How early to check bags at DXB, use F lounge, then leave airport & reenter in AM??
Jan 24, 2020, 11:50 am
#16
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,600
Using the egates, I have never had an issue arriving at the airport with a boarding pass and using the egates - a few years ago I went through at around T-24 to catch up with a friend who was transiting.
However, during the recent rain debacle, after changing my flight I could not re-enter the UAE (either egate or immigration official) without visiting the Emirates Dubai Connect desk who took my passport to the customs officials to fix this. I had been in the airport for around five hours at this point and I do not know if this a recent development or due to the particular circumstance.
To add to the general comment above, if my friend had not been transiting at an antisocial hour where most restaurants were closed, I generally agree with the above sentiment that you can eat better elsewhere in Dubai. The food in the lounge is ok at best and it can be a lottery as to whether or not there are good wine offerings.
However, during the recent rain debacle, after changing my flight I could not re-enter the UAE (either egate or immigration official) without visiting the Emirates Dubai Connect desk who took my passport to the customs officials to fix this. I had been in the airport for around five hours at this point and I do not know if this a recent development or due to the particular circumstance.
To add to the general comment above, if my friend had not been transiting at an antisocial hour where most restaurants were closed, I generally agree with the above sentiment that you can eat better elsewhere in Dubai. The food in the lounge is ok at best and it can be a lottery as to whether or not there are good wine offerings.
Some airline's offerings are Bloody Awful.
Jan 24, 2020, 11:51 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,220
What is the difference between bringing back your skis in the evening to check them in prior to trying to go in the lounge for food and taking them the next day when you arrive for your flight? As you say you are just across the road? And why will you be back at the airport in the morning if your flight is at 3pm?? Have you been in the F lounge before? I ask because I don't know what you are expecting to warrant spending so much time in there!?
Jan 24, 2020, 11:58 am
#18
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,600
However, there are limits to the hoops I'd jump through...
Jan 24, 2020, 12:24 pm
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: National EE, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15
I have never understood the desire to spend so much time in airport lounges. For me they are a means to an end, a bit of food and a shower to kill sometime between two flights.
What is the difference between bringing back your skis in the evening to check them in prior to trying to go in the lounge for food and taking them the next day when you arrive for your flight? As you say you are just across the road? And why will you be back at the airport in the morning if your flight is at 3pm?? Have you been in the F lounge before? I ask because I don't know what you are expecting to warrant spending so much time in there!?
What is the difference between bringing back your skis in the evening to check them in prior to trying to go in the lounge for food and taking them the next day when you arrive for your flight? As you say you are just across the road? And why will you be back at the airport in the morning if your flight is at 3pm?? Have you been in the F lounge before? I ask because I don't know what you are expecting to warrant spending so much time in there!?
Does someone truly need to understand someone else's desires....unless you're interested in sharing a bed?
Jan 24, 2020, 1:35 pm
#20
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Manchester/London
Programs: Skywards Plat, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 1,220
The day I decide to leave a thriving city or any city for that matter, to head to an airport to enjoy the 'pulse' of the lounge, is the day I know I am failing at life.
Jan 24, 2020, 1:39 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2020
Programs: National EE, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 15
Jan 24, 2020, 7:19 pm
#22
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Qatar Gold, flying Blue, Falcon, Lufthansa, Eva
Posts: 1,428
I do not think I would risk it (and agree with others about why bother) as generally airports are not geared up for individual passengers exiting the departure area. What if they refused to let you out and you have left stuff in the hotel
Jan 24, 2020, 9:16 pm
#23
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,826
33 hour stopover with a hotel reservation nearby. I arrive at 0600 and depart the next day at 1500, DXB-ZRH. Flying F. Planning to spend the day sightseeing in Dubai and was interested in returning to the lounge that night to have dinner and drinks. Will I be able to check my bags in, access the lounge, and then leave for the evening only return for my flight the next day?
2 hours is the maximum time to spend in the lounge (before your flight) - the suggestion is really ridiculous
Jan 25, 2020, 5:34 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
Although .......... never underestimate the extremes to which a number of travellers will go, just for free some free food
Jan 25, 2020, 6:02 am
#25
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Qatar Gold, flying Blue, Falcon, Lufthansa, Eva
Posts: 1,428
Jan 25, 2020, 6:29 am
#26
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,395
This has just reminded me of another lounge-related / free food scenario, but even more wacky than this one.
