Location: Poole but Edinburgh will always be "home."
Programs: Lowest of the low in all airline programs. Except FlyBe I'm Premier!
Posts: 4,045
Economy Class: Qatar or Emirates?
This is a very difficult thread for me. Having enjoyed the luxury of various airlines First and Business Class products over the last 10 or so years economic pressure dicates that flights to Dubai for my wife and I at the end of the month are in economy rather than biz or first.
The price for Qatar and Emirates is about the same. I'm slightly put off by the emirates Y config of 3-4-3 as opposed to Qatars 2-4-2. I'm a 6 foot, 17.5 stone ex-rugby prop forward so I need a bit of space.
The outbound flight (fron LGW) on Qatar is a A330-200 and the return (to LHR) is a A340-600. Obviously there is the hassle of changing in DOH as opposed to a direct with EK.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
__________________
Quitters never win, winners never quit. But those who never win and never quit are idiots.
Programs: Lufthansa Miles and More, Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Posts: 1
Absolutely go Emirates directly. Transfer in Doha is ok but there are very few amenities until the new airport opens, then it will be great. Emirates and Qatar are relatively the same in terms of legroom, although nothing compared to the standard you've been used to. Overall, save yourself the hassle of connecting and fly Emirates straight to Dubai. Hope this helps.
I had a EK Y flight CPT-DXB-MUC a few weeks back (also first time in a long time) with 3-4-3 on the 777 and I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised in terms of space. It wasn't bad at all. Food was plenty and good (I have had worse on C flights on other airlines). Service was extremely slow, however. Dinner-service started at 19.30 and lasted until 23.00 and then the cabin crew started the breakfast service at 01.30 in the morning.
I DESPISE the 3-4-3 configuration on EK's 777s. Not because of seat size but because it's very unpractical when travelling with a partner (but there are partner seats at the back but can't lean against the wall). If privacy with partner means a lot and you want to be comfortable during the flight, then I recommend QR's A340s or A330s (make sure it's not a 77W though).
Programs: QR Gold, BA Silver, EK Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 172
QR every time
Avoid EK Y like the plague - it's really bad. OP sounds like a big guy and 3-4-3 on a 777 is an abomination. If it's full, the physical presence of your seat neighbour just feels so close. Plus bear in mind you've got a higher pax load overall and everything is slower as a result (boarding, eating, exiting, everything). Doha is perfectly adequate don't worry about it.
I used to enjoy EK economy when we got 2-4-2 config A330s on the MAN run but the moment they switched to the 777 - did it once and never again!
I suspect you will find QR economy better than you think. As the saying goes, at the end of the day, it's "all just a seat on a plane"
Location: Poole but Edinburgh will always be "home."
Programs: Lowest of the low in all airline programs. Except FlyBe I'm Premier!
Posts: 4,045
Thanks for the responses. We have shelved the trip for the time being but will probably be making the trip quite frequently in the future as a new job in Dubai is beckoning. There seems to be a good range of ex-UK J fares with Gulf, Qatar and Emirates. Gulf Air are bang in the middle of QR and EK at £1400 but the advantage is they can be cancelled for £200 and changed for £100 while the others are non-cancelable or changeable.
__________________
Quitters never win, winners never quit. But those who never win and never quit are idiots.
I recommend QR, which has more spacious seats in Y class. Emirates economy class is just bad as any other european airline ( very little seat pitch and too much seats in each plane
Not sure if it matters to your decision-making process, but if you are going to collect the miles QR is very fast to post. I've gotten off flights in Doha and had the miles posted by the time I reached the lounge and logged on.
Now I've never tried to use the miles, so it might all be moot, eh?
FWIW
DLM
__________________
"Hovering like a fly waiting for the windshield on the freeway."
I recommend QR, which has more spacious seats in Y class. Emirates economy class is just bad as any other european airline ( very little seat pitch and too much seats in each plane
Difference is in seat width and not seat pitch. Their seat pitch of 33 to 34 inches is much, much better than euro airlines.
Programs: British Airways Executive Club, United Mileage Plus & bmi Diamond Club
Posts: 1,427
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gaza
There seems to be a good range of ex-UK J fares with Gulf, Qatar and Emirates. Gulf Air are bang in the middle of QR and EK at £1400 but the advantage is they can be cancelled for £200 and changed for £100 while the others are non-cancelable or changeable.
Programs: QR Gold, BA Silver, EK Silver, HH Diamond
Posts: 172
Quote:
the A330-200 sleeper seats
An extremely flattering description. The A332 J seats, such as on the LGW-DXB run, are possibly the worst mid/long haul J product it is possible to find anywhere. 2-3-2 squashed into an A330, tight aisle meaning banged elbows. So narrow in the middle row, that only 2 out of 3 pax get somewhere to put their drink down!
You will spot these as they are the "egg shaped" seats, and they are a complete disgrace to Emirates.
Not sure if it matters to your decision-making process, but if you are going to collect the miles QR is very fast to post. I've gotten off flights in Doha and had the miles posted by the time I reached the lounge and logged on.
Now I've never tried to use the miles, so it might all be moot, eh?
FWIW
DLM
Yeah but trying to use those miles is a nightmare.
__________________
There is another FTer called UAfan. In my name there is a space between "UA" and "Fan".
I just returned from a series of meetings in Africa & Asia during which I flew 8 legs on EK, almost all of them on 777's. I found the seating in Y to be very cramped, and I'm not a big guy. If the person next to you is big, it is quite uncomfortable.
I just returned from the Houston/Doha Qatar roundtrip. Going the flight was nearly full but the service was great. Super entertainment with hundreds of movies and shows. Comfy seats, however, the extra seat back pitch is not necessarily good because if you don’t recline your own seat all the way, the forward head rest is in your face.
Coming back the flight was almost empty which made it especially wonderful. I laid down on my row and had all of the privacy I wanted. Great tasting food and good amenities as well. I recommend!
Last edited by ettoufela; Oct 29, 09 at 11:11 pm.
Reason: Failed to mention the airline!
Having enjoyed the luxury of various airlines First and Business Class products over the last 10 or so years economic pressure dicates that flights to Dubai for my wife and I at the end of the month are in economy rather than biz or first. 
