OK, I will try and stick to the facts to explain this whole situation. I would really appreciate everyone's comments:
Me (Irish passport) my wife (Filipino passport) and 2 year old twins (Irish passports) all live in the UK. My wife has residence here.
We are flying from Manchester to Doha. We're Planning to stay 3 weeks.
As my wife had a UK residence stamp & EEA Family permit visa, we called the UK home office to just verify if she could travel to Qatar without a Visa. They informed us (recorded conversation) that my wife had the same entitlement to me as long as she was traveling with me. I understand now, that our calls should have been straight to the Qatar embassy in London to Verify. We just took it from the UK Home Office as being correct.
We arrive at Manchester Airport. We asked the Qatar Airways check in staff to verify my wife's passport to confirm she is entitled to entry in the state of Qatar.
Check-in staff confirmed everyone is OK with my wife's passport as we board our 8 hour flight to Doha with our 2 year old twins.
We get to Doha and my wife is refused entry at immigration as they say she requires a visa.
Calls are made by Qatar airways to Manchester Airport - Qatar airways admit full responsibility for allowing us to travel when we should not have been allowed to travel.
We have to re-book flights at Doha - Qatar Airways just changed our return flight to get us back on the next available flight.
We had to pay to enter a lounge in Doha airport with our own money, just so we can give our children some rest and food.
We return to Manchester 8 hours later.
The twins' double buggy is missing (still missing to date).
I understand my wife didn't have the correct Visa, as we were given false information by the UK home office. But, they should not have allowed us to board a plane with those checks being done.
If I had known at Manchester airport, I could have made the journey myself with 1 of my children, and I could have processed the Visa for my wife at our hotel in Doha. But, because were not noticed and all allowed to board, I was never given this option.
Are Qatar Airways at fault?
Should all our flights be re-instated?
Are we entitled to compensation?
Should they reimburse our expenses?
This is currently being reviewed by the airline. It would be good to get comments and peoples thoughts.