EK 028 (GLA - DXB) - Overcrowding
 

Hi everyone

Will be flying out from Glasgow on Monday to Shanghai (via DXB, ofcourse). The last few times i've traveled on the EK 028 to Dubai, it seems as if they've made somewhat of a habit in taking the aircraft to neighbouring city Sharjah - where the plane sits for 20 minutes and then the bus journey to the terminal takes another 35 minutes.

The above has happened for the last 2-3 times (in a row) over the past year and a half.

My question I guess is, has the situation improved re parking at the actual terminal? Am I right in saying that this flight, along with others, are 'always' on the list to get shafted out the city?

Thanks

Correct me if I'm wrong. I understand your question is that you've diverted to SHJ the last couple of times you've been on EK028 due to 'overcrowding' at DXB?

I've have never heard of this occurring. (The aircraft diverting to SHJ). Even if a flight was carrying SHJ as an alternate into DXB, though it would be highly unlikely that they would, mainly due to the fact the airfields are so close, any weather in DXB is most likely going to affect SHJ as well.

lol

I meant that upon landing in Dubai, the aircraft feels as if it should avoid the terminal at all costs and decides to taxi all the way out to middle of no where.

I think what the OP meant is that the aircraft gets parked at a remote gate, which means longer taxiing after landing, and a long bus ride to the terminal.

I don't know if the situation would have improved given that the airport hasn't expanded and the number of flights has only increased.

haha you got me there mate.... :)

Sadly around 22:00 - 06:00 GST DXB is hell for arriving passengers. I've had the great 'opportunity (not)' of getting bussed into the Terminal from a Remote Stand the last 3 times I've arrived in DXB from Europe. Sadly, I don't think this problem is going to disappear quickly. As Terminal 4 is just near completion, we won't see her in action until maybe mid / late next year.

Keeping the situation in DXB the same, sadly.

^

The parking in "Sharjah" will continue, and will in fact get worse.
Concourse 4 was needed yesterday, and it won't be ready for over a year.
By then the situation will only escalate. There is no Concourse 5 being build, which will be needed in a year or two from now.

On top of this, the poor design of the airspace, and antiquated procedures will ensure that ATC gate hold delays and arrival delays will get worse.

Thanks for the comments guys, much appreciated. Perhaps to cheer me up, I hope we can get this going on the bus ride to the terminal!

:D

Well, this happened to me. We landed in SHJ because we didnt get a slot and fuel was running out. We had to refuel in SHJ and flew "back" to DXB. No ones was allowed to get off SHJ as this is no official route.. :)

I take everything back!

Flew yesterday on the 028 and getting into the terminal couldn't be any quicker. The plane landed and right next to it was the stand!

That said, the pilot gave the crew a 25 min advanced warning of "cabin crew, take seats for landing"... i believe it was circling above Dubai due to traffic. :D

Yeah, there are generally holds at that time of night. Only 10 minutes or so in my experience, but there have been reports of much longer holds.

That's one of the reasons I've chosen the early MAN-DXB for my next trip (A330!!!). Gets into DXB at around 20:00, which should be quite civilised at that time.

Cheers,
Rick

We're doing GLA-DXB (and then on to Melbourne) on Tuesday. I reckon every one of the last 8 times we've done GLA-DXB we've had the long bus journey to the terminal. However, last time we got a close up view of the lit up Burj Khalifa before landing so that made up for a lot of the inconvenience.:)

WoooT. I'd rather circle over Dubai for 2 hours (in a 777) than travel in an A330! :D Just sayin ^

The YYZ flight gets in at 735pm (or 635pm after March) and it is very civilized. I love it.

However if I am merely connecting in Dubai, unless I am going to India, the arrival time usually means a long transit wait.

lol, when I skim read this thread at first, I thought it was more passenger profiling from the UAE!
They send all the Russian flights to SHJ.... Russian/Glaswegian, same difference!

But I'll get a nice meal and a few beers :) Arriving at 1am means you're rushing to get to a pub for last orders!