Emirates Skywards - Transiting DXB (BA - EK): what to do if it all goes wrong?

Having browsed through the FAQs and prominent threads on the subject of a layover DXB, it looks like most of the information is about going between the same airline (usually EK to EK), especially on a single ticket.

I'm considering a trip next April which would arrive into DXB at 22:50 on a BA flight. We would then have the option of departing on EK either at 02:05 or 08:25, meaning a 3h 15m or 9h 35m transit between Terminals 1 and 3.

I'd very much appreciate the views on people with a better knowledge of the airport than I:


Whether 3 hours is enough time, given that schedules may change (either on BA or EK) between now and April;
If not, how sympathetic / flexible EK would be if our incoming flight on another carrier was delayed (i.e.: putting us on the next flight);
Can we stay airside and check our bags through at a transit desk in DXB? I understand that T1 and T3 are almost the same building;
Transit visa: as a UK national, is this required? If so, do I ask BA or EK for the sponsorship?
Any other suggestions for a 'back-up plan' in case we don't make the 02:05 flight?


Thank you.

Whether 3 hours is enough time, given that schedules may change (either on BA or EK) between now and April
3 hours should be more than enough time, even with delays, MCT at DXB is around 90 min I think to recall, though I wouldn't bet on it


Can we stay airside and check our bags through at a transit desk in DXB? I understand that T1 and T3 are almost the same building
Yes you can stay airside and stroll through the Duty Free, have food/drinks somewhere or buy yourself into the DCA lounge or one of the Marhaba lounges if you are flying Y, you should also be able to check your baggage through all the way from the UK to your destination as BA & EK have interlining agreements for baggage. Just tell them your connecting flights at check in the UK


Transit visa: as a UK national, is this required? If so, do I ask BA or EK for the sponsorship?
If you have a UK passport you wouldn't need a sponsorship for visa even if you wanted to leave the airport. They just stamp/grant tourist visas upon entry for UK nationals. If you stay airside, you don't need it anyway.

Hope that helps!

If same ticket, the 3h connection is fine without a doubt. If it is different tickets, I would probably pick the 8h just to be safe. 3h delays are uncommon but do happen. If you are on a separate ticket, EK would not have to reaccommodate you on the later flight for free (though they almost certainly would IME.)

3 hours should be more than enough time, even with delays, MCT at DXB is around 90 min I think to recall, though I wouldn't bet on it


Is it not 75 minutes? Or is this only EK to EK?

As I mentioned I can't find a source for it now but I think it was changed to 75 min for EK-EK at some point in 2006 and it said 90 min. for different airlines but the second part can just be total nonsense in my memory... :confused: :rolleyes:

Whether 3 hours is enough time, given that schedules may change (either on BA or EK) between now and April;


single through ticket, then yes definitely; if on 2 separate tickets, then that is the minimum I would consider


Can we stay airside and check our bags through at a transit desk in DXB? I understand that T1 and T3 are almost the same building;

If you are on 2 tickets, then BA will not check your bags futher than DXB so you would have to collect bags and then check in for the EK flight; if on a single through ticket, then yes


Transit visa: as a UK national, is this required?

No


Any other suggestions for a 'back-up plan' in case we don't make the 02:05 flight?


Rather than a backup plan, if planning to use 2 tickets at the moment, I would personally suggest flying EK rather than BA from London and the issues will dramatically reduce; remember, if you are using 2 tickets, you are not connecting at Dubai but just have 2 unrelated journeys; if the BA flight ended up being 4 hours late and you miss the EK flight, then you can be liable for any penalties for no-show; DXB's MCT is irrelevent

If on a single ticket BA-EK, then I wouldn't worry since if delayed, the airline will take care of the misconnect, but if you were thinking 2 tickets, I would minimise the risk by using EK on both ... then you will also be able to check bags through too

As others have said if on 2 tickets, you may need to pick-up and recheck your luggage in DXB.

But, my view is that unless your delayed out of LHR, I don't thnk you will face a problem arriving into DXB as the arrival time is JUST ahead of the EK arrivals rush. The only problem will be transferring terminals (there is a shuttle), and rechecking luggage back in. Also, there will be long lines at check-in for the night flights out of DXB.

Thank you all for your advice.

...you should also be able to check your baggage through all the way from the UK to your destination as BA & EK have interlining agreements for baggage. Just tell them your connecting flights at check in the UK

That's a very interesting point. I have been working on the assumption that BA only has interlining agreements with other oneworld airlines. So BA / EK interlining is possible...:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17781287-post19.html

http://www.emirates.com/english/plan_book/baggage/baggage-allowances-rules-interline-partners.aspx

...but I get the impression that's only when on a single ticket. The question is whether the agreements still apply when on two separate tickets, and Dave Noble suggests not.

If on a single ticket BA-EK, then I wouldn't worry since if delayed, the airline will take care of the misconnect, but if you were thinking 2 tickets, I would minimise the risk by using EK on both ... then you will also be able to check bags through too

That would be absolutely ideal; unfortunately the BA flight is on an Avios points redemption because a) it's our honeymoon and therefore b) the only way we can afford First class.

As you suggest, it's possible if the incoming flight isn't delayed or the schedule changed in the interim. But I think it might be sensible to ensure either that:

Insurance will cover a misconnect; or
We get a hotel and go again in the morning

...but I get the impression that's only when on a single ticket. The question is whether the agreements still apply when on two separate tickets, and Dave Noble suggests not.



BA policy is to only check baggage onwards when on separate tickets if the onward flight is on a OW carrier, so even though they could ( and would on a through ticket ) they will not when on separate tickets

BA policy is to only check baggage onwards when on separate tickets if the onward flight is on a OW carrier, so even though they could ( and would on a through ticket ) they will not when on separate tickets

Very interesting, I had my baggage checked through on seperate tickets before...LAX-JFK (AA) & JFK-LHR (Virgin Atl.) & LHR-HAM (LH), not same alliance... and also by BA (HAM-LHR), connecting to a non OneWorld airline as well on a seperate ticket. I know it wouldn't have worked the other direction. Might have been that is has always been at outstations of BA (handling agent) and not checking in at LHR where they obey the policies rather strictly. Just showed them both tickets and they provided the luggage tags to final destination. But Dave Noble will proably know better!

If you have to recheck the baggage I would opt for the longer connection as well, just to be safe - what a hassle!!