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Mar 10, 2011 | 1:58 am

#20

Yahillwe

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Join Date: Dec 2001

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ung1

Honestly, you should check out how the VIP terminal works, as I'm sure these sort of annoyances wouldn't be there. I don't know if it's only for private jet customers, though you do sound like you're in that category (and I mean that in a good way).

Obviously one easy solution to this whole problem was to have your son fly in F, either using miles or whatever. EK does value your custom, which is why they give you F lounge access. And they value your son's custom, so they gave him J lounge access. Anyway legally in the UAE sons cease to be 'family' after 18.

Even if I wanted to, I wouldn't do the private, very environmentally and class conscious... and don't go flogging me for flying F...And the solution, if there is another flight with EK, would be to just avoid the lounge and go directly to the hotel...As for sons and 18, I am originally from th biggest country in the gulf and know the customs very well, a son NEVER, EVER ceases to be a "family" on the contrary will always be THE family, since the son carries the family name forward. The daughter stays a family but when she marries (she keeps her maiden name, never belongs to anyone but to her birth family) her children carry her husbands family. Maybe this was were the confusion was, my son carries his father's name and I carry MY father's name. We can go on and on about this ritual, but this is how it works, my 70 some old mother carries her father's name and never has my family's name.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descending

Just my observation, but if you were prepared to divide your family inflight by travelling in seperate class cabins, then it shouldnt come as a surprise that EK applied their access policy accordingly.

If you have ever read the BA threads about kids in F, you might get to know my feeling about that, I already feel ashamed that my young adult kids travel in CW, would never and only in few circumstances allow them in F. I feel that a bit of humble pie for kids takes them a long way.. You might come and argue about CW, and you are correct. The last few times I flew my son in Y. As for the lounge vs the plane, one is just down the ail while the other one is on the other end.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purdey

Yahillwe, I think this is a case of assumption (of guest access to the first class lounge in DXB) being the mother of all screw ups or whatever the quote is.

I would have also assumed that you could guest someone into the first class lounge and in fact you can do this at outstations like LHR and LGW assuming you have a gold, and maybe even silver, Skywards card. Seems that in Dubai you can guest into the Biz lounge which I guess (partly) explains why its so full but not the first lounge thereby keeping it very exclusive. Of course, the outstations are combined first/biz lounges.

For future reference, you can upgrade a Biz fare to first for 25,000 miles (which you should have in your account already) to Europe assuming availability and you can do this right in the lounge; once done you have access to the first lounge. Or, you could just have bought 2 first class tickets to avoid separating the family in the lounge and also on-board or were you expecting an opup as well

Suggest you re-assess not flying again with EK. I mean, there's no comparison between first class on the A380 and BA's dated concept so why would you want to deprive yourself? You wouldn't not fly BA again because they don't do chauffeur drive or would you assume they do just because EK does? Different companies, countries and different rules.

Correct different companies, different rules. As I have mentioned before, I only flew them 3 times rt, and when I looked at my FF account it seems that I signed up on their program only the last 2 rt flights. Am not really that good with FF accounts or collections. And you are correct, there is no comparison with the EK planes and BA's. and even on the dreaded 777s, I still fly BA out of loyalty. The chauffeur, they offered it to me the last 3 flights and I didn't ask for them. It doesn't bother me to take my car or a taxi to the airport, I don't need this service. Am a very humble person as I mentioned before. The lounge use was/is to get away from the "mall atmosphere and having to be bombarded by all the perfumes being sprayed. I have no problem not using the lounges as I love the atmosphere of an airport, but not a mall. Case in point, I use the CCR at LHR to use the restrooms and if I have come back TATL to sleep a bit while waiting for my connection. Have guested many people without any incidence. Even reserved Cabanas for fellow travelers. But as you said, different companies different rules. Am still not sure if I would use EK when I go to Dubai for the June meet up. Might try Qatar or back to BA.

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