Emirates Airlines stopover time

[trucking]

I usually  fly with EVA but was a bit disappointed with them last trip so I will be flying to London with Dubai stopover on Emirates in September. The tranfer time between landing and onward flight is 1 hour and 15minutes. I never thought about it when booking but have since learned that Dubai airport is very big and was worried that the connecting time is too short. Anyone flown this route recently and experienced any problems ?

[Will B Good]

10 minutes ago, trucking said:

I usually  fly with EVA but was a bit disappointed with them last trip so I will be flying to London with Dubai stopover on Emirates in September. The tranfer time between landing and onward flight is 1 hour and 15minutes. I never thought about it when booking but have since learned that Dubai airport is very big and was worried that the connecting time is too short. Anyone flown this route recently and experienced any problems ?

 

Got caught out on that in June.

 

My delay ended up as 12 hours for the next connecting flight.......... put up in a very nice hotel, free food and soft drinks...plus Emirates fault so 600 euros compensation (I hope).

 

 

When I book again I'll be looking at a 3/4 hr time gap for the connection to be on the safe side.

 

 

[josephbloggs]

26 minutes ago, trucking said:

I usually  fly with EVA but was a bit disappointed with them last trip so I will be flying to London with Dubai stopover on Emirates in September. The tranfer time between landing and onward flight is 1 hour and 15minutes. I never thought about it when booking but have since learned that Dubai airport is very big and was worried that the connecting time is too short. Anyone flown this route recently and experienced any problems ?

Done it many times, sometimes with that same connection, sometimes I chose a slightly longer one. You'll be fine and you won't be the only passenger making that connection. It is the luck of the draw whether you land and take off from the same concourse or not (A, B, or C usually). But generally you'll have enough time but you are pretty much going straight to the gate, no time for a drink and it can be a little stressful.

If the flight from BKK is delayed by a bit they will generally hold the next flight, unless it is too long in which case they'll get you on another flight. Worst case if it is touch and go there'll be someone waiting at the top of the jet bridge with either your name or your next flight's flight number. Make yourself known, they radio the next gate, collect all the passengers and they'll accompany you - sometimes they'll even put you on a bus if the gate if far.

In short, it can be a little stressful but 9 times out of 10 you won't have an issue. Emirates are happy to sell that ticket which means they are happy that it works: if it didn't, they wouldn't.

[Celsius]

And what was so disappointing with EVA?

[roo860]

Had the same connection time in Dubai for my onward flight to Manchester in January this year, in fact had enough time for a brew before boarding was announced.

[trucking]

7 minutes ago, Celsius said:

And what was so disappointing with EVA?

 

When I was younger it was ok but last trip I found the economy seat uncomfortable.  Plus as the non stop options are fewer the flight was chocker block and the service not as good as formerly . Even the British Airways non stop flight  ( pre covid ) had more comfortable seats and was less crowded.

[trucking]

12 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Done it many times, sometimes with that same connection, sometimes I chose a slightly longer one. You'll be fine and you won't be the only passenger making that connection. It is the luck of the draw whether you land and take off from the same concourse or not (A, B, or C usually). But generally you'll have enough time but you are pretty much going straight to the gate, no time for a drink.

If the flight from BKK is delayed they will generally hold the next flight, unless it is too long in which case they'll get you on another flight. Worst case if it is touch and go they'll be someone waiting at the top of the jet bridge with either your name or your next flight's flight number. Make yourself known, they radio the next gate, collect all the passengers and they'll accompany you - sometimes they'll even put you on a bus if the gate if far.

In short, it can be a little stressful but 9 times out of 10 you won't have an issue. Emirates are happy to sell that ticket which means they are happy that it works: if it didn't, they wouldn't.

 

Thanks for that. Very informative.  Normally I wouldn't care but my wife ( 61 )  decided to come with me and she is a bit slower. I'll pack some roller skates in my hand luggage for her and slap an ' on tow ' card on her back. 

[Bday Prang]

35 minutes ago, trucking said:

I usually  fly with EVA but was a bit disappointed with them last trip so I will be flying to London with Dubai stopover on Emirates in September. The tranfer time between landing and onward flight is 1 hour and 15minutes. I never thought about it when booking but have since learned that Dubai airport is very big and was worried that the connecting time is too short. Anyone flown this route recently and experienced any problems ?

its a tight one  especially if your flight is delayed  

[bamnutsak]

MCT at DXB intl-intl is 60 minutes.

 

You'll be fine, and protected, as they have plenty of DXB-LHR flights available for rebooking.

 

 

[trucking]

48 minutes ago, Bday Prang said:

its a tight one  especially if your flight is delayed  

 

Yes. I might change the flight to give us an extra hour in Dubai to be on the safe side. Alone I would go for it but with wifey along maybe a couple of hours in Dubai might be a safer bet even if it does mean arriving later at Heathrow. Buses still running at 8.00 pm so not such a big problem.

