Recently flew JFK-DXB-ACC (yes, I know DL has a nonstop JFK-ACC but my organization is affilated with Emirates). A quick trip report: EK's service in Y is outstanding. I've flown SQ 21/22 (EWR-SIN) and this is the only flight/ airline you can even compare to SQ. Other than the size of the seats (EK has a 33' pitch but isn't as comfortable as UA E+ while SQ's executive econ is like AA's domestic first class), EK is just as good if not better.
IMO EK's ICE entertainment system is better than SQ's KrisWorld. I had no idea how good ICE was until my flight- over 50 recent movies on demand, over 600 channels of entertainment including all of beethoven's piano concertos and symphonies!
I also felt that the food on EK was better than SQ. They also have real hot towels in Y and printed menus. On 204 they serve lunch, a snack, and breakfast. EK's lunch/ dinners have a lot of food- appetizer, salad, entree, bread, and desert. Bigger than SQ and at least I felt the quality was better. On 203 back to JFK they serve a dinner, snack, and breakfast. The snacks are similar to SQ- the FAs serve a snack and leave the leftovers in the galley along with some drinks and basically you can go and help yourself. They have sandwiches, fruit, and granola and candy bars.
The service on EK was excellent, similar to SQ. EK's cabin crew is of many diferent nationalities, which I thought was interesting.
This flight absolutely blows away, say, UA JFK-NRT (similar distance), even in E+, ICE and the better food and service make up for it (I'm only 5'9'' so 33' pitch is enough for me). IMO, EK needs to create a class similar to BA's World Traveler Plus for those who want to be a little more comfortable than in coach but don't want to shell out the big bucks for C class. This would really be something!
It blows my mind how EK can operate three flights daily JFK-DXB and be profitable, most of the other passengers seemed to be headed towards India. I think EK could clean up if they started serving YYZ, no other good options to get to that part of the world, and Toronto has a very diverse population... (Ethiad flies from YYZ to Abu Dhabi if I recall, but I'm not sure about their onward connections).
Connecting through DBX: I tried to find this info before I left but couldn't so I hope this can help someone elsse:
Dubai duty free is great, you can easily kill four or more hours shopping/ browsing
Shower facilities in airport hotel over gate 17- US $13
Access to business class lounge (shower, buffet)- US $21 for one hour (did not pick this option)
Access to Marhaba Lounge- free with JFK boarding pass and onward connection, but they didn't let me in because I went into Dubai (lounge dragon explained to me that since immigration stamped my boarding pass I don't get admittance)- no shower anyway but they have a buffet
Over four hour layover- present boarding pass to Emirates restauraunt in terminal for free meal
Over eight hour layover- can get room at Airport Millenium with free meals. Even traveling on a free ticket (donated by Emirates foundation), they gave it to me. It's not in the main hotel, they have a transit hotel on the side. It's a decent, clean hotel but nothing special, kind of has the feel of a hostel/ dorm. They also gave me coupons for lunch, dinner, and snack. They provide a van to the hotel, if you need, there's a agent who issues boarding passes at the lobby. I went into Dubai on my layover JFK-ACC. Coming home ACC-JFK, they wouldn't give me a room, the rule being that since there was a earlier flight DXB-JFK, they do not provide rooms.
One last note, DXB-ACC-DXB was also good, but not as good as JFK-DXB (just like on SQ, SIN-TPE wasn't anywhere near as good as EWR-SIN). According to seatguru, the pitch is 32 rather than 33, and the plane definitely felt smaller; also they don't have ICE on this route (choice of only 10 movies and about 50 audio channels). Hopefully EK will introduce ICE on all routes. Food still excellent though.
Overall, I was very, very impressed with EK and would definitely recommend over European airlines if flying from JFK to Middle East/ India. Wonder if they have plans for other North American cities?
