SJUflyer

Greetings --

I was hoping someone could answer a few questions I had on connecting in Dubai, please.

I'm going to be arriving from MEL at 7AM, and departing 19 hours later at (2AM the next day). Business Class/First Class seats.

Is there a lounge I can use upon arrival to freshen up?

Also, I was planning on returning to the airport around 9PM to clear security.. Is that going to be too early to be admitted? (I'm assuming I'll have my connecting boarding pass already, either printed out from MEL, or electronically checking in -- anything wrong with these assumptions?)

Many thanks in advance for your help and advice!

edy4eva

No arrival lounge. But you can stay airside, clear transit security then proceed to the lounge as per the DXB-LHR flight. You'll then have to back track to go to the arrival level (depending on the concourse you end up in, will need to take the train).

Around 9:30pm-10pm the QF check in opens for QF10 (DXB-MEL) which you may use to obtain your DXB-LHR QF1 boarding pass. Prior to that I am not sure you'll be able to get a boarding pass AFAIK (transfer desk airside may only have access at T-6). I don't know about an online boarding pass as in my experience, never got managed to get one issued.

Himeno

What are you planning to do during the connection? Enter Dubai? Will you have bags?

SJUflyer

Thank you for the info.

Was planning on heading into Dubai for the day, with my bags at the airport's left luggage.

Himeno

Even if you got both boarding passes at MEL check in, they are unlikely to through check the bags with the 19 hour stop in DXB. So you'll be stuck with when QF opens check in for baggage drop (3 hours before a QF departure).

If you have the DXB-LHR passes, you can in theory use the lounge after clearing transit security. However, you'd need an escort from the lounge to get you back to arrivals. I've done this before, but that was a case of IROPS where BA refused to check me through to QF (BA107>QF1 shortly after the QF/EK link up) and none of the transfer counters (including the one with QF signage) refused to check me into the QF flight. When I got to the lounge, they tried to sort it out, but we missed the cut off and I was delayed in DXB for 24 hours. I would have been happy to spend the day in the lounge, but QF got me a hotel room and a member of the lounge staff escorted me back to the T3 arrivals.

serfty

I'm doing this in November and if I had been on a Qantas (001-) ticket (or EK) then I would have had "Dubai Connect" and accommodation.

Since I am on an AA Award, with an 001- ticket I don't have that option and need to do my own thing. Now while I have been known to appreciate airline lounges far more than others may, 19 hours is way to much.

My plan is to catch the train the one or two of the big malls, spending much of the day before heading back late afternoon. I will not have checked luggage.

edy4eva

Bags will be checked through, no doubt.

Jase76

Agreed, done this before, checked trough fine. Stayed airside in the airport hotel for a sleep and then caught my next flight. Had no desire to go in to Dubai and was happy to sleep in a bed.