Meeru Island Resort :: View topic - Emirates flight time change from Male to Dubai

bushbaby_de

We’re looking at booking for next year and it appears that the Emirates flight from Male to Dubai has changed from a c.9am departure to a c.11am departure. This now lands in Dubai around 2pm so the onward flight to Birmingham at around 3pm is now an illegal connection. The Emirates Holidays website will only offer us the 11pm departure from Male.

Firstly I am wondering why they have done this as the flight times have been roughly the same for the 10 years I’ve been travelling to Meeru?

Secondly I’m wondering if anyone has done the 11pm flight and can give some insight on how this affects your last day of your holiday? How late can you keep your room, when do you have to go on the boat to the airport etc?

Alternatively,, has anyone split up the trip home with a few days in Dubai, which would allow us to take the 11am flight to Dubai then get the 3pm flight to Birmingham a day or so later? How would I book this, as the website doesn’t offer it? Is Dubai a nice place to spend a night or 2 after a week or so on Meeru?

Thanks all.

Shanksy

JoanneLorna

Hi
We fly back to B ham regularly and have done the late flight out of Male . We prefer the late flight. You can keep your room til midday as standard and you can always request a late check out ( subject to availability). We have booked the late boat, had a sunset drink at the dhoni bar then left. We travel at v busy times ( school holidays) and late room check out has been variable but we have often got a 2 or 3 pm extension.

Bham flights have changed as they now fly the airbus a380 twice rather than than 3 flights.

bushbaby_de

Thank you. And how did you find the long wait at Dubai? It’s something like 11 hours I think?

Ian & Jo

The connection time for us is 5hrs 20mins as there is a flight out of Dubai at 07.25 to Birmingham as well as the 14:50 which gives you the 12hrs 45min stopover (our winter schedule) not sure they do the 07.25 every day though?

The 5hr 20 stop over is about as long as I would want to do any longer and I think I would look at the airport hotel or fly from Manchester or a different airline if the stopovers were better. we did Qatar at Easter for that very reason they were also cheaper although we are back to Emirates for New Year due to price.

Ian

bushbaby_de

soobs

We did the 11pm flight out of Male with just 1 hour layover in Dubai to Manchester what a pain it was our boarding cards said gate 4 when we got off the plane someone with a board said gate 3 they also sent us the wrong way we ended up on the street at departures - we boarded with 5 minutes to spare but weren't the last due to their mess up.
Didn't help my OH cannot walk fast due to needing new knees. if we did that connection again I would do more re-search or see if there were any quick transfer solutions.
Being the middle of the night no one could be bothered helping us it was pretty poor really and did cause a bit of stress.

Casey Jones

bushbaby_de

Thanks Casey, that’s exactly what it is then! We’re thinking of going out of Birmingham as normal but returning back to Heathrow, since that does connect with the 11am out of Male. Mystery solved!

bushbaby_de

Emirates have seen sense and moved the 11am flight to 10am for May, so it will connect with the Birmingham flight! Just need someone to start selling rooms at a sensible price. They are literally double last years price at the moment!