Escaping the Chaos: How Mongolia Air Saved My Trip After Air India Abandoned Me

• Airline: MIAT Mongolian & Aero Mongolia
• Class: Business & Economy
• Route: Frankfurt (FRA) to Seoul (ICN) via Ulan Bataar (UBN)
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 & Airbus A319-100

Travel in 2026 has been anything but predictable. With major combat operations beginning in Iran last week, the aviation world was turned upside down. Over 1 million passengers were stranded globally, and I was one of them.

Originally booked on Air India, the airline essentially told me “bad luck” and offered a refund with no alternative plan. With the Middle East effectively grounded, finding a way to Asia became a masterclass in crisis management. Here is how I navigated the chaos via the most unlikely of saviors: Mongolia.

Every flight to Asia was sold out as airlines like Emirates and Qatar scrambled to rebook passengers on any available metal. My breakthrough came when I looked north. While others were stuck in hubs like Dubai or taking 20-hour bus rides to Muscat, I found a seat on MIAT Mongolian Airlines.

The route? Flying through Russian airspace. In a bizarre twist of fate, the skies over Russia are currently the safest and most direct path to Asia from Europe..

I previously flew MIAT’s 767, but their Boeing 787 Dreamliner flagship is a massive step up.

• The Cabin: A neat 1-2-1 reversed herringbone configuration with 30 seats.
• The Food: Excellent. I was served two starters (one with asparagus and ham, another with mozzarella) followed by a high-quality beef main.
• The Quirk: The plane is equipped with a satellite antenna (creating fuel-costing drag), yet they don’t actually offer Wi-Fi on board.

Despite the lack of internet, the crew was lovely, and the flight provided a much-needed relief from the stress of the previous 48 hours.

Landing in the world’s most sparsely populated independent country is an experience in itself. It was -24°C upon arrival. Ulaanbaatar is a fascinating city, but be warned: getting out is neither cheap nor easy. Flights to Seoul or Tokyo are limited and often cost $600–$700 for a short hop.

To continue my journey, I booked Air Mongolia an airline 99% of people have never heard of.. They operate only two aircraft.

• The Plane: A 21-year-old Airbus A319 that formerly flew for Air France.
• The Experience: For $300, it was a solid 3-hour flight to Seoul. There’s no in-flight entertainment, but a full meal (chicken or beef) was included.. The crew was in a great mood, and I can strongly recommend them if you find yourself in this corner of the world.

This journey was a reminder of how fragile our global connections are. While I made it through with a bit of luck and some creative routing, thousands are still stuck.

Lessons learned:

1. Always have a Plan B (and maybe a friend with access to a travel agency booking system!).
2. Don’t underestimate the smaller, regional carriers, they might just be your ticket home.
3. Mongolian hospitality is world-class, even in -24°C weather.

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This is it guys, wherever you’re off to, have a safe trip!