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Originally Posted by CheckInPeach
(Post 24503261)
Guess I'm not the only one looking for alternatives to Star Alliance, in particular LH. But is the grass really greener somewhere else?
After doing several pleasant trips with Etihad the last year, I wanted to see if Emirates is really "hello tomorrow". Actually I was kind of forced to use Emirates this time as they were the only ones offering a great business class deal from BCN to BKK. All segments were with the A380. Limo service worked perfectly, check-in nothing special. Got a window seat which was nice but all in all I expected a bit more style. The seat and screen looked very industrial, Etihad manages to bring a much more relaxed atmosphere into the cabin. The stewardess specifically asked me if I put the phone to flight mode before departure, even wanted to verify herself. Reminded me of typical LH attitude. In general I found the crew on all 4 segments not very likable. Specially the ladies behaved like princesses and did not seem very customer oriented. Sure they looked all very attractive. But if I want to see beauties, I can go somewhere else. The food service was pretty poor, slow and weirdly timed. On one segment I waited one hour after departure just to get my first drink. The food itself was mediocre, at least the booze selection was excellent for a business class. Strangely the amenity bags were only distributed on the DXB-BKK legs. In general socks / eye blinds were in a plastic bag in the drinks holder next to the seat. The amenity bag itself (when they gave it) was surprisingly extensive. Good quality bag and contents. On LX/LH not even the first class kit is on that level. Also, why they don't put some lotion into the lavatories? Every other airline I used did that for biz passengers. Emirates only puts perfume. One really positive thing was the bar. Had a good time there. The snacks they had aligned were basically my meal since the regular food service was not available when I wanted. At least they tasted good. All in all I have to say I was pretty disappointed when I compare to my previous Etihad experiences. Too many things were just average or strange. So will there be any "hello tomorrow"? Most likely not for me. It will stay a "hello yesterday". LH/LX F class has Bally bag as amenity with La praire lotion etc & Van Laack pyjamas . Their F product is nice , but ver expensive $$ not a fan of lh/lx , did almost a million miles with them & was a Sen card holder for 7 years & regret not moving to BA earlier. |
Originally Posted by m3red
(Post 24521374)
How much long haul f on eK have you done aceboy?
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Recently flew Emirates JFK xDXB NBO/CMB xDXB JFK in J.
Like the OP, I was a bit unimpressed. When I signed up for Skywards on their website, the prompts only asked for Last and First name. The name on ticket matches my passport with middle name, which Skywards did not prompt or ask for. So name on ticket is not a perfect match to that in Skywards and their system rejects it. There no way to add middle name or change without calling Emirates. I called and the agent explained it was a complicated process to change the name in my Skywards account and it was best to either create another one, or each time I make a reservation to call and add my Skywards number. Come on. No way to add my middle name to the Account? The Emirates Lounge at JFK exceeded my expectations. All aspects were excellent. On the A380 from JFK to DXB I was seated about 2/3 of the way back in J and the food service was a bit disappointing. I ordered the Mezze Platter, but when the FA served me he explained they had run out and I could have soup. The soup was ok, but it was not the Mezze Platter. That is too big a section J to not have their selection available. The rest of the service was ok, but nothing special. The lounge in DXB was crowded and poorly laid out. The boarding process to NBO was chaos and confusion. No special boarding for J or P, just a mass of people trying to board a bus to take us to a remote location to board the aircraft. The return trip was not much better. Aside from the again-crowded lounge at DXB, there was no place at the gate for J and P passengers to sit. Boarding was delayed a bit and we all stood in a long line while we mostly ignored by the Gate Agents who could not or would not give updates or guidance. These aren't horrible sins, in fact pretty ordinary occurrences with the airlines I normally fly. So why switch? The grass is about the same. |
Originally Posted by 6P&E
(Post 24522416)
On the A380 from JFK to DXB I was seated about 2/3 of the way back in J and the food service was a bit disappointing. I ordered the Mezze Platter, but when the FA served me he explained they had run out and I could have soup. The soup was ok, but it was not the Mezze Platter. That is too big a section J to not have their selection available.
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Originally Posted by Descending
(Post 24522673)
You do realise that some people in the last 1/3 of the cabin would have been served the Arabic Mezze? There are six crew working in the cabin and they are each assigned a divided quantity of the meals loaded to serve passengers within their own section. So it would have been that your particular crew member had no mezze left. Once all the orders are taken, they do check with each other if they have any spare of a particular meal and swap them around.
In this case, it was still a service failure. |
Originally Posted by aceboy44
(Post 24522146)
I can tell you this, I have done several long-haul J class on EK (how else do you think I got my silver tier within 5 months of joining Skywards?) My first flight with Emirates was in J class back in November :)
Wow ..... :eek: You started with EK way back last November - and it's now March ! So ......years of experience, it must be said. |
I see my post attracted some comments, interesting to see that I'm not the only one feeling that way. The thing is: If you haven't seen any better, then sure one can be easily satisfied with EK. About 7-8 years ago I flew EK in F, twice to Asia. I was impressed by those cabins, the flat seat, the entertainment system... at that time they were pretty much top notch. But times change, apparently the crew however does not. I remember back then I ordered a Cognac and they served me that in a Whisky glass, filled up to the top! One could expect a bit more basic knowledge from F staff, at least it was a funny episode.
