Dubai Connect or Airport Hotel at DXB?

[bertflyer]

Hi,
has anyone has recent experience using Dubai Connect and the free hotel accommodation that is offered with this? I am eligible on my MEL-DXB-HAM sector next Sunday (8 Dec) and have put in the request for it (confirmed) but have been reading some pretty bad reviews regarding long cues at immigration and the hotel, potentially reducing the available hotel time significantly.
I arrive at 23:25 (QF9) and depart the next morning at 8:55 (QF8059) so would like to get a few hours sleep. I am happy to cough up the $$ to use the airport hotel to maximize the available sleeping time if people think this is a better idea.
I am flying in Y so I expect the coughpiest of the hotels on offer too. :shock:

 

[castie]

I had exactly 8 hours and availed of the Dubai Connect.

Immigration queue was long. (Around 1 hr)
Shuttle bus took another 30 minutes between waiting and getting to hotel.
Bus back to Airport leaves roughly 2.5 hours before flight.

So I had the hotel room for about 4 hours. (about 3 sleep taking into account checking in/out and a shower)
If you don't mind the cash the airport hotel is going to be a lot better and at least get you possibly 3 more hours sleep.

Return had 10.5 hours and got roughly 7 in the room so was much better.

Next time will be airport hotel for me if under 10 hours.

 

[bertflyer]

So I had the hotel room for about 4 hours. (about 3 sleep taking into account checking in/out and a shower)
If you don't mind the cash the airport hotel is going to be a lot better and at least get you possibly 3 more hours sleep.

Thanks Castie, based on this and the fact that it looks like a busy time at the airport I have now booked the airport hotel (Concourse A). Should mean couple of extra hours sleep!

 

[ReLoad]

Sorry for the thread necromancy, I have a few questions if anyone can help.
Flying J, I arrive at 0055 and depart at 0900.

Does DXB immigration have a priority line for J/P1?
Which hotels do they use for J pax? Do they use the airport hotel? If so can it be requested?
What time do they return to the airport?

 

[Must...Fly!]

For J, yes they have a priority line. I stayed at the Le Meridien next to the airport. 5 minute drive, tops.

I do not believe you can request the airport hotel.

You can choose when to return to the airport I believe, I can't remember for sure. Not sure how much rest you would actually get though. However I would choose the free option over the exhorbitant cost for the airport hotel, personally.