Newbie Question Dubai immigration
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: M&M FTL (*Silver), KLM/AF blue
Posts: 341
Don't know - but doubt it.
If there is not you may consider marhaba services:
http://www.marhabaservices.com/engli...ces/meet-greet
The bronze service should give you fast track access against payment....
If there is not you may consider marhaba services:
http://www.marhabaservices.com/engli...ces/meet-greet
The bronze service should give you fast track access against payment....
#4
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
I was arriving at Dubai in Swiss F. Purser told me there will be somebody waiting for us. Nobody at the gate. Finally saw a sign with our names on a board at the beginning of the underground tunnel. After some wait they told us there will be somebody upstairs at the end of the tunnel. Nobody was there.
Pretty useless, even did cost some time. Looks like another new enhancement....
I did not see anything for business class passengers. Fortunately lines where not too long at that time. There where some premium immigration lines, but they where blocked off. Your best bet is to use the line to the immediate left of the premium lines since they call people over to other counters from that line.
Pretty useless, even did cost some time. Looks like another new enhancement....
I did not see anything for business class passengers. Fortunately lines where not too long at that time. There where some premium immigration lines, but they where blocked off. Your best bet is to use the line to the immediate left of the premium lines since they call people over to other counters from that line.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
I was arriving at Dubai in Swiss F. Purser told me there will be somebody waiting for us. Nobody at the gate. Finally saw a sign with our names on a board at the beginning of the underground tunnel. After some wait they told us there will be somebody upstairs at the end of the tunnel. Nobody was there.
Pretty useless, even did cost some time. Looks like another new enhancement....
I did not see anything for business class passengers. Fortunately lines where not too long at that time. There where some premium immigration lines, but they where blocked off. Your best bet is to use the line to the immediate left of the premium lines since they call people over to other counters from that line.
Pretty useless, even did cost some time. Looks like another new enhancement....
I did not see anything for business class passengers. Fortunately lines where not too long at that time. There where some premium immigration lines, but they where blocked off. Your best bet is to use the line to the immediate left of the premium lines since they call people over to other counters from that line.
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,636
I travelled to DXB on LH in May.
There was a special immigration lane for F and C pax on LH, KLM and other carriers BUT it was by invitation only, i.e. you need fast lane pass from the flight crew or ground services upon arrival (the latter may be very difficult). I saw the majority of (angry) C class pax being turned away because they had no pass/invitation (obviously, they were not aware that they should have asked for it on the plane).
The imm. lines are very long in the late evening with many flights arriving around the same time, including LH and KLM.
There was a special immigration lane for F and C pax on LH, KLM and other carriers BUT it was by invitation only, i.e. you need fast lane pass from the flight crew or ground services upon arrival (the latter may be very difficult). I saw the majority of (angry) C class pax being turned away because they had no pass/invitation (obviously, they were not aware that they should have asked for it on the plane).
The imm. lines are very long in the late evening with many flights arriving around the same time, including LH and KLM.
#8
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
I travelled to DXB on LH in May.
There was a special immigration lane for F and C pax on LH, KLM and other carriers BUT it was by invitation only, i.e. you need fast lane pass from the flight crew or ground services upon arrival (the latter may be very difficult). I saw the majority of (angry) C class pax being turned away because they had no pass/invitation (obviously, they were not aware that they should have asked for it on the plane).
The imm. lines are very long in the late evening with many flights arriving around the same time, including LH and KLM.
There was a special immigration lane for F and C pax on LH, KLM and other carriers BUT it was by invitation only, i.e. you need fast lane pass from the flight crew or ground services upon arrival (the latter may be very difficult). I saw the majority of (angry) C class pax being turned away because they had no pass/invitation (obviously, they were not aware that they should have asked for it on the plane).
The imm. lines are very long in the late evening with many flights arriving around the same time, including LH and KLM.
**ive never seen LH or LX give out fast track cards (maybe they do in J) but in F there is no need, F gets Marhaba service paid for by the airline. The problem is they don't tell you this. So if you don't normally fly LH/LX F into DXB there would be no reason for you to look for the Marhaba agent waiting for you. I always see F pax walk right by them cuz they don't know
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denmark
Programs: TK Elite
Posts: 11,636
Thanks for this information. Too late for me. I had no idea that E gates were available. There was no information about this from LH and I don't think I noticed any information or the E gates in Terminal 1 - or maybe I noticed it but didn't think it was relevant for EU visitors. Are you sure E gates are available in Terminal 1?
If I had known I would of course have used it (yes, I'm eligible with a Danish passport). The lines for immigration were very long in when i was there.
If I had known I would of course have used it (yes, I'm eligible with a Danish passport). The lines for immigration were very long in when i was there.
