Miffed!
 

After 16 months of forced separation Mrs AF books just last week with Emirates in J to get home and be with me, Mr AF, here in The Philippines. On the basis of the flights being sold on Emirates’ website. In Business.

Less than one week later, Emirates send us an email saying that due to operational changes she is forced to have a 21h30 layover in Dubai.

Apart from being sold flights to the Philippines that we find subsequently have not been operational since January 2021 there is no possibility of hotels. So what does she do, camp out somewhere? For over 21h?

Now, I fully appreciate the situation of the airlines. But hey, selling a product online that is not approved deliverable or otherwise is not acceptable. And more, if we had known this underhand tactic in advance we would never have booked the ticket. Never. Not in a million years.

Now, what? Paid almost 3k for flights. Stuck with flights we don't want would never have booked don’t fit our needs. Emirates reply will be interesting.

Allez

Has she not been offered Dubai Connect?

Thank u Will. Nope, she has been offered nothing. Frustrating right?

not permitted I believe, to leave the terminal. UAE is on Philippines’ red list.......

Not sure if the hotel in the terminal is open, you could plead with them to give you that. Call the call centre and explain the situation. No harm in trying. If that is closed, well at least in J she has got the lounge.

Just cancel for a full refund. Easy.

Where is your wife connecting from? Possibility of moving the first flight?

She flies into DXB from Düsseldorf. Only 1 flight per day. She misses this new DXB MNL connection by 2h30 hence the 21h30 layover. The connecting DXB-MNL flight we had booked had around 5-6h layover if I remember correctly but it appears that flight hasn’t been operational since the end of Jan 2020. Quite why people have been allowed to book it, only Emirates can answer that. But it leaves a somewhat sour taste knowing that if we knew the layover was going to be that long we would never have booked it. Not in a million years.

In response to other posts made, valued feedback from all, however:
- the ticket is changeable for a fee but not refundable.
- the original ticket with shorter layover was 300€ more than the cost of the 21h layover flight MrsAF has been bumped to. I find that somewhat underhand if not just a tad unscrupulous with Emirates knowing full well that at the time of booking the flight wasn’t operational. With the ticket terms being changeable for a fee then dumping this change on the pax it’s kind of like taking your money under false pretences

And yes at least she does have the lounge but it’s questionable that she will accept to stay 21h30 in transit. I wouldn’t do it and I see no reason why she should either.

Very disappointed.

if we could, I would, and put the refund towards alternative (albeit much more expensive now) options.

However the ticket is not refundable. Only changeable for a fee and you can be sure Emirates won’t change it at their cost (but will be worth a try). So we are stuck with it.

Confessing I don’t know much about Germany or Emirates operations- are they willing to switch you to another origin? Frankfurt?

Indeed. What are options from FRA or MUC?

It doesn't matter that the flight is non-refundable, if there is a considerable change in the departure or arrival time, you are entitled to a full refund.

Have you actually asked EK for a refund?

this is very helpful thank you and no we haven’t. But based on your advice, I will.

And I’ll let the forum know how we get on.

Merci

Beware that a full refund may take up to 3 to 4 weeks to process

My understanding is that all EK tickets are currently fully refundable under the Covid-19 policy.https://www.emirates.com/se/english/...icket-options/

There are many EK flights that are scheduled and they hope will fly but end up being cancelled due to Covid, its not a EK thing, its world wide all airlines have the same issue.

So just that I have it right, your wife is departing from the EU to DXB then on to you in the Phillapines. A flight has cancelled and thus she now has a longer wait time due to the replacement flight.

Firstly she is covered under EU261 in that the original flight has been cancelled so can request a fee free refund. Also she probably has cover under the Covid cover for a fee free refund.

Secondly she is coming from Germany, which is Amber for DXB, so she can enter DXB if she wants, its just the connecting flight and ensuring her covid test does not expire if required. If she was coming from the Philapines then yes, she cannot enter DXB but thats not the case as far as I understand

P.s fair differance means little since, they change everday. You could see the cost of the same ticket now and if its less, rebook!

All EK tickets are refundable or changeable without any fees at the moment, at least from Germany. Ignore what it says in the fare terms, they haven’t been updated but you can easily read the current policy on the website or call them to confirm. I would suggest looking at flying from Frankfurt anyway, it‘s just 1:20 from Düsseldorf on the ICE, which is already included in her J ticket. I live in Düsseldorf but usually fly out of Frankfurt anyway because they have more departures and it’s usually cheaper. You can easily check your options and see that there is no exchange fees under „Manage booking“ anyway.

yeah COVID policy means fully refundable, but also is your arrival now more than 4 hours later than what you booked? Is the flight in less than 14 days? EC261 still applies even during COVID I believe, even without the covid waiver you'd be entitled to a full refund due to the involuntary change, alternatively you might be entitled to compensation under EC261 but I don't recall the terms exactly

Thank you for all the valued replies and advices.

