As you should because you are a Princess...:) Yahillwe, it is good to see you wander over to our little neck of the woods.

Ohh sweet of you, but I always come back and post a well done EK whenever I fly it. Besides the pher forum is starting to get boring without the regulars. :(

Is Emirates a great airline? Sure! Love to take it, and very often do.

Is the use of all that Gold ornaments, the tacky-looking fake wood and glitzy lights a crime of taste to at least most Europeans? Absolutely.

So it has nothing to do with wanting EK to look bad. I like them. But I take the liberty to point out that the interior design of their cabins in First is a materialization of what many Europeans think: in parts of the Orient there is a big discrepancy between having lots of money and the culture of how to spend it. Surely this is not to say that European taste is better as such. But since people in the Orient buy European luxury products to show their taste, why not do it in a European way?

Because it might not appeal to them. They buy the products that appeal to them.

Besides, the fake wood is all over my favorite airline as well. It doesn't lesson the quality of service on both airlines. Besides, when you close that door and are enjoying your solitude, you really don't notice the bling. Or at least I don't.

And frankly, having flown Pj "gulfstream" I have to say, EK measure right up there when you close that door. Less than a 747 private but better than the small ones.

I fully agree with you. I might have mis-expressed myself: yes I do think it is bling and too much fake gold and shine; I fully accept that this is to the taste of many people, and if I don't like it then that's my problem. What I do find interesting though is that the local taste in ME (and in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe) is to go for Western European brands and products, but then to use/wear those products in a way that the same Western Europeans find quite tasteless. Obivously by now the European brands start rolling out products exclusively to those markets.

To each his own.

I have to concur on this one. Got to fly on one of those Royal Jet BBJ's. EK's F service and 'solitude' is right up there. Though I still think in terms of seat, seat features and comfort EK is way better (minus the fact that the BBJ had a 'proper' though tiny bedroom).

I'm no fan of EK's styling in the F suite. My biggest gripe is however with its functionality.
Imagine that suite was a winter jacket. It would have several pockets, very cosy and easy to move with but also lots of lumps and bumps. I would see it as a thick and heavy luxury jacket which is still good. But some of the pockets are pretty useless. Like having one just for your notepad and pen, and another for some creams that could have fit into a neat small pack. Being able to carry drinks and a cup around your waist isn't my thing either.

EY's suite by contrast is much more practical and comfy. It would be a thin and light jacket, with the absolute minimum required to keep you moving. Sure the doors might be a pain to open and close. And sure it's not as 'private' as EK's (checkered see-through doors instead of angled fixed blades). But it doesn't have the extra bling while being very useful. You would feel agile wearing this one.

Before I start, it's worth noting i'm an SQ diehard.

Having flown EK numerous times in all 3 classes I am always left impressed however I do feel the same impression could be instilled without having to be tacky with all the overly shiny plasticky gold trimmings and overly polished wood panels as EK has solid offerings when it comes to IFE and food (service I'll have to stick to SQ :D). I prefer SQ's Suites to EK's F as I find the whole enclosure a bit bigger and easier on the eyes, therefore less jarring. Will this put me off EK? No.

The whole thing just looks unprofessional compared to SQ's product which seems cleaner, less cluttered and easier on the eyes. Does this make EK a bad airline? No way. Does this put me off flying EK? No way. I often hear the term "cubicle" to describe the SQ J/C seat. It's just a matter of preference. I'm just not used to the overly lavish plastic gold and beige/cream leather.

EK seems to have perfected the look (not the seating layout unfortunately) in economy where the cabins aren't overly flashy.


Everyone has their comfort zones. SQ's brown and beige is mine, Emirate's bright and shiny gold isn't.

Think it is each to their own - was on an SQ 380 recently and the Purser showed me around the Suites - really did not like them at all. Much prefer EK's suite despite all it's shortcomings.

I always thought the epitomy of Bling was Royal Brunei with their gold taps.

And look what happened them Emirates! :D