[samtam]

1 hour ago, Will B Good said:

 

Got caught out on that in June.

 

My delay ended up as 12 hours for the next connecting flight.......... put up in a very nice hotel, free food and soft drinks...plus Emirates fault so 600 euros compensation (I hope).

 

 

When I book again I'll be looking at a 3/4 hr time gap for the connection to be on the safe side.

 

 

 

I misread your statement as three quarters of an hour, and I assumed the "safe side" meant getting a night in a good hotel, food etc plus another EUR600.

 

[Will B Good]

Just now, samtam said:

 

I misread your statement as three quarters of an hour, and I assumed the "safe side" meant getting a night in a good hotel, food etc plus another EUR600.

 

 

Ha....it cross my mind to make the change over tight as possible in the hope of missing the connecting flight, but I think the hotel stay is only if there is more than a six hour delay......I think!!

[Bday Prang]

Just now, trucking said:

 

Yes. I might change the flight to give us an extra hour in Dubai to be on the safe side. Alone I would go for it but with wifey along maybe a couple of hours in Dubai might be a safer bet even if it does mean arriving later at Heathrow. Buses still running at 8.00 pm so not such a big problem.

good call!  I met some guys here last year who missed the connection and were stuck there till the next day.    Qatar's "world class service"   (lol) also has a similar badly timed schedule 

[josephbloggs]

6 minutes ago, trucking said:

 

Yes. I might change the flight to give us an extra hour in Dubai to be on the safe side. Alone I would go for it but with wifey along maybe a couple of hours in Dubai might be a safer bet even if it does mean arriving later at Heathrow. Buses still running at 8.00 pm so not such a big problem.

Might be for the best. Like I said you should be fine but it can be stressful. If you want stress try doing the 1hr 15m connection with kids and a delayed incoming flight! Did that once, never again.

These days I always pick the flights with a couple of hours in between, for the sake of arriving an hour or so later it cuts out that stress.

[DaLa]

If the flight rom BKK is late, they have in the past delayed departure of the UK bound flights. DXB is a massive airport with 3 in line interconnecting terminals. The distance from A to terminal C (thro' B) is huge , however there are trains that shuttle from one to another. I have read somewhere that (nearly) all Emirates flights are now gated at Terminal C so that should help with transfer time. Personally I would not use DXB if I wasn't an Emirates customer; firstly it's one huge shopping mall with the same shops and food outlets repeated every 100 metres , and the real pain is the wonderful smiling welcome you get from security that you have to pass through when you arrive.

[Will B Good]

4 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Might be for the best. Like I said you should be fine but it can be stressful. If you want stress try doing the 1hr 15m connection with kids and a delayed incoming flight! Did that once, never again.

These days I always pick the flights with a couple of hours in between, for the sake of arriving an hour or so later it cuts out that stress.

 

......and, if I recall correctly......you have to go through security again???, which can be hectic.....and the next gate can be quite a trek.

[richard_smith237]

No issues whatsoever....   

 

I've flown with less layover times numerous times -  I've flown Qatar Airways with a 40 min lay-over.

 

Walk off one plane, straight onto another.

 

If the airline sells the ticket - they are responsible for any issues if the connection is missed (and if it is, you are entitled to €600 compensation).

 

 

Personally, I always prefer a much longer layover... i.e. just less than 24 hours, then I can break up the flight with a hotel and have a swim, meal and good sleep in the middle... 

 

 

Now you've bought your ticket - its too late anyway, so there's no point worrying about it...  

... Take a fatalistic approach - its the airlines responsibility.

 

 

[Bday Prang]

however I hate spending more time than necessary in any airport especially the Arab ones

[treetops]

19 minutes ago, DaLa said:

DXB is a massive airport with 3 in line interconnecting terminals. The distance from A to terminal C (thro' B) is huge , however there are trains that shuttle from one to another. I have read somewhere that (nearly) all Emirates flights are now gated at Terminal C so that should help with transfer time.

 

There are 3 terminals in DXB but they are not connected and one is actually on the other side of the airport.  I think you're referring to Terminal 3 which has 3 Concourses (A, B and C).  A is connected to B by underground train and you can walk between B and C.

 

As Emirates is the only airline using Terminal 3 it's not any more likely that a flight will be from C, except that it has more contact gates than either A or B.

[josephbloggs]

34 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

......and, if I recall correctly......you have to go through security again???, which can be hectic.....and the next gate can be quite a trek.

Correct.

[josephbloggs]

6 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

There are 3 terminals in DXB but they are not connected and one is actually on the other side of the airport.  I think you're referring to Terminal 3 which has 3 Concourses (A, B and C).  A is connected to B by underground train and you can walk between B and C.

 

As Emirates is the only airline using Terminal 3 it's not any more likely that a flight will be from C, except that it has more contact gates than either A or B.