Last edited by SK AAR; Aug 5, 2015 at 9:00 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: NYC/PSP
Programs: AA EXP, A3 Gold
Posts: 4,100
Why are you waiting in any line? If you have a European or American passport (yours is Danish)?? you can go right to the E Gates (same as Global Entry in the U.S.). The first time you use it immigration will register you (takes 5 min) and from then on no more lines in immigration. Right to the Egate, IRIS scan and your thru. Why aren't more Americans or Europeans using this?? Especially if flying into T1 which is a nightmare (even with fast track).
It appears there are Smart Gates and E-Gates. Smart Gate is available for visitors and does not require any registration. E-Gate requires either UAE citizenship or residency. Smart Gates are only available in Terminal 3, while E-gates are available in both Terminals 1 and 3.
I've waited way too long in ridiculous queues in Terminal 1, but as a US visitor I don't think I qualify for E-Gate. Someone please prove me wrong!
#11
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Are you sure about that? I'm not either, but I've been confused about it for sometime now.
It appears there are Smart Gates and E-Gates. Smart Gate is available for visitors and does not require any registration. E-Gate requires either UAE citizenship or residency. Smart Gates are only available in Terminal 3, while E-gates are available in both Terminals 1 and 3.
I've waited way too long in ridiculous queues in Terminal 1, but as a US visitor I don't think I qualify for E-Gate. Someone please prove me wrong!
It appears there are Smart Gates and E-Gates. Smart Gate is available for visitors and does not require any registration. E-Gate requires either UAE citizenship or residency. Smart Gates are only available in Terminal 3, while E-gates are available in both Terminals 1 and 3.
I've waited way too long in ridiculous queues in Terminal 1, but as a US visitor I don't think I qualify for E-Gate. Someone please prove me wrong!
*** not sure if ALL Skywards Gold/Plat get it. It is a listed benefit but I can't imagine them letting ALL passport holders use them, especially if they are from countries that needs visas (Russia, Pakistan & a few others with lots of traffic but strict visa rules)
#12
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,750
But you do have to register beforehand to get the card to use an E-Gate (and pay €50 or so for the privilege), so it is only useful if you are visiting multiple times and have time to spare to register.
Unfortunately, last time I visited Dubai (April) there were no smart-gates (where you don't need to register and can just enter with your passport) in the arrivals terminal that Swiss use. It looked like they were renovating, so maybe they have been built since.
The immigration queues took a long time, and were very poorly organised. There is an individual queue for each immigration desk, so if you pick one with a slow agent or lots of problems you can be there a long time. Last time arriving on Swiss it took about 1 hour.
Unfortunately, last time I visited Dubai (April) there were no smart-gates (where you don't need to register and can just enter with your passport) in the arrivals terminal that Swiss use. It looked like they were renovating, so maybe they have been built since.
The immigration queues took a long time, and were very poorly organised. There is an individual queue for each immigration desk, so if you pick one with a slow agent or lots of problems you can be there a long time. Last time arriving on Swiss it took about 1 hour.
#13
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
But you do have to register beforehand to get the card to use an E-Gate (and pay €50 or so for the privilege), so it is only useful if you are visiting multiple times and have time to spare to register.
Unfortunately, last time I visited Dubai (April) there were no smart-gates (where you don't need to register and can just enter with your passport) in the arrivals terminal that Swiss use. It looked like they were renovating, so maybe they have been built since.
The immigration queues took a long time, and were very poorly organised. There is an individual queue for each immigration desk, so if you pick one with a slow agent or lots of problems you can be there a long time. Last time arriving on Swiss it took about 1 hour.
Unfortunately, last time I visited Dubai (April) there were no smart-gates (where you don't need to register and can just enter with your passport) in the arrivals terminal that Swiss use. It looked like they were renovating, so maybe they have been built since.
The immigration queues took a long time, and were very poorly organised. There is an individual queue for each immigration desk, so if you pick one with a slow agent or lots of problems you can be there a long time. Last time arriving on Swiss it took about 1 hour.
I was not aware that there is a $50 charge to register for E gate since it's free for Skywards gold & plat but even if your only traveling to Dubai once or twice a year, $50 is worth not standing in line forever.
I realized last night when I returned to DXB from SIN that the reason most passengers on airlines other then EK don't know they qualify for this is it's simply not advertised and not worth the space in an inflight magazine of an airline with 1-2 flights to Dubai. On the other hand EK's magazine devotes 2 pages to E gates, who qualifies, where they are, etc. skywards gold & Plat have the magnetic strip clearly marked "for use with Dubai E gates"
Last edited by chinatraderjmr; Sep 3, 2015 at 1:32 am