Award flight on EK - tight connection

[Mr H]

I have an EK F award flight in 2024 booked through QF:

JED-DXB
DXB-CMB
CMB-MLE

The connection in DXB was 85 minutes. A schedule change has just made this 70 minutes. The MCT at DXB is advertised at 60 minutes but that sounds uncomfortably tight.

My preferred route was DED-DXB-MLE without the change in CMB but there were no award seats. Could the schedule change be leveraged to get a seat opened on the direct DXB-MLE flight? And how should I angle for it - presumably I would have to call the QF call centre (offshore as I have no status) and then follow up with the escalations line when they draw a blank?

Any thoughts/prayers or advice welcome.

 

[drron]

In march we had a 90 minute transit at DXB going SIN-BXB-FRA.
We were 20 minutes late getting in. So we had a 70 minute transit. A long walk from A gates to C gates having to go through transit security but we made it with about 5 minutes to spare. note we are old and slow.

 

[Mr H]

In march we had a 90 minute transit at DXB going SIN-BXB-FRA.
We were 20 minutes late getting in. So we had a 70 minute transit. A long walk from A gates to C gates having to go through transit security but we made it with about 5 minutes to spare. note we are old and slow.

Yes, I know it can be done. That’s what the MCT indicates. But it looks unnecessarily worrisome, especially since this is not my preferred route. Is there any hope of EK releasing a seat on the direct flight?

 

[MrJetset]

Yes, I know it can be done. That’s what the MCT indicates. But it looks unnecessarily worrisome, especially since this is not my preferred route. Is there any hope of EK releasing a seat on the direct flight?

Possibly, go where most premium cabins are flying full. Keep checking.

EK track connections and they’ll know whether you’ll make it and either accept you or reaccommodate you, but if F is full on later flights you may be downgraded or have to wait for a later flight.

 

[downtheback]

If you comply with MCT don't worry.

EK are great at managing connections. Anything tight they will hold flights and even fast track pax to make flights. At worst they'll bump you to the next flight (which might be direct).

 

[jase05]

At worst they'll bump you to the next flight (which might be direct).

Have been on a J paid flight that arrived late into DXB and we were bumped on to the next flight to FRA except they wanted to downgrade us to Y.
After a bit of too and fro we settled for a next day flight and footed the bill for a night in Dubai. Luckily our accommodation in Germany was flexible though

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Have been on a J paid flight that arrived late into DXB and we were bumped on to the next flight to FRA except they wanted to downgrade us to Y.
After a bit of too and fro we settled for a next day flight and footed the bill for a night in Dubai. Luckily our accommodation in Germany was flexible though

This! Friend was delayed departing frankfurt to tokyo and the resulting connection to NRT was bumped to the next day. Despite a connection to HND which would have been entirely possible in the same day. And this was for $$ first class

 

[Mr H]

Have been on a J paid flight that arrived late into DXB and we were bumped on to the next flight to FRA except they wanted to downgrade us to Y.
After a bit of too and fro we settled for a next day flight and footed the bill for a night in Dubai. Luckily our accommodation in Germany was flexible though

This! Friend was delayed departing frankfurt to tokyo and the resulting connection to NRT was bumped to the next day. Despite a connection to HND which would have been entirely possible in the same day. And this was for $$ first class

Thanks. My onward travel plans would be rooted if I missed the connection in DXB. I could not just wait until the next day. I will angle for a change to the direct DXB-MLE flight. Should I be pitching that to QF as the ticketing agent or to EK as the operating airline?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks. My onward travel plans would be rooted if I missed the connection in DXB. I could not just wait until the next day. I will angle for a change to the direct DXB-MLE flight. Should I be pitching that to QF as the ticketing agent or to EK as the operating airline?

EK will refer you back to the issuing airline. The issuing airline will say there is nothing that can be done unless you breach MCT. I doubt QF will be ringing EK to ask for an award seat to be released.

On the day of travel you can ask at EK check in maybe, if it looks like you might be delayed.

 

[downtheback]

EK will refer you back to the issuing airline. The issuing airline will say there is nothing that can be done unless you breach MCT. I doubt QF will be ringing EK to ask for an award seat to be released.

On the day of travel you can ask at EK check in maybe, if it looks like you might be delayed.

This is it.

Your best bet is being proactive once airport/ops has taken control of the booking. Either at the departing airport or at DXB on the connection. Before this, QF is the T/A and has control of the booking, and they won't put you in a revenue seat on another airline just because you want it.