EK415 timing change [15 hours earlier]

[frodo]

Hi all,

I had booked a trip to Europe in late March with qantas points, flying SYD-DXB-ZRH outbound on Emirates. The return leg was booked separately and is not affected by the change below.

At the time of the booking, EK415 was scheduled to depart Sydney at 9.45pm, arriving at DXB at 5.15am. I would then have a 3 hr layover in DXB before EK87 departs at 8.40am.

I received a notification that EK415 was now scheduled for 6.00am the same day (i.e 15-16 hours earlier than what I had previously booked). No issues, except that my connecting flight was not changed and so there's now a 19 hr layover at DXB.

I do not want to cancel the booking as I still want to go ahead with the trip (depending on the circumstances in the next couple of months). Would I have any luck ringing up qantas and getting them to either change the DXB-ZRH flight from EK87 to EK85, or changing the SYD-DXB leg from EK415 to EK413, given there's no availability with points on the date I booked?

Thanks

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

I had the exact same issue. Phoned my travel agent and she said emirates sorted it immediately. My flight was changed to the original time. That flight still exists, the 6:00 am one was added.

Nobody knows why emirates made this mistake. My assumption is that they want to fill this horrendously awful 6:am flight slot.

 

[astrosly]

It is not a mistake. There originally were two daily departures from SYD, the 6am EK415 and the evening service which was EK413. It appears they are reinstating EK413 and moved EK415 to its original departure time.

Note that if you have a long layover Emirates may be up to providing a hotel, meals and transfers through Dubai Connect. You should be entitled to that since it was EK's schedule change that caused the long layover so it would be in their interest to move you to EK413, or to an earlier flight to ZRH if available, to avoid it.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

It is not a mistake. There originally were two daily departures from SYD, the 6am EK415 and the evening service which was EK413. It appears they are reinstating EK413 and moved EK415 to its original departure time.

Note that if you have a long layover Emirates may be up to providing a hotel, meals and transfers through Dubai Connect. You should be entitled to that since it was EK's schedule change that caused the long layover so it would be in their interest to move you to EK413, or to an earlier flight to ZRH if available, to avoid it.

Dubai connect does not apply if there's a possibility of a shorter layover in Dubai.

Emirates admitted that it was a mistake. The selected flight should have been at the same time, not the the same flight no. Mine was because they reintroduced the A380 for both flights.

 

[frodo]

Thanks, I'll give qantas a ring and see if they can sort it out.

I'll try to avoid using Dubai Connect even if this option is available as this would mean having to enter the UAE which may cause issues when entering Europe (different testing requirements etc). But it's good to know that for whatever reason they can't change my flight that there is this option.

 

[frodo]

I had the exact same issue. Phoned my travel agent and she said emirates sorted it immediately. My flight was changed to the original time. That flight still exists, the 6:00 am one was added.

It sounds like your flight was booked directly with emirates (through the travel agent)?

I'm trying to ring up qantas now but looking at other threads in the qantas forum, I don't have much hope that this will be resolved for me as I'm booked through qantas points and there's no availability showing on any alternative flights.

 

[Matt_01]

I'm trying to ring up qantas now but looking at other threads in the qantas forum, I don't have much hope that this will be resolved for me as I'm booked through qantas points and there's no availability showing on any alternative flights.

I am in a similar position, my flight is a points booking, EK409 leaving at around 21:15, EK have moved this flight to depart at 5:15 and introduced EK407 which is an evening flight. After coming across this thread I have been in contact with QF who are going to get in contact with EK to see if I can be moved to EK407.

 

[Matt_01]

As a very quick update, it has only been a couple of hours since I called QF and have since noticed I have 2 flights on the same day the original being EK409 and now EK407. Although EK407 is not ticketed hopefully this is a good sign that EK may allow the change and if they do it will see a 20 hour layover reduce to a more manageable 3-4 hours.

