Dubai Connect / STPC
Jul 14, 2016 | 4:42 am
#121
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 31
When I have booked flights with third party websites in the past, the airline website hasn't "allowed" me to login on their page. I have had to call the airline, which I suppose I could do in this case as well if online doesn't work.
Jul 14, 2016 | 9:16 am
#122
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA PP
Posts: 1,433
Interesting. I've never had this problem when using a travel agent or third party site (I've used Orbitz, Expedia, STA). Only thing I couldn't do through MMB was upgrade seats but I could definitely access the reservation.
Jul 14, 2016 | 11:35 am
#123
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 31
Thanks for your reply. Good to hear that it shouldn't be a problem.
Jul 15, 2016 | 7:26 am
#124
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,059
Jul 18, 2016 | 9:31 am
#125
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: YYZ
Programs: Aeroplan
Posts: 31
I just heard from a local (Canada) rep from Malaysian who said that "you can't preselect seats for codeshare flights". Is that usual for codeshares? Is codesharing so complicated that they can't do something seemingly as easy as that?
Jul 18, 2016 | 11:15 am
#126
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,791
Plenty of code shares you can pre select.
Nov 2, 2016 | 9:25 pm
#127
Ambassador: Emirates
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: UK/AU
Programs: QF P1 + LTG, EK, BAEC, QR, IHG, Accor, LHW
Posts: 1,232
I have just booked an itinerary that I was told prior to pulling the trigger qualified. No problems there.
MMB had no option for Dubai connect so I gave the Melbourne call centre a courtesy call. They inform me that I AM NOT eligible.
Not to be outdone, I managed to replicate my exact booking and took screenshots, sent them to the office and Emirates have stated that they will honour was was first posted.
If you see it on your booking but then are told otherwise, fight the system!
MMB had no option for Dubai connect so I gave the Melbourne call centre a courtesy call. They inform me that I AM NOT eligible.
Not to be outdone, I managed to replicate my exact booking and took screenshots, sent them to the office and Emirates have stated that they will honour was was first posted.
If you see it on your booking but then are told otherwise, fight the system!
Nov 27, 2016 | 10:32 pm
#128
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: SQ Gold, VA Gold, DL Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Shangri-La Diamond
Posts: 24
Other than Le Meridien, Copthorne, and Carlton Palace hotels, what other hotels are likjely for a Y booking?
Our party is 4 adults and 1 toddler and I don't want to stay in a sh*thole.
Also, any chance I can call ahead to make sure they have a cot for our toddler?
Our party is 4 adults and 1 toddler and I don't want to stay in a sh*thole.
Also, any chance I can call ahead to make sure they have a cot for our toddler?
Nov 27, 2016 | 10:41 pm
#129
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 19,813
Maybe you should just book a room for cash if you don't think the EK provided room will meet your expectations?
Nov 28, 2016 | 3:18 am
#130
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: SQ Gold, VA Gold, DL Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum, Shangri-La Diamond
Posts: 24
Dec 1, 2016 | 10:46 am
#132
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Boston, MA
Programs: AA PP
Posts: 1,433
I'm debating on booking a flight that would require me to avail the Dubai Connect service. I have miles to upgrade either the inbound to DXB or outbound but not both so I'm trying to see if I can engineer the flight to get into the J class hotel. My question is if one leg is in Y and the other in J, which hotel would I be considered eligible for? Looked around but couldn't find an answer in any of the other STPC threads. Any help appreciated 
Jan 17, 2017 | 12:26 am
#133
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Lisbon
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Titanium, IHG Platinum, BAEC Silver, TK Miles & Smiles Elite
Posts: 2,521
I just returned from LGW-KUL on the cheapest business class fare which necessitated a longish stopover (arriving about 8pm and departing 4am or so). They gave me this Dubai Connect package. For anyone who is interested in this service (which I can't complain about really because it was unexpected and free) here is my experience. In short, if you know what to do then it's quite fun however hardly anyone at Emirates has a clue what to do... Next time I'll have a better experience.
1. If eligible then Manage My Booking online lets you request this service. There are no details about how it is executed in practice. When you check in you are given the hotel voucher printed on three cardboard boarding passes but no other details about what to do on the ground. I asked the check in agent at LGW what to do with it and she had no idea.
2. I asked the FA on board what to do. She didn't know either and told me to ask ground staff upon disembarking.
3. I asked Emirates ground staff what to do and they told me I had to ask at the Connect desk before passport control.
4. I found the Connect desk. The First/Business class desk was empty and remained so. I hung around until one of the regular staff wandered over and told me I had to get my hotel voucher stamped at the bank desk just there (why?) and then go through passport control and head to Door 1 where there was another desk.
5. The bank took one look at my passport (British) and said I didn't need a stamp on the hotel voucher.
6. I went through passport control and headed to Door 1. Finding the desk, the guy took one look at the voucher and directed me instead to Door 4 (I think - anyway the furthest one away).
7. At Door 4 there is the Emirates car service. They directed me back inside to the back of the terminal and there was an office with the first people who really knew what I should do correctly. They gave me a car voucher and I went back to Door 4, got my car and took the 5-minute drive to Le Meridien Dubai.
