Flying Emirates? Start Training Now........

[Renato1]

I think the expectation that needs adjusting is that economy class travel, in 2015, is anywhere near as comfortable (or glamorous) as it was 30 or 40 years ago.

All of the issues you mention would, of course, be eliminated if you were flying business class. If you bought and used miles, or started your trip from Asia, your business class trip would have cost you little more than flying economy. This would mean no waiting in lines for airport toilets (you'd have a lounge), separate buses (with a seat!) if there was a bus to the plane, no waiting at the boarding gate for your plane to arrive (you'd be in the lounge). And with priority boarding, no one to slap you in the face with their papers!

Having airline status will help mitigate all of the above, but in the absence of that, paying just a little more for business class might be an option to consider in the future.

Thanks. You raise good general points, but I don't think they are applicable to my Ryanair flight from a regional airport - where I had paid top dollar on all the options. And while Budapest airport was superb, the Ryanair section of it was even worse than Treviso's (no seating at the boarding area, while Treviso had some)

My wife said, "We aren't flying with this airline again, are we?"
I said, "No, I think we'll be giving it a miss in future".
Cheers,
Renato

 

[andye]

That's one of the problems with Ryanair-you can end up spending a fair bit for extras but they are still a no fills low-cost airline (whose business model involves charging over the top for extras). If you are price sensitive, have low expectations and don't fall for the extras they can make sense.
Whenever I've looked at low cost carriers for trips to Europe with baggage, full service carriers do the job better for very little extra (assuming they are going where you want them to).

 

[andye]

Having a stash of BA Avios is quite helpful in the EU too, as the reward flight savers are a good value burn

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hmmm - many of you seem to be willing to let your wives take sh#t and keep mum about it.
And when you hear that I won't let such go unchallenged, start arguing that I am in the wrong.

Even arguing that if someone takes my seat next to my wife, I should just eat cough pie and take it.

If one is happy to let people walk all over one's self, rest assured, there are plenty of people willing to do so.
Regards,
Renato

Actually it's the law that imposes limits. Both in Australia, and many countries.

You can't take the law into your own hands in the manner which you say you would. That opens you up to prosecution... particularly because you have demonstrated you aren't sure what the law is, or the reasonable limits in which you can - and can't act - lawfully.

If you take on a UAE national at an airport (toilet incident), or on a plane (seating), in the manner you describe you could find yourself locked up in gaol for considerable time before your case is even considered by the police or a judge. That potentially leaves your wife stranded without assistance, without an air ticket home, and without any insurance to cover hotels or meals. Whether you are right or wrong... is it worth that inconvenience?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Hmmm - many of you seem to be willing to let your wives take sh#t and keep mum about it.
And when you hear that I won't let such go unchallenged, start arguing that I am in the wrong.

Even arguing that if someone takes my seat next to my wife, I should just eat cough pie and take it.

If one is happy to let people walk all over one's self, rest assured, there are plenty of people willing to do so.
Regards,
Renato

I don't think collectively this is what is being said. What is being said is that there are ways of dealing with such situations with a calmer attitude with politeness and less agro which will get you much further in international travel situations, IMHO.

But YMMV.

 

[mannej]

Hmmm - many of you seem to be willing to let your wives take sh#t and keep mum about it.
And when you hear that I won't let such go unchallenged, start arguing that I am in the wrong.

Even arguing that if someone takes my seat next to my wife, I should just eat cough pie and take it.

If one is happy to let people walk all over one's self, rest assured, there are plenty of people willing to do so.
Regards,
Renato

Renato, there are much more important things to worry about than queue jumpers.

As for letting my wife take cough, again not worth the fight is it. Out of my wife and I, I am the one that would make a stand, she is the one to pull me back and tell me to chill.

Right now, I think you may be twisting people's responses and picking a fight for the sake of it.

Let the crew sort the seating issues, but with the other situations you have mentioned, a little bit of Bobby McFerrin may be in order.

