Business and First Arabian Airpass fares have been increased by around 30%. Was told when paying that the chauffeur drive facility has also been dropped. Checked the T&C's on the website but there is no mention of this.

Thank goodness I booked a bunch just a month ago

The website still shows the same pricing?

That is what i told the ticket desk, the response was that the price increase were effective from 1st April, including the withdrawal of the chauffeur service

The terms and conditions listed on the website clearly states that you have until 31 March 2011 to ticket at the rates listed. Call back and get somebody else. Lately the EK service by phone has gone down hill fast. I did actually talk to one competent person in the NYC office last week that reticketed everything while I waited on the phone and I nearly fell out of my chair in shock. Usually I get the agents that say it is impossible to pay to a change ticket over the phone and that they don't accept credit cards or checks to make payments for changes. Flying down to LA or taking a flight to DXB and paying there are the usual options.

I would call back and ask for somebody else or find a travel agent that deals with EK often and therefore will not charge you a fee and book your tickets through them. There is no incentive to use the Emirates' website now anyway as they have taken away the booking bonus.

I've been able to change a flight and pay the change fee at the airport just fine. This was through the Singapore office though.

Yes, but it is always easier to do it in advance over the phone. There is no need anymore with electronic tickets to do anything in person. It takes less than a minute to reissue an electronic ticket and when you are flying a person in, it is a lot easier to have them with the right ticket before they get to the airport rather than deal with two lines at the airport.

Do you mean to pay for the change over the phone?

I understand that shouldn't be a problem, but in said case, I didn't want to pay till I got to the airport. It wasn't too bad, except for a short queue at DXB to re-ticket.