Is anyone in SE Asia trying to get back to UK via Dubai?

[moondog]

???
What's the score your end if so?

Gosh yes BK!
I'm in Bangladesh-was due to go today with Emirates. Website said no go, random rep dh phoned on Manchester said give it a go.

I didn't and am so glad as have just found out that onwards flight to M'c'r was cancelled so I would have been alone there with 2 small kids.

Sorry-not made myself clear. Would have been standed in Dubai.

God I am freaking at word of May 1st!
I need to be back at work snd the kids in school. They are gonig nuts already.

My dh down at the Emirates office today too.
Fingers crossed.

Its a bloody nightmare isn't it.
DC1 and 2 are stranded in Saudi. We phoned BMI 3 days ago and they are now booked on what the airline claim is the first available flight which is the 27th April.
Fingers crossed they get back then as DS has an AS level exam on 29th.

Some of his fellow students are in HK and are being told first available flights are 5th - 9th May

Mum, I was told today earliest Emirates can take us is May 10th!!

Could yuor ds do the exam at a local int. school if necessary?

You're in SA aren't you?
My parents are there to. They have driven back to the UK on a couple of occasions. You might consider that.
Not in this heat though eh?

moondog I think a lot of the airlines are taking the pi**.
Have been talking to lots of friends today (both in KSA and UK) and everyone ie being given the runaround. One family were told that they could go home (back to here) in the next few days if they paid 1,500 extra (on top of what they'd already paid). If not, their first available flight would be May.

DC1 and 2 currently booked on BMI flight on 27th (we were given that date around 4 days ago now after their flight on 18th was cancelled) Am going to go to travel agents tomrrow though and try to get something earlier as from what I hear, there will be flights from UK to here tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday so flight back to UK early hours of Friday, Sunday and Monday. DS had to do his mock exam via skype today and has to be back for exam on 29th. No possibility of doing exam at local school or British Embassy as this has to be arranged well in advance! (yeah, like we knew this was going to happen)

Are your parents in KSA? (or do you mean South Africa?) Not sure I'd want to drive back to UK from here (and anyway, I'm a mere woman and not allowed to drive) Wouldn't even know which way to go!

Hope you manage to get an earlier flight. I think the key is to keep phoning. DH got fed up with being arsed around by the local reps in Riyadh so started phoning the airlines back in the UK. That might be worth a try for you?

Yes I think you are right.
Sorry, I meant Saudi.
Blimey, donig mock via Skype. Modern times eh?

Luckily a guy in dh's office who has been doing the schlepping to Emirates for us. You may be right though. If no luck in the next few days, will get onto UK.

So your parents are in Saudi? Where are they out here? I'm in Riyadh.

Thank god for DS's school being so helpful about the exam, still worrying though.

Hope you get things sorted and keep on nagging Emirates.

Dhahran.
Waiting for news today....
Ican't get onto the other really long thread-internet connection too slow here, exacerbated by constant bloody powercuts. 11:00 am and three of an hour each so far this morning.

Any movement your end?

Hi,
well at least in Dhahran they can escape over the causeway to civilisation/Bahrain.
DH has just phoned BMI and has again been told there are no seats on any flights until 27th. I just don't believe them.

Wonder if your dad and my DH work for the same company as his company has offices in Dhahran and he is often up there on business

My dad is an academic so works at the uni.
Emirates say tonight they have cleared all stuck in transit in Dubai so will deal with us next, the people stuck further afield who missed flights completely.

I've been told Sunday a possibility.
Here's hoping...

Insha'allah

moondog so did you get home or are you still in DXB?

DS and DD finally left KSA this morning in the early hours and are just getting back to school around now. They've only missed 9 days of school and DS has missed a mock exam.