Background - wishing to book J class GLA-DXB-MEL; MEL-DXB-GLA departing early December 2020 and returning early March 2021. Current availability only goes up to returning on 9th January so obviously we can't book early March online currently as it stands. I've read somewhere a figure of 328 days beyond as the maximum availability. We are wishing to make an early booking and lock in the fares currently available if possible. About 5 years ago we faced the same situation of wanting to make a booking for a return nearly a year hence and if memory serves me correctly I did the booking over the phone with Emirates UK service centre (although the call went to an operative in Dubai) who could do it all on the basis of booking the last available return and then closer to the time when March became available I phoned up and they did a free change of return dates - it was pointed out this was a once only free change and any further changes would be for the usual fee for a change on a Business Saver or Flex ticket).

3 queries:

Thanks in advance for any suggestions on how to secure an early booking - is over the phone as described above still available as an option and recommended?

If I did the booking via an agent (such as Trailfinders) would they be able to arrange all this on our behalf?

Is Business Saver on this route still inclusive of chaffeur pick ups and lounge access and not the new Business fare without these things Emirates has mooted?

I can only help with a definitive answer on the last one: CD and lounge access are unchanged on J Saver(O bucket) fares (i.e. you still get them). It's only on 'Special' fares (H fare bucket) that they are excluded.

As far as the 'early booking' is concerned, your best bet is to call EK and ask them if this is still possible. I somehow doubt that an agent would go to that sort of trouble (assuming it would be possible at all) without at least charging you a 'service fee'. But I would be interested in the outcome as I have a similar possible scenario coming up.
So please get back to us when you have an answer!

Thanks for the answer. I was sure that was the case with the Saver fare but just wanted someone else to confirm it.

The agent as far as I'm aware doesn't charge a fee - they make their money from airline commission on the tickets and the hope that you will buy ancillary services from them (travel insurance, excursions, visas, publications etc and that you will give them repeat trade).

Yes, I also thought phoning and asking Emirates was the only option but again wondered if anyone knew another way I wasn't aware of (e.g. circumventing or extending the 328 days availability when booking online).

I've done what you say regarding booking beyond the published date a few times when my time off was more restricted and wanted to grab Xmas fares at the best price, but the last time was a few years ago. If you're leaving in the first 10 days or so of December it's not so critical as the price hikes don't normally start until after that. Ask them to note on the booking that one free change is being made available and they should see it on the follow up call.

When you change, you need the same fare bucket to be available but as there's only one for Business Saver that's easy to check for your intended return date by doing a dummy booking.

I wouldn't use a travel agent for this unless it was done face to face with something in writing - too much to go wrong.

Interesting question.

Is it no change fee, or also no fare difference?

Only no change fee. Any change in fare bucket would incur a charge for the difference. I don't know what would happen if the same fare bucket was available but at a higher price.

what you must be very careful of if you use agents is knowing exactly what the fare is they are selling as many are unaware of the fact that the lowest fare in business does not include chauffeur and lounge and will tell you that the fare they are offering does

Thanks for all replies and comments noted. I will phone in the next week or two and see if I can make a booking with a free change of return date once that becomes available and get them to put 'one free change' on the booking. I don't think the return fare will go up; going out early December won't change, it will be returning early March rather than early January. In my experience fares aren't usually higher in March than early in the New Year (festive period over, Australian Open tennis and cricket finished etc).

A quick update on this as I've just made a booking. I phoned the Emirates UK number, got put through to a centre in Manchester, explained everything to the operator who said he had return dates up to 24th January 2021 (a few weeks beyond what is available online), yes, I could make the booking and he would put a note on the booking 'one free change' so when I phone back in 40 days and the return is available I can select our flights. You can't do this online - has to be done via phone. I paid for the tickets, got confirmation of the booking and could start to manage the outwards sectors like booking seats and chaffeur drive (no point in doing this for 24th Jan returns as this will be changed). So, all good, you can book flights beyond current availability but must do it over the phone and it requires 2 phone calls - initial booking and then the free change once flights become available.

hopefully the �free change� has been added to your notes!