Flights overbooked ahead of Eid holidays

It's practically impossible to get a seat on any flight out of the UAE over the weekend as thousands are leaving the country for the Eid Al Fitr holidays, travel agents said. "I am getting hundreds of calls every day but I can't help anyone," said Mathew George, supervisor at Sharaf Travel branch in Ibn Battuta mall. He said the huge rush comes despite the recent 15 per cent hike in air fares. George said Gulf sectors, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, are full as Muslims go to Makkah. He said the only seats available to London and other European destinations are in business class. Article continues below "It's good times again for the travel industry." Family packages to Istanbul, Nairobi and Amman were already booked in July, he said. There is also a huge influx of expatriates returning after the school summer holidays. Jamaica Roxas, Philippine Airlines ticketing supervisor at the Dnata office on Shaikh Zayed Road, said inbound flights to Dubai are running full. Philippine Airlines does not have direct flights, but codeshares with Emirates. No takers Surprisingly, unlike on other routes, there are no takers for flights out of Dubai to Manila at present. "Filipinos usually go home for the Christmas holidays," she said. A round-trip ticket presently costs Dh2,350, which is Dh600 less than normal because of a summer promotion. However, the fare skyrockets to Dh4,660 in December. There is also heavy overbooking on inbound flights from the Indian cities of New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. Rowena Menezes, travel consultant with Jet Airways, said this was not the peak season for traffic out of Dubai.