 

[Sprucegoose]

That's one of the problems with Ryanair-you can end up spending a fair bit for extras but they are still a no fills low-cost airline (whose business model involves charging over the top for extras). If you are price sensitive, have low expectations and don't fall for the extras they can make sense.
Whenever I've looked at low cost carriers for trips to Europe with baggage, full service carriers do the job better for very little extra (assuming they are going where you want them to).

http://youtu.be/BOrhMcqx6vw

 

[Renato1]

Actually it's the law that imposes limits. Both in Australia, and many countries.

You can't take the law into your own hands in the manner which you say you would. That opens you up to prosecution... particularly because you have demonstrated you aren't sure what the law is, or the reasonable limits in which you can - and can't act - lawfully.

If you take on a UAE national at an airport (toilet incident), or on a plane (seating), in the manner you describe you could find yourself locked up in gaol for considerable time before your case is even considered by the police or a judge. That potentially leaves your wife stranded without assistance, without an air ticket home, and without any insurance to cover hotels or meals. Whether you are right or wrong... is it worth that inconvenience?

I have only come across polite people in the Dubai . If an Italian crosses me or my wife, he will get what this guy got. I am an Italian citizen as well.

Many situations arise in life where the law is not there to help you. There is little point letting transgressors get away with their power games.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

That's one of the problems with Ryanair-you can end up spending a fair bit for extras but they are still a no fills low-cost airline (whose business model involves charging over the top for extras). If you are price sensitive, have low expectations and don't fall for the extras they can make sense.
Whenever I've looked at low cost carriers for trips to Europe with baggage, full service carriers do the job better for very little extra (assuming they are going where you want them to).

The sad part was the actual flight when on the plane, was perfectly fine - crew were happy and cheerful - very pleasant flight.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

I don't think collectively this is what is being said. What is being said is that there are ways of dealing with such situations with a calmer attitude with politeness and less agro which will get you much further in international travel situations, IMHO.

But YMMV.

One has three choices in such a situation.
1. Say nothing, and be walked over.
2. Explain to the person in his mid 40s that there are conventions in civilised society, and that he has transgressed one, and that my wife is very unhappy, and would he in future please be polite and observe those polite conventions.
3. Make the person bear the consequences of his action, via public humiliation, and making sure he doesn't have a nice day.

Which of these options do you think ultimately lead to a more civilised society?

Regards,
Renato

 

[Renato1]

Renato, there are much more important things to worry about than queue jumpers.

As for letting my wife take cough, again not worth the fight is it. Out of my wife and I, I am the one that would make a stand, she is the one to pull me back and tell me to chill.

Right now, I think you may be twisting people's responses and picking a fight for the sake of it.

Let the crew sort the seating issues, but with the other situations you have mentioned, a little bit of Bobby McFerrin may be in order.

We all have different perspectives. For me, if my wife is crossed, it is the same as if I had been crossed. Absolutely worth the fight. I once had a Samarai sword aimed at me in a similar situation of crossing my wife.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Aussie_flyer]

We all have different perspectives. For me, if my wife is crossed, it is the same as if I had been crossed. Absolutely worth the fight. I once had a Samarai sword aimed at me in a similar situation of crossing my wife.
Regards,
Renato

it just gets better.

By the way try the multi quote function.

 

[jb747]

Didn't this start out as a complaint about not being at an aerobridge? And now we're up to ninja turtles.

Most of the behaviour you have been talking about would get you either removed from a flight, or denied boarding to start with.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Using references to <..redacted material ..> in relation to some idiots in a Ryanair queue seriously takes this thread well OTT and simply shows disrespect for history.

Time this thread was closed.

(ed: Renato I recommend to you the works of your fellow countryman, Primo Levi, for example, "Se questo è un uomo".)

 

[Pushka]

Using references to <..redacted..> in relation to some idiots in a Ryanair queue seriously takes this thread well OTT and simply shows disrespect for history.

Time this thread was closed.

Yes. Extremely offensive.

 

[artemis]

One has three choices in such a situation.
1. Say nothing, and be walked over.
2. Explain to the person in his mid 40s that there are conventions in civilised society, and that he has transgressed one, and that my wife is very unhappy, and would he in future please be polite and observe those polite conventions.
3. Make the person bear the consequences of his action, via public humiliation, and making sure he doesn't have a nice day.

Which of these options do you think ultimately lead to a more civilised society?

