlines in the world and operates a comprehensive network out of Dubai.

The rebooking isn't automatic - you need to actively request it. Check Virgin's rebooking policy page for the specifics on how to do that.

There's also a slice of luck in the timing here. Virgin Atlantic traditionally suspends its Dubai service at the end of the IATA winter season anyway - which conveniently aligns with when English schools break up for Easter. Had the disruption started a few weeks later, the rebooking exercise would have been significantly more expensive and complex.

Here's where it gets a bit uncomfortable. British Airways is currently only refunding or rebooking passengers on flights to the Middle East up to 15th March. Anyone booked beyond that date is currently being left to make their own decisions.

That creates a tricky situation for anyone with Easter travel plans to Dubai. The school holidays fall squarely in that window, and travel insurance is unlikely to save you - most policies (including the cover that comes with The Platinum Card from American Express) are excluding claims related to the current conflict under their standard 'war' exclusions.

In short: if you're booked on BA to Dubai over Easter and hoping this resolves itself, you're currently taking a financial risk on uninsured travel. That's a decision only you can make, but it's worth being clear-eyed about it.

Heads up: Situation in the Middle East is evolving rapidly. Always check directly with your carrier before travelling, as the position can change within hours.

Virgin Atlantic isn't operating in a vacuum here - the disruption has affected pretty much every carrier flying through the Gulf. Here's a quick status summary based on the latest information available:

If you've been watching ITA Airways quietly build its UK operation, this flash sale is worth a look - but you genuinely need to act today or first thing tomorrow.

ITA is offering 25% off flights across all cabins when you book by 10th March (tomorrow). Travel dates run from 16th March through to 30th June 2026, with Easter itself excluded (25th March to 6th April). The discount applies even on Economy Light fares, which is unusual - most sales skip the cheapest bucket. Flights must depart from the UK, but you can include return legs too.

The discount code you need at checkout is SPRING.

ITA operates out of London Heathrow and flies to Rome, Milan, and beyond through its hub at Rome Fiumicino. Italy in spring is genuinely one of the better times to go - the crowds from peak summer haven't arrived yet, but the weather is warm enough to enjoy. Not every route will be a standout deal, so run the numbers before booking. Friday Flight Deals is worth a check if you're comparing cash fares to see whether booking direct with the discount beats anything else currently available.

Warning: Easter dates (25th March to 6th April) are excluded from the sale. Don't assume the discount applies to your specific dates without checking.

The answer is 🔴 Oneworld. Qatar Airways is a full member of the Oneworld alliance - which means its flights can count towards British Airways Executive Club tier points, and you can book Qatar flights using Avios. That's actually a useful detail given the current disruption, as rerouting options via Oneworld partners can sometimes unlock award availability. Check the Qatar Avios Award Flight Finder to explore what's available once Qatar's network fully stabilises.

The Middle East disruption has caught a lot of travellers in a really difficult spot this week. So I'm curious - have you ever had a flight cancelled or significantly disrupted, and how did you use points or miles to get yourself out of a sticky situation? Hit reply and let me know - the best stories might feature in a future issue. I read every response.

Until next time - stay flexible out there. ✈️

The Smart With Points Team

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