Dubai Partners?

[HighFlyer]

Im planning a trip to Dubai next year, and i am trying to find an airline to fly with. I wanted to use a VS partner to claim some miles and tier points, but i want a direct flight.

As far as i can see, the only carriers doing direct are BA, Emirates and Royal Brunei, is this the case, or does anyone know of any others? I checked Gulf Air but they are not direct either.

If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. Otherwise, i will likely book with Emirates.

[Nottingham Nick]

I flew with Gulf Air last year to Dubai and would have no hesitation about recommending them, we flew via Bahrain - but it was really well organised in both directions, a minimal stop over, just enough time to look round the massive duty free shop at BAH.

Very comfortable seats, exit rows at no charge and for some reason we are still not sure about, we were invited into their first class lounge at Dubai. It isn't quite a clubhouse, but is very, very close with very nice comp food and drinks (not just snacks), internet access and very plush surroundings.

Food was good, excellent choice of mags and newspapers, front and underneath camera in the touch screen IFE. This is all in economy!

If you do go to Dubai, don't forget you can use the duty free on arrival to stock up on cheap drinks - alcohol is VERY expensive in the hotels, and not available in supermarkets.

Nick

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Im planning a trip to Dubai next year, and i am trying to find an airline to fly with. I wanted to use a VS partner to claim some miles and tier points, but i want a direct flight.

I remember reading somewhere that VS will/may start flights to Dubai....perhaps I got it wrong but I'll look around later.

Hmmm, looks like I've been getting fact, fiction and plain old conjecture mixed up! DXB seems to be a long-standing wishlist destination.....


Regards,

Sahajesh

quote:Originally posted by sahajesh
Hmmm, looks like I've been getting fact, fiction and plain old conjecture mixed up! DXB seems to be a long-standing wishlist destination.....

Well, we had a travel roadshow at work back in April, and I did post a smatter of info I got from a couple of VS employees about this - see: http://www.v-flyer.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1017

Cheers

Michael

[RichardMannion]

You never know!

Thanks,
Richard

[HighFlyer]

Nick, do you get your passport stamped at BAH? I have known stop-off flights where you couldnt get off the plane due to security/customs reasons, so i wonder how this works? Or do you not get past customs?

How much extra did it add to your flight time also?

I am never really keen on in-direct flights as i have usually taken these in the form of connections, and every single connection i have taken has been delayed (they must see me coming!) but the lure of the additional tier points and miles could make it worth it if the flight time wasnt too far off the direct flight (and i get a stamp LOL)

[Nottingham Nick]

quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Nick, do you get your passport stamped at BAH? I have known stop-off flights where you couldnt get off the plane due to security/customs reasons, so i wonder how this works? Or do you not get past customs?

How much extra did it add to your flight time also?

We didn't get our passports stamped, but the delay was minimal. On the outbound, we just walked from one gate to another without passing through any form of immigration checks, the flight from Bahrain to Dubai was only 50 minutes. On the outbound we didn't get any time for a proper look in the duty free bacuse the plane was boarding as we arrived. Our luggage had been checked all the way through.

Coming back, we had an hour in Bahrain, plenty of time to look round the shops, the duty free shop appeared cheaper than Dubai, but the currency is the Bahraini dollar[?] and I had only just got used to converting everything from Dhirams[:I]

As I said before I have nothing but praise for Gulf Air - and for Dubai for that matter.

Hope that helps - if I can assist further - just ask.

Nick

Useful info about Gulf Air, Nick, thanks.

One of the guys from our team is now in Dubai (was in Riyadh but the company felt it safer to move him out) - got a 3 bedroom apartment near work (Internet City).

I'm looking forward to a brief stay in September and may do a longer one next year - come on VS!!

Regards,

Sahajesh

Next year! then just fly Virgin Atlantic ;););)

[HighFlyer]

Declan, are you telling us something????