“Denied boarding”. These are not the words any traveller wants to hear, but more so when you’re on this particular flight, of all flights, and you really need to catch it. I’d booked my seat on EK229 from Dubai to Seattle months ago. Business class, of course, because of the 14-hour flight time and horribly early departure, because I’d been working all week beforehand and because five hours after landing in Seattle, I’d be getting on a boat bound for Alaska.
The timings were perfect, but it also had the potential to be a perfect storm. If the flight was cancelled, or delayed, I’d miss my cruise. Emirates doesn’t have a habit of messing up flights, so I was fairly confident it would all be fine. Yet I had a feeling something would happen. Ten days before departure I’d gone online to reserve my seat, and that’s when the first alarm bells went off. The entire cabin was fully booked, and I seemed to be stuck with a middle seat in a 42-seat business class cabin.
The next rumble of danger occurred when, two days before the flight, I received an email notification to check in online but when I tried to do so, a message popped up on screen saying “Online check-in is unavailable”.
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I called Emirates, who explained that the flight was “too full” for online check-in and it would have to be done at the airport. But there was nothing to worry about, as my seat was confirmed. After a sleepless night, I arrived at the airport check-in counters more than three hours before departure. Again, there was an air of unease. Almost immediately, the check-in agent was on the phone.
I heard the phrase “denied boarding” but thought that could not possibly apply to me. Yet it was happening – I had been bumped. The check-in agent explained that the flight was overbooked, and the business and first class cabins were full because most of the other passengers were connecting from India and further afield, so had checked in ahead of me. Every seat had been allocated, and mine was not showing on her screen.
After a mild panic, I was told that I could fly in economy and receive "compensation" in the form of a voucher for a return Emirates flight anywhere in the world. So I would fly in economy today, (hopefully) back in business class on the return, and I could do the whole trip again in business class for free at a time of my choosing before this time next year.
I could also use the business class lounge today. “Can I have an exit seat?” I asked. Even better, I was given a window bulkhead seat in the first small economy cabin behind business and the seat next to me was blocked. Once my economy boarding pass was safely printed, I signed on the dotted line and carried on. Somehow, being downgraded felt like an upgrade.
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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The five pillars of Islam
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Wayne Rooney's career
Everton (2002-2004)
- Appearances: 48
- Goals: 17
Manchester United (2004-2017)
- Appearances: 496
- Goals: 253
England (2003-)
- Appearances: 119
- Goals: 53
