Jun 12, 2019, 11:57 pm
Last edit by: extramileage
From around the 10th of June 2019 it has been observed that Emirates is marketing a new fare brand "Business Special". The introduction of a new fare bucket on the GDS with identifier "H" was first observed by m3red several weeks prior, speculation was that this might relate to Premium Economy. This fare bucket appears, however, to be intended for deep discount Business Class.
Restrictions:
- no chauffeur drive
- "restricted" seat selection (per website: "Complimentary for all passengers choosing a seat after check-in opens. Emirates Skywards Platinum members can select a seat any time")
- no lounge access
- no ability at all to upgrade with miles
Skywards:
- Earns at the same rates as Y Flex Plus
- Cannot redeem miles to book this fare brand
- Cannot upgrade with miles from J Special to F in any circumstances
Restrictions:
- no chauffeur drive
- "restricted" seat selection (per website: "Complimentary for all passengers choosing a seat after check-in opens. Emirates Skywards Platinum members can select a seat any time")
- no lounge access
- no ability at all to upgrade with miles
Skywards:
- Earns at the same rates as Y Flex Plus
- Cannot redeem miles to book this fare brand
- Cannot upgrade with miles from J Special to F in any circumstances
New Business Class Fare Bucket
Jun 14, 2019, 1:22 am
#46
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,625
if EK simply put fares up rather than introduce a new lite offering, is it really leaving money on the table or is it risking that the company would use a cheaper airline. If this is still making EK the choice for the company, rather than going to another carrier, it has got it right
I suspect that most employers don't care about lounge access for travellers ; if the cost of transport at airports is more than fare difference to a fare including chauffeur drive, might be an argument for getting a more expensive fare
Jun 14, 2019, 2:13 am
#47
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: BA, Malaysian
Posts: 27
Another kick to the leisure traveler
It seems to me that the airlines don't want the business of the leisure traveler. My wife and I like to travel; in business class when we go on long haul holidays. We stopped using BA because we could no longer book our seats and I guess we will now no longer use Emirates for the same reason. We plan our holidays well in advance and like the comfort of knowing we will be in our prefered seats.
Being leisure travelers we do not get the chance to build the miles to obtain seat booking and lounge access that the business traveler gets and then uses for their private travel.
I suppose it all depends on how much more expensive the "with frills" seats are!
Being leisure travelers we do not get the chance to build the miles to obtain seat booking and lounge access that the business traveler gets and then uses for their private travel.
I suppose it all depends on how much more expensive the "with frills" seats are!
Jun 14, 2019, 2:33 am
#48
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,625
It seems to me that the airlines don't want the business of the leisure traveler. My wife and I like to travel; in business class when we go on long haul holidays. We stopped using BA because we could no longer book our seats and I guess we will now no longer use Emirates for the same reason. We plan our holidays well in advance and like the comfort of knowing we will be in our prefered seats.
Being leisure travelers we do not get the chance to build the miles to obtain seat booking and lounge access that the business traveler gets and then uses for their private travel.
I suppose it all depends on how much more expensive the "with frills" seats are!
Being leisure travelers we do not get the chance to build the miles to obtain seat booking and lounge access that the business traveler gets and then uses for their private travel.
I suppose it all depends on how much more expensive the "with frills" seats are!
Airlines dont care whose money it is, but is up to the customer to decide whether the price and offering meets their needs
Jun 14, 2019, 2:50 am
#49
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,620
It seems to me that the airlines don't want the business of the leisure traveler. My wife and I like to travel; in business class when we go on long haul holidays. We stopped using BA because we could no longer book our seats and I guess we will now no longer use Emirates for the same reason. We plan our holidays well in advance and like the comfort of knowing we will be in our prefered seats.
Being leisure travelers we do not get the chance to build the miles to obtain seat booking and lounge access that the business traveler gets and then uses for their private travel.
I suppose it all depends on how much more expensive the "with frills" seats are!
Being leisure travelers we do not get the chance to build the miles to obtain seat booking and lounge access that the business traveler gets and then uses for their private travel.
I suppose it all depends on how much more expensive the "with frills" seats are!
Regarding seats, there's no indication that you'll have to pay. Although they may limit the selection to the middle seat on a B777
Jun 14, 2019, 3:00 am
#50
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
I assume you are UK based? If so, then we don't seem to have had the pleasure of these new J Special fares yet. Also, even if they do appear, I think the price will be lower than the current J savers. I've noticed a gradual reduction in fares over the last few months - it's common now to see MAN-DXB for around £2000 rather than the £2700 is was a while back. This could be because there are more Saver seats available, or that passenger numbers are lower.
Regarding seats, there's no indication that you'll have to pay. Although they may limit the selection to the middle seat on a B777
Regarding seats, there's no indication that you'll have to pay. Although they may limit the selection to the middle seat on a B777
specials are offered on some Dxb flights to MAN around then
Jun 14, 2019, 3:01 am
#51
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Programs: EK skywards Gold, BA, VS silver
Posts: 195
The CD with a" regular" J saver or flex ticket is worth £300 to me and that is just using it to get from my home to LGW and return. I always take this into account when pricing my tickets and IMO this makes flying with EK even more of a better deal compared with the other airlines that fly my regular twice-yearly route LGW/BNE or LGW/SYD). I certainly won't be looking to buy a de-bundled ticket. I suppose the only time I might consider it is if I was going LGW/DXB for a few days in which case i would drive to LGW and pay for car parking.
