jackiedada

So, I thought I understood Dubai connect fairly well but apparently not. I booked an trip BOM-ORD in Flex Y EK509 (arr 00:05 at DXB) connecting to EK 235 (dep 09:40), a connection of 9:40 minutes. This is the only flight of the day for ORD so naturally I thought it would be eligible for Dubai connect.

Apparently not. Spent 30 minutes on the phone with an EK agent at Dubai and then with her supervisor, both of whom just took on the position that I had to be on the latest onward flight, which is EK 501 (0430 am dep, arriving at 6:00 am) and so I wasn't eligible for Dubai connect. I explained to them that I got Dubai connect the last two times I took a similar connection (EK 509 connecting to EK237 BOS dep 08:45am), but they said that the rules could have changed between then and now and this itinerary is not eligible for Dubai Connect.

So, I thought it could be a Y thing and booked an identical itinerary in J and checked for Dubai Connect. To my surprise, the online booking did not show up the Dubai Connect link again. So, now I am confused as to why my earlier itinerary to BOS was eligible for Dubai connect whereas this one to ORD is not.

Maybe, they changed the rules and maybe not but definitely inconsistent and not my best of experiences with EK. Definitely lost a couple of points there EK!


BTW, noticed that they reduced the connection time for Y to 8 hours from 9 which is a good thing, but this latest onward flight rule it it is actually being followed is a shame.

ft101

I think it has changed. The Ts and Cs used to say:
The passenger must be booked on the earliest available outbound flight . . . .

Now they say:
The passenger must be booked on the best available connection, that being the one with the shortest transit time in Dubai,

so the guys you spoke to on the phone may be right. When I first read your thread I thought it was just someone who didn't know the rules but maybe not this time.

For what it's worth, I think it's a better interpretation now. There's been a couple of debates on here about it being interpreted this way before. At least now it's a bit clearer.

It's been 8 hours for several years now.

edy4eva

More unjustified belt tightening, during times of massive aircraft orders and receiving their 50th A380.

What is going on?!

QF's Dubai Connect rules seem to be the same as before.

jackiedada

Yeah, now that I've read it a couple of times, it isn't apparent immediately but if you focus on the phrase "minimum transit time", it seems they were indeed correct. Wasn't there until May (when I did my BOS trip), looks like a recent change. Here is the exact wording:

http://www.emirates.com/english/plan...onditions.aspx
The passenger must be booked on the best available connection, that being the one with the shortest transit time in Dubai, between the inbound flight into Dubai and the outbound flight from Dubai, to qualify for the ‘Dubai Connect’ offer.

My bad. Not sure why I was under the impression that it was 9 hours in Y.

ft101

I think it's fairer this way, even if it has inconvenienced the esteemed OP. If that saves money then all the better.

QF's summary page on it here:

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airl...nect/global/en

links to the EK page for Ts and Cs which contains the new wording, so not the same as before.

jackiedada

Actually, what this new rule has done is completely eliminate the possibility of Dubai connect in all 3 classes F/J/Y from a place like BOM, (or probably LHR/ BKK for that matter), which is served by 5 daily connections with an average spacing of approximately 5 hours between each connection. Now I need to slog it out in 501 departing at an unearthly 04:30 am or prepare to slog 10 hours in the F lounge (and thank goodness, at least I still have access to that). I think I'll need to shift to 501 for this flight or do 509/203/Jeblue to ORD. Not sure yet.

Yes, would definitely save EK a lot of money. Not sure if it is for the better though - definitely not for us pax.

extramileage

I can understand the logic behind this.

With the addition of several new destinations with 1x day flights (ORD, BOS, SEA, ARN, etc) you could easily take an earlier inbound flight (e.g. from a destination with 3-5x daily) and get a free night/day of leisure or business in Dubai even by taking the first available onward connection.

Dubai Connect was originally created to entice pax to deal with no other option than a long layover and with the increasing amount of frequencies and can see how they are tightening the T&C's. Dubai is also a lot more appealing as a layover destination nowadays too.

(10+ years ago, I once even got a free hotel night when connecting in Dubai on using two different non-EK airlines).

B747-437B

I've always had this issue coming out of BOM - my usual flight was to ACC which had only 75 mins when connecting from 501. If I wanted to take 509 the previous evening, I was always told that my connection was not eligible for STPC or Dubai Connect.

My cousin who did the BOM-DXB-GLA a few times every year had the same issue. After misconnecting once on 501 (and being forced to stay airside for 24 hrs since EK could not/would not sponsor a visa for an unmarried female under age 25), she used 509 every time subsequently and either stayed in the lounge or airside hotel since STPC/DC were not granted.

bmam7

Shortly I will experience Dubai Connect for the first time (I'm on QF flight numbers, although EK metal), travelling between SIN and DUB and return.

Can anyone with the experience give an indication of the hotels used. Does it depend on class of travel (I'll be economy)? Thanks.

jackiedada

Yes, the hotel depends upon the class of travel. AFAIK:
Y - Millenium
J/F - Le Meridien but I got the Metropolitan Palace on my last trip.

edy4eva

It's important to note that it is at the EK wing of those hotels with dedicated receptions/entrances.

jackiedada

At least the Metropolitan Palace didn't seem to have a dedicated reception/ entrance. The Le Meridien seemed to have that.

edy4eva

Sorry was just referring to the Millennium/Meridian not the overflow hotels like the Metropolitan

Over the years EK sent me to a fair few overflow hotels around DXB, like the Fairway, and Al Sondoss (now Somewhere).

Tokyobuta

Last two trips in J I got the Al Bustan Rotana: a really nice hotel and a decent-sized twin room, although I was travelling alone.

abhilife2001

Hmmm..
What happens in the following situation.. We have two flights to DXB from CCU and onwards to Moscow..

Option - 1
CCU - DXB - EK571 reaching DXB at 1315hrs.
DXB - DME - EK131 departing DXB at 1750hrs.. transit time 4hrs45mins..

Option - 2
CCU - DXB - EK573 reaching DXB at 00:05hrs
DXB - DME - EK133 departing DXB at 1750hrs.. transit time 9hrs45mins..

Question - If I take option 2, the best available connection ( shortest transit time) is 9hrs 45 minutes.. Basically if EK573 is taken from CCU, the next connection ia 9hrs 45 minutes later..
Can they deny saying we could have taken the EK571 inbound and EK131 outbound option and not this ?