Arent they the same ? Dont think there is a fourth class of sub-first, certainly listed elsewhere as "First class"

It's still called First Class, EK only operate aircraft with 2 (J/Y) or 3 (F/J/Y) classes. Only difference is that on some aircraft (A380/A345/B77L and select B77W's) First class is equipped with 'Suites', however it is still called First Class, not 'suites class'. When booking on emirates.com for First Class, the booking indicates 'F' as booking class, whether it is a skycruiser seat, suite or old fasioned first class seat, just like 'Y' for economy. Same with the boarding cards, are issued as F, J or Y. However on the EK printed timetable, when they use the code P for First class, it indicates that the operating a/c is equipped with suites in First Class.

AFAIK, tickets booked on 'suites' are booked into A or P class while regular F is A or F class. However, I think routes with a variety of suite and non suite planes have identical "F" and "P" fares so there is no price difference only a difference in booking class.

With EK's case, the 3 classes is categorized as FJY and PJY.

On EK printed timetables, as well as itinerary AND reservation system, P is used to represent Suites, F represents regular First Class.

In general cases, F is the Regular First Class and P is the "Premium" type. However, few carriers such as Korean Air uses RJY, where "R" is representing as Suites but they still call it First Class.

Using the term of "Suites Class" isn't exactly correct since that's my personal habit, however someone didn't get the story totally right. Especially with the case of EK, P isn't really the standard/regular First Class that you see in the past 10 years.

I got the story 'right', however was just pointing out that first class is first class, not suites class, just to avoid 'confusing' people

Also just to point out that aircraft are deployed according to availability and not according to what was planned. Eg. SIN/BNE was operating without suites in F for the past week, even though the EK schedule states operating with suites in F. The timetable is only used as an indication. I know beacause I operated this flight.

Has it ever happened that on a ULH route lately where an 777 with F suites was replaced with a 777 with Skycruiser F?

No, never. A ULR flight is always operated with suites in F, due to the fact that any aircraft with crew rest is also equipped with suites in F. However on flights such as LHR, CDG, DUS, MUC, FCO, etc., the aircraft with suites is never guaranteed, and more often then not, the deployed aircraft is dependant on availability, eg. BNE/SIN operated with Skycruiser seats in the past week, FCO also on certain days, even though the schedule timetable states 'suites'. Its always a gamble on sectors shorter than 11 hrs. Also operated a PER without suites, when it was supposed to be a suite equipped a/c, but was changed at the last minute to a B773 with the Skycruiser suites, without CRC (crew rest), and instead they blocked 4 Y class seats for the crew, which is a very common occurance.

So my SFO-DXB flight will definately be suites, but my DXB-LHR (which indicates suites right now), could be changed to Skycruiser? I quite them.

Do none of the 777s with Skycruiser have the crew rest compartment?

Timetable is one thing but availability/inventory is another. Although they're supposed to match 100%, but it never happens that way.

Airlines will change planned aircraft operation first in the availability/inventory, then re-adjust the schedule. I know because I've been tracking down the flight information in the reservation system for several years.


In short, Suites are guaranteed unless there are last-minute aircraft change, this is a norm for most carriers, especially when it comes to aircraft changes that involves in different configuration.

For FCO, only A380 flight is operated by Suites, 77W is not.

LHR is EK's flagship market. Except EK007/008, all flights operates with Suites. Chances of configuration change is slim but can't always rule out.

Looks like we'll see a 2nd daily to VCE next summer albeit I thought all the A343 will leave? Maybe it's 2 daily A345.
http://www.transportweekly.com/pages...rticles/88129/

The 2nd daily VCE flight will get the current LED flight number. LED will get EK175/176 next winter as you can see here:
http://airlineroute.net/2011/12/12/ek-s12update2/

2 Daily A340-300 to VCE from 25MAR12

OK, we might see EK135/136 switch to a B777 and EK 137/138 to A345 next winter.

The latest B777-300ER (A6-EGJ) made its first flight. Configuration: 8J/42J/310Y

Delivery of A6-EDS (20th A380) is scheduled next Friday. A6-EDT was delivery 2nd December. A6-EDU follows next year.

Winter 2012/13 is showing 2 Daily 345 to VCE for the moment. Whether this will change or not is pending, since only few EK routes sees aircraft changes in W12.