I'm based in BKK (ROP Gold) and began doing rather frequent trips to Dubai in C. All it took was one flight on EK to understand that the overall experience on EK is light years beyond that of TG, beginning with the lounge service at BKK. C class food service on EK is superb, while the tired, repetitive "everything cooked together in a casserole dish with mystery sauce" food on TG has become inedible to me. Toss in the free limos in BKK and DXB together with fares being roughly equivalent and perhaps there are some very logical reasons why TG only schedule one flight/day to DXB while at the same time, EK are expanding. Those same reasons are why I am Skywards Gold now.

Without having availed myself of the limo service, I concur that EK is way ahead of TG in every aspect...except in getting *A miles. The EK lounge food is actually edible and looks inviting, though I can't recall if it too lacks water bottles...

We have an option to fly directly from Abu Dhabi to Manila. We got confirmation we can get a limo service from Dubai to AUH for free. We're currently booked on Thai from DXB to BKK, then connect from BKK to MNL...I remember you mentioned the Thai flights to MNL isn't hat great...

Is it better to just fly Etihad in business all the way to MNL?

I don't really see EK as a competitor personally being based in BKK.

While everyone is raving about how great EK's C and F class produce are, they aren't mentioning that the price difference is usually about 20% more expensive in both C and F class compared to that of TG's. While many people may travel in C on company's dime, for some travelers that pay for their own tickets they wouldn't see the extra cost being worth it. (in my opinion)

Also as much as EK tries, many people will always stick with a larger FF program that is more universal and easier to accumulate miles on various airlines such as Star alliance and One world.

I agree....it makes it difficult to maintain status when an airline isn't part of an alliance or doesn't have a large FF program

Actually, this thread was about Emirates (EK) and I am not familiar with Etihad's service.

But if you are considering EK, anywhere on EK is better than flying TG, so yes, it would be better to fly EK all the way to MNL.

As for fare price in business class, EK are less expensive than TG. I check the difference each time I fly over to DXB, and EK have always been less expensive. Just now checked for a flight in October, and EK were around US$200 cheaper than TG in business class.

I agree with you about EKs lack of participation in a FF programme, and I wish they were. But being less expensive and more importantly, offering a product that is an order of magnitude better than TG's, EK are my now my airline of choice to the ME, and I now have EK gold because of that.

Oh, and EK are very liberal about surprise, at the gate upgrade to first. That's another nice plus that never happens on TG.

Do you check on EK's website or somewhere else? I checked for DXB in late Dec and was 9,000 baht more expensive in business class compared to that of TG's.

I just did a quick check using Kayak before I wrote that post. Also, I verified what that returned using the TG site. In both cases, EK business class fares where cheaper than TG. Maybe fares have changed since you checked in December?

Meaning I checked a few days ago, but the dates were for december.

Ah okay, that explains it a lot then! Guess I should be using Kayak perhaps from now on!

I was only checking the fares directly from the airline websites. Thai is 42-43k baht BKK-DXB-BKK and EK is 51k baht BKK-DXB-BKK in Business class for just about any dates.

How much did you find BKK-DXB-BKK for on EK through Kayak for business class in baht?

I was checking some random dates in October on Kayak. When I checked in December, sure enough EK are US$1607 and TG are $1381. That is the first time I have seen TG coming up significantly cheaper. Perhaps they realised that they were losing business to EK by offering an inferior product so they reduced their fares to DXB? From the fare search I just did on Kayak, the only airlines cheaper than TG were Sri Lankan and Jet Airways, and those are both one-stops. TG are truly becoming a budget airline.

Not being a budget airline flyer and considering the added benefits and much higher quality standards of EK, I will still take EK for the $226 difference. Take about $50 off the fare for money saved using the free EK limo service at both ends and the difference is not all that much.

You have to go to the Thai website and click on the sales banners on the splash page, there are always discounts if you stay is less than 30 days. I regularly pay 32-33k baht (about $1,100), but when I for some reason need to stay longer than the 30 days, the 42-43k ($1,381 you quote) option is all you have.

Anyway, I kind of like the Thai product between BKK-DXB, good lounges on both ends (especially the Lufthansa in Dubai if you are *Gold) and you can preorder your meals online, drinks are good, entertainment not bad. It isn't EK, but EK is also twice the price vs the discount sales on Thai. Also, out of season it is nice since you can usually get an open seat next to you.

Btw, in Dubai, the TG check-in seems to have migrated over to the B zone, so a taxi drop-off early in the drop-off zone will put you closer to the desk. Also, big thumbs up to Dubai airport for getting rid of the scanners prior to check-in!