8. Emirates has its own check in desk. No chance of SPG privileges :-(. You get allocated an old and small room. I wouldn't say it's up to the standards of Le Meridien brand hotel rooms I'm used to but I'm not complaining as it was free.
9. I also got a voucher for the evening meal. Four or so restaurants in the hotel have a three course set menu so you can take your pick. I sat outside the steak restaurant and had a throughly pleasant meal there with two ultra expensive beers (drink not included in the voucher).
10. I had already showered and had intended playing on line for a few hours before my 2am transfer back to the terminal. However the internet access in this hotel was terrible. First, the login landing page took ages to appear and when it did it frequently disconnected before successfully logging me in. When I did eventually get on line it was horribly slow and again disconnected frequently. In short, the internet access at Le Meridien Dubai was literally unusable the evening I was there - in the room, in the lobby and in the restaurant - throughout the entire hotel on my iPhone, iPad, MacBook and my second Android phone (a dual SIM Xiaome).
11. About 12am I went back to the Emirates hotel checkin desk and told them I'd like to go back to the terminal so I could use the internet in the lounge. They expressed surprise that the internet was unusable.
Next time, with such a stopover, I'd probably go get the meal (not that I needed the food but it was a pleasant environment outside in January) and find out how I get a two-hour sightseeing drive around Dubai for fun.
1. If eligible then Manage My Booking online lets you request this service. There are no details about how it is executed in practice. When you check in you are given the hotel voucher printed on three cardboard boarding passes but no other details about what to do on the ground. I asked the check in agent at LGW what to do with it and she had no idea.
2. I asked the FA on board what to do. She didn't know either and told me to ask ground staff upon disembarking.
3. I asked Emirates ground staff what to do and they told me I had to ask at the Connect desk before passport control.
4. I found the Connect desk. The First/Business class desk was empty and remained so. I hung around until one of the regular staff wandered over and told me I had to get my hotel voucher stamped at the bank desk just there (why?) and then go through passport control and head to Door 1 where there was another desk.
5. The bank took one look at my passport (British) and said I didn't need a stamp on the hotel voucher.
6. I went through passport control and headed to Door 1. Finding the desk, the guy took one look at the voucher and directed me instead to Door 4 (I think - anyway the furthest one away).
7. At Door 4 there is the Emirates car service. They directed me back inside to the back of the terminal and there was an office with the first people who really knew what I should do correctly. They gave me a car voucher and I went back to Door 4, got my car and took the 5-minute drive to Le Meridien Dubai.
8. Emirates has its own check in desk. No chance of SPG privileges :-(. You get allocated an old and small room. I wouldn't say it's up to the standards of Le Meridien brand hotel rooms I'm used to but I'm not complaining as it was free.
9. I also got a voucher for the evening meal. Four or so restaurants in the hotel have a three course set menu so you can take your pick. I sat outside the steak restaurant and had a throughly pleasant meal there with two ultra expensive beers (drink not included in the voucher).
10. I had already showered and had intended playing on line for a few hours before my 2am transfer back to the terminal. However the internet access in this hotel was terrible. First, the login landing page took ages to appear and when it did it frequently disconnected before successfully logging me in. When I did eventually get on line it was horribly slow and again disconnected frequently. In short, the internet access at Le Meridien Dubai was literally unusable the evening I was there - in the room, in the lobby and in the restaurant - throughout the entire hotel on my iPhone, iPad, MacBook and my second Android phone (a dual SIM Xiaome).
11. About 12am I went back to the Emirates hotel checkin desk and told them I'd like to go back to the terminal so I could use the internet in the lounge. They expressed surprise that the internet was unusable.
Next time, with such a stopover, I'd probably go get the meal (not that I needed the food but it was a pleasant environment outside in January) and find out how I get a two-hour sightseeing drive around Dubai for fun.
Jan 17, 2017 | 12:44 am
#134
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,791
I just returned from LGW-KUL on the cheapest business class fare which necessitated a longish stopover (arriving about 8pm and departing 4am or so). They gave me this Dubai Connect package. For anyone who is interested in this service (which I can't complain about really because it was unexpected and free) here is my experience. In short, if you know what to do then it's quite fun however hardly anyone at Emirates has a clue what to do... Next time I'll have a better experience.
1. If eligible then Manage My Booking online lets you request this service. There are no details about how it is executed in practice. When you check in you are given the hotel voucher printed on three cardboard boarding passes but no other details about what to do on the ground. I asked the check in agent at LGW what to do with it and she had no idea.
2. I asked the FA on board what to do. She didn't know either and told me to ask ground staff upon disembarking.
3. I asked Emirates ground staff what to do and they told me I had to ask at the Connect desk before passport control.
4. I found the Connect desk. The First/Business class desk was empty and remained so. I hung around until one of the regular staff wandered over and told me I had to get my hotel voucher stamped at the bank desk just there (why?) and then go through passport control and head to Door 1 where there was another desk.
5. The bank took one look at my passport (British) and said I didn't need a stamp on the hotel voucher.
6. I went through passport control and headed to Door 1. Finding the desk, the guy took one look at the voucher and directed me instead to Door 4 (I think - anyway the furthest one away).
