Consolidated DXB connections / Emirates (EK) codeshares / logistics / lounges / ....
 

It's the first of never!

The Air Current (paywall) is reporting that United and Emirates are to form an codeshare agreement.

Discuss.

Emirates has been cozying up with a lot of *A airlines recently, hasn't it? Perhaps EK is feeling the pressure from Qatar being a part of oneworld.

That could be interesting, if true.

I wonder what destinations EK offers that LH and TK don't already cover.

Didn’t UA and EK have something a long time ago?

EK is hugely popular with folks traveling to/from India. Not sure how else it helps UA with network reach though.

As someone who flys in and out of the Gulf region all the time DXB is vastly preferable to me as a connecting point than FRA or LHR -- which are my main options now...

Not sure of the answer to this except they do it with widebody aircraft with far more comfortable cabins vs most of the destinations served by LH Airbus 319/320/321 and TK 737 aircraft.

-RM

Seems like a positive move IMO. Looks all but confirmed based on this tweet that just went out from @UNITED -- seems like September 14 is the announcement day:

I wonder how this would impact EWR-ATH from both carriers.

The Athens and Milan routes were the first thing that came to my mind

this sounds pretty great!

Definitely exciting. Lots of options now for travel to many parts of the world. And can earn miles on EK hopefully if that's how deep the partnership is.

Yes, they offered joint RTW fares. It's how I experienced my first EK flying: HKG to Europe on EK, UA rest of the way. Sooner or later, every FTer should have the experience of flying EK first class.

CO and EK had a close partnership that went away with the merger.

I am fascinated to hear the details. Looks like there is a media event on the 14th:


Emirates flies to all* of United's key airports except Denver so there are more codeshare and interline opportunities for us. A daily DXB-DEN flight might be great to see as well. Maybe on a United 787?

* LaGuardia doesn't handle long international flights anyway.
I assume Guam is of limited interest but perhaps military/contractors flying between the Middle East and Guam could benefit from a codeshare via NRT. And tourists (plus some small number of business travelers) might appreciate a similar codeshare arrangement to get to Honolulu.