'Fly Ahead' success on EK F award

[Pleb Status]

Against my better judgement, I was able to snap up a very last minute EK F award flight for early next week BNE-DXB-LHR.

Due to limited F availability DXB-LHR, I have a seven hour transfer in DXB. Three other 'connectable' LHR flights depart before the flight I am currently booked on.

Has anyone had success when asking to 'fly ahead' on an EK F award assuming space is available? I do not really need to spend any more time in the DXB F lounge than is required...

 

[Pleb Status]

To partly answer my own question, EK in Australia will not allow me to fly ahead in F as I am on a QF ticket...

I may try again in DXB otherwise I will just take the Dubai Connect hotel offer instead...

 

[Pleb Status]

To answer my own question, due to the QF ticket, it would appear that 'fly ahead' is not available to F award pax traveling on EK (as a QF LTG at least).

 

[Scr77]

You’d have to have a fair chance when you’re in DXB. Regardless of status, it is a F booking.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Do report back, it will be interesting to see if EK want to touch the QF ticket (I would bet not, personally).

But for a silver lining, I can certainly think of worst places to spend a few hours

 

[Pleb Status]

Do report back, it will be interesting to see if EK want to touch the QF ticket (I would bet not, personally).

But for a silver lining, I can certainly think of worst places to spend a few hours

'Fly ahead' was unsuccessful on every attempt, including at DXB. This was conveniently blamed on the QF issued ticket on every occasion (a 'scripted' response I would guess).

EK could of easily put me on an earlier DXB-LHR flight once the airport took control of the ticket, but they chose not to, even though I was travelling in F. Award F availability actually popped up very late on one suitable DXB-LHR flight, but after the (ongoing) ticketing issues I encountered on another ticket at the same time, I did not want to risk making changes only hours from departure.

Not a big deal at the end of the day, but the next time I fly to LHR in F, I may not 'choose' to fly EK...

 

[Pushka]

I’m not sure Qantas would have treated the situation any differently.

 

[Pleb Status]

I’m not sure Qantas would have treated the situation any differently.

True.

That is why I tend to fly on superior airlines nowadays...

SQ facilitated 'fly ahead' on a SQ J award ticket booked through UA with no issues at all (and I was a UA nothing at the time).

 

[Austman]

Did you end up using the Dubai Connect hotel and if so how was it and what hotel was offered? Or did you stay in the F-lounge? I have a longer transit time coming up and am considering my options.

 

[Pleb Status]

Did you end up using the Dubai Connect hotel and if so how was it and what hotel was offered? Or did you stay in the F-lounge? I have a longer transit time coming up and am considering my options.

I utilised Dubai Connect. I stayed at the Le Meridian Dubai which is located directly across the road from the airport terminals. Hotel was nothing special, but I was able to get some sleep and have a shower.

The latest they will let you leave the hotel is two hours before departure, even though it is only a five minute drive and you have checked in for your next flight.

Of note, upon arrival at DXB, the F EK chauffeur drive desk was not staffed at all and I had to line up at the J desk. I received a F limo to the hotel but had to share a MPV back to the airport with other pax. Certainly not an F level experience (along with a number of other service failures which EK acknowledged but had no reason why they occured)....

 

[Austman]

With the Dubai Connect, are the passport control, security checks, hotel check-in/check-out processes etc quick?

And I'm guessing it's 2 x stamps in the passport? (mine is almost full)

Having to leave the hotel 2 hours before departure and I guess there's a reasonable time before getting to the hotel room in the first place will cut into the room time.

 

[Pleb Status]

With the Dubai Connect, are the passport control, security checks, hotel check-in/check-out processes etc quick?

And I'm guessing it's 2 x stamps in the passport? (mine is almost full)

Having to leave the hotel 2 hours before departure and I guess there's a reasonable time before getting to the hotel room in the first place will cut into the room time.

On an Australian passport with a previous entry into the UAE, entry was as fast as could be expected (small line, got straight through with no questions asked). I believe it was two stamps but would need to check.

Possible delays are all up to the efficiency (or lack of) of EK. My flight arrived at a remote stand which meant a bus ride to the terminal which appeared to take at least 10 minutes. The bus was also delayed waiting for stairs to arrive and the final F pax to appear. As mentioned above, the F chauffeur drive desk was 'closed' and therefore I had to line up at the J desk. Once I got outside, the limo drivers were not well organised and my F limo was parked in by others which took at least five minutes to sort out.

 

[serfty]

Some discussion regarding Singapore Airlines had been moved here:

'Fly Ahead' success on award

 

[juddles]

'......EK could of easily put me on an earlier DXB-LHR flight once the airport took control of the ticket, but they chose not to, even though I was travelling in F.

Not sure I understand why the class of travel (F) should influence the flexibility of same?

 

[Pleb Status]

Not sure I understand why the class of travel (F) should influence the flexibility of same?

I agree, it does not. Rules are rules and EK implemented the strict interpretation of those rules.

However, it is generally assumed that if you are travelling in First Class, 'things' maybe a little more flexible than if travelling in Y. Particularly if the change is not going to cost the airline anything to implement (and would have actually saved them money).

 

[juddles]

I agree, it does not. Rules are rules and EK implemented the strict interpretation of those rules.

However, it is generally assumed that if you are travelling in First Class, 'things' maybe a little more flexible than if travelling in Y. Particularly if the change is not going to cost the airline anything to implement (and would have actually saved them money).

I think that is a broad assumption in any fare.

 

[Pleb Status]

I think that is a broad assumption in any fare.

So you believe that assuming all other things are equal (status, flight availability/loading etc), you would expect the same level of rule 'flexibility' traveling on the cheapest Y fare to the most expensive F fare?

 

[juddles]

So you believe that assuming all other things are equal (status, flight availability/loading etc), you would expect the same level of rule 'flexibility' traveling on the cheapest Y fare to the most expensive F fare?

No, not at all. I would expect more flexibility from a top economy fare than a points F fare.