FlyerTalk Forums - Temporary Partial Airspace Closure

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they close half of the B terminal because of the airpot attack on day 1 include J lounge, elevator after security check area. current they move J pax to lounge in C and will have boarding call for pax walk back to B gate for boarding

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyho61 (Post 37645002)

It now shows no flights until Mar 29th.

This flight has already been cancelled. I asked Emirates this morning about the Los Angeles fight’s opening date and they were unable to provide an answer. I’ve checked until the 15th of April and the flight is still not showing. The only options are flights to San Francisco with a domestic flight by United to LAX.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA Humbug (Post 37663684)

I've now completed 2 round trips from DXB since March started, and was able to sample Y (x1) , J (x1), and F(x2) cabins. Some observations / me being nosy with the staff:

Do you happen to know the status of the airside hotel, and also the Sleep Fly facility (I'm guessing the one at B14 is closed?).
The reason I fly EK is because they offer these sleepover options, but I'm wondering if they have now shuttered them?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professional Bum (Post 37663954)

Anything going on in Dubai today?

It's raining, and since the city, for the most part do not have conventional drainage underneath, it is therefore also starting to flood/pool in many parts. I harbour a sneaky suspicion this is Dubai's secret initiative to create an alternative waterway to the Strait of Hormuz.

I am waiting for a swarm of locusts to complete my Biblical Plague Bingo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA Humbug (Post 37663684)

I've now completed 2 round trips from DXB since March started, and was able to sample Y (x1) , J (x1), and F(x2) cabins. Some observations / me being nosy with the staff:

Loads are pretty full in Y in all flights, most people are in transit. On my most recent flight in J (CGK-DXB), there were 3 pax (of ~300) whose destination was DXB, me included.
Many people are moving or outright missing their flights. The manifest showed 40 in J, 25 showed up; 7 in F, 1 showed up, 286 in Y, ~220 showed up, etc.
I haven't done that many F flights, however on both my flights the attendants mentioned more than once I could have a glass of wine from the J cabin as well -- not sure if they were pushing for it as they loaded lighter on the F wines, there was only one bottle loaded of the Poyferre which I drank fully about 3 hours in. The menu is also no longer bound in leather but thick like a magazine.
There seems to be a shortage of F men's pajamas ? Both flights (MXP-DXB, DXB-KUL) only had women's pajamas (without the hoodie pouch) so I had to size up. I was 1 of 4 F pax on MXP-DXB, and 1 of 3 on DXB-KUL.
The DXB F lounge in the B gates has become the only EK lounge (J+F) in the B gates -- the J lounge is closed & guarded (pics below). Within the F lounge, a small subsection consisting of the dine-in area and 3 couches + 6 armchairs (I'm not joking) are reserved for F passengers. If you are in F, you can also seat yourself anywhere in the J section.
The DXB F lounge food to order is closed 2am - 4.30am for cleaning -- again, not sure if this is because it was Ramadan, because it's reduced service, or if it's normal. The buffet remains open during this time. Perhaps someone who is a regular in the F lounge can advise?
DXB public seating areas & PP lounges are bursting. I walked past the C gates PP lounge and heard passengers being told 1.5+ hour long waits. It seems many people are showing up 6+ hours to the airport as they expect difficulties leaving. In the terminal, people are camping out on the floors next to their departure gates, however for unused gates the seats are empty.
As an update on the train to the C gates, this is not the case -- the sign in the J check-in area pointing to the trains actually just points you to the long walking route that merges with the Y passengers going to the C gates.
Although I upgraded to F from J Flex, I was given F Chauffer Drives (the BMW 7 series) on both pick-up and drop off from/to DXB. Both drivers mentioned that they were busy doing drop-offs, and that pick-ups were very rare.
Gates B10 - B20 (ish) are hoarded up on the even-numbered side of the terminal.
Fix Chocolate (originators of "Dubai Chocolate") finally have less of a line, if that's important to you.
I was told that if a missile alert happens, all passengers are ushered to the ground floor away from the glass, however during the times i was there, I never received an alert, so I cannot vouch for its accuracy.

N.B. will add photos later today -- left the phone with pictures at home !

