Dubai Connect / STPC
 

I was browsing my bookings on emirates.com and found an itinerary that stated it "Qualifies for our complimentary Dubai Connect service" (14 hour layover at DXB).

Never having used this service before I rang the Indian Call Centre and was told that my fare class (W) is not eligible for this service. Just seems a little strange to get a message that the service is available and then be told I can't use it.

Does anyone know what the actual eligibility rules are for the "Dubai Connect service"?

U, B, N, M, E, W, R, Y are eligible provided all other eligibility requirements are met.

Dubai Connect
 

Just noticed this today while making a booking with EK:
Connection
9 hr 0 min Qualifies for our complimentary Dubai Connect service

As a special courtesy to our passengers, where an itinerary requires a long stopover in Dubai, Emirates will provide accommodation, meals, ground transportation and visas at no extra cost. Dubai Connect must be pre-booked 24 hours prior to departure and is subject to availability.

After your flight booking is complete, you can book Dubai Connect when managing your booking on Emirates.com

Something to do, perhaps with the QF alliance? Wanting to standardise the process?

No, this has been a long standing offer from EK.

I've used the STPC since 2003. Wow almost 10 years now.
My question is about getting this integrated within the booking engine.

Thanks for that. Very clear, even for a freeloader like me.

So why then did the agent at the Indian call centre say W class was ineligible?

I don't know.

It is possible that STPC may be specifically excluded in the fare rules for the specific fare you have purchased, or alternatively that the itinerary was not STPC eligible for some other reason.

Or simply that the agent was wrong.

Last I checked it wasn't a fixed set of booking classes but different booking classes depending on your point of origin.

Well, my point of origin is SIN. Obviously W class isn't eligible from there.

On a more general point, I am thininking of upgrading my onward flight from DXB to I class. I assume that I would still not be eligible for Dubai Connect.

They do play hardball, don't they? It's all take and no give.

No. It has been standardised systemwide since May 2011. However, some specific fares and markets are excluded.

No, upgrades are eligible - they get the same benefits as revenue

So I am now upgraded to I class, but still can't get the benefits.

I've spoken to EK SYD who have told me that my flights are not eligible (just a throw-away line really).

Rang the ICC later (see post below) and got a different story again.

Makes you wonder!

Rang the Indian call centre again today. Got a different story this time. Apparently there is nothing wrong with my itinerary, but I was told there is a rule that the ticket must have a purchase cost of at least USD 1,100. Mine cost $1,000 + 50,000 miles for the upgrade - how much did that cost?

I guess everyone here knew about the minimum cost rule.

Does this mean that the website may be wong? I am looking at a JFK-DXB-JED ticket in X class (pretty much the lowest class) and it shows "qualifies for dubai connect service."

Even weirder, on the return, MED-DXB-JFK, I can choose a 5 h layover or 11. If I pick the 11 it shows "qualifies." (!)

If I can get a hotel I will take the 11 hour wait, if not I will pick the 5h one.

Not "may be wrong" but rather "is wrong".

I had a 19-hour voluntary layover in DXB a few weeks ago routing JNB-DXB-BOM and the website said that I was eligible for Dubai Connect. I didn't expect it to be but asked anyway at the hotel counter and was told that it was a common website glitch.

There were at least 2-3 other people there arguing that Emirates should honour the website misinformation, but they were largely ignored.

I ve an upcoming booking in J/F next month KUL-DXB-MAN with a 9 hr layover, wanted to max my time in the F lounge haha
When i made the initial booking, they were offering the dubai connect service on the booking engine, which i duly filled in. It also appeared on the MMB
Checked today on MMB, its vanished!
Oh well F lounge it is then

Where can i find the link under manage my booking section for Dubai Connect booking?

If I d remembered correctly, It appeared under the chauffeur booking box, but as i mentioned, its gone on my MMB now!

I dont see any thing called dubai connect, but do see a link 'Apply for Dubai visa' is that one?

The hotel counter is remarkably good at ignoring and brushing off people, in the rudest manner possible, even passengers flying in paid F where EK has made an error in their hotel bookings, and this, sadly, is not experience from an isolated incident.

For the guys that it "disappeared" for, did you book the connect service online, then it disappeared? or is being able to book it online something new? I booked it online and it says confirmed, collect voucher at airport.

Can anyone confirm if this is indeed being followed.

So, I was planning a trip BOM-CDG in Y and upgrading it using miles. The ticket cost is < $1,100 ($950 or whereabouts). Would this be eligible for Dubai Connect?

I also had another question - my flight (EK503) into DXB arrives at 8:30pm and the next flight out to CDG (EK071) is at 4:30 am, though I am planning on EK073 which departs at 08:30am. If I upgrade my ticket from Y to J, would the 8 hour rule for Y still apply to me (EK071 leaves just 'at' 8 hours) or would I be eligible for STPC under the 6 hour rule for J/F.

From EK website -

"Dubai Connect may also be offered in other cases, such as Skywards Flex redemption bookings. Other rules may apply, depending on the date that the flights were booked and the fare paid. Dubai Connect must be pre-booked and Emirates is only able to accept bookings at least 24 hours prior to departure of inbound flight to Dubai at the latest. This service is subject to availability."

"All Skywards redemption tickets except Saver Economy (i.e. Ticket must be 100% Flex fares) are eligible for the ‘Dubai Connect’ offer, subject to the other conditions herein. The Fare Type paid criteria is deemed to be met for qualifying Skywards redemption tickets."


And you need to be > 18 :)

And it would be under the T&C's of the J fare i.e. 8hr rule.
Best phone EK and they will probably arrange it, if they have not already done so.

