Completed three rounds trips in J during April:

1. DXB-AMS-CDG-DXB
2. DXB-JFK-BOS-JFK-DXB
3. DXB-CDG-DXB

Some notes/comments:

1. Lounge - F lounge great in DXB, a nice treat

2. Check-in - I don’t check bags nor do physical check-in, so generally no difference other than in JFK, where you must do so…in any event, J line was empty as well there
• On the DXB-AMS-CDG-DXB, it was a same day return (don’t ask), and the check-in staff in the F line in DXB were unable to print me a return BP (it was still too early the night before so did not do the return segment from home)…no matter how much I insisted, it proved futile for whatever reason. After 20 minutes, I desisted
• I ended up quickly doing in on my BB as I moved through immigration and printed it off the business center computer in the F Lounge (!)

3. Plat Status - No mention of Plat status in any flight, lounge, or check-in other than one leg
• Not something I worry about or care, as long as the Champs is cold…but did find it curious, particularly on the April 4th flight given how close it was to the start of the program

4. Op-Ups - Of the 6 EK legs, 2 upgrades to F (DXB-AMS and DXB-CDG)
• Very welcome though I would say 33% hit rate is average for me

5. Plat Loads - Only asked about Plat loads in the DXB-JFK and the DXB-AMS legs
• On the DXB-JFK flight, there were a total of 6 Plats (and 2 IOs)…only 1 Plat in F, the rest in J and Y…no upgrades apparently, flight very full all around…seems like high Plat and IO loads
• On the DXB-AMS, there were 4 Plat in total, no IOs. One was in F already, then 3 were upgraded from J (+ 1 Gold partner), so 4 upgrades total

6. Chauffeur Drives - Massive queues for Chauffeur drive on DXB for 2 of the flights…Plat status seemed to carry some weight (all Volvos, btw, both ways in DXB)

7. Platinum Line - Have booked and upgraded several personal flights over the month and I have found many teething issues with the Plat call center staff and knowledge, though attentiveness is excellent as always

Of course, hard product and most times soft product continue to be excellent, key reason why I continue to fly EK. Generally, though, I would agree with what others have said - Plat is a marginally better version of Gold (perhaps even the new Gold?). I would hope to see additional enhancements over the coming months.

ECM