Zol
Nov 5, 11, 6:18 am
As I arrived at T3 in DXB yesterday morning I witnessed something I have never seen before. T3 running at almost full capacity. It all started on the road with queues of cars entering the terminal drop-off area.
I was in Y but being Gold entered the premium area and proceeded to the J desks. Now as many of you who have used this area will know the F desks come first. I though people were feeling rich this weekend and that the desks were busy, the busiest I've seen anyway but not so bad. I proceeded to the J desks and it was absolute mayhem, like LHR last xmas during the snowstorm. All the desks were manned and there were no less 350-400 passengers waiting and waiving arms. Whilst I queued up and waited my turn I observed fellow passengers and came to the conclusion that there are definitely more Gold pax in these Qs then there are actual J passengers. In addition, with it being the Eid holidays most Gold cardholders were now no longer travelling alone but rather with the spouses and children which added to the mayhem. At this point I must confess I was to blame as well with my +1. I could only imagine what the regular check-in desks were like.
My flight was overbooked by 19 in Y and 2 in J and -8 in F......I had my sights on that J seat but to no avail, it was not to be today. The upgrade gods did not smile down on me.
As I proceeded airside and into the lounge, I noticed not a single member of staff was smiling, not even a smirk. I mean it was busy but no more than an average day in T3.
I was on 342 to KUL. Flight delayed 30 mins, not so bad I thought, perhaps another latte (too early in the morning for a moet). We eventually board and then further delay, the A380 to our left takes our pushback tug. We eventually take off and for 7 hours everything that could go wrong on this flight did go wrong; service was horrendous.
Now I am not usually one to complain and I will not be writing to EK CASA about this nor blame anyone. These things do happen every now and then and you just deal with it. Where I was disappointed was the fact that I was travelling with my mother, first time in 9 years, and I wanted to somehow show her how me being on a plane every few weeks paid off.....this time it didn't. Massive Qs at check-in (she actually went and sat down while I queued), egate didn't work, can't guest her into the lounge as in Y and finally no op-up and no SFS welcome.
It all paid off however when we checked in to our hotel were status and guaranteed room upgrades really pay off.....
I was in Y but being Gold entered the premium area and proceeded to the J desks. Now as many of you who have used this area will know the F desks come first. I though people were feeling rich this weekend and that the desks were busy, the busiest I've seen anyway but not so bad. I proceeded to the J desks and it was absolute mayhem, like LHR last xmas during the snowstorm. All the desks were manned and there were no less 350-400 passengers waiting and waiving arms. Whilst I queued up and waited my turn I observed fellow passengers and came to the conclusion that there are definitely more Gold pax in these Qs then there are actual J passengers. In addition, with it being the Eid holidays most Gold cardholders were now no longer travelling alone but rather with the spouses and children which added to the mayhem. At this point I must confess I was to blame as well with my +1. I could only imagine what the regular check-in desks were like.
My flight was overbooked by 19 in Y and 2 in J and -8 in F......I had my sights on that J seat but to no avail, it was not to be today. The upgrade gods did not smile down on me.
As I proceeded airside and into the lounge, I noticed not a single member of staff was smiling, not even a smirk. I mean it was busy but no more than an average day in T3.
I was on 342 to KUL. Flight delayed 30 mins, not so bad I thought, perhaps another latte (too early in the morning for a moet). We eventually board and then further delay, the A380 to our left takes our pushback tug. We eventually take off and for 7 hours everything that could go wrong on this flight did go wrong; service was horrendous.
Now I am not usually one to complain and I will not be writing to EK CASA about this nor blame anyone. These things do happen every now and then and you just deal with it. Where I was disappointed was the fact that I was travelling with my mother, first time in 9 years, and I wanted to somehow show her how me being on a plane every few weeks paid off.....this time it didn't. Massive Qs at check-in (she actually went and sat down while I queued), egate didn't work, can't guest her into the lounge as in Y and finally no op-up and no SFS welcome.
It all paid off however when we checked in to our hotel were status and guaranteed room upgrades really pay off.....