Originally Posted by
eternaltransit
Fairly recent, but only on certain routes (origins) - they are attempting to reduce the amount of people based in DXB circumventing the high ex-DXB fares by positioning out to easy to access regional ports (see ex-CMB) and having a "stopover" in DXB.
Unfortunately "legitimate" itineraries are ensnared in that, but I suppose EK feel they are rare enough that the revenue protection is worth the cost - after all it's a pretty long backtrack given the connectivity out of IST!
They've done the same with EK uk flights to Jordan... No stop off allowed on the outbound.
It's a pain and I'm sure only a few people are doing this. I'll definitely start to look at alternatives if they end Dxb stopovers.