Hi everyone. I am transiting through Dubai next week from Entebbe to Perth and have three hours between flights and was wondering how long the transit might take? I was considering paying for lounge access (terminal 3), anyone used this? Will i have enough time to make it worth while?

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Willie
co-moderator Community Buzz

I'm not sure I understand the full question, but basically 3 hours is plenty of time (a) to enjoy DXB and (b) justify lounge access. Of course, Dubai duty-free is an institution in its own right and you could probably easily spend your entire transit time browsing.

Have a safe trip and welcome to FT.

It won't take long for transit. Basically, when you arrive you will be routed (perhaps via a long walk) to the transit security (I am assuming that you will have your onward boarding pass already), which is usually quick, then back into terminal 3.

I am not sure which lounge is pay-in access, but I probably wouldn't bother, either. There is a lot to see in DXB (if you're bored you could walk all the way to the end of Terminal 1 and back), and plenty of good food and drink options if that's what you're looking for.

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Thanks...
Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

I would say it isnt worth paying into a lounge at DXB for just 3 hours, just park yourself in a coffee shop, they have PAUL patisserie in the duty Free, nice place to sit for an hour or so.

You can pay your way into the Marhaba lounge, but their rates are fairly high and the lounge is not particularly nice, so not worth it IMHO. 3 hours are best spent walking about the terminal, browsing duty-free, and parking yourself in a coffee shop for the remaining time (if any).

Yep, agreed - not worthwhile spending 3 hours on a lounge at Dubai. You'll find that by the time you get into the terminal... it takes time for security clearance... and, depending on what time you arrive at Dubai:

- plane circles above dubai for 20 mins due to traffic
- if your plane gets a stand at the actual terminal, consider yourself lucky. If they have to park it remotely, be prepared for a 20-25 min ride in the bus to the terminal
- once you get into the terminal, be prepared to queue for some time for security.

You can easily spend the time at duty free in t1 and then walk over to t3 where you'll find that time has flew by!

Of course all of these scenarios could happen, but they are unlikely. In approximately 100 landings at DXB, I can't remember ever circling above for 20 minutes. I have been bused from the aircraft probably 5%-10% of the time -- so it is inaccurate to say that one would be "lucky" to arrive via jetway. And security could be long, but I have almost always had good results, even in T3 peak times. YMMV.

Can you provide details of your connection? Do you have the transfer terminals? Will your baggage be checked through? Do you need to pickup another boarding pass?

There is one instance where I was transferring from a low cost carrier (Fly Dubai) to another more major carrier (JET) and it was pretty crappy. I used the "transfer" service to transfer my bag over and took a shuttle bus (read: un-airconed cramped van) to go from one terminal to the other. The bag transfer involved me visiting multiple desks and waiting for tons of documentation as they have a 3rd party service that does this.

When I get in the other terminal from doing this transit, I had to pass through security to get into the new terminal, pass through security AGAIN to get to the transfer desk, and then pass through security a THIRD time to get back into the main terminal area.

In the end, it would have been easier for me as a US passport holder to just clear immigration, grab my bag, and take a taxi/shuttle over to the other terminal, and go ahead and check-in/clear immigration.

After that I finished up with all this I went for a Kilkenny at the irish pub in the airport, which was very much needed after that transfer as well as the fact that I was coming from Saudi.