Last edited by JudeS; Jun 14, 2019 at 3:04 am Reason: typo
Jun 14, 2019, 6:08 am
#53
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 61
I wouldn't mind if I'm honest! Many times when I travel business I won't select my seat until check-in so this has little impact on me, flying Ex-GLA, the seats I like (window/aisle) are nearly always available.
I did a dummy booking from Ex-DXB to JFK and the total saving per leg was £300. For £600 I would happily give up seat selection until check-in and I will arrange an Uber Exec for myself! Lounge access can be bought for £100 or I can use a priority pass. I would say if the savings are going to be £300 per leg then I will welcome this with open arms.
I do fly BA and before I made Silver on BAEC I was subject to paying for seat selection in J unless I waited until check-in, maybe I've been conditioned by BA!
I did a dummy booking from Ex-DXB to JFK and the total saving per leg was £300. For £600 I would happily give up seat selection until check-in and I will arrange an Uber Exec for myself! Lounge access can be bought for £100 or I can use a priority pass. I would say if the savings are going to be £300 per leg then I will welcome this with open arms.
I do fly BA and before I made Silver on BAEC I was subject to paying for seat selection in J unless I waited until check-in, maybe I've been conditioned by BA!
Jun 14, 2019, 7:27 am
#54
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
I wouldn't mind if I'm honest! Many times when I travel business I won't select my seat until check-in so this has little impact on me, flying Ex-GLA, the seats I like (window/aisle) are nearly always available.
I did a dummy booking from Ex-DXB to JFK and the total saving per leg was £300. For £600 I would happily give up seat selection until check-in and I will arrange an Uber Exec for myself! Lounge access can be bought for £100 or I can use a priority pass. I would say if the savings are going to be £300 per leg then I will welcome this with open arms.
I do fly BA and before I made Silver on BAEC I was subject to paying for seat selection in J unless I waited until check-in, maybe I've been conditioned by BA!
I did a dummy booking from Ex-DXB to JFK and the total saving per leg was £300. For £600 I would happily give up seat selection until check-in and I will arrange an Uber Exec for myself! Lounge access can be bought for £100 or I can use a priority pass. I would say if the savings are going to be £300 per leg then I will welcome this with open arms.
I do fly BA and before I made Silver on BAEC I was subject to paying for seat selection in J unless I waited until check-in, maybe I've been conditioned by BA!
Jun 14, 2019, 12:27 pm
#55
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: BHD
Programs: BA Executive Club Silver
Posts: 575
Interestingly I have just done a dummy booking next March for the same itinerary that I am doing this August DUB-SYD....MEL-DUB and the "O" fare is identical (within a few €) to what I paid this year. Does this mean that if no " W" fares are offered on a particular route (which seems to be the case on the Europe Oz routes), then the "O" fares remain unchanged...or this wishful thinking and eventually they will go up?
Jun 14, 2019, 1:34 pm
#56
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Interestingly I have just done a dummy booking next March for the same itinerary that I am doing this August DUB-SYD....MEL-DUB and the "O" fare is identical (within a few €) to what I paid this year. Does this mean that if no " W" fares are offered on a particular route (which seems to be the case on the Europe Oz routes), then the "O" fares remain unchanged...or this wishful thinking and eventually they will go up?
2. How on earth would anyone here be able to tell you that? There's literally no way of knowing
3. The fact Savers have apparently gone up in a single market is not conclusive evidence that they will go up in all markets once H fares are filed
Jun 14, 2019, 2:45 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 103
Sort of done something similar already.....
2/3 years ago Emirates offered me a late upgrade on the BKK-SYD route in both directions with the only caveat that I could not use the Emirates lounges for both trips. Did I take it? Yes. Would I take it again plus not be able to select my seat? Yes I would if the flight was on the A380. I would much rather they do that than ripping out the First Class seats and putting in Economy upstairs. Hope the proposal takes off and should be an interesting product for those currently using PE on other airlines.
Jun 14, 2019, 2:57 pm
#59
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
2/3 years ago Emirates offered me a late upgrade on the BKK-SYD route in both directions with the only caveat that I could not use the Emirates lounges for both trips. Did I take it? Yes. Would I take it again plus not be able to select my seat? Yes I would if the flight was on the A380. I would much rather they do that than ripping out the First Class seats and putting in Economy upstairs. Hope the proposal takes off and should be an interesting product for those currently using PE on other airlines.
Jun 14, 2019, 3:49 pm
#60
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,625
2/3 years ago Emirates offered me a late upgrade on the BKK-SYD route in both directions with the only caveat that I could not use the Emirates lounges for both trips. Did I take it? Yes. Would I take it again plus not be able to select my seat? Yes I would if the flight was on the A380. I would much rather they do that than ripping out the First Class seats and putting in Economy upstairs. Hope the proposal takes off and should be an interesting product for those currently using PE on other airlines.
I also don't see what this would have to do with removal of 1st class and replacement with economy. These are business class fares