Typical Flight Loads ORD-DXB around end of October?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Emirates Skywards, Mileage Plus, OneWorld, Qatar Airways Privilage Club
Posts: 301
Typical Flight Loads ORD-DXB around end of October?
Hello EK FT'ers!
My wife and I are planning a trip to HYD from ORD the last week of October with our 2 kids, 4 year old daughter and 20 month old son. Just based off of experience, might we encounter a lighter flight load if we left on the Thursday 830pm flight ORD-DXB versus a Friday night departure? The big incentive for us is to ideally snag 2 center rows if the flight is empty and get some halfway decent sleep with the 2 little ones. Also, the armrest do go completely up on the 777-300ER, right? Would love some feedback/advice, thanks!
My wife and I are planning a trip to HYD from ORD the last week of October with our 2 kids, 4 year old daughter and 20 month old son. Just based off of experience, might we encounter a lighter flight load if we left on the Thursday 830pm flight ORD-DXB versus a Friday night departure? The big incentive for us is to ideally snag 2 center rows if the flight is empty and get some halfway decent sleep with the 2 little ones. Also, the armrest do go completely up on the 777-300ER, right? Would love some feedback/advice, thanks!
#4
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Hoosier in Dubai
Programs: EK Gold, UA Platinum, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 576
I always take the Friday ORD-DXB flight so I can arrive Saturday and work Sunday in DXB, loads have been heavy for my 3 trips this year but I am in J (last time was offered a downgrade to Y but no thank you)
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Emirates Skywards, Mileage Plus, OneWorld, Qatar Airways Privilage Club
Posts: 301
I wish I was flying J! We'll be in Y though. If we can snag 2 center rows, it'll be so much better for sleeping, so let's see how luck plays out. I'd much rather be on the A380 than the 777 on Emirates though
#6
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SRQ
Programs: UA Plat-Million Miler (1.6MM), IHG-Plat Amb; Amex Plat-P, Marriott-Gold;Hertz Gold; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 762
How Much for a Downgrade ?
I am just curious, how much did EK offer you to downgrade from J to Y on the ORD-DXB leg ? I wouldn't even acknowledge them if it was less than $2,000 in cash.
#7
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dubai
Programs: EK Gold, FB Silver
Posts: 318
I received 1500 EUR for a downgrade on LH from business class to premium economy on a daytime flight FRA-DXB. Ticket was bought with award miles.
So $2000 ORD-DXB to Y... No way I'd even consider it. Ticket price of J is around 25,000 AED return, so I'd expect at least $3000 for the downgrade (which I'd still not accept I think)
So $2000 ORD-DXB to Y... No way I'd even consider it. Ticket price of J is around 25,000 AED return, so I'd expect at least $3000 for the downgrade (which I'd still not accept I think)
#9
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
Worth noting the future J compensation ticket books into Flex, qualifies for Tier Miles and Chauffeur drive etc., and has 1 year validity.
#10
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SRQ
Programs: UA Plat-Million Miler (1.6MM), IHG-Plat Amb; Amex Plat-P, Marriott-Gold;Hertz Gold; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 762
Also, anyone want to speculate as to when EK will start using the A380 ? My wife is flying ORD-DXB on Oct. 6 and I was hoping she might experience the A380.
#11
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,454
DYKWIA: Thanks for the speedy reply. When you say "J return" do you mean 'one way' or round-trip ? Not many folks buy one way tickets and I wonder how they would apply the Downgrade Compensation to round trip ticket purchase.
Also, anyone want to speculate as to when EK will start using the A380 ? My wife is flying ORD-DXB on Oct. 6 and I was hoping she might experience the A380.
Also, anyone want to speculate as to when EK will start using the A380 ? My wife is flying ORD-DXB on Oct. 6 and I was hoping she might experience the A380.
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SRQ
Programs: UA Plat-Million Miler (1.6MM), IHG-Plat Amb; Amex Plat-P, Marriott-Gold;Hertz Gold; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 762
October 20 Load
ChicagoDesi: ExpertFlyer shows this for availability on Oct 20:
F4 A3 J7 C7 I7 O7 P0 Y9 E9 R9 W9 M9 B9 U9 K9 H9 Q9 L9 T9 V9 X9
The seat Map (sorry it won't paste properly) shows plenty of empty rows. I will try to post you a PDF image via Private Message.
I have two major problems with your Oct. 20 Departure.
