Apr 5, 2014, 3:23 pm
Last edit by: eponymous_coward
Emirates award guide using Alaska Airlines miles
Routing Rules:
All trips must start or end in North America.
One open jaw and one stopover allowed on each one-way award.
No fees for changes/cancellations prior to 60 days from departure.
North American Gateway Cities:
West Coast
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Central
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
East Coast
Boston
New York (JFK)
Orlando (Effective September 1, 2015)
Washington DC (IAD)
Canada
Toronto
Award Chart Links*:
Middle East & Africa
Asia
Europe
*If region is not listed on chart its not available.
Perks
Chauffeur Drive NOT Available
Car service is not available for all Business Class and First Class passengers on Alaska Airlines ticketed award tickets on Emirates flights (as of Jan 2015). The chauffeur will not confirm if you use the EK website for this, though the website makes it look you can make a reservation.
Lounges
Access is available for all passengers traveling in Business and First Class. Not all cities have lounges and many may be operated by a Partner. There have been some reports of people having an issue accessing the Dubai lounges as the tickets may appear in their system as non-revenue employee travel. This is not as much of a problem as it used to be but in case it comes up please advise the lounge attendant that you are on an Alaska Airlines award.
Dubai Connect
AS Awards on EK do not qualify for Dubai Connect, which is the service that offers the free hotel.
Tricks to find Transoceanic availability
Instead of performing a blanket, i.e. SEA-DXB search, perform: SEA-MED.
Madinah is a destination that is only served by EK. Consequently, if there is availability, only EK will show up in the calendar results.
Routing Rules:
All trips must start or end in North America.
One open jaw and one stopover allowed on each one-way award.
No fees for changes/cancellations prior to 60 days from departure.
North American Gateway Cities:
West Coast
Seattle
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Central
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
East Coast
Boston
New York (JFK)
Orlando (Effective September 1, 2015)
Washington DC (IAD)
Canada
Toronto
Award Chart Links*:
Middle East & Africa
Asia
Europe
*If region is not listed on chart its not available.
Perks
Chauffeur Drive NOT Available
Car service is not available for all Business Class and First Class passengers on Alaska Airlines ticketed award tickets on Emirates flights (as of Jan 2015). The chauffeur will not confirm if you use the EK website for this, though the website makes it look you can make a reservation.
Lounges
Access is available for all passengers traveling in Business and First Class. Not all cities have lounges and many may be operated by a Partner. There have been some reports of people having an issue accessing the Dubai lounges as the tickets may appear in their system as non-revenue employee travel. This is not as much of a problem as it used to be but in case it comes up please advise the lounge attendant that you are on an Alaska Airlines award.
Dubai Connect
AS Awards on EK do not qualify for Dubai Connect, which is the service that offers the free hotel.
Tricks to find Transoceanic availability
Instead of performing a blanket, i.e. SEA-DXB search, perform: SEA-MED.
Madinah is a destination that is only served by EK. Consequently, if there is availability, only EK will show up in the calendar results.
Consolidated Emirates (EK) awards availability/booking/routing thread
Jan 12, 2016, 3:32 pm
#2731
Moderator: Alaska Mileage Plan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 12,318
Interesting info:
"[SEA] is just too small to operate an [EK] A380 with regularity. The large wingspan would require closing down an adjacent runway and some taxiways for safety reasons. It would also take up two gates. To be clear, the A380 can land at Sea-Tac if it needs to, but it would be a major inconvenience."
"[SEA] is just too small to operate an [EK] A380 with regularity. The large wingspan would require closing down an adjacent runway and some taxiways for safety reasons. It would also take up two gates. To be clear, the A380 can land at Sea-Tac if it needs to, but it would be a major inconvenience."
Jan 12, 2016, 4:22 pm
#2732
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SEA
Programs: AS 75K
Posts: 759
Interesting info:
"[SEA] is just too small to operate an [EK] A380 with regularity. The large wingspan would require closing down an adjacent runway and some taxiways for safety reasons. It would also take up two gates. To be clear, the A380 can land at Sea-Tac if it needs to, but it would be a major inconvenience."
"[SEA] is just too small to operate an [EK] A380 with regularity. The large wingspan would require closing down an adjacent runway and some taxiways for safety reasons. It would also take up two gates. To be clear, the A380 can land at Sea-Tac if it needs to, but it would be a major inconvenience."
