Even a reward will cost 1000 USD in surcharges

TravelinWilly, although the booking engine no longer specifies before booking whether the itinerary is eligible for Dubai Connect (and it is likely that it is does considering the timetables involve) - you are in luck because as it is an itinerary involving a US destination, you are covered by the DoT 24 hour cancellation regulation. Therefore you can book it, find out the status of Dubai Connect and then cancel if it isn't offered.

Hotels in Dubai however are relatively cheap for what you get, so the incremental cost from a 60000ZAR ticket is going to be on the order of 5% for a 5* hotel (superior to the accommodation Dubai Connect will get you).

With regards to the transit hotel airside, you get 24 hours from check-in.

Thank you so much for the helpful post, eternaltransit!

This is exactly the info. I was seeking, and I like your suggestion to book it and see, and then cancel if it doesn't include the hotel (or pay the hotel on my own if I opt to use Emirates).

Thank you again.

Hello guys,

Greetings to everybody here, this is my first thread in flyertalk. I want to ask about Dubai Connect service.

So, the three of us are going to fly Emirates from Jakarta to New York via Dubai, with a 16-hours connection in Dubai. I booked and paid the flight through Orbitz.

a) I want to ask whether I am eligible for Dubai Connect (which will give me free hotel and visa)? The reason I'm asking is because I personally choose the 16-hours connection, while there is a shorter connection (due to lower price).

b) If I am eligible for Dubai Connect, should I (as an Indonesian passport holder) request for Visa from here in Indonesia, or the visa will granted upon arrival in Dubai Airport? Do i need to pay the visa fee, or is it covered by the Dubai Connect program?

Thank you for your kind help in answering my questions.

Regards,


Teddy

Hi Teddy

Welcome to FT!
If there is a connection with less than 8hrs transit time you are (unfortunately/not anymore) entitled for Dubai Connect. Because there is the connection EK357 to EK203 you are not eligible (anyway give it a try online, sometimes it had worked despite a better connection was available).

Unfortunately, that rules out eligibility for Dubai Connect.

Thank you for the fast reply Kuroko.

Can I ask how to try it online? Since I booked it Via Orbitz and not Emirates own website? I just tried in Emirates website but it says cannot, because I booked via Travel Agent.

Thank you

Strange. You should be able to book it even though the ticket was issued from a TA. Maybe this is the EK-IT-reply to "you are not eligible".

Hahaha got it then, thanks a lot

Oh, one more question: as an Indonesian passport holder, can I get a 24-hour visa in Dubai airport, or should I ask for visa back in my country? And do you happen to know how much should I pay for the visa fee?

Thanks

No visa by arrival. 96hrs visa is 56USD. However EK has a Dubai Stopover Programm (call them or visit a town office, afaik you cannot book it only) which includes a complementary visa of max 48hrs.

Typically, only if the shorter connection was sold out at the time of booking.