After a follow up with Emirates, Mrs AF has been offered a complimentary hotel. Unless she is staying in the airport itself, I do not know quite how that will work as people entering Philippines are only allowed to transit the UAE and not enter. But I have to have faith that Emirates know this as well.....

Does anyone have experience of this?

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...b3587baad.jpeg

Yes, pre-Covid this was all very simple. At checkin you get a set of vouchers, covering chauffeur drive to the hotel (Merridian for J and F passengers), the hotel itself and meals. There is a thread somewhere here with all the information.
How it works now, with all the testing and travel restrictions I have no idea. The hotel inside the terminal would certainly be the better solution, but I don’t know if it is even open. Pre-Covid it was not used for this programme.

I think I do recall it being offered rarely where no alternative was possible

I believe the airport hotel in concourse B is open. I am not sure as to whether Philippines entry rules allow to leave Dubai airport and enter UAE. If not, then the airport hotel is certainly a safe option and even if the OP has to pay rates are somehow reasonable (within the scope of a J class ticket).

Thank you. Passengers travelling and wishing to enter the Philippines aren’t permitted under Philippines immigration restrictions to enter the UAE.

i also found the thread on Emirates Connect as suggested in one reply. Again, very helpful.

So having read that, I am hoping that Emirates also know about this entry restriction and don’t introduce a curve ball by reserving her a room at Le Meridien. But we are in a Global pandemic and with the myriad of changes being imposed by Govts on almost an hourly basis (especially the Philippine Govt) it wouldn’t surprise me. So Plan B may well have to be the hotel in terminal and we may well have to pay for that ourselves if push comes to shove, then take it up later.

incidentally, I was initially intending to request a refund whilst booking with another carrier. And thank you to everyone for advices on that. But tickets to Philippines from Germany in J have now reached unaffordable (in our view) levels - as in 5-6k€ return unaffordable :mad:. So we are pretty much stuck with what we have.

Again, thank u to everyone for all the replies.

P.S. And if I were running an airline that flies into the Philippines I’d have abandoned the route long ago. The immigration protocols including who is and who is no longer allowed entry change hourly, flights are diverted at the Govt’s instruction also hourly and it must be costing the airlines a fortune in unforeseen and unforeseeable cost. So I’d suggest that a 6k€ return ticket in J is probably a bargain.............:rolleyes:

Does your wife have status with anyone? I would really weigh up the comfort of flying J vs flying a more efficient route in economy, especially when her second flight will be on a 777 (not sure about the first flight). 777 business class is really not that comfortable on EK and certainly not worth waiting that kind of connection time. Flight loads are pretty low at the moment and your wife could get a flight and have a row to herself.

On my flight a few days ago there were less than 100 people on an a380, there was about 7 of us in J. On my connecting flight on a 777 there was less than 50 people and about 5 in J. This meant everyone in economy had more than enough room to spread out and on the 777 were probably just as comfortable as me in the crappy J seat.

The perks of flying J EK with a long connection time is Dubai connect and getting to stay in Le Meridien as opposed to the rubbish hotel Y passengers get, however, you have stated in your wifes circumstances she would not be able to use it. It really does not make sense to fly EK J in this situation.

Thank u so much.

Mrs AF is a current Singapore Airlines Star Alliance Gold. Since I fly at best infrequently these days, we looked at this closely. We concentrated our business with a carrier based on our needs, the departure and arrival airport, flight times, safety and service. Plus benefits that when we travel together, I can use. Which is why we selected Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance.

However, the Singers/Star Alliance cost being €5k+ right now, we simply cannot justify the additional cost vs the benefit. And although I was for some time an Emirates Gold, I am no longer familiar with the latest developments at Emirates after some years as a “Armchair Flyer” :) .

For sure if we go for Singapore Airlines she may well get an upgrade. And for sure, these miles will count for her requalification. And a shorter journey time.all positives. But for 2-2.5k€ more?

As a private traveller these days it’s our own money so just like the in Corporate world I used to live in we want to get the best bang for the buck as they say. But Singers are 1.5€k Y and 5-6k€ J. Eye watering stuff. For the same start and end point, Emirates J is more but not that much more than Singers’ Y cost right now.

Personally, I said to Mrs AF to book with Singers then cancel with Emirates this time and be done with it. But she is also Mrs Spendthrift. Need I say more? :D

Thank u again Will.

Not sure I understand but how would she upgrade on SQ?

Thank u so much.

