Connecting family in DXB

[Colrad]

Hi fellow AFFs,

I have a question regarding connections in Dubai that I am hoping someone can help me with.

My family of four is taking a short trip to Europe next week - all flying on EK in J, but on different flights. We depart MEL on two different flights, before meeting up in DXB and going on to Madrid together (hopefully).

Long story short, I am flying from MEL to DXB via SIN, arriving at 4.30 am. I will have Dubai Connect and envisage being back at DXB around noon that same day.

My wife and two children are flying MEL to DXB direct, arriving at 1300.

Given the reasonably tight connection, I was hoping to meet them at their arrival gate and escort them to the departure gate (both in T3, but Concourse unknown) for our flight to MAD at 1430, but I am not sure if i am able to do this and what the security protocols would be.

Has anyone else successfully done this?

Thanks in advance.

 

[offshore171]

Hi fellow AFFs,Given the reasonably tight connection, I was hoping to meet them at their arrival gate and escort them to the departure gate (both in T3, but Concourse unknown) for our flight to MAD at 1430, but I am not sure if i am able to do this and what the security protocols would be.

Given that they have a reasonably tight connection, I'd be advising them to make follow the signs and make their way directly to their departure gate.

If they hang about at their arrival gate to try to meet up with you, that could turn out to be counter productive.You may miss each other due to a gate change etc and then they may hang about instead of getting a move on to their next flight.

TLDR: Meet them at the departure gate.

 

[Colrad]

Very sound advice offshore171.

Much appreciated.

 

[Pushka]

Very sound advice offshore171.

Much appreciated.

Dubai airport is vast. Chaotic. Noisy. Even in the same terminal. People think that with a 90 minute gap they can go for a stroll, shopping as well as the usual rest breaks. I usually suggest people to go straight to their next departure lounge first then suss out the facilities and only then if there’s time, go shopping. In your case it would as advised above, to each make your way to the departure gate on your own.

 

[Colrad]

Thanks Pushka. I fly through DXB a couple of times a year, but mostly for work and on my own - so i generally just work out where my boarding gate is and head for the nearest lounge. You're right it is vast and chaotic (although it has improved from a few years ago), which is why I was trying to work out if i could help the family to navigate it. But I suspect I am over-complicating things and a rendezvous at the departure gate is indeed the most prudent approach. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

 

[moa999]

It's a split level airport so you won't be able to meet them at arrival gate.

At best you could guess what transit security point they'd go through and meet them the other side of that but porbably best to meet at gate (or at lounge if everyone has access)

 

[Colrad]

Thanks moa999, that was exactly what I was trying to figure out. Lounge would be preferable (all in J and F), but they have a 90 min connection, so departure gate is looking like the safest bet. Cheers.

 

[moa999]

Easiest for J and F pax to board from the lounge and avoid the economy level.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would set some strict timelimits. If 60 or more minutes before boarding, agree to meet in the lounge. If anything less, agree to meet at the departure gate, or, if time is really tight, agree to meet on board.

I had plans to meet a friend in DXB under similar circumstances - we had about 90 minutes to catch up in the F lounge.

Their plane landed late. Then one of their cabin bags wasn't correctly closed and the contents spilled out meaning they missed the business class bus and ended up on the economy one. This made them even later. Then there was a hold up at security.

The 90 minutes turned in to a two minute 'hi' and 'good bye' at my gate (the US security team had completed their questions and it was just me, them and the gate agent waiting to close the flight).

Something as simple as an improperly closed cabin bag can really stuff things up. Agreeing to meet anywhere, unless with strict timelimits, could lead to further delays and all of you end up missing your connecting flight.