I see that currently the advice on Emirates site isWhen it says "another flight" does it mean another Emirates flight? Or have they started offering flights on other airlines? Previously I think it just said you could make date changes. My booking is EK flight numbers but booked with QF. They are still wanting to charge fare difference to change to another airline. I understand that normally it is a voluntary change until such time as they cancel the flight (if they do).

According to a different forum they are also rebooking an this airlines (but not on all fair classes)

LH/LX/OS/SN/AF/KL/AI/AY/AZ/CX/DE/ET/FZ/JL/KE/LO/MK/NH/OZ/QF/UL/VN/W

3U/A3/AC/AR/AS/AT/BG/BI/BR/BT/CI/CZ/EI/FI/FJ/GA/GF/HA/HM/HX/IB/JQ/KC/KM/KU/KQ/LA/LG/ME/MH/NZ/OU/PG/PK/QS/RO/SA/SK/TK/TN/TP/UA/UX/VS

I am amused by your reaction.

It doesn't change the fact that I'm genuinely curious about EK's decision-making during crisis. So I won't apologize for asking data point from someone who had already taken the flight in recent days.

It was A6-EQL, so yes to game changer.

To answer my own question. At midday today (Sun 8th Mar). The B lounges, both First and Business were closed.

I went to the First lounge at C gates and it was so packed I couldn't even get a seat. (they have the row of tables/seats beside the window blocked off for safety which reduces the capacity significantly)
So as I had plenty of time I went to the First lounge at A gates which was open on both sides and very quiet. Full menu and full service.

Im onboard now, and service is as normal. Crew are doing a great job.

I believe the damage from the debris at gate B12 significantly compromised the entire area (from last Saturday) which I believe is where the Moet Chandon bar is, a NOTAM went out mid-week notifying that there would be a crane at the airport reaching a height of 210m being at the airport:

Embassy rescue flights
 

I find it somewhat amusing that you find now on social media Western embassies one after another congratulating themselves on organizing rescue flights for their citizens.

At the same time, we find Emirates operating an ever fuller schedule of flights.

I've noticed that, since there's been a bit of an improvement with arrivals and departures, EK448 to AKL has departed DXB just once. As there's just one flight a day what's the reason for the others being cancelled?
Also what arrangements are being made afterwards for those passengers?

Yes there was definitely some pre existing construction work going on around that area you mention B12, which was heavily masked off with bill boards at the departures level. It may explain the decision to close off the B lounges entirely. The airport was busier than I expected. I would say about 50-60% of the usual PAX flow for that mid day departure block.

The best First Class lounge is the A lounge - in my opinion…

Good to be talking about lounges again :-)

I don’t have any inside knowledge but they appear to be directing NZ traffic DXB to SYD to CHC - if you try and buy a DXB to NZ flight in short term that is what is being offered. I imagine it’s a combination of demand vs repatriations. I note 448 is schedules to fly Monday - time will tell.

Thank you for that information. Does that mean CHC is replacing AKL? If so, what arrangements are being made to get passengers to AKL?
Last May I made the booking in F, for a return trip from London STN to AKL and am due to fly out in three weeks' time.
I have a choice of either getting a refund or re-routing. However, if I go for the latter I believe that I'll have to pay the difference in F with another airline. From what I've seen, it'll add more to the cost.
What concerns me is that I'll be flown from London to DXB only to find that the flight to AKL has been cancelled.

Looking for some advice...

I booked a ticket GDN-WAW-DXB-TNR-DXB-WAW-GDN with EK. There are feeder flights with LO to WAW, and onwards with EK (including one night stopover at DXB due to a 10 hour layover).

1) is it safe to be flying via DXB? It doesn't take much to regret it...
2) should I proactively book some alternative flights via TK or LH?
3) My ticket requires a 300 euro penalty to cancel... Should I plead with EK to refund for free?

I think that western embassies are both arranging rescue flights (e.g. AF) and getting block of seats on EK. AT least that the info from French embassy.

It may help greatly if you include the date you booked the tickets and the date of at least the WAW-DXB segment.