Not everyone is interested in FF miles; 75% is a good disincentive to the airline I would hope and consider how some people have received absolutely nothing for a downgrade

I would not recommend to sue EK in the Netherlands.
The right course of action to sue them at the German district court, which has jurisdiction over Duesseldorf Airport. You have about 3 years time to sue until the statute of limitations kicks in.

The one case on here was terrible so I guess the fact the ticket is ex eu makes it more valuable! Is hardly fair being discriminated against when it doesn't fall within eu law ie ek should do the right thing. Perhaps pax here suffer because of the onerous eu legislation and costs?

This is not about tripping over a kerb and suing the council.

This is about paying for a product/service and not receiving it.

It doesn't matter that the ticket was ex EU; the EU regulation applies to all flights departing the EU

any passenger on an EK flight from LHR/AMS/DUS etc to DXB is covered
No passenger on an EK flight from DXB to Europe is covered

If flying on an EU carrier , then would be covered on any flight to or from the EU

The legislation also requires that airlines provide assistance such as accommodation when a flight is delayed or cancelled for any reason as well as provding compensation should a flight be significantly delayed ( for most flights from western europe to dubai , EUR600 if delayed 4+ hours ) due to things within the airline's control

If thinking that this is an unfair rule , cionsider how some airlines treat passengers when not forced under this type of legislation

e.g. in USA, get delayed due to weather and airline just says "not my problem, sort your own accommodation out"

e.g. With EK, get downgraded on a sector, may actually get no compensation at all ( see some other threads for examples )

e.g. with QF , flight gets cancelled and so delayed, zero compensation

If all airlines in EU had been treating passengers properly, then legislation would not have come in.

For downgrading; this is something where a large compensation is fair imo since it is the airline's choice if it operates a flight with an aeroplane without the cabin which was paid for or oversells the cabin

With business passengers , there is an opportunity for airline to avoid compensation by upgrading if oversold , it is only with 1st class where there is nowhere else to go

Downgrade compensation is high, but I would suggest is the easiest thing for the airline to avoid having to pay out : don't downgrade people, it is something completely within the airline's control

I've stopped buying F tickets on EK due to this. (I fly mostly J but used to occasionally treat myself to F)

I am now buying J tickets only and use miles to upgrade to F if needed . My travel is mostly for personal reasons and im fairly flexible.

Ek did involuntarily downgrade me twice in the last one year ( J tickets upgraded to F using miles ). The flights were ex DXB any way. They substituted it with a 2 class. The miles I used to upgrade were credited back in a day.

Hello folks, looking for general thoughts & advice please ......

Back in July I booked a trip UK to New Zealand & back, consisting of seven sectors, all in F and a full revenue ticket.

I happened to make an email enquiry re chauffeur-drive service for my SYD stopover. Received a very prompt, courteous response which (in addition to covering my query) included the information that my first sector, LGW-DXB EK016 involves a change of equipment and will be operating as two-class only. This flight is in late November. I was told, quote "you have been re-booked to Business class. Please contact the nearest Emirates Reservations Centre to discuss the schedule change and re-book if necessary".

I have yet to follow up as requested and am wondering what options I am likely to be offered when I do so.

To provide some background context : I was particularly keen to fly this sector on the 777 with suite, and was also keen on the afternoon departure. Hence my choice and booking in good time.

I am very conscious that late equipment changes can always be made due to last minute technical or 'operational' reasons and that EK are not alone in reserving the right to do this.

Is there, however, something improper about an airline taking money for a specific service in the knowledge that they might choose not to provide such a service as far as two months in advance of the departure date ....?

The last time this happened they offered to change me to the LHR flights with F suites on the 380.

I think I may just do the same.

My last four sector First Class itinerary consisted of...

1, First Suites.

2, F in a seat no better than Business Class.

3, F in a seat no better than Business Class.

4, First Suites (Involuntary Downgrade to Business Class, ex DXB)

The downgrade turns into a double downgrade, you go from the First Class Suite to the worst seat in Business Class as everything has been taken.

And to restore my faith in Emirates for my involuntary downgrade.

25,000 Points & �250.00

I had a hunch that this is the sort of offer they might make, and in all honesty it would be a perfectly reasonable one - in most circumstances.

However ..... as mentioned, I chose specifically to fly from LGW, and on a 777.

I am very limited in terms of date changes. I cannot delay my departure and whilst I could possibly bring it forward by a day, that would cause complications & added cost in terms of accommodation in DXB.

And if I switch to a different flight but still out of LGW, then I guess there's every likelihood of the same thing happening again ......?

Just to clarify ..... My comments relate to ukdoctor's post (had not seen easterisland's at time of writing, though it makes for very unhappy reading and reflects a worrying and serious inconsistency when it comes to product delivery)

With 2 months notice , I am not sure that the EU compensation would apply ; there are several flights a day from Gatwick and Heathrow so shouldn't be that hard for them to rebook you on one of the other services; e.g. EK 2 from LHR at the same time ; of course , if this is not appealing, you definitely can cancel without penalty and with 2 months notice shouldn't be hard to find another option

I doubt very much that EK intended to take your money and then remove the 1st class option so doubt very much that anything improper occurred

Thanks for your comments DN, and I should add that my real interest is in travelling as booked rather than seeking compensation. But your comments are valid enough, and I am keen to maintain a sense of balance. Plus, this is hardly a tragedy within the grand scheme of things and with all that's going on in the wider world.

Perhaps my choice of the word 'improper' was not the best. I guess the point I really wanted to make was about consistency of product. I'm all too aware that last minute changes which leave either very limited alternative options, or even none at all, can be more frustrating than those flagged up in good time. But a very late change is to me, in many ways, more understandable than one made well ahead.

My analogy would be that if I chose to book a very specific hotel room - and my booking was accepted and fully confirmed - then I would be VERY disappointed if the hotel suddenly decided to tell me, two months before arrival, that the room was no longer available. If however they told me on the very day of arrival that there had been a wholly unexpected plumbing problem and the room could simply not be got ready in time, then it would be rather more understandable.

Emirates have always sought to set a high standard for themselves, but part of the distinction between an average airline and a top quality carrier is to make sure the promotional blurb and glossy images are matched by the reality. Delivering what is promised is a key element. The more often changes are made to suit the commercial objectives of any large business rather than its customers' own needs, the more danger there is of losing the goodwill and loyalty of those customers, not to mention the long-term reputation and image of the business itself.

Rant over !

You book a hotel months in advance and then the hotel gets final go ahead to do some refurbishment work and then the hotel schedules the work for 2 months time; those with bookings at that hotel may be impacted

Given that EK has a service at the same time from LHR, the impact would seem to be at worst having to leave an hour earlier to get to the airport ( if living somewhere where have to drive past Gatwick to get to Heathrow ).

Looking at schedules, it seems that there are a few days around end of nov/dec where an EK flight ends up with a 2 class aeroplane; it doesn't look like a permanent change just perhaps some aeroplane availability issues at that time

Thanks again DN.

Note your comments re my hotel analogy.

The impact of a potential switch to LHR is not in fact restricted purely to timing, because as mentioned I had specifically booked to fly by 777. I accept that this is very much a personal choice (and one perhaps not shared by many others), but then air travel does so often revolve around personal priorities and preferences - as this forum very amply demonstrates !

I assume from what you say re aircraft availability around late November that there is a means of seeing in advance what equipment is allocated to any given EK flight. If so, can you please point me in the right direction..... ?
Thanks.