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Mrt - I cannot use enough expletives to describe EK and upper tier management. EK prices are far more expensive ex DXB than outstation.
I think most people are more than aware my feelings to EK Customer Affairs - Chocolate Teapot anyone? :D EK is just plain and simple a bully and using their albeit strong position due to location and local environment shall we say, to their in my opinion un-fair advantage. As others explained though, if you are based in DXB you have few options however if you're willing to travel through T1 and transit for the most part then you can avoid your business on EK. I do this for the most part unless traveling with the Sig Other whereby I travel to Serve and Protect (well in her eyes :p ) |
Originally Posted by mrtdxb
(Post 22019386)
I have to tell you that I do but as will probably be clear from many of my posts over the past few years I set my expectations really low and and am thankful to receive what I pay for and am not surprised when I do not. Occasionally I let things get to me but not often and not for long because it is simply not worth the angst. Where possible I use other carriers but as mentioned I am a kind of EK captive unless I am prepared to take connecting flights which I do not like to do so I "suck it up".
I have rediscovered BA when I go West and Cathay are my default going East. I am paying AED5.5k to fly business class with CX to BKK over New Year with the significant other - a saving of approx 50% flying EK. So in other words, I get a better seat, a better service, a better flight and my hotels are paid for by my savings. Plus I don't need to subject myself to the lottery of putting myself at the mercy of an airline run by dicks which could be an ok experience or bloody dreadful (and anywhere in between). Oh, and I'd pay money not just to have that bloody landing video (into DXB) rammed down my throat any more, and it's nice now that I fly airlines that actually arrive and depart on time! Merry Christmas folks from a very sunny Australia (flight down was with CX, faultless, and a THIRD of the price of EK - AED10.5k in J class as opposed to AED29k with EK!). Happy days! ^ |
Well I move to London next week, and suddenly my Q1 2014 bookings look like excellent value using EK, after three years of paying my DXB resident tax.
I'm booked for three SIN returns, two HKG, four JNBs so far. As travel budgets have tightened I decided to drop loyalty and asked for the cheapest option. In all but one case EK came up. The other was BA, but I'm no masochist. Interesting point, SimpleDXB, about punctuality. My experience has been different. But then it is a roulette and I have got better at picking my flights. |
I note Emirates are expensive during Christmas, no doubt.
But are much better priced at other times of the year compared to others. From my experience that is. I will continue with EK |
Platinum Experience 2013
Whilst all the points here are well made and nobody can argue with finding a cheaper flight with the same or better service, I am always surprised that so much emotion gets generated about EK seems to me it's simple economics. The flights are packed at peak times in fact over booked. So as a business you would expect them to put up prices just as any business person on this forum with price control responsibility would do. No point getting wound up just accept that the old saying if you want loyalty get a dog holds firm in business!
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A nice one today:
I wanted to upgrade a trip from Y to J using miles, my first leg was ok, I did it online, my second (EK382) shown no availability... I call EK Plat line and the second operator (plat team) told me that the flight was full in J, and if I changed flight (EK384) I could have a seat in J, but Y was oversold... after 10mn, they gave me a J seat on EK382 ! So when they dig a bit, they can do some magic... |
Another "nothing to talk about" Platinum experience on MAA-DXB-LGW on Jan 5-6. One benefit I would love to have is roll over of tier miles - something that is offered in the US. Its a completely selfish demand having already qualified for the next cycle and expecting to be about 123k tier miles in excess.:p
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EK Captive
Originally Posted by mrtdxb
(Post 22019386)
I have to tell you that I do but as will probably be clear from many of my posts over the past few years I set my expectations really low and and am thankful to receive what I pay for and am not surprised when I do not. Occasionally I let things get to me but not often and not for long because it is simply not worth the angst. Where possible I use other carriers but as mentioned I am a kind of EK captive unless I am prepared to take connecting flights which I do not like to do so I "suck it up".
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Just back from Kuala Lumpur - travelled in Economy, before take off the senior cabin girl for Economy came up and did the "if there's anything I can do" spiel, and then handed me a duty free bag - it contained, a bottle of water, a box of Godiva chocloates, a packet of crisps (chips) and a toothbrush kit.
