‘We don’t want to go’: Australian couple told to pay $3,500 to postpone flights amid Middle East volatility

Experts say consumers are unlikely to have any legal rights to defer flights unless the airline's fine print allows it

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Sharon Latour and her husband are scheduled to fly through Abu Dhabi on an Etihad flight on Wednesday, just nine days after Iran launched a missile strike on a US base in nearby Qatar.

As of Friday, the Australian couple's flight was still scheduled for takeoff despite the volatility in the region. Latour is upset that Etihad are insisting on charging her $3,500 to change their tickets if they want to postpone their trip until early next year.