Advice on stopover in Dubai please

CarpeDiem85 wrote: »

I'm just trying to book flights to visit family in Perth. Ill be flying with my toddler too. There is a flight with a brief stopover of 1 hour 20 mins in Dubai. Bearing in mind, I'll have a young child with me, is this leaving enough time to get through security or do you have to go through security again?

Sounds too risky to me even if you didn't have to go through security in Dubai. What if your first flight is delayed?

Have done that trip 3-4 times in last 3 years with 2 kids, under 7 now, but obviously younger when we started flying it.
1:20 seems a bit shorter than normal? It's Usually around 1:40 but still doable I'd say, I find we ended up with around 30 mins spare most of time.
If you book whole trip with emirates the odds are you will not have a problem. They will hold second plane for you for a while if first delayed as usually quite a few passengers doing same trip.
1st security check about takes 5-10mins. You are in transit so the second check is just a quick look in bag at the boarding/departure gate.
We usually have enough time to freshen up and get kids something quick to eat.
If you're not opposed to them McDonald's have several outlets in airport, nice and "safe" choice, bag of chips for kid maybe if he /she has teeth ..!?
I think it's a perfect route, you want short stopovers with kids, like removing a bandaid, get it over with asap.
There are complimentary buggies/strollers in airport if needed, can 't miss them,
If you are lucky your second flight might only be a 10min stroll from arrival gate .
If unlucky might have to get train to other terminal but should only add 15mins to your transfer.
Dubai is big and busy but very easy to find your way around in.
If your first flight is very late you would be met at first gate and "ran" by Emirates staff around security and straight to second flight.
Good luck.

CarpeDiem85 wrote: »

Thanks for all the replies. I checked the stopover again and it's 1 hr 20 on the way over and 1 hr 50 on the way back. That's with Qantas operated by Emirates but the time suits me perfectly as we'll be leaving late evening and I'm hopefully my daughter will sleep through most of the flight! Just not sure what to do now but most of the other flights I've checked have that shirt stopover too.

Have you considered the lunchtime departure from Dublin?
The first leg is around 7 hours, easier to keep daughter occupied for that shorter leg.
That way she should sleep for most of the second leg which is around 11 hours.
You arrive late afternoon into Perth, around 5:30pm, which is better for your hosts to collect you and you only have to socialise for few hours before collapsing into bed...?

CarpeDiem85 wrote: »

Oh my God, you're reading my mind. You're like the expert in my travel itinerary. I was thinking of the lunchtime departure but I'm coming from Donegal so I'd have to drive up the day before and park the car. I'm trying to figure out how I'd manage with a bag and a stroller. If I took the later flight, I could just get the bus up that day and hop off at the airport door. Mm decisions!

Ahh, I see.
We live in Perth so end up hiring car in Dublin airport and dropping back so easier for us,
That said we have a 3hr drive from Dublin to home on arrival.
I would not recommend any long drive after that trip, one thing driving to Dublin but driving from Dublin back home after a 20 hr trip with little sleep is hard going.
Have you anyone you could lean on to drop/collect you? A big favour but not like you will be doing it every week.
Don't worry about the flights, Donegal to Dublin return is the tricky bit!

If you're not set on Emirates, Etihad do have the nanny service which I've seen is helpful for solo travelling parents as they will look after the baby if you need the bathroom, stretch your legs or even just a hand in general.

Depends on how many families are on your flight of course but can be helpful for people like yourself.

Is it booked all with emirates from dublin to perth or are you booking them separate. If its all the way through you'll have time, the airline is well aware of the connecting flight and even holds them if other flights are delayed. Ive done the short stop overs twice and seen plenty of people with small children and babies make the connection. Just go straight from the plane to the next gate. If you're struggling, talk to staff and they'll get you there.