Emirati family refuses to fly Qatar Airways ... waits extra 7 hours

An Emirati family from Sharjah was on vacation in Norway when their love for the UAE was put on full display. 

Eissa Al Baloushi and his family made it out to Oslo from Dubai on Aug.10 for a summer getaway. As their vacation was coming to an end, the family discovered they would be flying back home via a Qatar Airways flight. The family - who expressed shock - refused to board the flight, getting in touch with the UAE embassy in Oslo immediately.

"We were all shocked and all my family - husband, two sons, two daughters and my little nephew - refused to board the Qatar Airways flight," Ebtisam, Eissa's wife, told Khaleej Times. 

The family was later re-booked on a British Airways flight to London. 

"We contacted the UAE embassy in Oslo, which responded despite Sunday being their day off, and immediately booked us on to another flight for London," Ebtisam added. 

The original British Airways flight was scheduled to depart at 11 a.m.

The family ended up waiting 7 hours at the airport for the rebooked flight, which was scheduled to leave at 6 p.m.

Despite the long wait, the family had no regrets. 

"But we preferred to stay and wait in the airport than taking a flight that belongs to Qatar," Ebtisam told Khaleej Times.

"We will never support their businesses by buying flight tickets and we hope all our compatriots currently in Europe take the same steps to support the UAE."

In June, four Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt cut diplomatic and commercial ties with Qatar.

Following the major diplomatic rift - which saw travel, social, economic and political implications - several GCC-based airlines suspended all flights to Qatar, including Saudi Airlines, Emirates Airline, and Etihad. 

Qatar Airways also suspended all flights to Saudi Arabia. 

The restrictions affected several families, who depended on flexible travel between GCC countries 

"With the recent happenings, I can’t imagine what it’s going to be like for us. I used to travel at least 3-4 times a year between the two countries, my son also travels back and forth for work. It’s chaotic at the moment, our travel plans have been halted and we’re hoping that things are figured out soon," M.N, who lives in Saudi Arabia, told StepFeed in a recent interview.

The travel restrictions - at the time - said flights for the annual pilgrimage in Mecca won't be affected. 

On Sunday, Qatar blocked Saudi planes from carrying Hajj pilgrims, days after Riyadh reopened the border, which saw the allocation of 7 flights via the Saudi national carrier to bring Qatari pilgrims to the kingdom. 

"Qatari authorities have not allowed the aircraft to land as it did not have the right paperwork, although the paperwork was filed days ago," the state-run Saudi Press Agency said.

"Saudi Arabian Airlines director general Saleh Al Jasser has said that the airline has thus far been unable to schedule flights to transport Qatari pilgrims from Hamad International Airport in Doha," SPA added.