EK F Lounge at Dubai or Hotel for 7 hour layover?

[ozboy01]

Hi

I am lucky enough to have snared tickets from SYD - DXB - AMS. in F suites (both sectors) with EK using QF points. I have a 7 hour layover between flights. I have never been to DXB before.

I have been issued with a Dubai Connect voucher by QF with the stopover being over 6 hours.

The three hotels they have listed all sound like they are not airside.

I would hope I would get approx. 5 hours good sleep on the way to DXB and hopefully another 3 - 4 hours between DXB and AMS.

My question is - should I use a non air side hotel or just use the EK First lounge? Are there any beds/divans or the like in the F lounge?

Is there much of interest to see at DXB apart from the usual array of shops? Are there more interesting things to see/do like at Changi?

Thanks for any tips

Cheers

Geoff

 

[Pushka]

I don’t think I’d stay at the airport that long. Even the F lounge. When is your trip? Ramadan might convince me to stay airside. Or if you don’t like extreme heat between say June - September. What are the hotels they offer? The airport isn’t that far out from the main CBD and sights.

 

[Danger]

The main EK F lounge has a quiet area with relaxing relaxing chair thingies, including blankets and pillows. They are not beds, though and are not flat. Seven hours may be a little long.

 

[n7of9]

Not even an F lounge is worth 7 hours. Get a taxi to the Burj Khalifa and go to the top with a prepurchaed/timed ticket. Or go have brunch/lunch/linner at the Burj Al Arab. Dubai is wonderfully gawdy and over-the-top, easy to waste time there

 

[Pushka]

Not even an F lounge is worth 7 hours. Get a taxi to the Burj Khalifa and go to the top with a prepurchaed/timed ticket. Or go have brunch/lunch/linner at the Burj Al Arab. Dubai is wonderfully gawdy and over-the-top, easy to waste time there

Eating options will totally depend on whether travel is during Ramadan. If it’s a late night arrival then these options won’t work. Which is why we need further info.

 

[ozboy01]

Hi everyone

In hindsight I should have put more info in my original post.

I arrive at 00:25AM on 28.9.18 and my flight to AMS takes off at 08:05AM that same morning.

Even for its glitz and gaudiness I am assuming there is not much open in Dubai at this time of night.

To be honest I have never been to Dubai before as it has never really appealed to me - primarily from a heat point of view. I appreciate it may be 3 degrees or so cooler at night but the thought of doing a tour in the middle of the night isn't a prospect I am doing handstands about.

The following is from the Qantas website:

One night of accommodation will be provided at the Copthorne Hotel Dubai, Le Meridien Airport Hotel Dubai, Arabian Park Hotel Dubai or another hotel at the discretion of Qantas.

I believe there is an airside hotel at DXB. Maybe I could try and negotiate with Qantas to stay there instead of the others listed which all sound like they are not airside.

Happy for further thoughts now this additional info is available.

Cheers

Geoff

 

[Princess Fiona]

Hi everyone

In hindsight I should have put more info in my original post.

I arrive at 00:25AM on 28.9.18 and my flight to AMS takes off at 08:05AM that same morning.

Even for its glitz and gaudiness I am assuming there is not much open in Dubai at this time of night.

To be honest I have never been to Dubai before as it has never really appealed to me - primarily from a heat point of view. I appreciate it may be 3 degrees or so cooler at night but the thought of doing a tour in the middle of the night isn't a prospect I am doing handstands about.

The following is from the Qantas website:

One night of accommodation will be provided at the Copthorne Hotel Dubai, Le Meridien Airport Hotel Dubai, Arabian Park Hotel Dubai or another hotel at the discretion of Qantas.

I believe there is an airside hotel at DXB. Maybe I could try and negotiate with Qantas to stay there instead of the others listed which all sound like they are not airside.

Happy for further thoughts now this additional info is available.

Cheers

Geoff

I was in F on QF10 connecting to QF2 a few weeks ago and utilized Dubai Connect. Unlike my previous experiences with it where I went to Le Meridien on this occasion I was checked into the Dubai International Hotel directly above the Flounge and QF gates. It was terrific and if you can score that then I’d recommend it for a short transit like this.