I was actually thinking a lot about this yesterday when we visited Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Park.
Regards,
Renato

And we have reached Godwin's law - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_law

There is no way your experience of international travel even remotely bears comparison with the horrors of the holocaust (or more pertinently, any other more recently displaced group of people).

Grow up Renato . Your misplaced sense of entitlement and injustice could be channelled into more beneficial pursuits.

(Also, maybe if all these problems happen to you, you should look at the common denominator!)

Didn't this start out as a complaint about not being at an aerobridge? And now we're up to ninja turtles.

Most of the behaviour you have been talking about would get you either removed from a flight, or denied boarding to start with.

I love you JB! I might just start a fan-club!

 

[Renato1]

Interesting comments above. The common denominator appears to be that if someone gives me or my wife s##t, I should just be a man and take it. If some one steals, my seat or jumps a queue or harasses my wife, then plainly I am the guilty party if I in turn say something which creates friction. And the original transgressors? - few here seem to have any real issue with their actions.

Anyhow, as I am in Croatia at the moment, with a good WiFi connection, back to topic.

I had occasion to catch up with relatives who recently flew Melbourne to Venice using the Etihad/Alitalia code share.

One is elderly. They're experience was that at Abu Dhabi airport they were advised that they would have to take a bus to the plane, and would they require assistance? (which they declined). There followed a four or five minute trip to the plane, and all was well.

They said they were given the option in passing of flying Emirates by the travel agent, but they all agreed that the $1000 they'd save flying Etihad would be better spent on shopping.

So, while many of you have expressed sympathy for Emirates and felt that I was somewhat unreasonable, I still feel that I am entitled to be cheesed off - as I paid a premium, and instead of getting something for that premium, we were treated to sub cattle class service in that instance, as far as I am concerned.
Regards,
Renato

 

[Pushka]

The couple you mention using Etihad and who were asked if they needed assistance you have described as elderly.

You are about my age. I am not elderly. If I was asked if I needed assistance due to my age, I would be offended.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting comments above. The common denominator appears to be that if someone gives me or my wife s##t, I should just be a man and take it. If some one steals, my seat or jumps a queue or harasses my wife, then plainly I am the guilty party if I in turn say something which creates friction. And the original transgressors? - few here seem to have any real issue with their actions.

That is not what anyone has said.

Of course you are entitled to stand up for your rights and the rights of your wife. But you need bear the limitations in mind.

If you buy a new television which breaks down when you take it home, you are entitled to exercise your rights and take it back to the store and have them fix it or replace it. You are not entitled to take it back to the store and punch the shop assistant in the face for selling you a dodgy television. You are not entitled to go back to the store at midnight, break through the door and take a new one.

The same applies on a plane. If someone has taken your seat, you are entitled to complain. You are entitled to follow the matter up with the cabin crew, or subsequently with the airline. You are entitled to pursue remedies (if any) available under the terms of your contract with the airline (for example if you have paid extra for a seat). Or you might ask the airline for a goodwill gesture for your inconvenience.

You are not entitled to manhandle the person sitting in your seat.

The law no longer recognises a 'sense of honour' in the terms you describe. No longer can we challenge someone to a dual at sunrise.

Your responses and conduct on board must, at all times, be lawful. If they are not, you potentially become the problem, and the airline is entitled to off-load you both by law, and under the terms of the contract you have with the airline.

 

[TomVexille]

So, while many of you have expressed sympathy for Emirates and felt that I was somewhat unreasonable, I still feel that I am entitled to be cheesed off - as I paid a premium, and instead of getting something for that premium, we were treated to sub cattle class service in that instance, as far as I am concerned.
Regards,
Renato

I'm not sure many (or any) expressed sympathy for EK. But I have no idea why anyone would pay a premium for EK Y. They may be a premium F carrier, but not a premium carrier at the back of the bus. I think you have been fooled into thinking that Emirates (or any middle eastern carrier) gives a stuff about Y passengers. Tim Clark (the CEO of EK if you didn't know) has been quoted as saying "With food and TV, people are mesmerized". Sorry, but you're just self loading freight to him.

EY in Y is decidedly average as well. Probably best for you to just avoid the Middle East full stop.