7. At Door 4 there is the Emirates car service. They directed me back inside to the back of the terminal and there was an office with the first people who really knew what I should do correctly. They gave me a car voucher and I went back to Door 4, got my car and took the 5-minute drive to Le Meridien Dubai.
8. Emirates has its own check in desk. No chance of SPG privileges :-(. You get allocated an old and small room. I wouldn't say it's up to the standards of Le Meridien brand hotel rooms I'm used to but I'm not complaining as it was free.
9. I also got a voucher for the evening meal. Four or so restaurants in the hotel have a three course set menu so you can take your pick. I sat outside the steak restaurant and had a throughly pleasant meal there with two ultra expensive beers (drink not included in the voucher).
10. I had already showered and had intended playing on line for a few hours before my 2am transfer back to the terminal. However the internet access in this hotel was terrible. First, the login landing page took ages to appear and when it did it frequently disconnected before successfully logging me in. When I did eventually get on line it was horribly slow and again disconnected frequently. In short, the internet access at Le Meridien Dubai was literally unusable the evening I was there - in the room, in the lobby and in the restaurant - throughout the entire hotel on my iPhone, iPad, MacBook and my second Android phone (a dual SIM Xiaome).
11. About 12am I went back to the Emirates hotel checkin desk and told them I'd like to go back to the terminal so I could use the internet in the lounge. They expressed surprise that the internet was unusable.
Next time, with such a stopover, I'd probably go get the meal (not that I needed the food but it was a pleasant environment outside in January) and find out how I get a two-hour sightseeing drive around Dubai for fun.
1. If eligible then Manage My Booking online lets you request this service. There are no details about how it is executed in practice. When you check in you are given the hotel voucher printed on three cardboard boarding passes but no other details about what to do on the ground. I asked the check in agent at LGW what to do with it and she had no idea.
2. I asked the FA on board what to do. She didn't know either and told me to ask ground staff upon disembarking.
3. I asked Emirates ground staff what to do and they told me I had to ask at the Connect desk before passport control.
4. I found the Connect desk. The First/Business class desk was empty and remained so. I hung around until one of the regular staff wandered over and told me I had to get my hotel voucher stamped at the bank desk just there (why?) and then go through passport control and head to Door 1 where there was another desk.
5. The bank took one look at my passport (British) and said I didn't need a stamp on the hotel voucher.
6. I went through passport control and headed to Door 1. Finding the desk, the guy took one look at the voucher and directed me instead to Door 4 (I think - anyway the furthest one away).
7. At Door 4 there is the Emirates car service. They directed me back inside to the back of the terminal and there was an office with the first people who really knew what I should do correctly. They gave me a car voucher and I went back to Door 4, got my car and took the 5-minute drive to Le Meridien Dubai.
8. Emirates has its own check in desk. No chance of SPG privileges :-(. You get allocated an old and small room. I wouldn't say it's up to the standards of Le Meridien brand hotel rooms I'm used to but I'm not complaining as it was free.
9. I also got a voucher for the evening meal. Four or so restaurants in the hotel have a three course set menu so you can take your pick. I sat outside the steak restaurant and had a throughly pleasant meal there with two ultra expensive beers (drink not included in the voucher).
10. I had already showered and had intended playing on line for a few hours before my 2am transfer back to the terminal. However the internet access in this hotel was terrible. First, the login landing page took ages to appear and when it did it frequently disconnected before successfully logging me in. When I did eventually get on line it was horribly slow and again disconnected frequently. In short, the internet access at Le Meridien Dubai was literally unusable the evening I was there - in the room, in the lobby and in the restaurant - throughout the entire hotel on my iPhone, iPad, MacBook and my second Android phone (a dual SIM Xiaome).
11. About 12am I went back to the Emirates hotel checkin desk and told them I'd like to go back to the terminal so I could use the internet in the lounge. They expressed surprise that the internet was unusable.
Next time, with such a stopover, I'd probably go get the meal (not that I needed the food but it was a pleasant environment outside in January) and find out how I get a two-hour sightseeing drive around Dubai for fun.
The bank stamp is for nationalities that require a visa, Emirates pays the visa fee via the bank who need to record that you have paid with the stamp, for immigration authorities to know that its paid.
Emirates has more info here: https://www.emirates.com/english/pla...i-connect.aspx
It is also mentioned during the booking process when you purchase your ticket if you are eligible with more information. Exit 4 is correct as you go to the Chauffeur Drive desk, the Dubai Connect desk is also quite prominent in the arrivals hall before immigration, I've always found the entire process very simple and streamlined (vs. the 2h wait I had with EgyptAir last month just to process the hotel voucher).
Jan 17, 2017 | 3:42 am
#135
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: DUB / DXB
Programs: EK Gold, BA Gold
Posts: 2,581
Have to agree, the few times ive used this it has been very straight forward. Collect the boarding card type hotel voucher and just proceed through immigration and to the emirates car desk in arrivals and they will send you in a caar to Le Meridien. The rooms arent the best, but ive never been there for very long. Usually just shower and head into the city, and then make my own way back to the airport.