Jan 12, 2016, 10:27 pm
#2733
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern Washington
Programs: AS MVPGold 75K
Posts: 81
Wondering about ability to get into lounge at DXB. Traveling through DXB in a few weeks on a first class award ticket. Haven't read much lately about issues in accessing lounge.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
Jan 12, 2016, 10:34 pm
#2734
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: New York City
Posts: 801
Wondering about ability to get into lounge at DXB. Traveling through DXB in a few weeks on a first class award ticket. Haven't read much lately about issues in accessing lounge.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
Jan 13, 2016, 5:46 am
#2736
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: TBD
Posts: 840
What others have said. With 10 hours you should definitely go to Dubai and have a meal, drink, or just walk around. I was there in November and was able to get the Emirates chauffeur into Dubai.
Wondering about ability to get into lounge at DXB. Traveling through DXB in a few weeks on a first class award ticket. Haven't read much lately about issues in accessing lounge.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
Jan 13, 2016, 5:51 am
#2737
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: London
Programs: SK Gold, ITA Executive, Sixt Diamond, Hertz PC, Avis PC, IHG Platinum
Posts: 5,163
Jan 13, 2016, 10:09 am
#2740
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: TBD
Posts: 840
No, I only got a ride from DXB to central Dubai. I did not book in advance, but instead, after stowing my bag at DXB I went to the FC chauffeur desk and presented my boarding pass and told the person at the desk where I wanted to go. He typed for a bit and then printed out the voucher. Obviously no guarantees, and worst case you just hop in a cab, but it's worth a shot.
Jan 13, 2016, 10:22 am
#2741
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Mountain Time Zone
Programs: AS Million Miler/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/ IGH Ambassador
Posts: 5,990
Wondering about ability to get into lounge at DXB. Traveling through DXB in a few weeks on a first class award ticket. Haven't read much lately about issues in accessing lounge.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
If there is a problem or EK agent questions my ticket to access lounge, do I just show them my alaska confirmation (award ticket) or do I need a printed copy or will just my saying "i booked an award ticket on alaska good enough? I don't want to put my foot in the mouth from the get-go and create problems. We have a 10 hour layer in DXB and lounge access would be appreciated.
Jan 13, 2016, 10:35 am
#2742
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Eastern Washington
Programs: AS MVPGold 75K
Posts: 81
No, I only got a ride from DXB to central Dubai. I did not book in advance, but instead, after stowing my bag at DXB I went to the FC chauffeur desk and presented my boarding pass and told the person at the desk where I wanted to go. He typed for a bit and then printed out the voucher. Obviously no guarantees, and worst case you just hop in a cab, but it's worth a shot.
I am in F the entire trip JNB-DXB-LAX. Daughter in J JNB-DXB and F DXB-LAX so F lounge access in DXB shouldn't be an issue as continuing leg for both is in F.
Also, where did you stow your bag?
Jan 13, 2016, 11:57 am
#2743
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Pacific NW
Programs: AS MVP, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 126
Smiem - I am on the exact same type of situation, arriving from SFO at 7:25 pm and leaving for Bali the next morning at 8:50 am. We opted to get a hotel in downtown Dubai for the night since that is too long of a layover for us being in our 60s. (Raddison using the free night). I will give the chauffeur desk a try - why not. We have spent 3 days in Dubai previously and I would at least go the mall or something else if you are not getting a hotel.
Jan 13, 2016, 1:03 pm
#2744
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SEA
Programs: Hilton/Marriott Gold, Accor Silver
Posts: 2,036
If you can't get the chauffeur, the metro is pretty convenient and inexpensive--and it could end up even getting you to your destination faster, given some of the traffic I got stuck in when I was in Dubai a couple of months ago.
To anyone arriving early enough in the day, I highly suggest going to the water taxi station at the Old Souk in Bur Dubai and getting a one-hour ride up the creek and back on an abra. It was a little over $30 and entirely worth it at sunset.
To anyone arriving early enough in the day, I highly suggest going to the water taxi station at the Old Souk in Bur Dubai and getting a one-hour ride up the creek and back on an abra. It was a little over $30 and entirely worth it at sunset.
Jan 13, 2016, 3:40 pm
#2745
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: PDX
Programs: Free agent!
Posts: 1,427
I used the Metro on a long layover between EK flights that I booked via AS. I would definitely use it again but since my trip back to DXB coincided with rush hour, the ride was absolutely jam packed and terrible. In hindsight, I should've paid for a Gold Class ticket so that I didn't spend most of the ride stuck between a window and a person.