The good, the average and the bad
 

On my 4th of 6 EK flights over the next fortnight and I have had the full gamut of experiences. Sub 5 hours so we always use Y for these flights but as Gold members.

The good. Dubai to Kuwait. The purser Nadine was fantastic, really spontaneous welcome, she wanted to remind me I had some Skywards miles and I shouldn't forget to use them up. Actually she had noticed I had several other flights booked over the next couple of weeks, and why didn't I treat myself to an upgrade. Crew member from Slovakia was really lovely, we had a chat about Bratislava. Excellent stuff, exactly why I use EK.

The average. Dubai to Nairobi. Crew really just going through the motions. IFE didn't work and they weren't that bothered about it. One reset and the crew was never seen again. Food OK but nothing more. Seemed like one of those days really. Shame as I was through the terminal in about 5 mins, had a good lunch in the lounge and it was going so well.

The bad. Kuwait to Dubai. Totally chaotic service. It was a full A380 but the crew didn't have a scooby. One trolley stopped 3 rows ahead of us, the other one started 3 rows behind. Totally oblivious to the cock up. When pointed out there was total disinterest and almost insolence. No sign of the purser at all. Really poor. Kuwait airport is a total dump but I suppose you can't blame EK for that. The high spot (the only high spot) was the EK lounge at Kuwait where the two Filipinas on the front desk were excellent.

Shows the inconsistency of EK really. I hope the airline isn't going off the boil. I love the hard product but it needs to be backed up by service.

Doesn't sound good...

How long is the flight? About an hour I'm guessing? Maybe they just didn't have enough time to get through an A380?

In my experience the NBODXB leg tends to be a bit rowdy. As a result I think EK staff tend to be resigned to going through the motions to complete the leg as quickly as possible.

Good to hear of another FT'er traveling through NBO!

Just under 2.

In Y in the GCC and places like NBO I'd have very low expectations.

In my 4 years of flying EK a lot the crew are only really happy going to decent over nighters like the Dxb sin Mel rotation or MRU or HKT...

On those flights we've had the best experiences. MAN is normally average with some crew being quite patronising to Mrs M3red.

Patronising? Interested to hear a little more, if you don’t mind? Mrs NoY is travelling solo J (perhaps F) on EK soon (too good a deal to resist :p) & she is somewhat apprehensive anyway..

Is NBO a turnaround?

If yes, it would explain, to some extent, the crew's attitude, thought not justified...

Not sure, I'll have to ask next time. I think most of the time it is passengers that make it rowdy in Y. On some recent flights I've had some seat mates who don't speak english, yelling about seat assignments...which they didn't really understand. The crew does generally do their best to deal with situations, but I imagine having to do so does wear you out.

Well we are relatively young? Mid 30s...Not your typical F pax and they sometimes act a little strange around MrsM3red in a way that's shall we say - its assumed that its always MrM3red that pays and they always assume I'm the plat member when we approach the lounge when we both are.

When I guested MSN from the Qatar board into the F lounge they assuned he was the plat member...

Madam/Sir the J check in is over there at outstations...

I could go on

Lol, I've flown EK F from HKG with my only luggage being a rugged blue backpack, was expecting some funny looks but got one. Also showed up at check-in precisely when they opened it.

PS: I was 23 at the time.

I've recently flown DXB-NBO return in J, and the staff were amazing! Incredibly friendly, very attentive service and went out of their way to ensure both myself and MrsNMC980 had an amazing experience.

The one time I flew J out of NBO that was my experience as well. I think the challenge is in Y where there are often language barriers and culture clashes and generally a lot going on, especially while boarding.

Oh yes....the check-in and boarding! :D

The F / J / Plat / Gold queue at check-in were filled with non-stats pax in Y and all either attempted to flirt with the line controller (when he turned up) or feigned the language barrier when asked to move to the Y line.

p.s...never heard of Skywards Sliver :D:D

Haha, nice. I'll check next week to see if it's still like that....

Oh OK, thanks.

Mrs NoY is also (relatively :D) young - just turned 40 this year - & has been travelling with me (exclusively in long-haul J & F) for about 14 years now. I am a little older ;) and yes, because I am male & older, she is sometimes treated a tad differently - as if I have paid perhaps, or am treating her - even though she has sometimes held higher status than me, whilst travelling together and been treating me.

Never been told to go to the J line when travelling F though. Although she did give a suitably withering look to a lazy FA that just pointed right (to economy) before looking at her BP - she responded with...”..that’s lovely but I am going that way to my seat, pointing to the Business Class cabin...” you would not want to mess with Mrs NoY, I can assure you - I did chuckle.