Well, I wasn't able to confirm the $ 1,100 minimum ticket price but I did manage to get some other information about Dubai Connect.

In the above example (EK503 -> EK73), after I upgrade my ticket, the J allowance will apply, i.e 6 hours. However, just by virtue of there being an earlier flight (EK071), forget whether it was later or earlier than 6 hours from my incoming, the system will automatically refuse the STPC for EK073, as I could have connected on EK71. If my connection is on EK71, I'll get the STPC as it is > 6 hours from 503 arrival, but if on EK73, which is a later flight, I will not because there was an earlier flight departing. Now that was really surprising? Can anyone confirm this?

Yes.

http://www.emirates.com/english/plan...onditions.aspx

Oh shucks! Wasn't aware of that.

Anyway, booked on EK505 connecting to EK075 which now makes it much more sane connection.

Would anyone know if Dubai Connect is available for all QF stock tickets in economy?
Gotta a situation with the following: EK186 to QF2 (BCN-DXB-SYD). The earlier EK418 leaves 50minutes earlier and still qualifies, or at least should.

I am in X class on IAH-DXB. We have a 9 hour layover on the way back. My ticket says:

non-endorsable/non-end/skywards skysaver/check-in/reward upgrade.

This is a revenue ticket. What does the last part mean (check-in reward upgrade?)

EK IT is just bad - their automatic e-ticket generating software thinks that all X class tickets are partner skywards redemptions (which are classed in their system as upgraded on the day redemption tickets), although sometimes X class is open for revenue ticketing via certain channels (such as travel agents).

If you are looking to earn miles, you may need to check the earning tables as X class is likely to earn 0%.

Are you sure it doesn't say

"non-endorsable/non-end/skywards skysaver/check-in reward upgrade."

This simply means that your ticket cannot be upgraded with miles until check-in.

STPC
 

The rules for STPC state that you must take the best connection time from DXB however, what if all the connection times are over 8 hours?

To be more specific, I am looking at booking a flex fare from MAN to DPS. EK18 would be the shortest connection at 8 hours 5 minutes however, I would prefer to take EK22 (12 hours 20 minutes), as that would give me a longer sleep in DXB.

Should I take EK22, rather than EK18, are EK likely to honour STPC?

It doesn't make any difference if all the connections are over 8hrs, you still need to be on the shortest layover to qualify for Dubai Connect.

So in your example, you would need to get EK18; if you take EK22, you won't qualify for it (nor get it).

Thanks. I guess I'll have to pay for the hotel myself or, just fly to CGK. The timing of the new DPS flight is awful for passengers from MAN.

Dubai Connect in booking dialogue or not?
 

I'm also looking at a trip for two to DPS with a 9h 50m layover in DXB. In the booking dialogue (Business Saver tickets, base fare $1750 pp) I don't see Dubai Connect being mentioned. Is it normal that you won't see your eligibility for Dubai Connect before finalizing the booking but only in Manage My Booking after tickets are issued?

I believe that's right.

I've just booked flights SYD-DXB-GVA with an 18.5 hr transit in DXB. There are later flights leaving SYD which would have a much shorter connection but they're booked out so I wasn't expecting a Dubai Connect offer. But when I went to MMB to choose seats there was an offer. (FWIW, it's a Y FlexPlus fare and I'm EK Gold, so that may have influenced things.)

Being a little too efficient for my own good, while waiting on the phone for my corporate TA to get the seats, I had booked a non-refundable room in the airside hotel, so I won't be using Dubai Connect. I'm not too disappointed; I was quite happy to just spend the time in the hotel and J lounge so that I can arrive in GVA the next day well caught up on sleep.

ETA: Just went back (an hour later) and the offer has disappeared, as some others have mentioned upthread. Oh well.

Advice with DXB layover
 

Hi all,

New member - but had visited many times over the years! Guess it is about time to say hello and ask for help :)

I have a 12.5 hr layover in DXB, which whilst I am eligible for EK Connect, I would like to know what's best to do

Leg is EK768 from JNB, then EK015 to LGW class I.

Reading up it looks like the lounges are not the best to stay overnight in, but I am not sure if it's worth the hassle of getting out/in of the airport for EK Connect, or to just stay in the DXB Airport Hotel?

Thanks in advance!

EK768 arrives around 1920 - I'd definitely take the Dubai Connect service as at that time immigration will be relatively painless: you should be out onto a shuttle to the hotel by 2000. You can have a decent dinner in Dubai and get a proper night's rest before coming back to the airport in the morning.

Hi there, and a big welcome to FT :p

If your layover was of similar duration but during daylight, I would be advising (in fact instructing!!) you to get yourself into town, simply because IMO seeing as much as possible of this big world we live in, for as long as we are here, is ALWAYS better than hanging around for hour after hour after hour in a lounge (however luxurious).

But as eternaltransit had already noted, it's an overnighter, you will want some quality sleep, and so the advice already given is definitely your best option ^

Thanks for the quick reply and friendly welcome both!

I will look to book the EK Connect - it would be good to see a few hours of DXB I'd admit, but would rather not jeopardize my connection!

How is the airport in the AM usually? I guess I need to be getting there to clear security around 0600 for an 0800 flight? Not sure if there is any fast-track for I class?

I class counts as being in the Business cabin in any case, so you can use the dedicated F/J departures area - I estimate a total of 5 minutes to get through security and immigration. In fact, the walk from the entrance of the terminal to immigration is probably longer than actual clearance. For a 0800 flight, I would aim to arrive at the airport around 0650. If you want to visit the lounge then maybe 0630.

Oh, and, welcome to Flyertalk!