Why the classic route becomes a risk

Flights to popular holiday destinations such as Thailand, Bali or Vietnam are not uncommon with one Transition in the Emirates or Qatar. More than half of those booked in the last two years Long distance travel according to an analysis by the portal, led to Asia and Australia HolidayCheck via hubs in the Persian Gulf, above all Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH) and Abu Dhabi (AUH).

But the escalation in the Middle East and temporary airspace closures have repeatedly led to detours, delays and flight cancellations in recent weeks. Although the major Gulf hubs have resumed air traffic after temporary closures, operations remain limited and prone to disruption. That’s also a main reason why Tour operators are currently canceling a number of Asian vacations. To avoid this uncertainty, travelers should proceed strategically when making new bookings.

Five safe airports for stopovers

The good news for holidaymakers: There are excellent connecting airports away from the Gulf region. A targeted look at other routes ensures a much more relaxed journey. These five options are currently recommended for connections to Asia and the Pacific:

• Istanbul: An enormously strong international hub between Europe and Asia with countless connections to South and Southeast Asia.
• Helsinki: An important and often underestimated European hub for connections to East Asia.
• Singapore: One of the most reliable long-haul hubs in the world.
• Seoul and Tokyo: Large Asian airports that are perfect for direct onward flights and regional connections.
• Paris: A very good and frequent transfer option, especially for connections to the Indian Ocean.

Our tip for booking: In common flight comparison portals such as Google Flights or Skyscanner You can use the filter function to specifically exclude certain airports as a stopover. Alternatively, search directly for flights with airlines based at the safe hubs.

Direct flight or flex fare: which is worth more?

The safest option remains this Direct flight without any changes. These non-stop connections are currently running smoothly 23 percent of trips to Asia out of. This completely eliminates the risk of getting stranded at a hub through no fault of your own. However, airlines often allow for this planning security Additional charges of several hundred euros pay.

A clever alternative here is to book a cheaper one Transfer connection in combination with a so-called Flex tariff be. Like we do in our guide “Despite the Iran War: Germans stick to vacation plans” have already highlighted, many people do not allow their vacation to be taken away from them, but they protect themselves wisely.

For one manageable surcharge you can make the trip at short notice cancel or rebook. With providers such as LMX, Alltours, Coral Travel or Anex Tour, such flex options usually only cost between 25 and 35 euros per person. This is often significantly cheaper than the surcharge for a direct flight and offers the necessary financial security in an emergency.

Conclusion: Security has its (high) price

However, anyone who tries to exclude the major hubs in the Gulf in flight search engines will quickly notice that the safe alternative routes are expensive in terms of price. In a sample for one Flight from Munich to Bangkok (Thailand) started connections with a change in Abu Dhabi at around 490 euros. Values ​​with alternative hubs quickly increased four-digit range. Travelers currently have to weigh up whether the planning security is worth this massive surcharge.

For travelers who want to completely avoid the risk of flight cancellations and horrendous rebooking costs, there is currently only one logical conclusion: The best place for your next vacation is in Germany or in a safe European country.