While I think it's just as important to talk about the negatives we experience, sometimes it's also good to share the positives. I know many of you are long-haul road warriors. Some of us have spent way too much time on EK metal this year. Me included...

I really cant remember a "bad" flight this year. But I remember 3 great ones.

The first was the "mistake" fare our intrepid young EK wizard (Ung1) found - CMB-DXB-MLE in F for US$370 round-trip. We did this together and took a positioning flight from SIN-CMB in Y, then did the reverse walk of shame when we landed in CMB and walked up from Y, sailed right thru J and promptly sat down in F.

There was much arm waving from the crew as this unfolded. But after much scratching of the brow, everyone relaxed and the Dom flowed...

I did not really leave the DXB airport, save for a day or meetings preparing for the DXB Do. Think I spent 18-hours in the F lounge! We arrived in MLE, stayed 5-mins, then re-boarded the same aircraft which was heading back to DXB. The crew questioned our intelligence. The German Pursar even told colleagues in the DXB supermarket about these fools he recently had on a Mileage Run - and one of those colleagues is an A380 pursar I know!

Second was a great flight from AMS-DXB. Was op-upped to F. Pursar was a 20-year veteran of EK. Reminded me of one of those rich uncles who is constantly asking how you are, commenting that you look hungry and did not take no for an answer as he opened Dom bottle after Dom bottle...

And third was a quick flight from AKL to MEL (again in F). Only one in the cabin. Was like a private flight. Terrific service from start to finish.

Over to you...

I've had my share of 'bad' flights but also had good ones.

The one that tops the list was the PVG-DXB sector, for once - I felt as if time passed away so quick. This normally doesn't happen. About 3 hours into the flight - I went for a 'wee' stroll to the back of the plane to stretch my legs and didn't end up coming back to my seat till 30 mins before touch down at Dubai.

The cabin crew were superb, started chatting away and before we knew it - there was me and 6 other crew playing games in the back area. Some of these games may or may not have involved us pulling down our zippers, sticking a plastic cup inside the zipper at half way and then trying to drop a coin from our mouth into the cup... it did get carried away (uhm) but it was amazing to see the crew at such a relaxed rate (and extremely friendly).

Probably one of those experiences I won't forget.

And that ladies and gents is my highlight of 2011.

My highlight was not flying EK at all for the last 9 months...longest stretch in quite a few years...and no plans to start up again in 2012.

EK once answered an email I sent them within two weeks.

Other than that, I struggle to remember anything exceptional from them this year.

Most importantly for me, other than two 7+ hour mega delays, my flights have been pretty much on time and my baggage has only been misplaced 3 times. Both are a significant improvement on the last few years. That alone keeps my business for now. ^

I think my highlight was my first flight in F this summer AMM-DXB-AMM, taking a quick city break to Abu Dhabi. I was alone in F for AMM-DXB in a 330 with a great crew. Very friendly purser and FA who looked after me very well (the J crew were teasing the F crew about having only one passenger. Both the RJ lounge in AMM and the F lounge in DXB. An aircraft change meant the DXB-AMM was changed to suites.

A third F sector AMM-DXB to attend the Dubai Do en route to YYZ.

Flew DXB-DEL in October. J Class booking with two of my friends. On seating the purser came down to the three of us and asked us to follow him into F where he told us we would be sitting for the flight. We were dumbstruck. My first experience of the F Suites (maybe my last!) but it was amazing and the Dom did flow. Only one other person other than us three in F. The three and a half hours felt like 30 mins! Never to be forgotten and I'm forever grateful to the gentleman purser in question.

Let's see...

DXB-MLE-DXB in F, eightblack has already described why.

CMB-SIN in Y after four F sectors - empty flight, excellent recognition by the crew.

DXB-BLR in Y (in the middle of several * alliance F sectors) - the crew member working my aisle took extra special care of me

I still have one more EK flight left for the year... And then 3 flights in the first three days of the new year!

Just last month got op-uped to F on both BLR-DXB and DXB-BLR which was a very nice surprise considering that I had managed just one op-up in the entire year.

Except for the Aircraft (A330) which was the only sticking point, rest of the flight was extremely enjoyable. The service on the DXB-BLR leg was quite nice I thought and the crew took good care. Sometimes, I wish why all flights weren't like that but then I haven't had much to complain with EK except for the vanishing op-ups

My highlight was last night, Man-DXB in J on the 777. Why? Let me explain.

Even I am not totally sure why this flight was so different to my others on EK, which, previously, have always been very efficient but somehow I have found the crew lacking personality and heart and warmth and just that extra something which is hard to put your finger on. But last night's Man-Dxb included a sensational crew, especially in my part of the cabin. And it also reminded me how vastly far ahead the passenger experience is on the 777 vs A380, which I new select every time I can.

After years of slumming it in the Servisair lounge and wriggling around trying to sleep on the big pink chairs, MAN travellers now get a beautiful lounge, great pre-flight dining (incl the best falafel / tabbouleh / moutabel), flat beds, and for last night at least, well, a J product that is finally the equal of anything that's out there. Well done EK.

I'm still a few k miles from Gold so not many op-up experiences to rave about, but after the Dubai-do and the Nujoum star they gave us, I always have a talking point with the crew and get fantastic service (though on one or two occasions I wondered if they thought I wasn't really an in-flight evaluator or something). ps. I don't wear it, but I keep it on my carry-on and ask them which challenge they did...works a charm!

Xxxxx

Its something that happened today...even before my flight.

So I booked the sale fare in F, and it showed that it is a FLEX fare. Miles, etc all came up as FLEX. But once the ticket was purchased, and I checked the fare conditions, it showed up as "NO SKYWARDS MILES APPLY".
Took all the screen shots, print outs, etc, and wrote to Skywards Gold. This was 2 nights ago. Got a phone call today, and the agent confirmed that I will get the FLEX miles as shown on the website since it was a glitch in the system, even though the sale fare in fact does not earn any miles. I also got an email confirmation stating the same. They also thanked me for my continued business. Now that is customer service.

Ironically, I was on the verge of canceling the ticket tonight, but EK gets my business. I had flown on QR a lot this year (turned gold with them in a month), but its things like this that keep on pulling me back to EK and keeping them as my primary carrier. I am planning a family vacation very soon (8 passengers in J), and was thinking of going with QR, but EK it is.

I may be the lucky few (touchwood), but EK's customer service have always taken care of me when things did not go smoothly. Thanks EK!

This is exactly the kind of inconsistency that gets people so upset with Emirates. I had exactly the same situation as you did back in June - the system showed FLEX miles before purchase and then suddenly switched to SAVER miles after purchase. I had screen shots and everything else and sent them off to Skywards. They refused to honour the FLEX miles shown.

I might have accepted that position if this forum doesn't overflow with stories similar to yours - namely that of honouring the original information provided on the basis of screenshots. Yet, because they do this arbitrarily, they may generate goodwill with you but actually ruin any goodwill from those of us who have been denied in the same situation.

The miles shown on MYB, email, pre-booking, are all in FLEX, even now. The only problem was the fare conditions endorsement. Its too bad that you had that experience. Hope you don't have to go thru that again.

Perhaps early in the year (when I was still silver) getting 7 op-ups on 12 sectors... or the fact that I was given gold with 49 940 tier miles