 

[snabbu]

I had a poor experience recently with Dubai connect. QF1 to QF9 in F and after finding the QF host I wasn't on a list even though I'd selected the Dubai connect months before in MMB. Took the host about 20 minutes to process the passengers that were on the list then she jumped on the radio to try and sort something out for me. Gave me a slip of paper with a number scribbled on it and told to go to the EK connect counter for my transfer, I would be staying at the Hilton Dubai Creek.

Found the connect desk after exiting immigration / customs where there was no record of my reservation and the number I was specifically told by the QF host to give to EK had to meaning to them whatsoever. I was asked to sit while they tried to work out what was going on. I left them both F BP's and took a seat to wait. After a good 30 minutes (was the middle of the night and by now I was quite tired/livid) was given a limo voucher and told to head outside for my ride to the Hilton.

During the short ride tot he hotel I asked the driver what time I could expect my return trip to the airport. He couldn't answer the question and the voucher I had been issued I'd handed to the valet attendant prior to hopping into the limo. So I figured I'd get the hotel concierge to check with EK once I arrived.

Upon checking in the property had no idea about my arrival and had to call EK. I asked them to also check what time my ride would arrive to take me back tot he airport. I was instructed to take a seat while I waited. After what seemed like forever I was advised a room was ready and handed a room key after filling out the registration card. Checked what was happening with my transfer back to the airport he front desk agent advised they would chase that up while I rested in the room and let me know in the morning (a few hours). Finally up to the room after a couple of hours and after all the disorganised stress I was hardly ready to sleep. A couple of hours passed then it was time to head back. Checked withthe desk about the transfer, they told me they were not able to contact the right department at EK to confirm by booking however from experience a car would arrive 1 hour and 30 minutes before departure. Personally I like to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure for international departures so I decided to just get a taxi then and there, not knowing if my Dubai connect transfer would even turn up.

This was my one and only time using EK connect and I was looking forward to the experience.

 

[ozboy01]

Yikes snabbu

What a schmozle. :-(

Even before your post I was thinking that unless the hotel is the airside one at DXB I would decline going offsite to a non airside hotel.

Your experience has even more firmly hardened my resolve to only accept the airside hotel.

Thanks for outlining your experience.

Cheers

Geoff

 

[TheRealTMA]

When we have a layover of 6 hours or more (but less than 15) we stay at the Dubai International in the terminal. Arrive, check into hotel, go to F lounge for dinner and wines, retire to room, sleep, shower, go to F lounge for breakfast, board plane.

Very easy. IMHO going out into Dubai itself for a few hours is not very exciting after a long flight. If you have 24 hrs or a few days, yes, but otherwise far easier to stay in airport hotel above the EK lounges.

 

[Guvner]

I heartily endorse TheRealTMA method.

 

[Oscarq]

Agree with TheRealTMA stay in the Terminal. Only had 5hrs rest with Dubai Connect from an 8hr stopover. Slow exiting immigration. Dubai Connect could not find the booking even though I had a confirmation which delayed our hotel transfer. Re-entry in the morning was very slow at the express immigration checkpoint, rushed back to First lounge for quick breakfast. Never again, would book hotel room in terminal.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I had a poor experience recently with Dubai connect. QF1 to QF9 in F and after finding the QF host I wasn't on a list even though I'd selected the Dubai connect months before in MMB. Took the host about 20 minutes to process the passengers that were on the list then she jumped on the radio to try and sort something out for me. Gave me a slip of paper with a number scribbled on it and told to go to the EK connect counter for my transfer, I would be staying at the Hilton Dubai Creek.

Found the connect desk after exiting immigration / customs where there was no record of my reservation and the number I was specifically told by the QF host to give to EK had to meaning to them whatsoever. I was asked to sit while they tried to work out what was going on. I left them both F BP's and took a seat to wait. After a good 30 minutes (was the middle of the night and by now I was quite tired/livid) was given a limo voucher and told to head outside for my ride to the Hilton.

During the short ride tot he hotel I asked the driver what time I could expect my return trip to the airport. He couldn't answer the question and the voucher I had been issued I'd handed to the valet attendant prior to hopping into the limo. So I figured I'd get the hotel concierge to check with EK once I arrived.