 

[AussieDisneyFan]

I'm also in the same boat with a first class rewards booking on EK 415. Qantas have told me there is nothing they can do and I am stuck with that flight as there is no rewards seats on any other. I also have the additional fun of a domestic leg from CBR. Naturally they didn't change that automatically.

Now I have an overnight in Sydney (at my expense), inability to check through from my domestic checkin and a 19h layover in DXB without Dubai connect. Although I wouldn't have left DXB airport anyway.

Sydney, I managed to book Rydges for $150, Dubai, I have booked the in airport hotel which is about $250aud.

 

[TheRealTMA]

I'm also in the same boat with a first class rewards booking on EK 415. Qantas have told me there is nothing they can do and I am stuck with that flight as there is no rewards seats on any other. I also have the additional fun of a domestic leg from CBR. Naturally they didn't change that automatically.

Now I have an overnight in Sydney (at my expense), inability to check through from my domestic checkin and a 19h layover in DXB without Dubai connect. Although I wouldn't have left DXB airport anyway.

Sydney, I managed to book Rydges for $150, Dubai, I have booked the in airport hotel which is about $250aud.

FWIW: Dubai airport hotel is better solution than Dubai connect. Yes you have to pay for it but then you can use the EK F lounges for dinner and breakfast and drinks etc and don't have to waste 40 mins each directon to the external hotel and leaving and entering the airport again.

 

[AussieDisneyFan]

That was my thinking. One less country immigration to worry about as well. I'm sort of "excited" to have time to really look around the airport. Just not so excited about the 4am checkin in Sydney.

 

[frodo]

Well, looks like there's a few options for me

1. Spend roughly 19 hours at DXB airport / exploring and resting in the Emirates first lounge
2. Change to an earlier flight for the DXB - ZRH leg, but as there's no availability in F on that flight, it would need to be downgraded to J (which I don't really want to do as that flight is operated by a 777 and the business class product is not very appealing). Also from memory, doing this would cost more points than both legs in F.
3. Pay for the Dubai airport hotel - over $320AUD on the night of 30 March

Leaving the airport is currently not an option as this would further complicate the documentation required for entry to Europe.
I may just leave it as it is for now and keep checking availability closer to departure.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Well, looks like there's a few options for me

1. Spend roughly 19 hours at DXB airport / exploring and resting in the Emirates first lounge
2. Change to an earlier flight for the DXB - ZRH leg, but as there's no availability in F on that flight, it would need to be downgraded to J (which I don't really want to do as that flight is operated by a 777 and the business class product is not very appealing). Also from memory, doing this would cost more points than both legs in F.
3. Pay for the Dubai airport hotel - over $320AUD on the night of 30 March

I may just leave it as it is for now and keep checking availability closer to departure.

3.

 

[Matt_01]

As a further update overnight EK changed my EK409 flight to EK407. I am going out at the original time and now no longer have to overnight accomodation in MEL (starting from ADL), DXB and the zero dark hundred checkin and 20 hour layover in DXB is a thing of the past

@frodo and @AussieDisneyFan my situation was very similar to yours i.e. my evening flight (21:15) was move to 05:15, however I am travelling out of MEL. Depending on what you decide to do, how long you are prepared to be on hold you can call QF and ask them to send a message to EK requesting the change as you would like to fly out as per your original itinerary, if the agent says no or this cannot be done ask them to speak with a supervisor as it is possible and QF have requested changes on my behalf on several occasions. My flights are F rewards and there was no availability in F or any other reward seats on EK407 (evening flight) as the flight was not even showing online and the agent advised she could not see any rewards availability. However after sending the request to EK it was all sorted within 24 hours. IME when QF send messages to EK to recover lost seats normally due to ticketing delays or make other changes e.g. dates it normally works out for the best.