A week or so ago, a Norway-based poster over on the BAEC forum was discussing plans to fly across from Oslo to LHR, with a friend, purely for the purpose of spending virtually a whole day in BA Galleries F lounge at T5 (and, IIRC, trying to access lounges at T3 also), and then .....simply flying back to Oslo. He had apparently done something similar at least once before at LHR, and found it preferable to patronising Oslo restaurants. And remember this was a BA lounge (as distinct from something with the quality of say CX @ HKG, QF @ SYD or EK @ DXB etc ....). Just when you thought you’d heard it all .........
Jan 25, 2020, 6:48 am
#27
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Qatar Gold, flying Blue, Falcon, Lufthansa, Eva
Posts: 1,428
Indeed ! And like I said .... never underestimate .....
This has just reminded me of another lounge-related / free food scenario, but even more wacky than this one.
A week or so ago, a Norway-based poster over on the BAEC forum was discussing plans to fly across from Oslo to LHR, with a friend, purely for the purpose of spending virtually a whole day in BA Galleries F lounge at T5 (and, IIRC, trying to access lounges at T3 also), and then .....simply flying back to Oslo. He had apparently done something similar at least once before at LHR, and found it preferable to patronising Oslo restaurants. And remember this was a BA lounge (as distinct from something with the quality of say CX @ HKG, QF @ SYD or EK @ DXB etc ....). Just when you thought you’d heard it all .........
This has just reminded me of another lounge-related / free food scenario, but even more wacky than this one.
A week or so ago, a Norway-based poster over on the BAEC forum was discussing plans to fly across from Oslo to LHR, with a friend, purely for the purpose of spending virtually a whole day in BA Galleries F lounge at T5 (and, IIRC, trying to access lounges at T3 also), and then .....simply flying back to Oslo. He had apparently done something similar at least once before at LHR, and found it preferable to patronising Oslo restaurants. And remember this was a BA lounge (as distinct from something with the quality of say CX @ HKG, QF @ SYD or EK @ DXB etc ....). Just when you thought you’d heard it all .........
Jan 25, 2020, 8:29 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,826
Jan 25, 2020, 8:33 am
#29
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,267
Indeed ! And like I said .... never underestimate .....
This has just reminded me of another lounge-related / free food scenario, but even more wacky than this one.
A week or so ago, a Norway-based poster over on the BAEC forum was discussing plans to fly across from Oslo to LHR, with a friend, purely for the purpose of spending virtually a whole day in BA Galleries F lounge at T5 (and, IIRC, trying to access lounges at T3 also), and then .....simply flying back to Oslo. He had apparently done something similar at least once before at LHR, and found it preferable to patronising Oslo restaurants. And remember this was a BA lounge (as distinct from something with the quality of say CX @ HKG, QF @ SYD or EK @ DXB etc ....). Just when you thought you’d heard it all .........
This has just reminded me of another lounge-related / free food scenario, but even more wacky than this one.
A week or so ago, a Norway-based poster over on the BAEC forum was discussing plans to fly across from Oslo to LHR, with a friend, purely for the purpose of spending virtually a whole day in BA Galleries F lounge at T5 (and, IIRC, trying to access lounges at T3 also), and then .....simply flying back to Oslo. He had apparently done something similar at least once before at LHR, and found it preferable to patronising Oslo restaurants. And remember this was a BA lounge (as distinct from something with the quality of say CX @ HKG, QF @ SYD or EK @ DXB etc ....). Just when you thought you’d heard it all .........
I admit to flying BA short haul myself from time to time, but this is mind boggling.
Jan 25, 2020, 12:26 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,349
I imagine you could get airside, using the smart gates. I have done it several times without having to show a BP. Getting into the lounge and getting back landside might be more tricky.
Personally I don't think Dubai is the place to try this out. The response can be unpredictable and even a 33 hour layover could go quickly if you were detained.
I'm not sure whether OP's desire for a free meal or to enjoy the (ahem) vibe in the lounge would be considered a valid reason for trying to game the system.
Personally I don't think Dubai is the place to try this out. The response can be unpredictable and even a 33 hour layover could go quickly if you were detained.
I'm not sure whether OP's desire for a free meal or to enjoy the (ahem) vibe in the lounge would be considered a valid reason for trying to game the system.