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

[SQ421]

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

Tried it yesterday evening. May well have been the fact that it seemed rather full, but wasn't the quiet haven I was expecting it to be. Seemed a bit "uni cafeteria"-ish (think unfavorable comparisons to the Hilton Sydney exec lounge).

Hopped around to the BA lounge (to check it out, had been there just before Easter when it was still a QF/BA effort) before making my way to the EK lounge (and I had it almost entirely to myself save the last 15 minutes), which is where I was for two and a bit hours before boarding my flight. Food seemed better and more varied, as was the view. The only niggle was that apparently, QF flights aren't called in the EK lounge (and vice versa) - even the QF operated flights were missing from the FIDS within the lounge - so much for the new alliance.

As an aside, BA doesn't call QF flights in their lounge either

 

[legroom]

Just wish to add my experience in DXB when I decided to take a stop-over on the way back from AMS.

My OZ passport was 2003 vintage so it is not the newest passport around but 100% legit having just travelled to CDG in Jan and AMS in May 2013.

The turbaned chap took one look at my photo and started to mumble to himself, followed by a search for a magnifier - then followed by some muted discussion with the chap in the next booth.

"Back office - That way..."

When I asked what could possibly be wrong as I am transiting from AMS on the way home to AUS, out came the same answer "Back office, that way".

So I went 150m to the back office to join 25 recently arrived Indians and 1 American.

Upsetting thing was that my wife had been cleared by the same guy 10 seconds before me.

Standing in the back office for some 10 min waiting for the 25 Indians to be cleared, then it came my turn.

He took one look at it - without any magnifier - stamped and waved me off !

******

Heck, my passport had so many stamps (USA mainly) that somehow I became a suspect illegal.

Dubai, you turned me off right at the beginning.

But to be honest, I would not discount DXB as a transit place. It was almost certainly an isolated event.

 

[pyffii]

There is just no way I would subject either my wife or myself to this type of behaviour...the risks are just too great...better to transit in Singapore or HK as we will be doing next month enroute to London.

 

[ajw373]

Heck, my passport had so many stamps (USA mainly) that somehow I became a suspect illegal.

Dubai, you turned me off right at the beginning.

But to be honest, I would not discount DXB as a transit place. It was almost certainly an isolated event.

No you were not suspected as being an illegal, quite clearly your passport is almost 10 years old so maybe the guy with the turban (not sure what difference that makes) thought there was a need for an extra check of your passport. Maybe you have, in his eyes changed in appearance significantly from the photo. Can happen anywhere anytime. How many stamps and where they are form makes no difference what so ever.

 

[Austman]

And note that if you are only transiting DXB, as I was (same flight, same terminal), the only passport check is the usual one done at the departure gate along with your boarding pass. I'm not sure if it's still the case if you need to change terminals.

 

[ajw373]

And note that if you are only transiting DXB, as I was (same flight, same terminal), the only passport check is the usual one done at the departure gate along with your boarding pass. I'm not sure if it's still the case if you need to change terminals.

It's not required for terminal change either. I was surprised that they don't check passport and/or boarding pass when going from arrivals to departures during a transit. All they do is security screen. I guess the reason is once in departures, unlike most airports you can, going by the signs I saw still access arrivals if you so wish.

 

[clifford]

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?

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.

Wow I'm amazed. I transit DXB at least 15-20 times a year (I'll be there again next week) and I'd never heard of this nonsense. Of course, I fly Emirates and NEVER would contemplate flying to/from Australia without a stop in Asia to break the journey. In any case, I don't try and import alcoholic substances into Australia, so it wouldn't worry me greatly.

But, it does seem the Labor Government is becoming increasingly paranoid. I was travelling KUL-SYD last week and noticed that an additional scanner had been installed in the departure lounge and was being used for all flights to Australia. This is in addition to the regular carry on scanner run by the airport authorities. It is totally over the top, and doesn't prevent even one illegal immigrant from getting through.

 

[WeeGraeme]

I'm about to travel to UK from Brisbane.

I chose to fly with BA through Singapore vs QF through Dubai because of travel time.

By the time I reach Singapore I'll have been on the go since early that day. I'm staying a night in Singapore. I'll try to get some rest before my next flight which is then 13 hours. If I flew with QF, I'd have travelled most of the way to the UK before I have a stop over. For me, I'd end up much more tired than I would with a stopover in Singapore.

I know the EK flights travel via Singapore, but I'd prefer the bit of extra space that premium economy brings.

 

[drron]

Wow I'm amazed. I transit DXB at least 15-20 times a year (I'll be there again next week) and I'd never heard of this nonsense. Of course, I fly Emirates and NEVER would contemplate flying to/from Australia without a stop in Asia to break the journey. In any case, I don't try and import alcoholic substances into Australia, so it wouldn't worry me greatly.

But, it does seem the Labor Government is becoming increasingly paranoid. I was travelling KUL-SYD last week and noticed that an additional scanner had been installed in the departure lounge and was being used for all flights to Australia. This is in addition to the regular carry on scanner run by the airport authorities. It is totally over the top, and doesn't prevent even one illegal immigrant from getting through.