EK is definitely not a bad airline and they have some excellent deals which can compensate the lack of service. But IMHO they are simply not such a luxury airline (anymore) that they believe they are. Oh yes, and I'm happy I could amuse some people with my lotion remark. Did not know it's such a hot topic :) |
Originally Posted by aceboy44
(Post 24522146)
I can tell you this, I have done several long-haul J class on EK (how else do you think I got my silver tier within 5 months of joining Skywards?) My first flight with Emirates was in J class back in November :)
It's great that you have an opinion on things, and that you want to share. But remember this is flyer talk, there are some people on here that do serious amounts of flying. Not a just a few trips - which from past experience of reading your threads were all terrible, and you were boycotting EK, and the EK premium classes, and now suddenly they are your carrier of choice :rolleyes: (I don't count myself anywhere near the serious amount of flying, nowhere near. But the 5 month mark have always (re)qualified for gold) However, you obviously enjoy travelling, and from reading your threads it's obvious you are still in the phase of it all being new and exciting, and that's cool. So I'll look forward to hearing about your next adventure... something is bound to happen! |
Originally Posted by CheckInPeach
(Post 24523056)
I see my post attracted some comments, interesting to see that I'm not the only one feeling that way. The thing is: If you haven't seen any better, then sure one can be easily satisfied with EK. About 7-8 years ago I flew EK in F, twice to Asia. I was impressed by those cabins, the flat seat, the entertainment system... at that time they were pretty much top notch. But times change, apparently the crew however does not. I remember back then I ordered a Cognac and they served me that in a Whisky glass, filled up to the top! One could expect a bit more basic knowledge from F staff, at least it was a funny episode.
EK is definitely not a bad airline and they have some excellent deals which can compensate the lack of service. But IMHO they are simply not such a luxury airline (anymore) that they believe they are. Oh yes, and I'm happy I could amuse some people with my lotion remark. Did not know it's such a hot topic :) I must admit that I haven't generally had the same experience as yourself, though there are always the odd times things aren't as good as you would hope due to someone having a bad day or just not doing their job properly. Luckily it's hardly happened to me, but I can understand it will happen, and obviously its happened to you. Hopefully if you chose to fly EK again you will have a better experience |
Originally Posted by 6P&E
(Post 24522416)
When I signed up for Skywards on their website, the prompts only asked for Last and First name. The name on ticket matches my passport with middle name, which Skywards did not prompt or ask for. So name on ticket is not a perfect match to that in Skywards and their system rejects it. There no way to add middle name or change without calling Emirates. I called and the agent explained it was a complicated process to change the name in my Skywards account and it was best to either create another one, or each time I make a reservation to call and add my Skywards number. Come on. No way to add my middle name to the Account? |
Originally Posted by aceboy44
(Post 24522146)
I can tell you this, I have done several long-haul J class on EK (how else do you think I got my silver tier within 5 months of joining Skywards?) My first flight with Emirates was in J class back in November :)
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Originally Posted by lighthand
(Post 24515649)
Btw love the lotion bit. We can start it up again!!
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Originally Posted by LE4603
(Post 24524643)
I must admit that I haven't generally had the same experience as yourself, though there are always the odd times things aren't as good as you would hope due to someone having a bad day or just not doing their job properly. Luckily it's hardly happened to me, but I can understand it will happen, and obviously its happened to you.
Hopefully if you chose to fly EK again you will have a better experience These were some of my own words earlier in this same thread : "Personally I can honestly say that I have never had what I would describe as a poor flight with EK ; but equally I'm not so naive to think that it could never happen. Some of my flights have been satisfactory and no more, but a fair number have been truly outstanding." Well ......don't know whether I'm prescient or not ...... but my first poor Emirates travel experience (ie other than purely 'admin' issues) actually came to pass, just seven days after I wrote that that post. I happened to be in J class on the flight concerned ; however the nature of the issues was such that I can say for a fact that I would have been similarly affected in F too. This is why I sometimes worry vicariously on behalf of EK newbies who come on the forum from to time, in a state of frenzied excitement/anticipation ahead of their very first (and quite possibly to be their one & only) flight in F class. Sure, it's great to see the enthusiasm - we all like travel for one reason or another, otherwise we would not bother joining forums such as FT. But ....in the real world, things can and do go wrong - and very often it can happen just when you've built up high expectations & hopes. On another note LE4603 ...... enjoyed reading your earlier post #23 re the dramatic achievement by aceboy of "silver in only five months" :eek: |
Originally Posted by subject2load
(Post 24541704)
...... but my first poor Emirates travel experience (ie other than purely 'admin' issues) actually came to pass . . .
I like to know the bad as well as the good on EK, just in case it ever looks likely to happen to me. |
Originally Posted by ft101
(Post 24541801)
Come on - give us some details. :p
I like to know the bad as well as the good on EK, just in case it ever looks likely to happen to me. My expectations on ek are only high in f. J is good most of the time. |
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