Mrs AF is a current Singapore Airlines Star Alliance Gold. Since I fly at best infrequently these days, we looked at this closely. We concentrated our business with a carrier based on our needs, the departure and arrival airport, flight times, safety and service. Plus benefits that when we travel together, I can use. Which is why we selected Singapore Airlines and Star Alliance.

However, the Singers/Star Alliance cost being €5k+ right now, we simply cannot justify the additional cost vs the benefit. And although I was for some time an Emirates Gold, I am no longer familiar with the latest developments at Emirates after some years as a “Armchair Flyer” :) .

For sure if we go for Singapore Airlines she may well get a row in Y to herself or even an upgrade to J. And for sure, these miles will count for her requalification. And a shorter journey time.all positives. But for 2-2.5k€ more?

As a private traveller these days it’s our own money so just like the in Corporate world I used to live in we want to get the best bank for the buck as they say. But Singers are 1.5€k Y and 5-6k€ J. Eye watering stuff. For the same start and end point, Emirates J is more but not that much more than Singers’ Y cost right now.

Personally, I said to Mrs AF to book with Singers then cancel with Emirates this time and be done with it. But she is also Mrs Spendthrift. Need I say more? :D

Thank u again Will.

If I have read that correctly that is a crazy price to fly Y. I would explore other options for positioning flights then. See if there are any countries within europe she could fly to that offers either a cheaper direct flight or a better connection time with another airline. Or alternatively, find a better connection time from EK within europe and then get EK to change her departure to that airport?

What is the date she intends to travel?

I'm pretty sure the OP is fine with their J class flight on EK. From what they've posted, it sounds like it's about £1800??

I didn't ask for the price? If I was flying back to back 777s EK J seats with an epic layover, I would exhaust every other option possible first.

Well, I think it's already been established that you are not completely normal when it comes to flying. You'd prefer to fly EK Y than EK J on a B777 - fair enough, that's your prerogative.

You now seem to be encouraging the OP to try and find a cheaper Y flight by going via another country (without the benefit of connection protection etc.), rather than use their currently booked J class with Dubai Connect. I'd suggest that 99% of people would think you were completely bonkers for suggesting this.

Dubai connect is unknown in the circumstances.

There are plenty of flights possibly even within Germany that provide a better connection.

There are plenty of people who think the 777 J product is terrible, but I guess if all you do is fly MAN-DXB once a year on an a380, one wouldn't know.

I've done plenty of flights in J on the B777 thank you very much. Not the best, but perfectly reasonable. You can stick to Y and keep on pretending you enjoy it :D

Having flown CPT-DXB-FLL in J on EK 77Ws and for a healthy average sized human it is a rather pleasant experience, I had a marvelous time and one must be pretty isolated in one's bubble of luxury if one thinks this is such a terror.
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Being objective, not really an “unknown”… the worst thing that can happen is that the OP’s wife will have to shell out around $250 for a room at the airport hotel. From the sound of it, this doesn’t seem like a trip where travel time (length of trip) is of outmost importance. Under such circumstances, I would pick EK J with a long layover (with a good sleep in a comfortable room) any day, rather than a 11hr sector in Y plus connection.


Worse than Y? It’s a genuine question, as in my view it seems the “row to myself = comfortable flat bed in Y” concept is being a little too overhyped these days. It puzzles me. It is not that comfortable, no matter how much blanket and pillow padding one adds (it reminds me of my New Zealand-to-UK monthly commute many moons ago, when I certainly couldn’t have asked my employer for business class…).

The flying economy option came about due to the Op saying all other J tickets were now too expensive. I have done DXB-MNL on a 777 in J and yes without doubt if I had the option to avoid a 21 hour layover I would fly economy. I would rather get to where I need to be instead of waiting 21 hours just to fly on a 777 business class seat.

a couple of quid under 2,500 GBP actually.:rolleyes:

So, after all the to-ing and fro-ing. And remembering she is travelling J.

We chatted with Emirates before she flew to clarify this point. And in the chat we mentioned that if she is provided with a hotel through Dubai Connect, as a traveller to the Philippines, she cannot leave the terminal. We’ve screenshots of that chat.

We will take care of it” they said. “Don’t worry”, they said.

She gets to DXB and they want to take her to Le Meridien, off terminal. She cannot have a room at the International Airport Hotel. (It’s actually full now, so we can’t even get one ourselves).

So, as a J passenger who can’t leave the terminal, something that Emirates know full well, she is as I write sitting in one of the Biz lounges, for 22h. And to remind all you avid readers, she didn’t book 22 h of layover, she booked 4h.

Is there any wonder why We are just a bit miffed?

At the very least, she should be asking to be placed in the F lounge where she could go and get some sleep, have more privacy and have a shower with better amenities and a better meal. This is a ridiculous outcome.

This was also correct. Emirates said they had it covered, but in fact, they didn’t and they haven’t.

Should I be surprised?