I recently flew DOH-ATH on EK with an overnight in DXB on both outbound/inbound flights. On my outbound I was allowed to take my luggage off at DXB. This was great as I could change into fresh clothes in the morning after an overnight in Murdiff.

Thinking this would be no big deal (on my return flights), I put several bottles of alcohol into my luggage and had my bag checked in at ATH thru only to DXB - where I had another overnight. I was to give the bottles of VERY NICE port to friends in Mirdif. It is legal to bring alcohol into DXB.

At the gate in ATH a red light went on and I was told my baggage was checked thru to DOH. I received the new baggage tag (but kept the original tag showing the bag was checked ATH-DXB). Hummm. Not happy as I knew there were consequences with personal hygiene and with the alcohol going into Qatar.

At DXB I attempted to retrieve my bag but there was no way. EK wanted over 1000 AED to change the conditions of my ticket so I could claim my bag at DXB. Huh?? Sounded like chicanery since they originally wanted only 600 AED. Theft, by a "weasel-words" way. None of this was indicated when I purchased my ticket on-line. There was no indication that I could NOT take my bag off at DXB for an overnight. Besides, why did EK allow me to take my bag off at DXB on my outbound?

The bottom line is that I stayed in Murdiff with my stinky sweaty clothes and then caught my DXB-DOH flight about 20 hours later. The port bottles were confiscated by Qatar Customs when I landed in DOH. I knew that would happen when I could not claim my bag in DXB.

I have sent a registered letter to both Sheikh Mohammed, Ruler of Dubai (and owner of EK), and to Tim Clark (CEO of EK) expressing my extreme displeasure and embarrassment about my state of hygiene and the inability to provide (promised) gifts to friends in Dubai/Mirdif/Al Ain. (as there were 3 different bottles of excellent port purchased in Lisboa and Porto)

In addition I have shown them the following IMMEDIATE losses to both EK and to the Emirate of Dubai:

1. With stinky clothes, I decided not to go hopping in the Mall of the Emirates and spend 1500+ AED. An immediate loss to merchants and the Emirate.
2. I have not gone to Magrudy's Book store and purchased over 300 AED of books - finding them on Amazon and having them shipped to me in DOH for less than the UAE prices at Magrudy's. This is Magrudy's loss as well as loss of revenue to the Emirate of Dubai.
3. Next several flights DOH_DXB are with QR instead of EK. Don't care of they cost more. It is a message, and hence the registered letters. A loss to EK and a benefit to QR ...
4. IF I ever fly EK again it will be only IF I know the total terms and conditions of my baggage status on stops in DXB. Best way, IMHO, is to fly into DXB with QR or FZor?? and then fly out of/into DXB with EK.

The results if #1 thru #3 are a cumulative loss of over 3500 AED. Peanuts, but more losses will happen as I reconsider purchasing items in Dubai and flying long hauls through DXB on EK.... Bad move on EK's part, but I have learned that rules vary and ... OTOH, the customer is always right and I can fly with whichever airline I want... AND shop on-line, skirting Dubai....

This "situation created by EK in ATH and DXB" has been a learning experience for me, and in the long run poor PR for EK and for the Emirate of Dubai. I keep visiting the UAE, BUT will make pointed purchases in other Emirates (if possible) instead of Dubai. I have friends in RAK and other emirates...

If UA ca change their procedures to reduce bad PR and improve customer satisfaction, so can EK. Both situations will enhance customer receptivity to flying with "them". there is no such thing as "egocentricism" wrt to pax and airlines - especially if pax deem they are being abused. Sheikh Mohammed and Tim Clark - are you listening??