Travellers transiting in Dubai via Emirates can soon claim a free hotel stay if they have a lengthy stopover in the city.
The Dubai Connect service by Emirates offers transit passengers a complimentary night in a hotel when they have a stopover lasting between 10 and 24 hours. It is available to travellers flying Economy, Business or First Class on the airline.
In addition to a free overnight stay in a four or five-star hotel in Dubai, passengers will also be given a free meal at the hotel, transfers to and from the airport, and help to obtain a visit visa, if required, to enter the UAE.
The Dubai airline previously offered this service, but it will be resumed next month to make travel more convenient amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Anyone planning to book the service must first check that they are travelling on two Emirates flights. Those flying one section of the journey with a codeshare airline, unless it is Qantas, will not qualify.
Flights must also be the best available connection for the specific journey. This means that travellers cannot opt to book a flight with a longer layover to get a free night in Dubai.
Travellers will primarily stay at the four-star Copthorne Hotel Dubai or the five-star Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre. Emirates may also allocate travellers to alternative accommodation.
What if I have not been tested for Covid-19?
Anyone travelling to a destination that requires a PCR test for Covid-19 on arrival cannot book the Dubai Connect service.
Instead, Business and First Class passengers may be given a reservation at Dubai International Hotel at Dubai Airport, depending on availability. Otherwise, they will be given access to Emirates' Dubai Connect airport lounge.
Economy passengers who cannot book the Dubai Connect service, but who have a stopover longer than 10 hours, will also be given access to this lounge, where there are facilities for eating, drinking and relaxing.
How can I claim my free hotel stay?
The resumed service is available to book online on the airline's website. Travellers must secure their booking at least 24 hours before their flight's arrival time. Dubai Connect is available for new and existing bookings on flights departing on or after Tuesday, December 1.
To qualify for the service, passengers must have booked on the best available connection for their journey, meaning the one with the shortest transit time. If better connection times are available, travellers will be made aware of this during the booking process.
Although Emirates can assist with visa applications, the issuance of visas is at the discretion of UAE immigration authorities.
Upon landing in Dubai, anyone with a confirmed reservation for the service should make their way to the Dubai Connect desk in Arrivals at DXB's Terminal 3.
Emirates is now flying to more than 90 destinations across Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australasia. Many of these flights have one convenient stop in Dubai.
The airline this week extended its free Covid-19 insurance to cover passengers if trips get cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.
