Originally Posted by
IntrepidAfrican2
I don’t view it as massively different from flying to the Americas, Europe or Asia via DXB (or DOH) when there are more direct options (from JNB at least). It just looks weird to do on a map lol.
Yes, I do partly live in DXB so I can (and do) tag on, but even during periods where I didn’t, it still made sense for me. Overnight to DXB, and catch early morning banks to West and East Africa, usually there by lunchtime. Will fly direct for shorter trips of a day or two. It helps that I’m entitled to F for work trips. F on EK or J on a ET / KQ / SA / some other questionable African carrier?
The schedules into the rest of Africa from JNB are generally rough. Take DAR. I can fly 4Z (not daily) and lose either a weekend day or a work day, or fly Air Tanzania (no thanks: unreliable).
Would rather get a proper night’s sleep on EK, have breakfast and a shower in DXB, do emails to DAR in the morning, head straight to meetings that afternoon, rested and caught up.
I agree with all of this. I regularly fly EK into ADD, then use ET when I travel beyond ADD to African destinations not served by EK with a direct connection from DXB. I avoid using FZ.
The DXB-ADD route now uses 777-200s (without F), as well as 777-300s, some with F. I always prefer to purchase an F fare, but the type of aeroplane on that route changes unpredictably now, so I have to go with the flow. I no longer live in Dubai, but EK is such a great airline, any extra time in the air is not a problem for me if I have to double back a bit to DXB.