UAE Residents Save 70% on Connecting Flights
As summer vacation nears its end, a number of UAE residents coming back are facing expensive airfares for direct flights, making them unaffordable for many. In order to combat the increasing expenses, they have chosen to take connecting flights with stopovers in different countries, even though it means more time spent traveling.
Alex J., a 52-year-old Canadian citizen living in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), is coming back to Dubai with his family from Montreal and will have two stopovers in Europe. He stated that opting for this path would result in a saving of Dh1,200 per individual, amounting to estimated total savings of Dh6,000 for the whole family.
A non-stop trip from Montreal to Dubai costs Dh3,700 per individual and takes 13 hours to reach the destination. Alex mentioned that a connecting flight, which lasts 28 hours in total, will amount to approximately Dh12,000 for five tickets.
During our return journey, we will take the opportunity to discover Venice, where we will have a layover lasting 6 hours. We will also experience a seven-hour layover in Vienna. Having this long layover, our trip would not be exhausting. Alex stated that it feels as though they are pausing their journey mid-flight.
Families are under pressure to book flights quickly due to the anticipated reopening of schools in the UAE on August 26. Nevertheless, due to the high costs of non-stop flights, many people are opting for connecting flights or traveling to nearby countries instead.
Ammar B, a resident of Abu Hail and businessman, is coming back to Dubai with his family. He encountered high expenses for a non-stop trip from Mangalore to Dubai, totaling around Rs 300,000 (Dh13,150).
Nevertheless, by choosing a layover in Muscat, he was able to reduce the cost by almost half. "The cost of non-stop flights has nearly doubled since we departed for our summer getaway." Ammar stated that they observed a notable disparity in prices when opting for a route via Muscat.
Ammar, along with his wife, five children, and parents, totaling nine people, will be traveling on August 24th. Ammar mentioned that by booking flights to Muscat at Rs 12,000 (Dh524) per ticket, they are saving more than 70 per cent on this part of the journey compared to the direct flight which costs Rs 35,000 (Dh1,534) per ticket. The substantial discount provides great relief for the big family as they return to Dubai.
Along with saving money, Ammar has chosen to maximize his time in Muscat by staying at his brother's house for two days. Ammar mentioned that this layover will give us the chance to split up the trip and spend some quality time with my brother's family and other relatives.
Following their time in Muscat, the family intends to drive to Dubai for their next destination. The journey will come to an end as they complete the five-hour drive from Muscat to Dubai, enabling them to reach Dubai feeling rejuvenated and prepared to get back to their normal routine. I am not just cutting costs on our vacation, but also enjoying valuable moments with my brother's family. Ammar mentioned that their children will have additional time to spend together before they go back to their education.
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