gypsyinabigtown
Intern
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2012
- Posts
- 81
As a QF Plat I'm flying SYD-BKK quite regularly on J using both QF and EK.
Below is a comparative review of both, based on my experiences - in case it helps anyone:
Check-in/boarding:
QF
Qantas beats hands down, with better/quicker service both in SYD and BKK.
In BKK, particularly, EK check-in is quite incompetent. Several times I've seen the First counter left empty, 1 Business counter open and already busy, while every other counter was busily checking in Economy passengers. Even when they noticed me, they made it clear that they couldn't care less.
Another EK hassle is that their planes let J passengers board the plane together with Y - only F gets priority. They may be announcing boarding for J a few seconds before Y, but by the time you've come to the gate from the lounge, you have an A380-full of Economy passengers ahead of you in the queue!! Many times I had to hunt down FAs in aerobridge to ask for *special permission* to board from F, rather than waiting for the 300 people in front of me to fill the A380.
Also, because EK flight operates more as a minibus shuttle (DXB-BKK-SYD-CHC), it is more prone to delays. On QF, if anything I've seen the QF24 arrive into SYD early, as early as 6:20, nicely allowing me to bypass the Sydney morning traffic rush
Lounges:
EK
In BKK, EK lounge is generally a bit better than QF lounge in terms of food/drink quality and things to read/space. Notably, EK lounge has easy-to-access electrical outlets throughout, and they take Aussie-style plugs as well; while in QF lounge plugs are only in a few corners and do not take Aussie pin plugs!
In SYD, QF F lounge is a bit better - but given the morning departure time of QF23, it is so overcrowded that it's impossible to find any place to eat. Many times I was told the restaurant is full and I would have to eat on one of the lounge sofas.
Even when entering lounges, you can still see the teething problems of the alliance. EK lounge does not announce the QF flights, even though it is EK codeshare! To enter the EK lounge when flying a QF-operated lounge, you need to give a lot of details, even including itinerary and ticket number. A simple boarding pass and Plat. card is not enough.
Planes:
EK
QF has an A330 with small AVOD screens, and an MKI bed. The AVOD programme is nice, but apart from movies, rarely updated (still the same episodes of Big Bang Theory!)
EK has an A380 with large screens, massive programme and a fully flat-bed.
It is almost an unfair comparison...
Food/service:
QF
QF recognises Plat better, with personal greetings. You are given priority passes and noise-cancelling headsets, even on Economy.
EK has no recognition that I could see. The personnel is a bit more hands-on in helping (they do your mattress for you) but sometimes strangely unhelpful, e.g. when I asked for immigration landing cards, I was firmly told by the FA that they would ONLY distribute them right before landing - not anytime before. I had to get the CSM involved to get an immigration card so I could fill it out before going to bed and not have to worry about it again. Strange!
QF also beats EK on wine, with a good selection of Aussie reds - EK usually has some over-promise under-delivery French red that is served way colder than it should be (almost white wine temparature!).
This is purely based on my comparisons on SYD-BKK route. Any other perspectives most welcome
Below is a comparative review of both, based on my experiences - in case it helps anyone:
Check-in/boarding:
QF
Qantas beats hands down, with better/quicker service both in SYD and BKK.
In BKK, particularly, EK check-in is quite incompetent. Several times I've seen the First counter left empty, 1 Business counter open and already busy, while every other counter was busily checking in Economy passengers. Even when they noticed me, they made it clear that they couldn't care less.
Another EK hassle is that their planes let J passengers board the plane together with Y - only F gets priority. They may be announcing boarding for J a few seconds before Y, but by the time you've come to the gate from the lounge, you have an A380-full of Economy passengers ahead of you in the queue!! Many times I had to hunt down FAs in aerobridge to ask for *special permission* to board from F, rather than waiting for the 300 people in front of me to fill the A380.
Also, because EK flight operates more as a minibus shuttle (DXB-BKK-SYD-CHC), it is more prone to delays. On QF, if anything I've seen the QF24 arrive into SYD early, as early as 6:20, nicely allowing me to bypass the Sydney morning traffic rush
Lounges:
EK
In BKK, EK lounge is generally a bit better than QF lounge in terms of food/drink quality and things to read/space. Notably, EK lounge has easy-to-access electrical outlets throughout, and they take Aussie-style plugs as well; while in QF lounge plugs are only in a few corners and do not take Aussie pin plugs!
In SYD, QF F lounge is a bit better - but given the morning departure time of QF23, it is so overcrowded that it's impossible to find any place to eat. Many times I was told the restaurant is full and I would have to eat on one of the lounge sofas.
Even when entering lounges, you can still see the teething problems of the alliance. EK lounge does not announce the QF flights, even though it is EK codeshare! To enter the EK lounge when flying a QF-operated lounge, you need to give a lot of details, even including itinerary and ticket number. A simple boarding pass and Plat. card is not enough.
Planes:
EK
QF has an A330 with small AVOD screens, and an MKI bed. The AVOD programme is nice, but apart from movies, rarely updated (still the same episodes of Big Bang Theory!)
EK has an A380 with large screens, massive programme and a fully flat-bed.
It is almost an unfair comparison...
Food/service:
QF
QF recognises Plat better, with personal greetings. You are given priority passes and noise-cancelling headsets, even on Economy.
EK has no recognition that I could see. The personnel is a bit more hands-on in helping (they do your mattress for you) but sometimes strangely unhelpful, e.g. when I asked for immigration landing cards, I was firmly told by the FA that they would ONLY distribute them right before landing - not anytime before. I had to get the CSM involved to get an immigration card so I could fill it out before going to bed and not have to worry about it again. Strange!
QF also beats EK on wine, with a good selection of Aussie reds - EK usually has some over-promise under-delivery French red that is served way colder than it should be (almost white wine temparature!).
This is purely based on my comparisons on SYD-BKK route. Any other perspectives most welcome
I suppose they could always utilise the downstairs area for lounge seating, though this would mean the main lounge reception would need to move down there as well.
