I choose not to fly via Dubai. OK, but why ???

[MrJetset]

fine to transit but I won't be doing a stopover when travelling with my partner. He's positive and won't be able to bring his medication into the country legally. Also, I won't take the risk of being arrested for just being who we are (gay that is)

As far as I understand Qantas has problems with their cabin crew who are positive, they can't work on any flights to/from Dubai

Absolutely draconian. I remember it was only until 2009 that Obama lifted the ban on +ve people visiting the USA. I recall friends having to hide their meds in other vitamin containers. Shameful that in this day and age it's still an issue.

 

[Pushka]

Interesting.
Frustrating / difficult situation.

- Do you think the harassment was because she was female, or because she "queue jumped"?
- Do you think other countries would take a similar objection to "queue jumping"? It reads as if the "queue jump" was the issue.

[/COLOR]

Don't worry, I detest queue jumpers myself so would have no sympathy for her. But this was a new desk opening so there was no one in that queue. So she did what any of us would do and joined into the shorter queue. She didn't push in front of anyone to do that.

It's probably difficult to isolate whether the issue was because she was female or perceived to have queue jumped according to their standards.

Any male care to do a test?

 

[OATEK]

I can't imagine doing a stopover in DXB, as there is nothing there that would attract me or my better half. However we have no trouble with it as a transit point on the way to wherever (eg Europe, Egypt etc). Our stop-over point of preference since the 1980s has been Hong Kong, where we have stayed many times. Apart from that we have done one stopover in Singapore, and that will do us for that location.

Sadly the QF partnership means that we will be looking very hard at CX again in the future, as we largely travelled with them until QANTAS took up the A380.

 

[CaviAck]

As generalisations go how would you rate the following statement, which was posted on FT a while ago?
"Most Australians go to Bali for cheap sex, booze and drugs"

So I gather that there will be no Australians at the dental conference in Bali in August? ;P
Unfortunately due to this trend I'm finding it hard to find financing from the treasury due to security concerns.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Futher to the OP's question (perhaps another thread?). What *other* airports do people refuse to transit through? And I mean transit, ie less than say 6~8hrs connection.

 

[CaviAck]

Futher to the OP's question (perhaps another thread?). What *other* airports do people refuse to transit through? And I mean transit, ie less than say 6~8hrs connection.

Cannot remember which but certain CDG and LHR terminals...

 

[RooFlyer]

All generalisations are self-fulfilling. Xenophobia and racism once again rear their ugly head in relation to this issue.

Oh, good grief. It was an opinion/observation. The tagging of any comment not in agreement with your own as "racist and xenophobic" is a classic "shut down the opposing views" technique. Can we just debate the issue without the personal slurs, eh?

As a fan of Dubai, as we've seen in several threads, care to explain to the gay members of this forum how they might fare in Dubai? How do I go there with my banned-in-Dubai medications? That's pertinent to the topic.

 

[vbap]

Have just transited DXB for the first time (actually, 3 times in last 4 weeks)...

• The lounges are great - almost too big really! 1st class Emirates lounge in terminal A needs more showers though. Capacity of the lounge is something like 1300+ PAX, but there are only about 5 showers for blokes and there has been a queue the 2 times I was in that lounge (waiting 10-15 minutes). At least some sort of beeper system like the SIN showers so you don't have to stand there.
• When boarding from the 1st class lounge @ Terminal A, there is a carry on check by security shortly after your boarding pass is scanned and before getting on the lift. This security check is done manually! 2 security people at a couple of pop-up tables rifle through your personables while the queue behind you slowly grows...!!
• The duty-free alcohol process is too inconvenient - not worth saving the few extra dollars than buying at destination in Oz (I guess depends what you buy, I am generally standard alcohols like vodka and rum).

Other than this I'm not too fussed between DXb and SIN for transit destination - yet to try the new SIN lounge so can't compare.
If I get an opportunity to do a stopover I would be interested just out of curiosity - but since my travel is primarily work-related, I never really take "stop-overs".

 

[BD1959]

As generalisations go how would you rate the following statement, which was posted on FT a while ago?
"Most Australians go to Bali for cheap sex, booze and drugs"

Bali's not as cheap as it used to be ....

Regards,

BD

 

[Red Roo]

Have just transited DXB for the first time (actually, 3 times in last 4 weeks)...

