Went to the airport with the wife. She flying out of T1, me (much later) out of T3. I'm EK Silver and flying Y so going to use the lounge in T1 anyway.

I print my boarding pass at home. Go to T1 to check in her (big, heavy) bag and wander over to immigration together.

They won't let me through. Apparently I have to go put my finger on the egate machine at T3, for no apparent reason. Can the machine read my boarding pass? No. Can it do anything the machine in T1 can't? No. Why do I have to do this? "It's the rule." "I'm just doing my job." "That's how it is."

So I have to get the bus T1 - T3, go through the egate machine at T3, get airside, and walk aaaaaaall the way back to the other end of T1, to spend 10 minutes with mrs typical before her flight boards. And then sit myself down in the lounge in T1.

What an utter pain

Ok, but why didn't you use your passport at T1 instead (or did I get sth wrong?)?

I think the OP is saying it was the barding card checker guy before you get to the immigration or e-gate.

It really does not make any sense why it has to be done like that-- was this the downstairs main enterance of the fast track upstairs where there the food court is-- there is another entrance there?

Yes, that's right.

I know there was pre-T3, but I haven't looked if it's still there.

Well, I filled in a complaints form. Still at how ridiculous it is.

Hmm... always wondered if it was possible to enter via T1. Now I know. Stupid rules or Ignorant rule enforcer.

That's ridiculous. They might as well get a new IATA code for T1 (or T3) to distinguish their migration desks' from each other.

I suggest you write to Emirates and explain this lunacy.

Definitely stupid rules. I asked three different people. One guy even showed be the letter telling them not to let Emirates flyers through T1.

(It was in Arabic so I've no idea if that's really what it was.)

while i agree that it's absurd what you had to go through, i can't think of many instances where others would find themselves in the same situation. if i'm flying emirates, i'll be checking in at T3 and staying in T3. i would have no reason to get into airside at T1 while booked at a T3 flight.

i hope the airport re-looks at this, but in all honesty, they probably won't.

Remember that EK Silvers flying in Y - like me, all too often - have to go to T1 to the lounge. We're not allowed in the lounge in T3...

It's also easy to check in online and print the bp, and with no checked luggage the only reason to go to T3 is the gate.

Been on multiple EK flights that departed from T1

No matter what class am flying on EK, if there is time to hang out in the lounge, I prefer the old T1 lounge... its peaceful.

rarely travel with checked bags, so T1 should be offered as an option

but the T1 lounge doesn't have a hot dog roller and popcorn machine!

Serious? They have hot dogs in the T3 lounge? Where?

Dear Emirates

Please install cotton candy machine in T3 lounge.

kthxbye

LOL

it's way in the back, all the way back by the areas where TVs are. i'm probably giving away this secret by posting here, but it's usually not crowded back there. it's a bit of a hike though, perhaps why it's not as crowded as the front. it's funny, they have a hot dog roller, popcorn machine and even a small fridge stocked with hagen daz. i find the chairs back there more conducive for naps.

cats out of the bag!

Dearbee, thanks for that.
I'll be there Friday week and a hot dog will go down real well! To say nothing of the Hagen Daz.

Dave

Good to know ^

-----csp