Your choice, but in the last week I have done BA New 1st and Ek 1st and Emirates 1st wins hands down

It may be worth trying EK J on the A380 again in a couple of months. They are changing the way the service works to try and improve things.

I think somebody on here said it would be from 1st July... today!

Cheers,
Rick

Postponed to 1st August now as they couldn't finish the training for everyone. Or so my source advises.

Actually, lets be specific. We were told last week at the Dubai Do from the Divisional SVP of Inflight Services that the new J service would begin on Aug 1!

I was on MLE-DXB this morning, the only F passenger on a B777-300 with suites, and the purser told me that the new service was being rolled out today, at least on my flight.

She referred to the plated, no-trolley service in J, which she said was indeed in response to customer complaints about how long it took for the meal service. She also said that there was new service in F, specifically a new menu design (which used a script font that was a tiny bit different from the last time) and new cutlery (which I failed to notice).

Maybe the A380 roll-out is later?

New J Service
 

A380 flights - 1 August
All other a/c types - 1 July

New cutlery and crockery in F. Same menu and service.

New cutlery and crockery in J. 3 starter choices including a soup, 3 main course options. All by hand.

Anybody experienced it yet? What do you think?

That sounds good but I'm missing the part where this is supposed to be faster. The existing J service is a tray with individual courses served by hand - so how exactly is this new one different?

It won't be faster. It will be a complete debacle when its rolled out. The folks who designed the service have absolutely no clue about modularity and effective service flows. The service only works when there is a similarly paced progression in each aisle. While the service itself prescribes overall task targets vis-a-vis time, it doesn't break down the task components and set targets at that level. It will therefore, IMHO, fail horrendously.

So, this is what I am going to do.

I am taking BA for my next trip, thats a done deal. I cant justify spending out all that extra cash when I would expect a $6,000 J class ticket to provide me with a good standard of service, and I do agree that its miles ahead of any US carrier.

Now my status has come through, gold in just over 2 months, I am going to book Y class out and F return. The price is the same as J both ways and I dont mind Y for one trip. I also have the added bonus that I understand the flights are getting full now, so a gold in Y should give me a good chance of getting upgraded?????

Thoughts?

The F/Y combination sounds like a good idea. As far as getting op-upped from Y to J goes its going to be tough for Dxb - Sin as J is sold out for the next few weeks on both direct flights.

Well, had the experience of the new service last night. Despite my initial skepticism, I will admit to being pleasantly surprised. Dinner service was complete 1h45m after takeoff - in comparison to 3h which was the usual timeline for the old service. There was an aisle imbalance however, but that is always going to be an issue where the center section contains an odd number of seats.

No discernable loss of quality, but cutbacks in a few areas.

a) Bread is now pre-plated with the main tray rather than offered by basket.
b) Dessert options are now dessert OR cheese rather than dessert AND cheese.

A new light snack menu was also available throughout the flight that featured roast beef sandwiches, vegetable lasagna, steak pie and chicken tikka masala.

Crew were a bit confused at first but overall it was pretty good.

I have to say that I totally agree with you EK004 Regular, your experience reflects mine. I flew LHR-DXB-SIN .... ICN-DXB-LGW and found the service on th A380 terribly slow, painful almost, with huge gaps between courses, so much so that I just gave up and went to sleep. The ICN flight leaves close to midnight and the dinner service was still going almost three hours after take off into a 9 hour flight and I'd only had two courses. It took them 40 minutes after take off even to take the dinner orders. I also found a large proportion of the crew rude, unfriendly and unwilling to help.

In contrast, the 777 flights were great, the service was quicker and the crew were much more attentive and friendly.

The lounge in DXB was a zoo, with people sleeping everywhere and the washroom/shower facilities are pitiful.

In my opinion, EK have simply overhyped the A380 and totally failed to deliver. I'm surprised that there are still reports of poor service popping up on FT and airliners, since I would have thought that the EK management would have addressed the situation long before now as other carriers seem to cope with similarly sized J cabins on their A380s with fewer issues.

Wish I hadn't read this!
 

Flying MAN - DXB - SIN - DXB - MAN in J later this month, and the A380 return leg from DXB was to be the highlight of the trip for me (first A380 flight). Sounds like I might arrive home deflated! Oh well, I guess I'll just try my best to enjoy it and think my company usually only pays for Y travel so the fact they agreed to this J trip is something in itself!

I have just got off of the 405 and I am in DXB waiting for EK1. I'm in the lounge and it really starts to fill up after 6am!

Anyway, apart from parking at a remote stand and having to go on the bus the B777 trip was really good. I slept for most of it, but the crew were attentive but not intrusive. It was the first aircraft I have been on with electric window blinds too, very swish.

So now I am waiting for EK1, the true test with the new service(?). Both of the flights are full right up, so I dont expect I won't be sitting where I thought I was. But as long as I get home to see 'the wife' I'm happy

Dont take any notice of me mate, I'm just a moaning old fart.

You'll love it