• The lounges are great - almost too big really! 1st class Emirates lounge in terminal A needs more showers though. Capacity of the lounge is something like 1300+ PAX, but there are only about 5 showers for blokes and there has been a queue the 2 times I was in that lounge (waiting 10-15 minutes). At least some sort of beeper system like the SIN showers so you don't have to stand there.
• When boarding from the 1st class lounge @ Terminal A, there is a carry on check by security shortly after your boarding pass is scanned and before getting on the lift. This security check is done manually! 2 security people at a couple of pop-up tables rifle through your personables while the queue behind you slowly grows...!!
• The duty-free alcohol process is too inconvenient - not worth saving the few extra dollars than buying at destination in Oz (I guess depends what you buy, I am generally standard alcohols like vodka and rum).

Other than this I'm not too fussed between DXb and SIN for transit destination - yet to try the new SIN lounge so can't compare.
If I get an opportunity to do a stopover I would be interested just out of curiosity - but since my travel is primarily work-related, I never really take "stop-overs".

Thanks for your first hand account. Hope you get to experience the new Qantas Singapore Lounge soon. Looking forward to your thoughts.

 

[ajw373]

Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Concourse A in Terminal 3 opened earlier this year, and is the world's first A380 dedicated terminal. We're very proud to share exclusive access with Emirates and I'm glad it gets your thumbs up.

Actually concorse A may be the first terminal designed with every gate capable of handling A380's, but it is not an A380 dedicated terminal. Other Emirates aircraft (777's) do use it and of course Emirates A380's also use other concorses in Dubai too.

PS used concorse A when flying QF9 on 21/4. The A/C was about an hour late coming in, was advised by crew to check the screens for new time for departure to London, but screens just showed orginal departure time. Wife and I just decided to do a quick shop and loo trip and head back to the gate rather than try the lounge. Signage for the lounge very poor too.

On the return we were on EK metal flying LGW-DXB-BKK, LGW-DXB arrived at concorse B and DXB-BKK also used concorse B. Used the lounge, again signage a little bit poor (though now I know it is the complete upper level will know for next time). It was a tad busy (circa 2am) and parts under refurbishment, also odd you cannot get a self serve drink even water, but better than being in the zoo downstairs. Having a 'gate' on the lounge level was good, though the gate attendant sent us in the lift to the upper door of the A380 rather than the lowever floor for our economy seats. Again will know for next time.

 

[ajw373]

•When boarding from the 1st class lounge @ Terminal A, there is a carry on check by security shortly after your boarding pass is scanned and before getting on the lift. This security check is done manually! 2 security people at a couple of pop-up tables rifle through your personables while the queue behind you slowly grows...!!

•The duty-free alcohol process is too inconvenient - not worth saving the few extra dollars than buying at destination in Oz (I guess depends what you buy, I am generally standard alcohols like vodka and rum).

You were clearly travelling to Australia if you got this extra security. Happens everywhere airlines fly to Australia that don't have at-the-gate security (like Singapore does).

As for duty free again Australian regulations coming into play here. My personal opinion is the rules worked on you, to the benifit of the Australian duty free cartel which is exactly what they want. Really what is wrong brining duty free liquid purchased in the airport of departure to Australia, especially when you can get on the same a/c going the other way without these extra rules.

 

[love_the_life]

Someone asked about which airports you would not use - perhaps a bit wider than that but we do not (for our own political views) visit US at all or the Middle East. Whilst it may not make sense to most, it is our choice. QF using Dubai means we will look at using different carriers to Europe in future.
If possible we also try to avoid LHR - it may have improved now but it used to be a zoo.

 

[YQY]

Ok. The person moved an immigration rope to change to a shorter queue. She had a child with her and with all the delays from GB they were very tired. They were only supposed to transit but the delay meant she had to stopover. The immigration person gave her a serve and said he could refuse her access. Just a bit distressing as she'd gone in a hurry to GB for her grandmothers funeral. Just didn't need the delay and then this angst.

Hmm, we have had the opposite experience at Changi, on a few occasions when we have travelled to Singapore with our infant/toddler daughter, Immigration officers @ Changi have pulled us out of the line and processed us at the sit down desks on the left of the counters, similarly we have had the same experience in BKK. I guess this is a cultural difference....

FWIW, are looking forward to travelling thorough DXB when we head to Europe next year.

 

[vbap]

You were clearly travelling to Australia if you got this extra security. Happens everywhere airlines fly to Australia that don't have at-the-gate security (like Singapore does).

.
Yes, correct. But other airports (FRA, SIN) use electronic scanning of carry-on at the gate. OK, I don't have broad airport experience, but with this fancy A380-purpose-built terminal, would have thought electronic scanning would have been provided for. And the manual checking of bags is a token effort anyhow. My backpack wasn't thoroughly checked - sevearl pockets ignored. I was only queried about a box of chocolates I had in my Dubai Duty Free shopping bag. "What are these" he asked, pointing at the box of chocolates. "Chocolates", I replied .

