I am flying in from Muscat, Oman on Fly Dubai (budget carrier) on Oct. 31 at 18:15 arriving at Dubai International (DXB) Terminal 2 at 19:15. I have to catch a Delta flight in Terminal 1 at 22:15.
Is this cutting it too close?
I assume I will have to wait for, then retrieve my bag, catch a shuttle?, and go through security again to get to my next flight.
Has anyone else done this: gone from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1 and caught an international flight with three hours between?
The only other option is to take a morning flight (8:40) out of Muscat and drag my bag around all day.
I'm need of some advice, as I need to make my reservations very quickly. Thanks.
ces81
1
accord2004
Hi there,
If you catch a cab from T2 to T1 (15mins if no traffic), I would say it is doable. I think if you take the free shuttle I think it is more risky since they have to load/offload everyones luggage etc.
2
buffybot_in_beirut
Six years ago I arrived at Dubai Terminal 2 on a flight operated by a non-commercial carrier. (Not a scheduled flight, not a charter flight, not a private jet, not a CIA rendition flight. Don't ask...) I had a connecting flight by a recognized commercial airline from Terminal 1 a few hours later. I had a ticket for that flight, but had not checked in for it yet. Friendly Dubai airport transit staff (foreigners of course…) not only retrieved my baggage and labeled it to the next destination, but also took my ticket and came back with a boarding pass and baggage tag an hour later. I never left the transit area, did not go through immigration, merely took the internal bus connecting Terminal 1 and 2. This was not a paid-for VIP service; it did not cost me a penny. (I had a similarly pleasant experience in Denpasar once, but never anywhere else in the world.)
I wonder if that service still exists?
3
gemcap
Which country are you from? Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are about 10 km apart, which means you need to clear immigration and customs, leave T2 and then go to T1. Unless you have a visa already sorted out (transit) or if you are not from a country which allows you to get a visa on arrival, I do not think that you will be allowed to leave the airport / board your connecting flight.
Assuming you do have a visa, flights from Oman are often late ; in addition, T2 is not the most efficient of airports. There are only 2 baggage carousels in arrivals and you may have to wait a while for your luggage to arrive.
In my view, you are cutting it quite fine. The other option for you is to take Air Arabia into Sharjah from Muscat. I think it leaves a bit earlier than FlyDubai. Alternately, much longer option, but you could take a bus to Dubai.
5
buffybot_in_beirut
"Contractor"? No, I have a real, reputable job! :-)
I was far too unimportant to have government-issued access cards - but I admit: it was a business (not tourist) trip. As far as I remember, I was fully prepared to go through immigration and re-check my baggage. (I had several hours.) I think neither I nor any sponsor or fixer had made any advance arrangements. I just approached one of the friendly Filipino (or whatever) Dubai airport ground staff who was manning a transit counter or just hanging around the baggage claim area and explained my situation. Sorry I don't recall every single detail any more...
6
genghis_caterpillar
Buffybot's story is brilliant, but thats back when Terminal 2 was still only dealing with a handful of flights a day. Its a lot busier now, and I think its massively unlikely that they still do that. Although I've only ever used it once, and that was 11 years ago, so I could easily be wrong.
For me, yes you're cutting it too close. If your flight was on time, and you took a taxi, you could do it, but it would only need a tiny delay to screw you up. Take the earlier flight, and put your bags into left luggage at terminal 1.
7
gemcap
ces81 : If I remember right, there is an early afternoon Oman air flight : 3.30 pm or so into Dubai.
8
dzl_power
Dubai Airport's official Meet & Assist service can help transfer you from T2 to T1. See their website for details and to contact them www.marhabaservices.com
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