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Originally Posted by jackiedada
(Post 25124996)
Kinda cheap on EK's part to op-up only on oversold situations a guy who gives more than $1MM of business. You should straightaway take him in F if there is space....
Purely from a revenue protection stand-point the op-up when oversold policy I think strikes a good balance between the expectation hazard you get from treating people too well and making sure an iO feels like he/she should continue to give their business to EK. Obviously on some of the GCC flights you will see some iOs in Y - and sometimes controllers will proactively upgrade an iO they see in Y to F straight away. There was a story on this forum a couple of years ago I think where an iO was in Y going to the USA with some friends (3 I think) and he got upgraded to F but declined it as he was on a personal trip with friends - but in the lounge they upgraded his entire group to J. EK also want to avoid those situations where the iO might be just be the travel manager for a large corporate, not a C-level executive - and when travelling with the boss, he/she gets upgraded but the boss doesn't ;) You sometimes see some pursers proactively do it on board, but of course, depends on the flight and the loads and the pursers. |
Originally Posted by eternaltransit
(Post 25124775)
Some people make iO with very few tier miles - some people with hundreds of thousands of tier miles are not iOs because they "only" spend 100-200k USD a year with EK (e.g. once a month F travel USA-DXB).
The critical factor is spending money with the Emirates Group (1M USD+ in most cases), being in charge of a company with a serious commercial relationship with the Emirates Group or someone whom Tim Clark (or someone nominated by a local office, but Sir Tim signs off) believes should be given iO status, but isn't suitable for the "VIP" designation - although iO in most cases I think is better given the questionable levels of fame and status I have seen with given VIP treatment :D In terms of the main tangible benefits: - remote stand iO car pickup at DXB - chauffeur drive at DXB in the S550 (was Range Rover) on arrival and departure in all classes - chauffeur drive at all stations where available - no restrictions on outstation lounge usage (i.e. you can use them whichever carrier you are travelling on, arriving, departing or in transit and you can bring as many guests as you want in depending on capacity) - 10 guests at the F lounge DXB - sometimes your family is also given iO treatment even when not travelling with them - escort to and from the gate at all stations where possible from check-in through to immigrations - even if you are connecting from another carrier to/from EK - if you are in Y or J as an iO you are escorted to F at top of descent to disembark first - you can pre-board the aircraft before it is open to other pax (i.e. immediately after the cabin is secure and ready for passengers). you can also board it last :D - in oversold situations, iOs in Y or J are immediately upgraded to F, not just one class, as a matter of policy Less tangible benefits: - your point of contact at EK will bend over backwards to get you on to flights you need to (as in, offload people/op-up them etc. to get you on), as well as open up skywards miles redemption availability as required - outstations are briefed as to who you are etc. so if you call in with a request such as the arranging chauffeur on short notice, they will go above and beyond to make it happen (i.e. cough up the money to buy the service for you) - baggage sometimes picked up off the belt by a local agent so you don't even have to wait for it - however it usually comes in the first container along with bags loaded at DXB as short transfer F, so YMMV YMMV as to whether this means much to you :D It's nothing that the average frequent flier can actually aspire to, though - like BA Premier. The VVIP lounge referred to upthread refers to a lounge that is part of the Al Majlis complex. Whilst they have their own building and facilities, they also have a lounge directly connected to the FCL B - you can book the service, which includes private Al Majlis bus to/from remote stands, meet and greet etc. for 1500 AED per person. -Invite to sports and cultural events such as F1 car racing, soccer games etc depending on where you live - one gets recognized all the way on the trip and can ask the staff to serve your meals at your convenience and not as per "3 hour before landing lunch is served" - they are suppose to ensure that your seat functionalities - ICE, adjustment are suppose to work before you board. IF not, the staff can be in trouble for not ensuring that - a good word from IO member on services of staff means a lot to them |
Originally Posted by lazyboy
(Post 25145582)
Other benefits include:
-Invite to sports and cultural events such as F1 car racing, soccer games etc depending on where you live - one gets recognized all the way on the trip and can ask the staff to serve your meals at your convenience and not as per "3 hour before landing lunch is served" - they are suppose to ensure that your seat functionalities - ICE, adjustment are suppose to work before you board. IF not, the staff can be in trouble for not ensuring that - a good word from IO member on services of staff means a lot to them I think officially now the anytime meal is not offered (but they get first meal choice as policy, unlike say, Plats), but this is generally a moot point considering how frequently iOs are in F, especially on long-haul. Unofficially of course, I'm sure most crew do whatever's possible and in Y I suspect the Purser or SFS is going to make sure a new G2 doesn't mess things up :D |
Originally Posted by eternaltransit
(Post 25147234)
One would hope that a functional seat and ICE is the absolute minimum to expect from EK ;)
I think officially now the anytime meal is not offered (but they get first meal choice as policy, unlike say, Plats), but this is generally a moot point considering how frequently iOs are in F, especially on long-haul. Unofficially of course, I'm sure most crew do whatever's possible and in Y I suspect the Purser or SFS is going to make sure a new G2 doesn't mess things up :D |
Originally Posted by jackiedada
(Post 25147779)
I am not sure if on ULH segments it is possible to 'guarantee' meal choices, iO or not, if you order late - I've had a couple of occasions where I didn't have anything in the first 8-10 hours of the flight and then when I made a request, found that the choices are over (either other pax or crew). Not a big fan of a/c meals anyway and pretty much have tasted every thing that EK has to offer on board and conclusion is that eating on the ground is a far better (and healthier) proposition. Only thing that I try to have on board in F is the caviar....