Thank you very much, it is useful to have actual information from someone who is 'on the gound' so to speak.
We are transiting DXB early on 1 April, CPT to LHR. Were originally on the early CPT flight and connecting to an LGW flight, but up to about a week ago neither of those was operating and I was concerned that once 28 March arrived there would be a flurry of rebookings if one (or both) of those were not reinstated. So I changed to the later CPT flight (which was the first one to resume after the initial problems) and to an LHR flight (as there were already 6 flights operating at that time vs. 2 to LGW). Got through on direct chat easily and changes were made without problems. Built in 4 hour connection in DXB, just in case CPT is late arriving. Glad I did that, as the CPT flight looks very full at the moment, I am on a Flex fare and only J bucket available on Expert Flyer.
That's all I can do, fingers crossed.
Only 'issue' is that I am in J and my fellow pax in Y and I am only Silver (until after this flight anyway), so no lounge access. Worse things have happened and are happening. Are duty free shops in B concourse open, or only in A? My wife needs a new iPhone which we are planning to get in DXB so that should at least take away some of the time we are there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by john11111111111 (Post 37663997)

Correct, the Sleep n Fly in B gates are not available. However, the ones at the C gates are available.

A and C concourse DIH are open, however I do recommend making a reservation ahead of time as I saw a backpacking couple exiting the lift as it was at full capacity -- they were not accepting walk-ins.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA Humbug (Post 37663684)

N.B. will add photos later today -- left the phone with pictures at home !

Photos, as promised:

B gates J lounge closed (expand spoiler tag to see photos):

Spoiler

F Lounge menu (expand spoiler to view):

Spoiler

Quote:

Originally Posted by thijsseh (Post 37664032)

Only 'issue' is that I am in J and my fellow pax in Y and I am only Silver (until after this flight anyway), so no lounge access. Worse things have happened and are happening. Are duty free shops in B concourse open, or only in A? My wife needs a new iPhone which we are planning to get in DXB so that should at least take away some of the time we are there.

I believe the Y passenger can pay for lounge access, and you are likely to receive a number of offers for cash upgrades although I haven't found them particularly tempting offers.

Yes, DDF is open, however the electronics section next to the B gates lounges (in the direction of Concourse C) is temporarily closed as are some of the exchange services in the affected area -- you'll need to head to the electronics section further down. Concourse A & C shops are mostly open -- there were some food outlets that were cloesd both times I was there, but I suspect this may be a staffing / cost cutting issue and not an airport issue.

Regarding the iPhone -- I am an Android user so I'm not familiar with what a "new" iPhone entails, however note that the Apple stores in both Mall of the Emirates & Dubai Mall have been closed / operating severely limited hours for the last two weeks due to both logistics / import issues as well as the imminent threats on American presence (and the ubiquity of glass in their store designs) in the region. I would consider pre-ordering or calling ahead to ensure availability: +971 4 505 3555 / https://www.dubaidutyfree.com/howtopreorder

Was due to fly in F a week today from STN to AKL, with an overnight stopover in DXB and leaving for home 18 days later. However, UK Gov't is advising against travelling to the UAE, unless it's essential. A holiday isn't classed as essential and If I went against that advice, my travel insurance would be invalidated. I ain't gonna take the risk. So, I've chosen not to go and have submitted the form for a refund.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cypress (Post 37664615)

Surely insurance companies shouldn't be allowed to totally invalidate all cover, especially if your destination country is safe. I understand them not covering anything Iran related but anything unrelated that happens in your safe destination country should be covered in my opinion. I would understand if the whole trip is in an unsafe country but a short transit should not be enough to invalidate the whole trip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by British Balikbayan (Post 37664666)

HM Government's advice is not to travel to the UAE.
By setting foot in a Gulf state, which is being attacked by drones, shows that I'm going against that advice. It's irrespective that my final destination is a safe country. As far as the insurance company is concerned, travelling to DXB means that I'm demonstrating a total disregard of the advice and they won't provide cover.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BA Humbug (Post 37663684)

I've now completed 2 round trips from DXB since March started, and was able to sample Y (x1) , J (x1), and F(x2) cabins. Some observations / me being nosy with the staff:

...

I haven't done that many F flights, however on both my flights the attendants mentioned more than once I could have a glass of wine from the J cabin as well -- not sure if they were pushing for it as they loaded lighter on the F wines, there was only one bottle loaded of the Poyferre which I drank fully about 3 hours in. The menu is also no longer bound in leather but thick like a magazine.

...

The leather-bound food and drinks menus were replaced over a year ago with the "magazine."

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowjhg (Post 37664526)

Sitting in EK764 in F about to depart.

what’s this ICE lite?

Hmm, I've never seen this -- did you find out what it was like ? I didn't see it on my flights.