As for duty free again Australian regulations coming into play here. My personal opinion is the rules worked on you, to the benifit of the Australian duty free cartel which is exactly what they want. Really what is wrong brining duty free liquid purchased in the airport of departure to Australia, especially when you can get on the same a/c going the other way without these extra rules.

My problem is the that DXB rules mean that alcohol cannot be carried as hand-language, even if purchased in DXB and even if under the Australian limit. They take it from you at boarding and put it in the hold. Again, there is a manual process - check-in staff filling out a tag, attaching it to the box with your grog, and giving you a ticket stub in return. In OZ you have to go to Baggage services, wait for the boxes to come (potentially in batches), handover your stub and wait while they try to locate your matching box. At least from SIN, you only need to collect it at the gate prior to boarding, but can still take it on board with you.

 

[freepyjamas]

If it's just a few hours in an airport, as long as it's not a zoo I honestly don't care.

If I'm stopping over for a day/night, Dubai is the last place I'd want to be. Definitely not my cup of tea. But I can see why others would love it. I've stopped over a few times in Singapore/HK, but won't be doing so in Dubai.

 

[Pushka]

I I've stopped over a few times in Singapore/HK, but won't be doing so in Dubai.

If your flight from Europe gets delayed you have no choice but to stop over.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

I also have no issue if flying direct to LHR not leaving DXB terminal (which I'm doing on QF1 F soon), but often I wish to stop to do some business or break up the trip with a stopover. I'm coming back via HK on a different ticket.

Whether they resemble the reality of the situation or not, there are things about many Muslim states which I don't agree with, such as not being 'legally' allowed to share a hotel room with a partner if unmarried, alcohol/food in ramadan, and a number of other draconian and potentially human rights infringing laws. I don't particularly want to do jail time for having sex with my girlfriend, for example. Lack of separation of church and state doesn't gel with me in any country. Add to this the fact that the place is entirely manufactured, with no discernible natural formations or landscapes.

In addition, I don't have any business contacts there, as I do in Asia, so a stopover would be for pleasure only, of which might be lacking, see previous point

Add to that, the connections QF to EK for the magic 'one stop into Europe' are atrocious if not doing EK all the way. If I wanted to fly EK, I'd buy their ticket, it's cheaper.

In summary, I don't have any issue stopping for 90 minutes on QF1/2. Any longer and I will pass.

Each to their own.

 

[ajw373]

.
Yes, correct. But other airports (FRA, SIN) use electronic scanning of carry-on at the gate. OK, I don't have broad airport experience, but with this fancy A380-purpose-built terminal, would have thought electronic scanning would have been provided for. And the manual checking of bags is a token effort anyhow. My backpack wasn't thoroughly checked - sevearl pockets ignored. I was only queried about a box of chocolates I had in my Dubai Duty Free shopping bag. "What are these" he asked, pointing at the box of chocolates. "Chocolates", I replied . .

The problem is these rules ONLY apply to flights to Australia. So why should an airport with 10-15 flights a day to Australia and a squillion to elsewhere without the need have to install at the gate security?

My problem is the that DXB rules mean that alcohol cannot be carried as hand-language, even if purchased in DXB and even if under the Australian limit. They take it from you at boarding and put it in the hold. Again, there is a manual process - check-in staff filling out a tag, attaching it to the box with your grog, and giving you a ticket stub in return. In OZ you have to go to Baggage services, wait for the boxes to come (potentially in batches), handover your stub and wait while they try to locate your matching box. At least from SIN, you only need to collect it at the gate prior to boarding, but can still take it on board with you.

The core problem is Australian government regulations over and above what is the international norm. As mentioned I reckon they are designed to force people to shop in Australia rather than any security meassure. I mean to say every other country is happy for liquids purchased at an airport to be taken on board, except Australia (and maybe the US). Anyway the rules more or less say that all duty free liquid purchased over 100ml on flights bound to Australia must be delivered to the aircraft boarding gate. Singpore will do it, Kuala Lumpuer will do it, Bangkok won't (so no way of making such purchases). Dubai have something different again where they load into the hold. Agree it is stupid, but blame the Australian Government rules. Rules which I beleive were meant to have been relaxed by now.

 

[ajw373]

If your flight from Europe gets delayed you have no choice but to stop over.

They have an airside hotel in Dubai!