As the summer holiday draws to a close, residents returning to the UAE are encountering steep airfares, making direct flights a costly option for many. To mitigate these expenses, travelers are increasingly choosing connecting flights with stops in other countries, despite the longer travel durations. Alex J., a 52-year-old Canadian living in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), is traveling back to Dubai from Montreal with his family and will have layovers in Europe. He noted that this route would save him Dh1,200 per person, amounting to approximately Dh6,000 for his family of five. “A direct flight from Montreal to Dubai costs Dh3,700 per person for a 13-hour journey. In contrast, our connecting flight, which takes 28 hours, costs around Dh12,000 for all five of us,” Alex explained.
On their return trip, they plan to explore Venice during a 6-hour layover and Vienna during a 7-hour stop. Alex remarked, “With such long layovers, our journey feels less tiring. It’s like having breaks during our flight.” Schools in the UAE are set to reopen on August 26, prompting families to book flights promptly. Given the high costs of direct flights, many are opting for connecting flights or flying to nearby countries instead. Ammar B, a businessman from Abu Hail, is returning to Dubai with his family and faced a direct flight cost from Mangalore to Dubai of approximately Rs300,000 (Dh13,150). By choosing a connecting flight via Muscat, he halved the expense.
“Direct flight prices have nearly doubled since our vacation began. Opting for a Muscat route made a big difference in fares,” Ammar stated. He will travel on August 24 with his wife, five children, and parents, totaling nine people. “A direct flight would have cost us Rs35,000 (Dh1,534) per ticket, but flying to Muscat at Rs12,000 (Dh524) per ticket saved us over 70%,” Ammar explained. This substantial saving is a significant relief for his large family as they return to Dubai. Additionally, Ammar plans to spend two days in Muscat with his brother, making the most of the layover. “This stopover not only saves us money but also lets us spend quality time with family before the children go back to school,” Ammar added. The family will drive the final leg of their journey from Muscat to Dubai, a five-hour trip that will conclude their travel, allowing them to arrive refreshed and ready to resume their daily routines.