Correct. Luck of the draw.

My 16 year old daughter just flew to the UK by herself for the first time, on Emirates. So we decided to have a 3-hour stop to give her plenty of time to navigate the airport. Her flight from BKK landed at gate C17, and her UK one left from C21. So was literally sitting around waiting for 2.5 hours, but for a first time (young) traveller I didn't want to take the risk.

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

2 hours ago, Will B Good said:

My delay ended up as 12 hours for the next connecting flight.......... put up in a very nice hotel, free food and soft drinks...plus Emirates fault so 600 euros compensation (I hope).

Yes, same happened to me on a flight Luanda to BKK. 

Emirates, best airline. 

 

Sadly, I didn't receive any money compensation, maybe it was because my company booked and paid for the ticket. 

 

 

[trucking]

2 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

however I hate spending more time than necessary in any airport especially the Arab ones

 

The very thought of longhaul flights makes me nauseous. One other reason I am giving up EVA. Their late departure time from Heathrow ( around 10.00 pm ) is a pain. I was dropped off at the airport by a passing relative at 2.00 pm and had to wait 8 hours in an uncomfortable seat before the 12 hour flight. I vowed never again. If I were flying EVA again I would just pay for hotel nearby and check out around 7.00 pm and to hell with the money.

[Bday Prang]

1 minute ago, richard_smith237 said:

 IMO, one of the best airports in the world

Why is that even a thing? they are no different to bus stations in my opinion.. Most people don't like Arabs, no need to feign surprise

[richard_smith237]

17 minutes ago, trucking said:

The very thought of longhaul flights makes me nauseous. One other reason I am giving up EVA. Their late departure time from Heathrow ( around 10.00 pm ) is a pain. I was dropped off at the airport by a passing relative at 2.00 pm and had to wait 8 hours in an uncomfortable seat before the 12 hour flight. I vowed never again. If I were flying EVA again I would just pay for hotel nearby and check out around 7.00 pm and to hell with the money.

 

Another very good option which I now use mostly.

 

Split the trip in two...   fly via Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi....     

- Take a morning flight (or day time flight at least)

- Have a layover (just less than 24 hours so your baggage still goes through to the final destination automatically)

- Book a hotel near the airport, arrive, have a swim, chill out, have dinner, get a good night sleep, then breakfast

- Then go the the airport an hour before your flight without any need to check-in as you already have your boarding pass.

- You'll only need to go through security.

 

Doing this breaks jet-lag more easily and eases the boredom of flying... 

[treetops]

1 hour ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Yes, same happened to me on a flight Luanda to BKK. 

Emirates, best airline. 

 

Sadly, I didn't receive any money compensation, maybe it was because my company booked and paid for the ticket. 

 

Probably no rules around delay compensation in Angola and Thailand (yet) but if EU or UK had been your origin then you would have been entitled to compensation, even if your employer had paid for your ticket.

[Crossy]

A post breaking Aseannow Community Guidelines (and responses) have been removed.

[phetphet]

4 hours ago, trucking said:

 

When I was younger it was ok but last trip I found the economy seat uncomfortable.  Plus as the non stop options are fewer the flight was chocker block and the service not as good as formerly . Even the British Airways non stop flight  ( pre covid ) had more comfortable seats and was less crowded.

When I last flew with EVA in November 2024, I noticed that they had removed the padding from the seats, and they were now like a mesh with a stiff, 25mm wide supporting band running down the centre of the seat, where the spine rests. I too found it uncomfortable. Probably done to reduce weight. I have always flown EVA non-stop BKK-LHR because it keeps flight time down, and I like their departure times both ways.

[trucking]

48 minutes ago, phetphet said:

When I last flew with EVA in November 2024, I noticed that they had removed the padding from the seats, and they were now like a mesh with a stiff, 25mm wide supporting band running down the centre of the seat, where the spine rests. I too found it uncomfortable. Probably done to reduce weight. I have always flown EVA non-stop BKK-LHR because it keeps flight time down, and I like their departure times both ways.

Yes. Comfort vs convenience.

 

Would I be correct in thinking that if for whatever reason I missed my connection ,  I could get on the next flight which leaves 1.35 hours after  ( subject to availability ) without incurring any financial extra ?  If so just shoot for the original flight and if we make it , all well and good , but if not just take the next flight. Wife does not relish hanging around there longer than necessary.

[treetops]

2 minutes ago, trucking said:

Would I be correct in thinking that if for whatever reason I missed my connection ,  I could get on the next flight which leaves 1.35 hours after  ( subject to availability ) without incurring any financial extra ?  If so just shoot for the original flight and if we make it , all well and good , but if not just take the next flight. Wife does not relish hanging around there longer than necessary.

 

Yes, and the airline would normally automatically put you on it.  Don't waste any time though as if they think you went shopping instead of directly to the gate they'll say it's your fault and charge you.