Maybe I’m the only one that is dumb but to those that might find this helpful:

if a shortest connection is available even if not in your booking class that disqualifies you. I booked two F segments and those represented the shortest connection in F, but because there was a shorter connection with one flight J (no F cabin) and one flight F this disqualified me which I think is incredibly dumb since I ended up paying more money than that shorter option and if I want to fly F that should be the class under which availability and shorter connection is measured.

anyway… buyer beware

I normally stay at the Dubai International (airside) for the 10hr layover from the NCL flight , but as I’ll be travelling solo, I thought I’d try out the Dubai Connect service.

I’m currently booked in Y but plan to upgrade to J using miles. My understanding is that mileage upgrades / rewards don’t qualify for the Meriden. I’m wondering though , does my Gold status offer any perks in a situation like this? Chauffer drive rather than the bus?

I had a Y upgraded to J with miles and was sent to the worst hotel ive ever been in dubai, near Deira, It was so bad i got a taxi back to the airport abotu 5 minutes after getting to the room

Eeeeeek which hotel was it?

Had to look it up... the copthorne in deira... awful hotel. I went to room, didnt even set down bags and left straight away and went back to airport

What was wrong?
Millenniums while not fancy/pretty basic are usually clean and tidy.

There are 2 "wings" to the Copthorne / Millennium (or at least there used to be). The normal part is fine, I've stayed there a couple of times. The other part (that's used for EK stop overs) has some grim reports. However... I guess it's what you're used to. If you're used to western style 4/5 star hotels, it may be grim. But a lot of the people travelling Y would think it completely fine.

The regular side of the hotel seemed fine. The EK wing was awful. Think 2 star hostel type vibe.

I am wondering, does the eligibility for Dubai Connect depend on the incoming flight too?
I have booked MLE-DXB-HAM on EK661&EK59 with an 11:15 layover which from my interpretation should qualify as EK59 is the first one going out to HAM after the arrival.
When I go through the booking online, there is no sign of any way to book it.
There are shorter connection times available but only with different MLE-DXB flights.
It isn't the end of the world on a leisure trip upgraded to first, but I don't interpret the T&Cs that way.

No, this should not qualify as there are better available connections.

https://www.emirates.com/uk/english/...dubai-connect/

Well I’ve just checked in, having already secured my mileage upgrade to J, and have been allocated the JW Marriot Marquais hotel.
So stressing slightly less about the quality of hotel. Hopefully the transfers are quick and smooth, as I appreciate it’s a bit further from the airport than the other options.

For F pax, if you go to the Dubai Connect desk at DXB, can you request a preference for JW instead of Le Meridien?

A check in at the hotel, can you request return chauffeur to drive you back to DXB earlier?

You can request chauffeur to drive you back at a specific time from EK directly. Online chat should be able to do this.

With a 30 hour connection from Asia towards Africa. Will they really refuse Duba Connect because it's too long? While there is no shorter connection.

Yes they will. We were once refused STPC service with a 25 hr connection with no shorter connection even though we were travelling business class. Although our Travel agent managed to make a request with them and they at least put us up at the Holiday Inn Dubai Airport after considering our request.