I do hope no one is going to try smuggling an illegal in their carry on!:shock::shock:

 

[QF1]

Just wish to add my experience in DXB when I decided to take a stop-over on the way back from AMS.

My OZ passport was 2003 vintage so it is not the newest passport around but 100% legit having just travelled to CDG in Jan and AMS in May 2013.

The turbaned chap took one look at my photo and started to mumble to himself, followed by a search for a magnifier - then followed by some muted discussion with the chap in the next booth.

"Back office - That way..."

When I asked what could possibly be wrong as I am transiting from AMS on the way home to AUS, out came the same answer "Back office, that way".

So I went 150m to the back office to join 25 recently arrived Indians and 1 American.

Upsetting thing was that my wife had been cleared by the same guy 10 seconds before me.

Standing in the back office for some 10 min waiting for the 25 Indians to be cleared, then it came my turn.

He took one look at it - without any magnifier - stamped and waved me off !

******

Heck, my passport had so many stamps (USA mainly) that somehow I became a suspect illegal.

Dubai, you turned me off right at the beginning.

But to be honest, I would not discount DXB as a transit place. It was almost certainly an isolated event.

Oh come on...how many times do CBP Officers in the United States treat you with "courtesy".. I definitely agree asking you to wait can be unnerving but really comments about appearances of officers is not really warranted...we are travelling folk and should be the ones that at least try to see reason.

 

[Pushka]

Yes. True. USA border people can be quite daunting too.

 

[ajw373]

I'm about to travel to UK from Brisbane.

I chose to fly with BA through Singapore vs QF through Dubai because of travel time.

By the time I reach Singapore I'll have been on the go since early that day. I'm staying a night in Singapore. I'll try to get some rest before my next flight which is then 13 hours. If I flew with QF, I'd have travelled most of the way to the UK before I have a stop over. For me, I'd end up much more tired than I would with a stopover in Singapore.

I know the EK flights travel via Singapore, but I'd prefer the bit of extra space that premium economy brings.

Considering Emirates does not fly to Brisbane direct it would be a no brainer to use QF/BA via Singapore to access the UK. However what would you do if you were flying to somewhere else in Europe? (which is what the Qantas/EK alliance is mostly about)

 

[markis10]

Considering Emirates does not fly to Brisbane direct it would be a no brainer to use QF/BA via Singapore to access the UK. However what would you do if you were flying to somewhere else in Europe? (which is what the Qantas/EK alliance is mostly about)

EK flys direct and via SIN, its the direct flights going to A380 Oct 2.

 

[ajw373]

EK flys direct and via SIN, its the direct flights going to A380 Oct 2.

Ahh I thought they were adding that flight, not upgrading an existing flight.

 

[markis10]

Ahh I thought they were adding that flight, not upgrading an existing flight.

Currently a 777 and will be leaving in two hours, the SIN flight goes after midnight.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

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.
• .

Listening to interview with Tim Clark on Emirates flight, Flounge DXB is 900 pax, business lounge is 2200. I didn't check out showers last week in Flounge, but is there more than one location for them? Anyone know the shower count in Business lounge?

 

[madrooster]

Flounge DXB is 900 pax, business lounge is 2200

Considering the F and J lounges are pretty much the same physical size it makes me wonder why one has a much larger capacity?

 

[markis10]

Considering the F and J lounges are pretty much the same physical size it makes me wonder why one has a much larger capacity?

No Cigar lounge and a lot less restaurants/ fine dining for a start.

 

[dcm]

I have now had two return QF flights through DXB, using the First lounge on each occasion. I cannot speak more highly of the welcome I received and the friendliness of everyone with whom I had contact. Haven't yet ventured into Dubai but the conversations I had have inspired me to make the effort to visit.

 

[grubbidok]

Three big reasons:

1) The same reason I choose not to go through Abu Dhabi with VA. If you have to fly international Y like I do, the EK/EY vitual networks are a vastly inferior product to both VA and QF. The UAE airlines do 10 across from DXB to most European ports instead of the 9 across on better airlines. No thanks.

2) Despite being full of flash, the aiport's no Singapore (or other Asian stopover more generally - better than Bangkok though), which has better food, better facilities and a better experience over all - and offers more than just over-priced shopping and a lounge. Moreover, there are rich experiences available on stopover if you want to get out. I've had day-tips to UAE (which I enjoyed), but once is enough. As they say: "there's no there there". The UAE had a beautiful culture once, but it's been bulldozed and paved over. Now it's just an over-rated blingy amusement park for the wealthy. A victory of materialism and vacuousness over culture and substance.

3) Observing the foreign workers cleaning the windows in 50 degree heat really reinforces the injustice of UAE. I realise Asian nations are often no angels in this regard, but compared to the exploitation of staff in the UAE, they are. I want no part of supporting this kind of development that is built and maintained on the back of what is, essentially, modern day slave labour (although the wads of oil cash do help).

The DXB decision was a major factor in moving my 2-3 European flights to VA (well, their partner SQ) from QF.