I have received a lot of posts asking the reasoning behind my signature and even more PMs (my box is now 98% full!
) so I thought I would outline a thread explaining why I have stopped, and I will place a link to it in my signature.
OK, so the reasons I have stopped flying Emirates are three fold.
The first is due to possible discriminatory policies. Although they have not been proven, they have not been unproven either. Despite this, I was giving Emirates the benefit of the doubt and still kept flying them.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=722796
The second is due to their pathetic customer service. I went to an Emirates office, only to meet a man who acted as if I was some five year old who had lost my way. The people at the office (EK NY) were demeaning, rude and inefficient. Because of them, I lost seats that I had been waiting on for months. Even this wasn't enough to make me stop forever (I went on the buy the tickets in the end)
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=762568
The third and final straw was when I tried to take advantage of their advertised "STPC" offer for long layovers. I was forced to contact several EK offices in addition to my travel agent. (EK UK, US, Canada, Pakistan and UAE) I was fed lies by some of the offices while others admitted that there is no way I'd be getting the overnight hotel without reason. I sent EK an extremely irate message which details all of my correspondence with the airline and asking for an explanation. As far as I am concerned, this is false advertising. If they advertise something, and I fit all the (lengthy) terms and conditions they offer the hotel without issue.
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=765127
The third thread is what caused me to refund my travel with EK (on the new DXB-YYZ-DXB nonstop no less
) I will be switching to QR or GF (hopefully QR) and my parents to VS/BA unless EK comes back with a satisfactory response to my complaint.
Edited to Add:
I will still remain active in the forum, and remain interested in EK - it is just that I won't continue my positive advertising for them like I have been doing all these years. If they come back with a satisfactory response, I will most certainly continue flying them.
Cheers,