StephanP37

Hello All!

So I have been top level with Alaska for several years now last year flew 81,000 miles on AS. I have quite frankly always been an idiot with my points and redeemed them here and there with no strategy to it and while I have been to 48 states I have only been to another country ONCE and that was Mexico.

After joining here and doing some research I realized I could redeemd a 1st class emirates flight in one of their enclosed suites normally goes for about $21,000 each leg of the trip for one hundred and fifty thousand Alaska miles. Like many of of flying first class on emirates and upper class on Virgin atlantic has always been a dream of mine. I really dont care much about Dubai or London to be honest but I have spent hundreds of hours watching youtube videos of these flights!

Today I booked my first class emirates flight leaving LAX on February 23rd, with a layover in Washington DC then first class from DC to Dubai. I was originally planning to fly coach on the way back but I realized I could use my 100,000 AMEX points for an upper class ticket on Virgin Atlantic! (Im honestly feeling pretty smart right now lol), so after taxes fees and a slight extra points purchase I am getting about $41K worth of flight cost for $800 bucks.

I am only on the ground in Dubai for 3 and a half hours before my flight on Virgin so I am literally only doing this for the flights and lounges although I do have a 21 hour overnight layover in London on the way back.

Any tips that you have on London, or Dubai lounges or anything else I should know or do on this trip I would be very thankful!

pcoll

Once you arrive in Dubai,you should spend time enjoying the Lounges. You would need a visa to go out of the airport and explore the city. We were really amazed by the sheer size and offerings at the Emirates Lounges. We flew Business (HKG-LAX) but were allowed a quick peek in the F lounge. as with most EK flights there is an overnight in Dubai. We were able to get one of the sleeping rooms in Lounge.
The lounges take up the entire second floor of Terminal. So many food offerings and treats. Showers also available. Hopefully you can access these as an arriving passenger. The Terminal itself is also amazing. Looks more like a shopping mall than an airport. High end shops and gourmet foods. Opening to gates are very unobtrusive.
I agree that flying Emirates should be on everyones bucket list.
Our next Award trip is this March to Barcelona. One week stopover in London. Not sure where to go for 21 hour layover. Perhaps some kind of "taxi tour" of the city.
Good Luck on your adventure.

VegasGambler

If this is what you want to use your miles for, that's fine. Personally, I enjoy visiting places and the world and I think you are missing out by just enjoying the flights and lounges and not the cities. But that's just personal preference of course.

I'd be very concerned about that 3.5 hrs before returning on a separate ticket. What's VS' no show policy on award flights? Any significant inbound delay (which would not be unusual for a flight leaving the Northeast part of the US in winter) and you could have some real issues there.

The first class EK lounge in Dubai is massive (it's more of a terminal than a lounge). 3.5hr is nowhere near enough time, IMO. Do you get access on arrival? I've used it when connecting in Dubai but I don't know their arrival policy.

If possible I'd move your VS flights forward at least a day. It protects you in case of inbound delay and it allows you to to enjoy the lounge for longer (again, assuming that you get access on arrival).

jinglish

I agree. Besides being out all those Amex points and the hefty cost of a walk-up return flight if you somehow miss that turn at DXB, why not take the opportunity to spend even a day or two exploring somewhere halfway across the planet? You're already there.

VegasGambler

He needs a visa anyway if he is checking bags.

Although with only 3.5 hr, checking bags seems like a very bad idea.

StephanP37

StephanP37

jinglish

Did something change about UAE visa requirements? Because when I visited US citizens got a free thirty-day visa on arrival.
Free changes up to departure of your first segment if you're a Gold or 75K.

VegasGambler

Visa on arrival is still a visa. If you're not leaving the airport or picking up bags you don't even need that.

I've never done the visa on arrival thing so I don't know how long it takes (including time waiting in line). It's more about time than money.

Yup!

StephanP37

VegasGambler

You can change the whole thing. I've done it a few times. There has to be award space available of course.

As for where to go in Dubai, I just connected there (I didn't stop) so I can't really comment on that.

jinglish

I stayed in Al Rigga, on the airport side of the creek, and thought it was an interesting part of the city to stay in--less glitz, more middle-class. I had an excellent Thanksgiving dinner at a Lebanese restaurant called Al Hallab, a short walk from the GGICO metro station.

DrAlex

If arriving via Emirates F with priority line, <5 minutes. <2 if you can walk faster than the other F pax. You'll definitely spend more time walking than standing in line at that airport!

Flying for Fun

I have been through UAE enough times that I habe e-gate access at both DXB & AUH. With the 2020 World's Exposition in DXB next year they have been actively preparing for increased tourism.

James

Caesium

Hi Stephan,
I work in DXB airport. Couple of things to be aware of. Virgin departs out of a separate terminal to Emirates. There is transfer buses between terminal 1 & 3 but I don't think they're airside so you would still need to pass through immigration (which as noted above is very rarely a lengthy process in comparison to most other large airports I've been in).
As for where to stay if you can stretch out your flights, as a tourist the "hotspot" is generally downtown in the region of the Burj Khalifa. In saying that, anywhere near a metro station is fine as its cheap and easy to get to the Khalifa on the metro system.
The Khalifa is also attached to the worlds largest mall with plenty of options to eat as well as all the surrounding hotels. Just depends what interests you!
The weather here at that time of the year is also great so beach clubs etc are a nice alternative if you prefer sun and sand to shopping malls.

Cheers,
Cs