1. I don't think you can fathom just how uncomfortable EK 777 Economy Seats are. Don't you have an uncle with EK or MR Points that can get you upgraded ??? EK has the narrowest seats in the industry at 17" and a pitch of 32" to 33"; torturous !!
2. Why would ANY Chicagoan be away from Chicago during the MLB Playoffs when the Cubs clearly are the hottest team in baseball.
Good Luck and maybe you will get the A380, since no one is answering my inquiry !!!
F4 A3 J7 C7 I7 O7 P0 Y9 E9 R9 W9 M9 B9 U9 K9 H9 Q9 L9 T9 V9 X9
The seat Map (sorry it won't paste properly) shows plenty of empty rows. I will try to post you a PDF image via Private Message.
I have two major problems with your Oct. 20 Departure.
1. I don't think you can fathom just how uncomfortable EK 777 Economy Seats are. Don't you have an uncle with EK or MR Points that can get you upgraded ??? EK has the narrowest seats in the industry at 17" and a pitch of 32" to 33"; torturous !!
2. Why would ANY Chicagoan be away from Chicago during the MLB Playoffs when the Cubs clearly are the hottest team in baseball.
Good Luck and maybe you will get the A380, since no one is answering my inquiry !!!
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Emirates Skywards, Mileage Plus, OneWorld, Qatar Airways Privilage Club
Posts: 301
ChicagoDesi: ExpertFlyer shows this for availability on Oct 20:
F4 A3 J7 C7 I7 O7 P0 Y9 E9 R9 W9 M9 B9 U9 K9 H9 Q9 L9 T9 V9 X9
The seat Map (sorry it won't paste properly) shows plenty of empty rows. I will try to post you a PDF image via Private Message.
I have two major problems with your Oct. 20 Departure.
1. I don't think you can fathom just how uncomfortable EK 777 Economy Seats are. Don't you have an uncle with EK or MR Points that can get you upgraded ??? EK has the narrowest seats in the industry at 17" and a pitch of 32" to 33"; torturous !!
2. Why would ANY Chicagoan be away from Chicago during the MLB Playoffs when the Cubs clearly are the hottest team in baseball.
Good Luck and maybe you will get the A380, since no one is answering my inquiry !!!
F4 A3 J7 C7 I7 O7 P0 Y9 E9 R9 W9 M9 B9 U9 K9 H9 Q9 L9 T9 V9 X9
The seat Map (sorry it won't paste properly) shows plenty of empty rows. I will try to post you a PDF image via Private Message.
I have two major problems with your Oct. 20 Departure.
1. I don't think you can fathom just how uncomfortable EK 777 Economy Seats are. Don't you have an uncle with EK or MR Points that can get you upgraded ??? EK has the narrowest seats in the industry at 17" and a pitch of 32" to 33"; torturous !!
2. Why would ANY Chicagoan be away from Chicago during the MLB Playoffs when the Cubs clearly are the hottest team in baseball.
Good Luck and maybe you will get the A380, since no one is answering my inquiry !!!
#15
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,309
sorry
but looking at anything over a month in advance means nothing. also looking at a seat map even a few days in advance on these flights also means nothing. I cannot tell you how many times i've flown ORD-DXB/AUH in the last few years where the seat map "looked" empty a few days in advance and then just filled up. The reason? the VAST majority of the people on these flights book through consolidators so cannot and do not select seats until check -in. In addition, I've flown ORD-DXB and ORD-AUH multiple times in the last few years in October and November and never saw an empty plane.
Basically, while you never know what will happen, just be ready - that flight will most likely be full in Y. I know a lot of people who work in revenue management and sales at EK and have told me that EK does what it needs to do to ensure that their planes are full. And they've told me that ORD has been relatively full since they launched it. Basically - be ready for a full flight and be prepared.
Basically, while you never know what will happen, just be ready - that flight will most likely be full in Y. I know a lot of people who work in revenue management and sales at EK and have told me that EK does what it needs to do to ensure that their planes are full. And they've told me that ORD has been relatively full since they launched it. Basically - be ready for a full flight and be prepared.
Go Cubs!! Appreciate the response, I wish i had a relative in EK, that would be sweet! But no unfortunately we have no choice, unless we fly out to JFK or YYZ to catch the A380. Thanks for the seat selection information, i'm hoping the flight stays relatively empty until we fly so that we can snag some rows for ourselves.