I thought it was a really nice touch and was appreciated. I have had this happen once before when in Economy, a bag with a bottle of water and the socks n eye mask packet, I was Gold at the time. |
Originally Posted by YohYohY
(Post 22116802)
Just back from Kuala Lumpur - travelled in Economy, before take off the senior cabin girl for Economy came up and did the "if there's anything I can do" spiel, and then handed me a duty free bag - it contained, a bottle of water, a box of Godiva chocloates, a packet of crisps (chips) and a toothbrush kit.
I thought it was a really nice touch and was appreciated. I have had this happen once before when in Economy, a bag with a bottle of water and the socks n eye mask packet, I was Gold at the time. |
Originally Posted by YohYohY
(Post 22116802)
I have had this happen once before when in Economy, a bag with a bottle of water and the socks n eye mask packet, I was Gold at the time.
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Platinum-the end for me is in sight
In March I will receive my second platinum card and it will be my last. I have shown loyalty to EK over the years and get nothing back from them. It is probably because I buy and pay for all my tickets personally out of my own pocket and am not part of some corporate scheme.
After March I will use BA and CX as well as EK. An EK gold card will suffice for me as well as those from BA and CX and in the process I will save thousands, something which maybe some corporate members do not need to worry about. As for EK, well they will go out and get replacement customers at whatever cost to their marketing budget. Whatever happened to that old saying "your existing customer is your best customer"? I will be no loss to them until the next economic downswing, by which time those senior managers will have already had their bonuses. My thanks go to those staff at the sharp end who actually meet customers be they ground staff or flight crew, many of them show so much pride and loyalty to their Company, it's just a shame that those higher up ignore the word "loyalty" as it doesn't fit with their bonus scheme. |
Originally Posted by Two Fox
(Post 22149257)
In March I will receive my second platinum card and it will be my last. I have shown loyalty to EK over the years and get nothing back from them. It is probably because I buy and pay for all my tickets personally out of my own pocket and am not part of some corporate scheme.
After March I will use BA and CX as well as EK. An EK gold card will suffice for me as well as those from BA and CX and in the process I will save thousands, something which maybe some corporate members do not need to worry about. As for EK, well they will go out and get replacement customers at whatever cost to their marketing budget. Whatever happened to that old saying "your existing customer is your best customer"? I will be no loss to them until the next economic downswing, by which time those senior managers will have already had their bonuses. My thanks go to those staff at the sharp end who actually meet customers be they ground staff or flight crew, many of them show so much pride and loyalty to their Company, it's just a shame that those higher up ignore the word "loyalty" as it doesn't fit with their bonus scheme. |
Originally Posted by Two Fox
(Post 22149257)
In March I will receive my second platinum card and it will be my last. I have shown loyalty to EK over the years and get nothing back from them. It is probably because I buy and pay for all my tickets personally out of my own pocket and am not part of some corporate scheme.
After March I will use BA and CX as well as EK. An EK gold card will suffice for me as well as those from BA and CX and in the process I will save thousands, something which maybe some corporate members do not need to worry about. As for EK, well they will go out and get replacement customers at whatever cost to their marketing budget. Whatever happened to that old saying "your existing customer is your best customer"? I will be no loss to them until the next economic downswing, by which time those senior managers will have already had their bonuses. My thanks go to those staff at the sharp end who actually meet customers be they ground staff or flight crew, many of them show so much pride and loyalty to their Company, it's just a shame that those higher up ignore the word "loyalty" as it doesn't fit with their bonus scheme. |
Originally Posted by Two Fox
(Post 22149257)
In March I will receive my second platinum card and it will be my last. I have shown loyalty to EK over the years and get nothing back from them. It is probably because I buy and pay for all my tickets personally out of my own pocket and am not part of some corporate scheme.
After March I will use BA and CX as well as EK. An EK gold card will suffice for me as well as those from BA and CX and in the process I will save thousands, something which maybe some corporate members do not need to worry about. As for EK, well they will go out and get replacement customers at whatever cost to their marketing budget. Whatever happened to that old saying "your existing customer is your best customer"? I will be no loss to them until the next economic downswing, by which time those senior managers will have already had their bonuses. My thanks go to those staff at the sharp end who actually meet customers be they ground staff or flight crew, many of them show so much pride and loyalty to their Company, it's just a shame that those higher up ignore the word "loyalty" as it doesn't fit with their bonus scheme. Pocket book impact should be nice too. |
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