BA DXB Flight Routings
Aug 21, 20, 3:44 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: UAE
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BA DXB Flight Routings
Just checking the flight paths on uk.flightaware.com for LHR-DXB and there is a massive difference between BA and EK. BA are taking a very protracted route through Italy, across the Med to Egypt and then in via Saudi taking 8+ hours whereas EK are more direct in sub-7 hours.
Other than security concerns, why else would BA take such a protracted and more expensive route?
Other than security concerns, why else would BA take such a protracted and more expensive route?
Aug 21, 20, 4:00 am
#2
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
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Courtesy of FR24, a couple of routings from the past week.
FWIW Personal experience has shown that flight durations on flightaware can sometimes be off by an hour, so I would tend to side with FR24's 7+ hours.
FWIW Personal experience has shown that flight durations on flightaware can sometimes be off by an hour, so I would tend to side with FR24's 7+ hours.
Aug 21, 20, 4:28 am
#6
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester, UK
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Also add to this that the UAE entry requirements and subsequent high proportion of denied boarding + wait for bag removal, the timings/delays are significantly above both of these at the moment.
Aug 21, 20, 5:23 am
#7
Join Date: Aug 2009
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Originally Posted by Ryanardo_daVinci
Also add to this that the UAE entry requirements and subsequent high proportion of denied boarding + wait for bag removal, the timings/delays are significantly above both of these at the moment.
Really poor showing of drink and refreshments on the ground, not that the meal in the air was that filling either (or any different from what we had received on my connecting flight).
Interestingly, even before boarding, the BA app showed a 1.5h arrival delay but an on-time departure. Seems BA knew there were going to be quite a few DBs at the gate.
Aug 21, 20, 5:31 am
#8
Join Date: Mar 2014
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Yes, I too think this is due to avoiding Iraq, Iran and Syria due to security and political reasons.
Are BA AUH flights taking a similar route out of interest? I remember flying back from AUH a couple of years ago and flying directly through Mosul so would be interested to see if/why BA take a different approach to Abu Dhabi.
Are BA AUH flights taking a similar route out of interest? I remember flying back from AUH a couple of years ago and flying directly through Mosul so would be interested to see if/why BA take a different approach to Abu Dhabi.
Aug 21, 20, 5:50 am
#9
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 6,101
I absolutely adore Iran, but even I have to agree with BA's routing. A few months ago an UIA plane was shot down by an Iranian air defence unit that calling trigger-happy is a bit of an understatement. I imagine BA will be keen to avoid a repeat. And, also, with the current climate (Covid, sanctions) an emergency landing in Iran might require a veeeery long stay for the aircraft over there. If I remember correctly a Norwegian 737 blew an engine over Iran, diverted to Bandar e Abbas and basically stayed there for almost half a year due to issues in bringing spares over there.
Aug 21, 20, 7:35 am
#10
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: London
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Originally Posted by GF2B
Flew BA107 last week - boarding started on-time but we ended up leaving LHR with a 3 hour delay due to the sheer number of DBs and baggage removals. Captain tried to do his best to make up time in the air, but with a 7.30h flying time we still landed ~2.5 hours late.
Really poor showing of drink and refreshments on the ground, not that the meal in the air was that filling either (or any different from what we had received on my connecting flight).
Interestingly, even before boarding, the BA app showed a 1.5h arrival delay but an on-time departure. Seems BA knew there were going to be quite a few DBs at the gate.
Really poor showing of drink and refreshments on the ground, not that the meal in the air was that filling either (or any different from what we had received on my connecting flight).
Interestingly, even before boarding, the BA app showed a 1.5h arrival delay but an on-time departure. Seems BA knew there were going to be quite a few DBs at the gate.
Or most of pax checked themselves in via the self service machines?
I guess the process will be smoother if flying EK as their staff should have a better eye on the required documentation earlier in the process.
Aug 21, 20, 9:44 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: BA Gold, Sixt Platinum
Posts: 170
Originally Posted by Duck1981
So if DB is the issue did the check in agents don’t do their job properly eg checking negative PCR tests?
Why would BA not disable the option to self-issue a boarding pass for destinations such as DXB and ATH and check everyone before they head through security/check in a bag?
Am I missing something?
Aug 21, 20, 11:34 am
#12
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: NYC
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Originally Posted by Duck1981
So if DB is the issue did the check in agents don’t do their job properly eg checking negative PCR tests?
Or most of pax checked themselves in via the self service machines?
I guess the process will be smoother if flying EK as their staff should have a better eye on the required documentation earlier in the process.
Or most of pax checked themselves in via the self service machines?
I guess the process will be smoother if flying EK as their staff should have a better eye on the required documentation earlier in the process.
Aug 21, 20, 12:12 pm
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: London
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Posts: 1,015
Originally Posted by GF2B
Not entirely sure, but I suspect that a lot of check-in agents at outstations may not be 100% familiar with the requirements. Having connected from JFK, the check-in agent at T7 just swerved her screen in my direction for me to see the requirements on the pop-up she got, and took my word when I told her I had everything DXB needs. The turnaround manager/dispatcher/boarding agents at the LHR gate, however, were doing a very detailed and careful check. Hence the late DBs.
Aug 21, 20, 3:38 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester, UK
Programs: Emirates Skywards (Gold), Hilton (Diamond), Radisson (Gold)
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Boarding pass on the app is disabled for DXB.
At the gate you need to show:
- Boarding pass
- Passport
- Hard copy of the UAE passenger locator form
- Hard copy of a negative Covid test less than 96 hours old
Boarding was slllooowww but gate agents were sticking to the rules. 11 out of ~150 were DB on my flight. Most due to having no Covid test at all, one couple for their test being 6 days old.
One thing I thought was good was the Covid test had to be hard copy, digital was not accepted, but one agent got all those passengers to e-mail them to his personal e-mail address then left and went to print them all off.
At the gate you need to show:
- Boarding pass
- Passport
- Hard copy of the UAE passenger locator form
- Hard copy of a negative Covid test less than 96 hours old
Boarding was slllooowww but gate agents were sticking to the rules. 11 out of ~150 were DB on my flight. Most due to having no Covid test at all, one couple for their test being 6 days old.
One thing I thought was good was the Covid test had to be hard copy, digital was not accepted, but one agent got all those passengers to e-mail them to his personal e-mail address then left and went to print them all off.
