Service Changes in J
 

Flew back from MAN yesterday (New Years' Day) and the crew mentioned that the 380 lounge was closed, and there was no pre-departure beverage due to Covid. I presume this is related the uptick in cases in the UK/UAE, but am curious to know whether these changes have been applied across the network, or whether they are just for the UK.

Bar was closed on DXB-JFK yesterday as well.
I was in F, we did have pre depature drinks. Unsure about J.

No pre departure drink in J this morning EK77 DXB-NCE

No Pre-dep drink (J) or onboard lounge YYZ to DXB Jan 1

Crew said they only found out that day as all normal on their outbound Dec 31.

Ugh, hopefully by the 17th this will all be sorted, went out of my way to book the A380 to LAX. First time traveling on EK in 2 years :-/ was hoping for the full experience!

BKK-DXB & DXB-VIE, Jan 1-2 in J, no drinks or bar on either.
there were also no amenity kits. Is this an ongoing thing?

Ek-8 | lhr-dxb | 26/12/21
 

These services level reductions must be very recent, because on EK-8 on December 26th everything was open and operating, crew were highly enthusiastic and even encouraged people to check out the bar / lounge area if they desired.

It appears to be from 1st January.

i flew F on EK76 from Paris to Dubai on Jan 1. Bar was open and pre-departure beverage was flowing. However, the purser did mention that they are not allowed to serve food in the bar. then I continued with EK358 in J to Jakarta (January 2) and again pre-departure drinks were served. it must be something very very recent and of sudden effect in nature, that explains the inconsistency.

So EK has come out and addressed that this is due to Omicron a few days ago. All pre-departure and bar/lounge service has been temporarily halted on the A380's.

Sigh.. I am supposed to be going JFK-DXB-MRU-DXB-MXP-JFK in mid-February in J. I really hope this lifts before then. My hopes are not high tho given the state of this wave in many countries EK serves.

Where was this addressed, I can't see anything in my inbox or on the what's on board pages?

I had a pretty crappy experience BKK to DXB and DXB to MAN. No pre departure drink, not even asked if I would like a drink after take off. First time I was offered a drink was 1 hour into the flight as part of the continental breakfast service although by the time the drinks trolley had arrived I have already finished the crappy breakfast with the squashed croissant.

I just did a news search on Google for Emirates, Bar, A380 (lol priorities!) and a few came up covering it.

Yeah I see, I would have thought changes to in flight service like that would have been announced on the website and via email to customers with booking, not solely in industry press.

hopefully it’s a very temporary thing then!

Was on DXB-LAX a couple days ago on the new bar design (with tables). Basically they allow one table to be occupied by a group of max 2ish people while they have beverages or meals there... I had to wait quite a while for a table to open up - was pretty much only the last 2 hours of flight. The bar itself is closed but they keep your wines, etc nearby for refills and you can order anything that's on offer for your cabin.

Ok, so the bar is technically "in service" for cocktails along with space at the single table, but not 'open' for folks to stand around. Good to know.

Honestly had the bar been fully open I'd probably have avoided it! This felt far more comfortable given the Omicron situation.

Any recent flyers able to provide an update on their experience?

I'll be flying DXB - LHR next month on the A380 so it would be good to at least be able to order a drink when I feel like one.

You can order a drink any time during the flight without ever having to leave your seat. Going to the bar runs the risk of bumping in to a drunken DYKWIA trying to flirt with the crew..!

Flew on the A380 from BOS to DXB on 1/21 and there was no pre-departure drink and the bar was closed. Granted, this A380 was a one-off in response in to the 5G cancellations from that week.

This is basically inline with what I am seeing on the website under the current "services" section for in-flight COVID updates- the pre-departure drink and bar/lounge is "x'd" out for the current A380 flights.

Though, as Metanoia indicated they still may be allowing 'service' from the lounge/bar as well as a fairly limited seating arrangement- was this observed?

haha, true :)
I thought ordering drinks from your seat in J was a little frowned upon by the crew though? Maybe times have changed because of the pandemic? I haven't flown in over two years.

I've never had an issue ordering from my seat.

Yes, agree. On the 77W the response to a drinks request is usually quicker than on a 380, but it is never a problem.

Obviously with EK having a vast amount of crew means a vast amount of experiences but generally speaking I have never had an issue ordering from my seat. If you get a good crew once you have ordered once they are normally proactive and check if you want another drink without you having to ask. Wouldn't do it during the food service though.

Nice one, thanks for all of your replies! I shall not be so shy to ask on my next flight :)

curious where you heard that it was frowned upon...

Probably the US. I’ve noticed that many are hesitant to use the call button on US carriers to order drinks etc because apparently FA’s don’t like it? Hasn’t stopped me though

I always order drinks from my seat and only ever had one issue.

At the beginning of the flight I was thirsty and ordered apple juice and a Sprite with ice and received an aperol spritz.

I found it very funny and everytime the crew member passed my seat, he would stop and ask me if I wanted another drink.

I think I've seen an Aperol Spritz bottle come back to the bar at least 2-3 times because someone wanted an "Apple Spritz" or "Apple Sprite"... lol. Before Covid i'd drink the Aperol so it wouldn't go to waste

The (AA/DL/UA) crew is primarily there for your safety so you best be in full cardiac arrest before you use the call button.

I can't entirely remember to be honest as it's been years - probably in passing when I tell somebody my coffee ordering experience (recounted below). This whole time since then I've either gone to the onboard bar or asked a flight attendant. Credit to the Emirates crew that keep you topped-up.

I do remember using the call button one time and asking for a coffee. I pressed the call button and a visibly annoyed flight attendant came over, who appeared to not understand (???) or probably didn't want to understand that I was trying to order a coffee... Anyway, no coffee. So I got up and went to the bar to order it - and have done ever since for all my drinks.

People order from seat also in economy (at least this was like that before pandemic). I also did it, but usually if I have chance to walk I will do it.

Especially w.r.t. coffee that's a strange story, the only explanation is that there was some misunderstanding.

Coffee, after all, is not really a 'bar drink' as the other drinks are. When you order a coffee at the bar, the attendant needs to organised to have it made in the galley, which of course is immediately behind the bar / lounge area. He / she will (in my experience) do it without batting an eyelid, but it's not what the bar is there for (I think).
The only time I was met with a frown was when I ordered an 'affogato al cafe'. It was on the menu as being available in the bar, but apparently it was a new addition and had obviously not been ordered before (at least not to this crew). I pointed out that it was not my personal whim, but that it was on the menu. A slight panic ensued but 10 minutes or so we were presented with two really nice affogatos, and a thank you for pointing this new menu item out to them.

Definitely sounds like a random incident and as someone else mentioned- very odd for a coffee request which is not even prepared at the bar. The bar is optional for ordering and I think most people order from their seat and that is the general expectation.

Wow, really interesting stuff, thanks all!
I'm really glad I mentioned all this!
Really looking forward to my flight this weekend :)