Flew ORD-DXB yesterday (arriving today) and really felt it was a bad experience. First World Problem bad experience - but nonetheless. Started at check-in. Nice enough older gentleman but hopelessly incompetent. He needed to ask a supervisor for everything. But he was nice and maybe he is new and still learning - he did have the good taste to apologize for the "lounge" in advance - gotta give him credit for that.
Booked 10F in the hopes that the middle would stay empty - it did. Had it not, it would have been super cramped. The interior of the cabin looks expensive. Wood, leather - but is rather non-functional. I mean you see virtually everyone's screen - nice screens - but awfully distracting. The FA was either hating her job and/or mentally challenged. Seat didn't recline - told her twice - nothing happened. Had to ask purser - who eventually rebooted the thing. Asked for ear plugs - twice - eventually asked purser. Asked not to be woken for breakfast. Was woken for breakfast. Told her I had asked not to be woken and I am not eating. "Here is your food" and just handed me the tray... It's nice to have a fridge in the chair I suppose - but unless you want a Pepsi - why bother? The little star ceiling is kinda cute, but squeezing myself into a fairly tight (and yes, good looking) seat makes EK an experience not to be repeated. I am on the next flight now - crew seems nicer - but I am really happy to be flying back on QR - a lot less shiny - but a lot more functional.
This might sound like a sacrilege to some - but I would rather do that flight on AA than EK (I know AA isn't flying that route - just for comparison) - I was really interested in the EK experience, and I am glad to have it out of the system now - but overall I am rather disappointed. Staff at the lounge wasn't exactly friendly either - felt more like grouchy Lufthansa staff.