hi all

i know - no statistics etc in the forum however trying to help a friend to find the most unique selling points (usp) for each airline. have already a few points for EK, but would highly appreciated if all of you can share your thoughts (this is for Y/C and F)

@mods: if this is against the board rules, pls remove the thread

Y/J/F ICE

i list some things that come to mind quickly, some are not unique to EK, but almost

-- baked potatoes in dubai f lounge
-- grand gru class�s in f lounges in dubai
-- a380-terminal with boarding from lounge in C/F
-- remembering specials about guests in flight
-- F showers, SPA and most important bathroom attendant to ensure always clean bathrooms in a380 F
-- many locations for chauffeur service
-- easy to reach platinum level
-- above average mileage redemption possiblities on EK flights
-- widebody transports with one stop between most important locations
-- lots of planes with wi-fi
-- movie snack with date and arabic coffee service in F
-- many nice events for top customers in different locations
-- business class bars in a380
-- f class to many locations which usually do not see f class from other airlines
-- nice corporate contracts
-- ICE
-- safest airline in most statistics (along with CX)
-- biggest a380 fleet
-- in dubai louges i find the most attentative staff between all airline lounges
-- main airport in a country that invites for leisure stopovers
-- most impressive wine list in the sky
-- very huge food variety in premium classes
-- IFE works from entering the plane on the ground until leaving the plane

Although it's not now unique, the bar on the A380. People who've experienced this don't know how lucky they are.

A friend of mine has been planning his 50th birthday around this for a few years. He doesn't really fancy Dubai, but just wants to experience the bar.

The look on my wife's face a couple of weeks ago was fantastic. She assumed we were on EK to Dubai in buisness, but I mentioned in was BA via Heathrow.

Really ......?

Well, I agree the A380 bar at 39,000ft in the sky can be a fun experience, and I do hope your friend's trip goes well.

But equally, I can't help wonder what exactly he is expecting (ie. after spending years planning it) - and whether those expectations will be fulfilled.

Within the last couple of weeks or so, I've had the chance to visit the Gong Bar at the Shard in London, swiftly followed by the restaurant/bar at New York's 'One World' Observatory (102nd floor IIRC). And there are of course various other 'special' bars around the world which no doubt many FT members will have seen. IMO, such bars, offering impressive views over glamorous cities will always be far more of a draw than one located in a pressurised narrow metal tube, and with (generally) very little of an outlook other than puffy clouds/blue sky ....

I like the fact that operational upgrades are a possibility. Absolutely no chance of that with Air NZ...

+1

Add to that the network and that's pretty much it, I think. The OP did ask for unique selling points after all!

I would add : very competitive ticket price ... if you are outside the UAE, and if you want to go to Dubai.

Useful reminder of the OP's request !

Once you genuinely limit things to "unique" - AND remove purely subjective opinion (notably, references to quality/variety of food & drink), from the equation - the list does end up as a fairly small one !

thank you everyone. i know the list is (very) small - I had also only IFE and the complexity of the network.

- High service standards at reasonable prices
- ICE
- Most travel 1 Stop or less

I would like to say food, but honestly EK has never impressed me with food in both Y & J (never been in F)

lighthand : I doubt the F food would impress you too much either ! There are a couple of good menu offerings (esp. starters), but in truth it's not that special - or at least nowhere near as good as I think it should be. I guess the practical reality is that it can never replicate what you would expect in a top-end restaurant on terra firma (some folk do obsess over the champers, although personally it doesn't float my boat). For me, it's always been much more about extra space, privacy and a higher crew to pax ratio.

ICE

Far superior on board hard product compared to BA and other airlines, spaciousness and amenity wise, on most routes.

Redemption opportunities more and taxes less than other airlines.

I assume you mean to say "and some other airlines" - as opposed to all other airlines.....!

But ..... either way, I do believe that where USP's are concerned, one has to think in terms of what aspects could be legitimately used, in say an advertising campaign, to differentiate a product from that offered by competitors.

You will find many folk who consider (premium classes especially) the likes of eg. Etihad/Singapore/Lufthansa to be "superior" to Emirates. It all becomes totally subjective of course.

Are we talking about the same EK/Skywards?!

I admit though, the space-available upgrades for elites and no additional surcharges on upgrades is not bad.