Connecting to EK via US Gateways
 

Hi all,

A few questions on connecting to EK via US gateways.

1) I have recently moved to San Diego, and so I need to buy domestic flights to EK gateways to catch the EK flights, but the online booking engine is really bad at being able to do this. I have a choice of LAX, SFO (or even IAH/JFK) as gateways, but when I enter SAN as departing city, it does not show any valid choices (though it works if I book from LAX/SFO/IAH). Is there something I am missing about the online engine, or do I just have to book this on the phone and forgo the bonus online booking miles?

2) Also, when I do "advanced search" it won't let me specify any non gateway city. Has anyone had any luck with this? EK insiders - any chance of this getting fixed soon?

3) I assume that in any case where I buy domestic and international legs separately (to get the online miles bonus), that I am on my own for the domestic baggage fees, but if I book through EK via IAH with CO on the domestic leg, does CO charge the domestic bag fees even though it's connecting to an international flight on a "partner" - though not a formal Skyteam partner?

Thanks!

As long as you book through EK via IAH with CO as connecting, CO will not charge you domestic bag fee and also it is advisable to book them as one ticket so that you are covered in case of any IRROPS on your domestic leg.

One interesting thing is if you look at EK's timetable it shows for SAN two options connecting via IAH with CO as domestic airline and connecting via LAX with AA as domestic airline. I think EK's website has not been updated with the new connection.