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With Dubai now open to more visitors than at any other time in the past 6 months, Emirates has decided to bring back its ‘Dubai Connect’ offer for passengers transiting through Dubai who have a long layover between flights.
Dubai Connect Is Back
With Dubai Connect, Emirates is offering all customers (regardless of their cabin of travel) a complimentary night’s stay in a 4 or 5-star hotel where their connection time between flights is between 10 and 24 hours. The free hotel stay comes bundled with ground transfers to and from the airport as well as meals at the hotel and a UAE visa on arrival where required.
In addition, customers who qualify for Dubai Connect but who are unable to leave the airport will be given access to the Emirates Dubai Connect airport lounge where the airline says they can “unwind and relax”.
Dubai connect returns for customers with existing bookings and customers making new bookings for travel from 1 December 2020 onwards.
Dubai Connect Eligibility
To qualify for the Dubai Connect offer, passengers must meet the following criteria:
Minimum connection times: The connection time between the arrival of the inbound flight to Dubai and the outbound flight departure from Dubai must be more than or equal to ten (10) hours and less than or equal to twenty four (24) hours. To qualify for the offer, the passenger must be booked on the best available connection, that being the one with the shortest transit time in Dubai, between the inbound flight into Dubai and the outbound flight from Dubai.
Minimum fare paid: The eligibility for the Dubai Connect offer will be determined against the payment of a minimum fare type for your Emirates flight. This is indicated during the booking process.
Age Restrictions: This service is only available for passengers 18 years or older as of the date of departure on the inbound flight to Dubai, if traveling alone. Up to two children (being passengers under 18 years as of the date of departure) may be accommodated when traveling with one adult.
Operating Carrier and Ticketing: Both your inbound and outbound flights to and from Dubai must be an Emirates flight (marketed by Qantas or Emirates) or a Qantas flight (marketed by Emirates or Qantas). Codeshare flights are not eligible other than EK5000 and QF8000 flights. The itinerary must be a single booking and ticketed on one ticket. The ticket must be issued on an Emirates (176) document or a Qantas (081) document.
Note: Most visitors to Dubai will require a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate that is valid for 96 hours from the date of the test before departure (passengers arriving from the UK and Germany have the option to take a complimentary COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai). Click for more information.
Booking Dubai Connect
Emirates will inform passengers during the booking process if they’re eligible for Dubai Connect and the process from then on is simple:
- Book your flights, then use your surname and reference number to log in.
- Go to the ‘Manage’ section of the Emirates website (use the dropdown menu at the top of the homepage) and choose Dubai Connect.
- Add the service at least 24 hours ahead of your flight to Dubai.
Customers who have booked flights through one of Emirates’ worldwide offices can call and check if their itinerary qualifies for the Dubai Connect service. If they’re eligible, the Emirates agents can book the service or the customer can use their booking reference to book online.
Bottom Line
Emirates is bringing back its Dubai Connect deal for passengers traveling through Dubai from 1 December 2020 onwards. If you have a booking with Emirates (or Qantas when it finally resumes international flights) and you have a long layover between flights in Dubai, this is definitely something you should be looking into – it can be a nice cost saver.
Thanks I just checked my reservations for August and the “Dubai Connect” is not there
Is there an earlier connecting flight that Emirates thinks you could have taken?
no I arrive in the late afternoon and out the next day
I suggest calling Emirates and seeing what the agent(s) have to say.
I have used this service three times and it is fantastic if you can time your flights to take advantage of it. Business class uses the Le Meridien near the airport and Emirates have their own wing of rooms some of which had been renovated between my 2017 and 2018 stays. The give you vouchers for meals appropriate for the time you are there and the hotel has about a dozen restaurants that you can use and there is something for everyone.