I was forced to fly BA two weeks ago. Got summoned to head office and they paid and it was allegedly cheaper on BA than EK. I say allegedly because I didn't see the fare myself.

Haven't flown a legacy major in years and the contrast was stark for me. Metal seemed ancient, with few bells or whistles. Some of the CC were very nice and friendly, but most looked haggard (and some of the CC on the ME airlines are nice and friendly too, with none in recent memory haggard). Service felt clunky and like scattershot. All round experience was meh.

I have my gripes with EK, EY and QR but my money will largely go to those three. Service is increasingly becoming hit and miss, but I'm not bothered if I don't get recognised or acknowledged (and I do often enough), unless the Gold chap sitting next to me is and I'm not. It's not a published benefit anyhow, just something nice that happens once in a while.