DUBAI CONCOURSE D

Arriving at Dubai International’s new Concourse D, two flights landed at about the same time – a B737 and A320 – but the gates from the airbridge required a couple of attempts to open. It then took a couple of travellators to get to the new train to the old Terminal 1. When we got to the arrivals station, the platform was cramped and there were only two downward escalators. The whole thing has been poorly planned in terms of passenger flow – I would not like to see two wide-bodied planes arrive at the same time.

ZKSmith March 11, 18:34

I have to agree with you. Trains connecting the concourse to the landside terminal were very busy, even when I arrived and departed at relatively quiet times.

sleak76 March 12, 08:04

Positives to Concourse D: 1) Great lounges. Qatar Airways finally has its own; Cathay Pacific doesn’t but you are given access to Lufthansa’s Senator lounge. 2) Great selection of eateries for non-premium flyers. 3) Mobile phone charge points – three-pin UK plugs and USB – in abundance. 4) Boots and other essential shops are available. 5) Large windows at the boarding gates giving great views of planes landing/clearing.

Negatives: 1) Concourse D is only accessible from T1; there’s no direct access by road. 2) Not many boarding bridges – the area opposite Concourse D has a few more parking stands for transit buses, so expect a higher chance of a bus service than was the case when flying out from T1 (C gates). 3) When we landed, the bridge took over ten minutes to dock so expect teething problems.