Emirates Vs BA?
 

I'm a frequent flyer on BA between Mumbai and the US and EU.

However some family just came over Seattle - Dubai - Mumbai on Emirates and said it was the best flying experience they have ever had.

They flew business class. I fly premium economy - which I don't believe Emirates offers.

Do you fine people know how Emirates economy compares to BA premium economy??

I've not flown BA Premium Y but from what I hear Ba is underwhelming. That being said I'm not sure EK Y can compete with premium Y. You'll probably find better leg room on BA PY. That being said if I were you I'd give it a shot. I've flown J on other airline's and wished I was in EK Y. Also Look at EK J fares. They may surprise you. Especially out of BOM

My son (working in the UK) is allowed to fly premium economy by his employer. If the J fare (on any airline) is less than 10% more than premium economy on BA, he can fly J. He seldom has to fly WT+: EK J or QR J is often within the rules for him.
From CPT, EK J is also similar in cost to BA WT+ (which we flew once). No brainer, unless the time factor is critical (for me, flying via DXB is a 5 hour time penalty vs a direct CPT/LHR flight, but it is immaterial to me)

So my advice is to look at EK J fares and see how they compare to Premium economy on your routing.

skywardhunter, thijsseh - oh how I wish my corporate rules made sense.

Our official policy is economy only. Because I'm a whiner I won an exception to policy that allows premium economy where available.

I can't fly business J fare unless I get approval from the very top - and I'm not even going to ask that question. The way our policy is written - even if J was 1/10th the cost of Y we would have to fly Y.

I just flew BA premium economy and have flown EK in Y mostly and a few times J. BA premium economy has WAY more space than EK Y. For all the praise EK might get in Y it is still a typical long haul Y seat. I haven't checked, but wouldn't be surprised if the pitch on BA long haul economy was the same or very similar to EK Y.

Aside from space, I prefer EK service in Y. Drinks and food are more plentiful and more appetizing. I really like that EK serves wine in mini bottles allowing you to ask for a couple at a time meaning you won't run out before you're finished with your meal.

All told, however, the space takes the cake and I would certainly prefer BA premium economy over EK Y. But as skywardhunter says, check the prices for J. They can be very attractive and that experience is certainly well above BA premium economy!

It would have to be a pretty terrible premium economy and a fantastic economy for the latter to ever be better than the former regardless of airline marketing

Besides, Emirates 777 at 10 across?

You're only frustrating poor Harry even more by drawing attention to fare levels and differentials !! As he explains, his corporate policy is very clearly based on cabin class rather than cost-based. He is bound by a blanket Y-only rule that excludes J class regardless of cost - but by the sound of things he managed to eke out an exception that allows PE class where available .

Not the first time I have heard of such irrational travel policies - and it must be sooo annoying for those affected. My sympathies Harry :(

I had started the reply before the explanation. All I gotta say is: great that you were able to get PE! I only ever get economy from work and that is usually long haul (thankfully don't travel all that often compared to FT norms).

I hate saying it, but BA would win this one :)

Close fight ? - or a knock-out ....??

Interesting.

Would that be the sort of culture where passengers can't be 100% assured that they will be provided with a safe seat on which to complete their BA flight ...:confused:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/briti...y-missing.html

Knock out. BA PE seats are like domestic first class in the US. There's no comparison when it comes to space and comfort.

What's wrong with EK's safety culture.....? :confused:

I have to agree with you (however much I dislike BA lh). Legroom in EK Y is typical, well, Y legroom. WT+ is definitely better. And as the OP is a BAEC member, he'll get Avios which might be of more use to him than Skywards, unless he could make a complete switch to EK.

Fair enough.

Have no experience* of BA's PE, but I have often used domestic F in US, so the analogy is helpful.

* and tbh, I have certainly walked through the respective cabin layouts (BA WT+ and EK Y) on occasion .... so can fully understand your point

Thank you all.

This is the perspective I love flyertalk for.

It sounds like I am best sticking with PE on BA - which was my gut feeling, but I kept hearing awesome things about Emirates.

Maybe one day I'll be important enough to fly J............maybe

I have had issues with EK service and seating in EK long haul - based on 5 flights. Thus, I fly long haul with BA in WT+. The comfort of premium economy seats is pretty good, and the additional Tier Points help me keep Silver status. It is cheaper than Business class, BUT when in WT+ I do occasionally get an OPUP into Club World - which is always welcome.

However on a DOH-DXB flight I can deal with tight seats. I won't fly EK enough to get into Skywards "lounge access" status by doing this commute, so I have purchased Priority Pass.

A fair amount of the BA 'is better' view, is reliant on the aircraft type and whether the newer WTP seat has been fitted.

For Mumbai, on a 777-300, it has been - and it's a nice place to spend time - certainly comfortable and arguably better than EK Y (although the IFE will likely be better on EK).

However, if comparing WTP on a 747 (excluding the 86J birds), EK Y will be better as the WTP product is rather ancient and uncomfortable.

Unfortunately, where a 747 is rostered, you can never be 100% sure of the WTP product you will get, albeit you can make an educated guess at time of booking.

M

US domestic F often has wider seats.

Probably true. I guess as a lanky tall guy I care more about pitch and sharing armrests. Neither of which are a concern in PE and both of which I struggle with in EK Y.

I've flown both regularly:

Leg room will always be better in WTP so a win for BA on this point.

Seat: a WTP seat (old or new product) is way better than an EK Y seat on a 777 aircraft. An old WTP seat is not much better than an EK Y A380 seat although you have a foot rest on BA. overall a WTP seat is still better on BA for width and the foot rest so another win for BA here.

Cabin: WTP has its own cabin which will be a max of 5 rows. Some like the feeling of a smaller cabin environment, others find it more claustrophobic. It's generally calmer and less hustle and bustle. EK Y A380 feels roomy and spacious, a 777 feels more densely packed. Toilets are also more spacious, brighter and cleaner on EK. This point comes down to personal preference.

IFE: EK wins hands down on this although BA headphones are better (same as club world)

Food: BA has cut back on WTP service lately. The tray contains the bare minimum: starter, main course ( a choice of 2 dishes from the Club world menu) and a dessert. Starter and dessert are the same as economy. Hot towels, cheese and chocolates have all been removed. You get all these extras plus hot towel in EK Y. Additionally BA has done away with the second meal service in Y/WTP on flights under 8 (i think) hours. On EK you'll get a second meal on longer flights. In both WTP and Y the wine is given in small bottles. Overall a win for EK.

So my conclusion is BA wins on the hard product for the seat width, leg room and foot rest ( only just if you get the old WTP product tho) and EK is a clear winner on the soft product.