A family in urgent need spent over £17,000 on plane tickets to flee Dubai. Tomas Hjelle, his wife Elizabeth, and their two young children were on a vacation with Tomas’s sister’s family when missiles hit the area. Despite being told by the Norwegian government that Dubai was safe amidst Iranian attacks, the situation prompted Tomas to frantically secure flights out of the conflict zone.
Struggling to find available flights, Tomas managed to book seats to London and Prague for their group of nine, including five children. However, their flights were either canceled or rescheduled, leaving them stranded. Tomas expressed disappointment, stating they had believed Dubai to be a safe holiday destination based on government assurances, only to find themselves in a distressing ordeal with their children.
Elizabeth shared their challenges in trying to return home, having spent €20,000 on failed flight bookings. Despite multiple attempts to secure flights to London and explore alternative routes through Europe, including Prague, they faced continuous setbacks.
Tomas’s sister, Vibeke, her husband Amund Moe Myrbannen, and their three children were also caught in the turmoil. After failed flight bookings, they eventually traveled by bus to Oman, a journey that took approximately eight hours, before flying out of Muscat.
The family, who had invested around £25,000 in the holiday, missed out on planned celebrations for their children Collin and Cornelia due to the travel disruptions. Tomas expressed hope of recovering some expenses through insurance but noted uncertainty regarding the outcome.
Norway’s government had issued travel advisories against visiting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and nearby regions since late February, emphasizing the importance of following local guidelines and having comprehensive travel insurance in high-risk areas with active travel warnings.