 

[AussieDisneyFan]

As a further update overnight EK changed my EK409 flight to EK407. I am going out at the original time and now no longer have to overnight accomodation in MEL (starting from ADL), DXB and the zero dark hundred checkin and 20 hour layover in DXB is a thing of the past

@frodo and @AussieDisneyFan my situation was very similar to yours i.e. my evening flight (21:15) was move to 05:15, however I am travelling out of MEL. Depending on what you decide to do, how long you are prepared to be on hold you can call QF and ask them to send a message to EK requesting the change as you would like to fly out as per your original itinerary, if the agent says no or this cannot be done ask them to speak with a supervisor as it is possible and QF have requested changes on my behalf on several occasions. My flights are F rewards and there was no availability in F or any other reward seats on EK407 (evening flight) as the flight was not even showing online and the agent advised she could not see any rewards availability. However after sending the request to EK it was all sorted within 24 hours. IME when QF send messages to EK to recover lost seats normally due to ticketing delays or make other changes e.g. dates it normally works out for the best.

Congratulations!

I will have another go tomorrow. If only it was easier to get on and get somebody helpful. I have tried twice with no luck but I will ask for what you reqested and say that it has been done for other flyers. My husband pointed out this new timing is now costing me an extra $500ish because of the extra accommodations etc and I shouldn't just give up.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

As a further update overnight EK changed my EK409 flight to EK407. I am going out at the original time and now no longer have to overnight accomodation in MEL (starting from ADL), DXB and the zero dark hundred checkin and 20 hour layover in DXB is a thing of the past

@frodo and @AussieDisneyFan my situation was very similar to yours i.e. my evening flight (21:15) was move to 05:15, however I am travelling out of MEL. Depending on what you decide to do, how long you are prepared to be on hold you can call QF and ask them to send a message to EK requesting the change as you would like to fly out as per your original itinerary, if the agent says no or this cannot be done ask them to speak with a supervisor as it is possible and QF have requested changes on my behalf on several occasions. My flights are F rewards and there was no availability in F or any other reward seats on EK407 (evening flight) as the flight was not even showing online and the agent advised she could not see any rewards availability. However after sending the request to EK it was all sorted within 24 hours. IME when QF send messages to EK to recover lost seats normally due to ticketing delays or make other changes e.g. dates it normally works out for the best.

Emirates appear to be extremely accommodating on this particular issue. I'm not sure if that's because they stuffed up.

my agent said she'd never had an airline fix a problem so quickly and with so little hassle. You need to ask, though.

 

[Matt_01]

I will have another go tomorrow. If only it was easier to get on and get somebody helpful. I have tried twice with no luck but I will ask for what you reqested and say that it has been done for other flyers.

I do not actually know the process that QF follow but it would appear that they create a flight change and wait for EK to approve. The other thing to mention to the agent is this is an involuntary change and request that QF contact EK on your behalf.

@ZigZagWanderer I do not think EK stuffed up, they changed their schedule and introduced new flight and the changes would have been system generated and most likely easiest for them.

 

[docjames]

We had EK409 booked 2115 departure and was moved to 0600 and EK407 now the 2115. Connecting to DXB-FRA.

It was a bit of a pain as QF award booking but eventually resolved by moving us back to EK407 2115 departure.

QF have to request EK release the seat on the “new” flight. Can take 24-72hrs to approve and sounds a very manual process.

 

[Electraglide]

For all those planning on exploring DXB during your extended layover, please note that there are 3 EK F lounges (one each in concourses A, B and C). Each of the lounges has a unique character so if you have the time, you may as well check them all out.

 

[AussieDisneyFan]

For all those planning on exploring DXB during your extended layover, please note that there are 3 EK F lounges (one each in concourses A, B and C). Each of the lounges has a unique character so if you have the time, you may as well check them all out.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I'm still stuck with the changed times. Rang Qantas on Friday who assured me there was nothing they could do. I said well others have done it. She spoke to supervisor and said something about submitting a request. I wasn't confident during the call and less confident now since that was Friday and I still haven't heard anything and nothing in my booking has changed. <eye roll>