Absolutely, I doubt if this figure is below 98%. The A332 with other airlines is absolutely fine, btw. So people would not associate the A332 with a miserable plane (which the fitting is on EK).

I would agree. However, recently when talking to friends and family I have noticed some "A380 awareness." People do seem to know and care if they are on the A380 IME. This is especially true for people on LHR-DXB flights when some of the flights have the A380 and some don't.

Yup, sure it is. EK is moving forward all A380 service to LHR.

http://airlineroute.net/2012/08/02/ek-lhr-dec12/

I think those route has been done extremely very well. They're always oversold for everyday. The entire 77W will have freeing up to fly elsewhere from DXB.

Perhaps the first time around. But after experiencing the A332, they could possibly have a negative opinion of EK, and choose not to fly them again, when other one stop alternatives exist. The fact that there are no (?) other one stop alternatives from most secondary hubs in Europe to Phuket except on EK is enough to fill a plane even if it offers a sub par product. The same can't be said of BKK.

Totally agree with you. I myself avoid (if possible) any flight that is operated by EK's A332s and A343s. If I do it, I'm sure others would as well.

Fair comment mate.

I also totally agree with you, EK433B77W & ung1. As mentioned before this direct routing is very appealing for me (given I fly out of HAM) even despite the long connection of >6hrs on the flight to HKT. It means for us we will just do a stopover in Dubai on the outbound flight and fly all the way back on the inbound leg. Fine with me.

But I will definitely hold off until this flight changes to a 772 or something else next year, once the 332s are finally retired or sold as I am not happy to pay J fares for that product and would rather opt for an additional stop.

Off topic, but Routes & Changes: EK61/62 DXB-HAM-DXB has been downgraded to A332 for August :(:( .... Lucky me, my next flight is scheduled for 01.Sep., listed as 773ER with proper Lie Flats for an overnight flight again... :):)

exciting
 

very exciting, new routes, new changes. Thank you for your input.
I'm wondering why PVG DXB PVG is only Mo Wed Fri on A380s.
However, given that Beijing has it daily, it is fine too, can use both as combination.
Just sometimes my colleagues rather prefer 380s then 777, recently my Beijing colleagues have been more proud of their city in front my Shanghai colleagues, only because 380s are flying more frequently from and to Beijing.

Still, the vast majority of pax are in Economy where the difference to the hard products is lower. I still think that most pax wouldn't know if they sat in an Airbus or Boeing frame.

EY have daily flights AUH-HKT-AUH (code share with Air Berlin metal) that operates with 2 classes (J & Y). There is a fair amount of point-point premium demand from monied ex-pats that will utilise this route - I hope! EKs timings are good for connections IMHO.

Oops sorry for the typo and thanks for the correction

See, I've got support! :)

DXB-HKT is nice for OD traffic but HKT-DXB is horrible for OD. vice versa for connecting pax.

Disagree with this.

Dont mind flying BC on an EK 330 but try to avoid economy on it like the plague.

Seat backs slip, TV is crap, no legroom because of the video box, cramped and generally very tatty.

As posted above, many who have flown once on an EK 330 will try to avoid it the second time.

I notice that the EK HKG - DXB flight I normally take has changed to the A340. How does the economy on this compare to the A330?

I have flown on the A340 and the B777 and would have to say I prefer the A340.

Both in Business and Economy

A340 wins for me

Any word on Botswana, yet?