Sorry if my comment was a bit snarky, but the advice stands, it's a perfectly fine hotel for a day, especially if you're not planning on actually using it much

Thank you for the advice, it was exactly what I was looking for and will just go with whatever EK gives me.

If you have status with another global airline it's worth getting a match up to Skywards Silver, it'll make things a bit more comfortable at DXB after the hotel since you will have lounge access. Use the Contact Us page on the Help menu on the website and select Skywards general feedback from the dropdown. Attach proof via a scan of your card and your company/job title (no idea why they ask, but could help!).

EDIT: Alaska counts - I asked and they offered Silver but I did not take it (want to see if I can get to Silver on my own and match to Gold).

Grand Hyatt would be fine. You can dump your bags and go and explore a bit.

There is a Hilton on the Creek which I went to a couple of times (there used to be a Gordon Ramsay restaurant there).

I don't have any status at the moment because I am "in between" airlines. Dumped American last year after getting mistreated one too many time and now fly primarily Southwest out of Love Field. Only fly international about once a year. Thanks for the thought though.

DXB Long Layover Question
 

Hi All,

I'm flying in a few weeks on J class (a380) and I have a lengthy layover in DXB for roughly 15 hours. Although I have a confirmation from Emirates that they'll be providing me accommodation via Dubai Connect, my connecting flight is at 3:30AM.

I'll have plenty of time to go the mall, grab a bite and explore a bit but I'm leaving the actual exploring for my return flight back as I'll have 3 days in Dubai. With that said, I'm thinking of catching the shuttle back to the airport for around 11:30PM-ish as I really do not know what else to do, so I'm thinking of killing time at the business lounge.

Is it worth going that early (4 hours)? I'm not sure what else to do...

On my return flight back home flying F class, it's the same situation whereas my flight is again around 3:00AM so I've scheduled the chauffeur pickup for around 10:30PM and planning on heading straight to the First class lounge.

Do they still serve food for sit down a la carte around midnight? I know it's a very odd question, but given the time I thought to ask. Once again, am I pushing it with going so early?

If anyone has been in a similar situation or can give me some suggestions I'd highly appreciate it!

3 hours is plenty - even at that busy time. 30 minutes from the hotel through clearing immigration/security (less if you're using Smartgates - sign up when you arrive the first time), 1.5 hours in the lounge (champagne bar!), and 20-30ish minutes to get to your gate, and gates close 20 before departure. If you want to do some shopping and/or get a spa treatment then allocate extra time.


Full dinner service is available till somewhere around 3-4am, I forget exactly when they change over to breakfast. They used to allow ordering from the opposite menu (dinner in the morning, etc) but I think they stopped that. Even when traveling F I usually max out at 2 hours in the F lounge eating and then back to the J champagne bar in the B concourse.

I would the best part of the J lounge in concourse B is the champagne bar but you dont need 4 hours there unless you want to drink one glass an hour. There is not a ton to do per se but if you would like to leave time for duty free shopping or something then 4 hours is good but if you want to basically go from hotel to plane with maybe just a quick lounge visit prior to boarding then 2 -ish is fine since the hotel is so close+j class check in+fasttrack

All lounges are 24 hours so a la carte dining is available at any time but I forget if it's the full menu at all hours. Worth spending more time in F lounge and get your spa treatment in

Thanks! Do you know if I can sign up for Smartgates beforehand or only at the airport? Is ~ 3:00AM pretty dead or busy at DXB (business lounge)? I do want to check out the lounge (especially the newest addition of the champagne bar), great recommendation! Do you recommend I grab a bite with the vouchers I get (I'm guessing 90% the hotel will be the Le Meridien DXB) or at the lounge for better food?

My only reason for heading to the airport/lounge early is because I won't have anything else to really do, so maybe those champagne bar glasses will help time go by a little quicker! ;)

Do you know how to make the booking (in advance) for the complimentary spa treatment at the F lounge and if they are 24 hours or close at midnight?

You can make the booking by e-mailing timelessspa (at) dih-dca.com with your outbound flight information and desired treatment time. They are open 24 hours.

Use the vouchers at Le Meridien. There are some good restaurants there (Italian, Thai, Lebanese, Indian, Tex-Mex, Irish (!!), and probably more that I forget). Most of the places serve food until maybe 23:30.

Good question... each boarding pass gets scanned for each treatment, so scan all 3 and get 45 minutes? Tip well ;)