When one thinks of Dubai, it is for the city’s extravagant luxury hotels, like the newly opened Armani Hotel Dubai. But in an effort to bring in vacationers from around the world, it has started up the low cost airline flydubai.
flydubai is Dubai’s First Discount Airline
Owned by the Government of Dubai, flydubai had its inaugural flight in June 2009. By May 2010, the airline was serving 13 destinations from its hub in Dubai:
- Aleppo, Syria
- Alexandria, Egypt
- Amman, Jordan
- Bahrain, Bahrain
- Baku, Azerbaijan
- Beirut, Lebanon
- Damascus, Syria
- Djibouti, Djibouti
- Doha, Qatar
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Khartoum, Sudan
- Kuwait, Kuwait
- Muscat, Oman
By June 2010, the airline expects to add five more cities to their routing map: Assiut, Egypt; Kabul, Afghanistan; Istanbul, Turkey; Latakia, Syria; and Luxor, Egypt.
flydubai Offers Low Cost Flights
flydubai operates similar to a lot of discount European and North American airlines in that the base ticket price includes a seat on board and a carry-on luggage allowance (in this case one handbag of 10kg or less in weight).
The airline uses the local currency of United Arab Emirates Dirhams (AED) to price its flights. As of publication of this article, 1 AED was the equivalent of 30 cents US. That means a 350AED flight from Dubai to Alexandria would cost approximately US$96. An online currency converter can assist with exchange calculations for flight prices.
Once one has paid for the seat, everything else, from assigned seats to checked luggage, is extra. And it’s definitely a good idea to prepay, as these additions cost more to add on at the airport, if the option is even still available. For instance, the first checked bag is AED60 if paid for in advance, but at the airport, it’ll cost AED150.
Once onboard, expect meals and beverages to cost extra, as well. But as Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, explained in a press statement, “This is how we make our fares fair. After all why should you pay for a suitcase if you are traveling with hand luggage? And why should you pay for a meal if you don't want to eat?"
Booking With flydubai
To get the lowest priced flights, it’s best to book online. Booking via phone will incur an AED50 fee. Booking in person at the airport may incur a higher fee.
So whether headed to Dubai as a destination, or working on a round-the-world air ticket, flydubai can offer another option for low cost flights. For more information or to book, visit flydubai online.
Michelle Snow - Michelle Snow been a freelance journalist and photographer for over twenty years, specializing in travel and entertainment. She got her ...
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