A380 substituted for 773ER both ways
 

Hello.

I am travelling on EK3/EK4 next year and booked the flights in First Class for the A380 experience. However, last week I noticed that initially EK3 switched to a 773ER but EK4 remained the A380. I spoke with Emirates to express my dissatisfaction (I know they're perfectly allowed to but I'm quite annoyed as I picked them purely for the A380). Now, EK4 has also changed to the 777.

Is it likely that they'll change EK3/EK4 to a 777 without private suites in First as that'll be an even bigger change in product? Do they use the A380 as a selling tactic with no intention of actually using it on EK3/EK4?

If anyone has an experience of First on a 777, I'd be grateful to hear from you.

Many thanks,

tom139

Airbus is still having problems delivering the planes on-time and thus EK will not get as many A380s in the first half of 2010 as they expected. Not much they can do about it.

I can understand your frustration. I have posted elsewhere as had Flying Fireman about the change of A380 to 777 on the Bangkok route. I recently flew the following four sectors in F

LHR-DXB: 773ER - with Suites
DXB-BKK: A380 - with Suites
BKK-DXB: 773ER - no Suites
DXB-LGW: 772ER - no Suites

The Suites were the same on both A380 and 777. In the end, the product was not too much different. I was fortunate as the crews on each sector were very good and could not be faulted. Once a glass or two of DP was consumed I was quite relaxed.

3/4 substitution is due to an Airbus delay with aircraft deliveries.

The BKK swap I believe was a one off due to aircraft going tech.

Sorry to disagree. The A380 for the BKK-DXB sector was pulled before 9 September and I was due to fly on 20 October. I was given varying reasons when in Abu Dhabi and Dubai on 10 September and the most plausible was the routine maintenance of another A380. I was informed it was easier for scheduling purposes to take it off the BKK route. Who knows?:(

a very similar situation just happened to me and mrs. dearbee. we are scheduled to fly dxb-icn on 12/24 and back on 1/1. all of dec was supposed to be on the A380 but it appears that this has been pushed back one month. the dxb-icn leg has been replaced with 773ER while the return trip remains A380 (for now).

i'm not even going to waste my time and effort calling them. i caught this change early enough and was able to change our seats so that we're sitting in the same row. am i disappointed? of course, but this is EK and EK does as EK pleases.

No, I found calling them was an exercise in futility. I have however written to them, pointing out the great onboard experience but the disappointment at the inflexibility of the reservations teams. I have had an acknowledgment letter and will enlighten you on their response idc. I'm not expecting much given the experience of other FTs.

Bait-and-switch
 

And, unfortunately, you are not going to get a response either. It's called bait-and-switch and Emirates has it down to a science. I've fought that battle with them multiple times and always lost. Last time they substituted a (really) old 777 for a 777 with suites. The FC seats did not even recline flat. On an overnight flight. Very uncomfortable. But they really just don't care ...

happened to us when we were flying in J from dxb to lhr. the seats were old and did not lie-flat; it reminded me of the old planes used on the dxb-ist route. when i questioned the purser about this, he played dumb.

Are there really seats in the EK fleet that do not recline fully flat in First? Is it only Suites that have a 1-2-1 configuration?