Sounds similar!

I've had an F BP and they've pointed me right and I said I think I'll go that way...:D :rolleyes:

Like the time a plainly dressed middle aged guy was standing next to me waiting to board at CPT and was asked to move to the economy line. There were many apologies and a rye smile when he pointed to his platinum status on his boarding pass

Where do you all find these staff - I want to be mistaken for looking too young, good for the ego :D

Sounds like my DOH-DXB flights. The experience here is MUCH better than the DXB-AMM flights and the single LHR-DXB flight back in 2009.

So far, so good (wrt flying EK) and the service and food/drink offerings are MUCH better than in 2009.

Thus, I have decided to fly EK (for now). There are 2 other options for my DOH-DXB commute, but atm EK is the bet choice for me ;)

This situation may change - but hopefully not. :rolleyes:

I asked - was told the early flight is a turnaround, but the late one a stopover. Not entirely sure why, perhaps a longer ground time in NBO.

I go through there once a month.

I loathe the Nbo - Dxb leg mainly for the ground handling in Nairobi, the multiple security checks etc. I counted 8 checks of my BP last time.

If I can I prefer to leave on KQ, nicer terminal, lounge and generally better experience. Pick up EK again in Harare or Joburg. Shame EK doesn't do Gaborone, which would help cut out JNB too.

I could get a happy crew to/from MRU? ^

I'm sure you will.

I hope for one on 29 Nov

Hahah! I'm even younger than you! I'm 31.

It was quite comical that they thought I was the Platinum member...despite it being my first ever trip with EK! Perhaps I looked more F'y!

What a way to make a genuine Platinum cardholder, and a regular in F, special!

M

Neither you nor I have looked young since we left the walls of the Hill!

M

You looked smarter than me :D

Was lucky they let you in given how often they don't seem to allow people on different flights in as a guest.

Was grateful for the flexibility, not something EK is recognised for!

I was able to guest a friend on a different flight recently after a bit of pleading. Same destination (BKK), but he was an hour ahead. That seems to be the deciding factor, whether the guest leaves first or not. They first got it the wrong way round and said no as his flight is after mine until I pointed out it was the other way.

Lol msm was after me and departing from A gate when I was at B! :D

I have tried it out a few times @ B J lounge and they never let the pax in.The 'guests' flight was always earlier than my flight.

Its not EK's fault as its not strictly as per the T and C.

I'm usually on EK510 which is at 0435 and that's when the airport becomes like a ghost town.Most of my potential guests would have departed long before me. :-(

Maybe stricter in B due to construction. To be fair we were also flying to the same destination, I just wasn't able to book the same flight as it didn't show up on the booking page and a change later was too expensive.

My wife and I are in our early thirties and get the same. She hovers between Gold and Plat, and is a commercial pilot, but still no cookie. She was once told at CPT lounge to please go wait at the gate! More than once I've seen pursers / seniors do the greeting for someone near us, walk past I or both of us, size us up, and keep walking.

Sadly, I've found that the colder I am the more seriously I am taken. M

You mustn't get too hung up on the greeting thing ime otherwise you run the risk of making yourself a little irritated for no reason.

I caught myself doing this the other day - in J, saw csv and purser doing a couple of greetings and mid flight check ups for two pax but ignoring the rest of the cabin although it was half empty. Ok, this was slightly annoying - then it turns out it was two iOs (no op-up for them!) so understandable if they only did them and no one else.

Reality and status ego pop complete! Reminder and lesson learnt to chill about it :)

Don't really get worked up about it. It only serves a purpose in Y if they're offering an early meal or something. Just noting that pursers / seniors do play games.

Agreed - the inconsistency is the error imho, not in not having the greeting.

Seems to be better lately ime, either it doesn't happen at all or it's everyone. Or I've been asleep from before take-off to cruise and entirely missed it!

I virtually always get it in Y, where the value is the fast track card. Closer to 65% success rate on the greeting in J

I have a stack of about 100 of them for DXB, if you want :D

Actually, I have had some success with merely showing the person at the fast track security queue at DXB the tier status on my bp to get access.

Or if you have absolutely no shame, you can do what I sometimes see which is people just ducking under the barriers to access it :D

With respect (as they say ...;)), may I ask why you persist with these attempts when you know all too well that it is against the rules ?

I often find they don't actually check so I also have a handful (not even close to 100) that I lug around with me in my laptop bag.

Best is to get e-Gate if your nationality allows you to.

At transit security? :confused:

Also, my nationality doesn't. :(

. :D

Are you from Israel?