Upon checking in the property had no idea about my arrival and had to call EK. I asked them to also check what time my ride would arrive to take me back tot he airport. I was instructed to take a seat while I waited. After what seemed like forever I was advised a room was ready and handed a room key after filling out the registration card. Checked what was happening with my transfer back to the airport he front desk agent advised they would chase that up while I rested in the room and let me know in the morning (a few hours). Finally up to the room after a couple of hours and after all the disorganised stress I was hardly ready to sleep. A couple of hours passed then it was time to head back. Checked withthe desk about the transfer, they told me they were not able to contact the right department at EK to confirm by booking however from experience a car would arrive 1 hour and 30 minutes before departure. Personally I like to be at the airport at least 2 hours prior to departure for international departures so I decided to just get a taxi then and there, not knowing if my Dubai connect transfer would even turn up.

This was my one and only time using EK connect and I was looking forward to the experience.

Won’t help you now but when I have booked DXB connect I always ask at check-in on departure for the voucher at SYD/MEL and LHR.
I don’t know if this applies to your specific booking but another gremlin that can stuff things up is if you get a points upgrade after booking DXB connect and/or Chauffeur transfers.
Info might be useful for others between now and March for DXB transits.

 

[serfty]

Yesterday I was on an eight hour QF9 (0630) to QF8003 (1424) transfer. Now the timing is a bit different from the OP's but a synopsis follows. If staying at the lounge, I would do Dinner first, nap for a couple of hours, shower and head to gate.

I stayed in the A lounge for most of it but my LHR flight (EK3) departed from B terminal.

I'd had about 6 hours good sleep on the flight from MEL.

Note the A lounge is more like a small mall on a mezzanine level with facilities branching off to the sides. It is big - maybe half a kilometer in length.

What I did after disembarking ~7am was firstly to have a shower and change, I used the facility in the section away from where the QF plane landed as that gets busy with QF10 PAX.

I then hit one of the two quiet rooms for another two hours sleep - I had little issue with noise. Blankets, pillow and eye-shades are available.

By this time it was 10am and I walked to one of the far ends of the lounge where each has a small cafe where I had a light antipasta/taps style breakfast with coffee.

10:30 I went to one of the business centres and updated some book keeping / browsed internet.

The two main restaurants switch from breakfast to lunch after 10:30am; at 11:30 I headed off to one for lunch. Some photos follow.

By the time that was over it was 12:30 so I went to the First lounge at B to await my flight. Note that only some gates allow for direct lounge access from B, fortunately B21 is one.

Note that I have been to Dubai several times and doubt there much more I was to see there.

There was enough time to have have had a complimentary Spa treatment if I had desired - but I don't do these.

 

[serfty]

Menu, scallops, quail & duck (scallops were good, duck great):

 

[snabbu]

Won’t help you now but when I have booked DXB connect I always ask at check-in on departure for the voucher at SYD/MEL and LHR.
I don’t know if this applies to your specific booking but another gremlin that can stuff things up is if you get a points upgrade after booking DXB connect and/or Chauffeur transfers.
Info might be useful for others between now and March for DXB transits.

Thanks for the info PF. It wasn't a points upgrade and I made the booking 9 month prior and selected the option at that time. For sure it makes sense I should have checked with the SYD staff in hindsight however it seemed like such a simple thing to do in MMB, click the check box for Dubai Connect, that's it. How wrong I was.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So what's the consensus for Connect v FCl lounge for an arrival at 0100 and departure at 0830? I'm thinking stay in lounge as I've heard immigration, long walk to hotel desk, waiting for car etc... plus the same in reverse is perhaps not worth it?

 

[TheRealTMA]

So what's the consensus for Connect v FCl lounge for an arrival at 0100 and departure at 0830? I'm thinking stay in lounge as I've heard immigration, long walk to hotel desk, waiting for car etc... plus the same in reverse is perhaps not worth it?

Book the airport hotel. No brainer. IMHO. Use the lounge for food, hotel for shower, sleep. With Connect, too much stuffing around for time. For your timescale we’ve done the hotel/lounge combo a few times. Works well.

 

[Oscarq]

Airport hotel for sure. Maybe connect will provide this option given your flight times.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks both!