I'm looking to travel from Hong Kong to London Heathrow with Emirates, but there is a 2 hour stop at Dubai. I've never been long haul before, is that enough time and will I have to get the bags though check in again? What happens if the first plane is delayed?
Connecting flights
- Thread starter holymonk
- Start date
I know what you mean but I think you're OK. On an airline like Emirates you won't have to check in bags again. Dubai is a decent airport for changing in from what I remember. Emirates will sort you out if you miss your connection - they are obliged to get you to Singapore.
Associate
- Joined
- 18 Mar 2014
- Posts
- 690
- Location
- Aberdeen
If you book the flight as one journey and it includes the stop over - as opposed to buying two separate flights. Then when you check in at Heathrow your bags - and you - should be checked all the way through to Hong Kong. Emirates should take account of stop over times etc and also sort you out if there are any issues with your first leg.
Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Dec 2005
- Posts
- 17,316
- Location
- Bristol
As above. Also Dubai is a massive hub and you'll probably even be getting back on the same plane into the same seat after a refuel. If that's the case they'll tell you can leave your hand luggage on-board (but take valuables). That's certainly what they told half the passengers the last time I flew into Dubai, though that was my final destination.
If the first plane is delayed then the second will not wait for you, you will have to get the next plane with seats on it, whenever that is. Expect to wait in a massive queue to get your new boarding pass as the Arabs are incredibly slow paced.
Emirates will give you a voucher for a free meal in the airport.
Happened to me last year flying KL > LHR via Dubai.
Emirates will give you a voucher for a free meal in the airport.
Happened to me last year flying KL > LHR via Dubai.
my flight from bhx to dubai (destination adelaide) was delayed by an hour and i only had a 2 hour stopover in dubai (that was now down to less than an hour upon landing, getting off)
we were taken off the plane and split into two groups; adelaide or (i forget where the other destination was) we were then led through security (new line opened for us) it was close but we all made it and i even had time to blitz a quick smoke in the indoor smoke area before getting on.
i imagine they would rather push and get you through as opposed to the flight taking off and causing a knock on effect.
Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Apr 2013
- Posts
- 13,597
- Location
- La France
You'll have plenty of time. Emirates has their own transfer section with fast track screening into the Departures area for you onward flight. Not surprising as Dubai is their base/hub.
My recent experiences with Virgin have been poor. Whilst I haven't flown Emirates Singapore Airlines and even Cathay Pacific seemed to have better service, food, selection of media etc.
A 2 hour stop over is nothing. By the time you've got off the plane, walked through the airport you'll be getting back on one. As others have said, if you've bought a flight from LHR to HK then it is the airlines responsibility to get you there so don't worry about delays.
Next time I fly out to Shanghai I was thinking about trying out Emirates so I'd be interested to hear what you think about their service.
Man of Honour
- Joined
- 5 Jun 2003
- Posts
- 91,786
- Location
- Falling...
I quite like a short stopover - means you can stretch your legs, and get out of the bloomin' plane.
DOn't worry if the airline miss your connection they will look after you to get you to the final destination.
DOn't worry if the airline miss your connection they will look after you to get you to the final destination.
I've never experienced what people here have said regards problems.
I've done LHR to Bali via KL with Malaysian Airlines and then LHR to Koh Samui via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.
For the Bali Journey we left LHR 4 hours late due to weather. We landed at KL and our plane was due to depart in 10 minutes from the far end of the terminal. We simply walked to the other gate not going through any checks or doing anything with any luggage and the flight was held for us and our luggage transfer. Most of the flight came from LHR so it would have been stupid not to wait.
For the Koh Samui Journey we arrived late at Singapore due to weather over India slowing us down, and got golf buggy transferred to our connecting flight, which shut the doors literally as we stepped on. Our luggage followed the next day. My Amex travel insurance allowed us to nip out and buy essentials that we claimed for on return home.
No hassle, no stress. If you book the two legs with the same airline at the same time it's easy as above.
I've done LHR to Bali via KL with Malaysian Airlines and then LHR to Koh Samui via Singapore with Singapore Airlines.
For the Bali Journey we left LHR 4 hours late due to weather. We landed at KL and our plane was due to depart in 10 minutes from the far end of the terminal. We simply walked to the other gate not going through any checks or doing anything with any luggage and the flight was held for us and our luggage transfer. Most of the flight came from LHR so it would have been stupid not to wait.
For the Koh Samui Journey we arrived late at Singapore due to weather over India slowing us down, and got golf buggy transferred to our connecting flight, which shut the doors literally as we stepped on. Our luggage followed the next day. My Amex travel insurance allowed us to nip out and buy essentials that we claimed for on return home.
No hassle, no stress. If you book the two legs with the same airline at the same time it's easy as above.
I had a three hour stopover in LAX once. It was Labor Day and they only had one person on immigration for non-US citizens. We made the flight with about five minutes to spare and the staff at LAX couldn't have cared less.
I'm sure Dubai will be a better experience though!
I'm sure Dubai will be a better experience though!
Bags will go through directly.
Unless you have to go through immigration in Dubai (unlikely), then 2 hrs is plenty.
I presume it's one ticket? In which case, if your inbound flight is delayed and you miss your connection, they should stick you on another one without any issues.
Unless you have to go through immigration in Dubai (unlikely), then 2 hrs is plenty.
I presume it's one ticket? In which case, if your inbound flight is delayed and you miss your connection, they should stick you on another one without any issues.
Glad it isn't just me that thinks this is the case. I flew with Virgin three times to Shanghai from 2007 - 2009 and the service was so much better. The food was better and there was more of it. Film selection isn't too bad though on my return trip in March from Shanghai it wasn't great. I didn't think much of the music selection but that is only because I wanted to listen to some dance / trance music and couldn't find any. My work colleagues who flew back a week later didn't even have Vera on demand, bit unlucky to get that aircraft. I also find their airmile scheme pretty useless. I'd booked a premium economy seat for my flight in Feb this year, but the cheaper fare one. You cannot use points to upgrade to upper class unless you book the expensive premium economy ticket which isn't that much cheaper than the cheapest upper class ticket.
I'm due to fly out to Shanghai late July this year, yet to decide who with though.
OP, I take you wish to fly Emirates purely as they provide the best value for money? Cathay Pacific will fly direct from HK to LHR however I don't find their economy seats as comfy as Singapore Airlines. Virgin and BA economy seats (on the ones I checked flying to Shanghai) only have a 31" seat pitch whereas Singapore and Cathay have 32". This I can't figure out either seeing as average Asian height is going to be smaller than average European flight.