Agree the food is average. Best to eat in the F lounge in Dubai. |
@kuroko
Shortly after I was told, that I've reached the 2M Tier-Miles, I was nominated as IO. This 2M Tier-Miles were earned in 5 years in 60% First and 40% Business-Class Flights. @Stooby Doo My flights are 80% for Business and 20% for Private @JackieDaDa If you state, that it's just 5min saving with the Limo and 5min at passport-control you are absolutely wrong! I usually need less than 30min from touch-down until driving on Sheik Zayed Road when parked on a remote-bay. |
Originally Posted by Ray44
(Post 25148309)
@kuroko
Shortly after I was told, that I've reached the 2M Tier-Miles, I was nominated as IO. This 2M Tier-Miles were earned in 5 years in 60% First and 40% Business-Class Flights. @Stooby Doo My flights are 80% for Business and 20% for Private @JackieDaDa [B]If you state, that it's just 5min saving with the Limo and 5min at passport-control you are absolutely wrong! I usually need less than 30min from touch-down until driving on Sheik Zayed Road when parked on a remote-bay. |
Given your base location (the UAE) and tendency to be dropped at remote stands, it seems likely your 2 million Tier Miles would be earned a higher proportion than most EK travellers by using a lot of ex-DXB short-medium haul flights - which gives a spend range of between 750-1M USD which just about tallies with the point of the programme - they want you to spend more of your company money with EK :D
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Originally Posted by jackiedada
(Post 25147779)
I am not sure if on ULH segments it is possible to 'guarantee' meal choices, iO or not, if you order late - I've had a couple of occasions where I didn't have anything in the first 8-10 hours of the flight and then when I made a request, found that the choices are over (either other pax or crew). Not a big fan of a/c meals anyway and pretty much have tasted every thing that EK has to offer on board and conclusion is that eating on the ground is a far better (and healthier) proposition. Only thing that I try to have on board in F is the caviar....
About the policy - I think it makes more of a difference in J and Y of course, in F, I suppose they would ask as soon as it seemed convenient. Plus, if an iO starts to throw multiple DYKWIAs Tim Clark is likely to eject them from the programme. He reportedly doesn't approve of that kind of behaviour ;) |
Originally Posted by eternaltransit
(Post 25148632)
Plus, if an iO starts to throw multiple DYWKIAs Tim Clark is likely to eject them from the programme. He reportedly doesn't approve of that kind of behaviour ;)
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Originally Posted by Ray44
(Post 25148309)
If you state, that it's just 5min saving with the Limo and 5min at passport-control you are absolutely wrong! I usually need less than 30min from touch-down until driving on Sheik Zayed Road when parked on a remote-bay.
I have felt that at the two stations that I use frequently, JFK & BOM, I can pretty much be one of the first few pax to clear immigration if I seat myself in the forward section of the a/c. Plat ensures that my bags are one of the first few on the belt (though I've seen couple of J bags making it earlier) so I think I've found that is the one thing that actually matters after a 13 hour flight. And at BOM (week before last) I was at my front door in under 50 minutes after *touchdown.*. Will see if this changes substantially after I get downgraded to Gold. |
Originally Posted by kuroko
(Post 25148664)
The most DYKWIA's are from Silver or low Gold I guess :D
What I am sure of is the fact that a minority (fortunately only a minority) of airline pax in this world just happen to be rude and/or ill-behaved, regardless of any 'status' they may, or may not, have. |
Originally Posted by subject2load
(Post 25148728)
Whilst I can understand why you might think this, I personally have my doubts that there is any definitive substance to such an assumption.
What I am sure of is the fact that a minority (fortunately only a minority) of airline pax in this world just happen to be rude and/or ill-behaved, regardless of any 'status' they may, or may not, have. I just know a lot of Silver/low Golds who are thinking that they own EK. |
Originally Posted by kuroko
(Post 25148863)
True!
I just know a lot of Silver/low Golds who are thinking that they own EK. You are welcome to draw whatever conclusions or come up with whatever theories as to why that is what is observed :D Some airlines also report, shall we say, various nationality biases popping up when talking about where these badly behaved pax come from, but I think that is probably inappropriate to talk about on Flyertalk without independent statistics :D (and I think have much more to do with an airline's source markets rather than anything intrinsically racial). |
@m3red
The Limo brings you to the main entrance, close to the Immigration area where somebody is waiting for you to push you through Immigration. Btw I forgot to say, that IO treatment is given to everybody who is travelling with me (Family, friends etc.) independently to their class of travelling. I just have to inform my IO Agent in advance and they will arrange everything. |
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