What's up with Emirates?

[TheRealTMA]

After reading this thread, starting to get a bit nervous about my upcoming trip in J SYD-BKK. I have flown Emirates for trips SYD - AKL and SYD CHC is J and F and have no real reason to complain to date. I have completed 4 trips with them in the last 6 months on the NZ routes. My SYD BKK trip has a very short turn around, so I was looking foward to some decent food and service on board.

Based on some of the comments made here, I might have to pack some 2 minute noodles in my carry on,

This is a particularly difficult thread. I would not be concerned, yet. All airlines have their good and bad flights and their detractors. I've booked four long haul EK flights since the start of this thread and am very happy we're flying with EK.

 

[Nizar]

This is a particularly difficult thread. I would not be concerned, yet. All airlines have their good and bad flights and their detractors. I've booked four long haul EK flights since the start of this thread and am very happy we're flying with EK.

While not as frequent a flyer as many on here, my sole EK F experience was wonderful DXB-MEL last year. Plan to do it again in the other direction in a few weeks and we also have bookings come up for MEL-SIN for October and also SIN-DXB for February next year.

We will not be changing those bookings as a result of this thread and I do believe that bad experiences can happen on any airline from time to time. The inflight experience most of time whether excellent or poor is usually crew dependent, except for when you're flying SQ which has in my experience consistently excellent service.

 

[Alanslegal]

About to board flight EK204 jfk-dxb .... and take my first ever shower on a plane

 

[Shan ia]

Last time we traveled with Emirates in Business Class on an A380, there were 22 passengers in an area that takes about 70 from memory. The staff were so busy talking to each other down the back you would have thought it was public transport. It took 15 mins to get the call bell answered and in the end I got up and found the purser. I told him that I had better service on Singapore in economy than Emirates in Business Class. The 777's are jammed in in Economy and have been for years. Emirates has lost the plot when it comes to service. I believe it is lack of attention to detail. Whatever class you fly in Singapore Airlines, you can watch poetry in motion. Especially at meal times with the way they operate with two crew backing up the servers. How many airlines clean the toilets and serve water and juice so regularly. We just got back from Bangkok and Singapore with SIA Business Class. They were faultless and I am sure it was the same in Economy. Emirates needs to improve their inflight service and stop trying to cram more and more passengers into less and less space.

 

[greenfish]

Another pro EK voice here. Flew F SYD-DXB-LGW a few weeks ago - best flight I've ever had and better in a number of ways to the 2 x F flights I flew last year with QF.

In the last year I've flown EK in Y 777 PRG-DXB-SIN, then connected to a QF A330 to BNE. The 777 was preferable with far better IFE than the QF A330. The narrow seats probably are bad if sitting next to a large adult, but flying with my average size family, it was no problem.

I've also flown MUC-DXB connecting to QF10 DXB-MEL all in Y. Of these flights, the EK flight was preferable to the QF flight mostly as the QF flight was absolutely full, and the staff were struggling to adapt to the (then) new QF10 timings.

Flew F EK AKL-BNE earlier in the year and thought the food was pretty ordinary - only vaguely negative experience.

Flew SQ Y MXP-SIN-BNE a few weeks ago with the kids. Old IFE on SQ MXP-SIN - some of their 777s really need a refit too. Good service, perhaps the one area I preferred to EK was just how many times drinks were offered - it was impressive and the best I'd experienced on any airline.

I wonder if some of the EK issues reported are as much as anything, the result of the high load factors they're achieving. Looking back over 41 years of international flying, the bad flights have been the full flights - on pretty much every airline.

The worst flight - a completely full UA red-eye from Seattle to Dulles, in the back row, where one passenger literally flowed over the arm rest and consumed half of one of my children's seats.

 

[Alanslegal]

I am currently in the air, 40,000 feet or so, about 1h 15minute out of DXB - and 10hrs 45 minutes gone so far.

There are 5 pax in F and the service has been very solid.

My first shower on board was such fun, I know its a bit gimmicky but hey, EK is such OTT airline.

The crew represented 22 countries and 17 different languages on board.

I would have no hesitation to fly them again, and they are definitely top tier F product, with SQ, LH, QF, EY.

 

[Dalescott]

I gave up on EK years ago. But I saw in the Traveller section of the Fairfax papers, a review of EK slave class. The writer liked it, and he was not given the flight, he paid for himself.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I dont think the issues are in F. Its in business where things arent great on a regular basis.

 

[PineappleSkip]

First flight on Emirates in a few months, KBL-DXB on Thu. First, op-up for a QFF member. The partnership works well for QF frequent flyers in that regard. Second, they are the only airline that can manage priority checkin and priority boarding in KBL. the latter is quite a feat. 345 was ticking over OK and no hard product issues, its comparable with their 777s and plenty comfortable for a 3 hour flight. The service is fine, CSM sought me out and said hi, as they mostly do. DXB - only one runway going, hold pattern then lengthy bus ride to the terminal. The congested DXB is a limiting factor for them these days.

Nothing to complain about on this flight. The only issue others here in Kabul have raised when I mentioned EK has been late flights. Suspect that may be a DXB issue.

Cheers skip.

 

[R36snowbound]

Just completed SYD - BKK in J with Emirates and no complaints with the food or service. Car transfers worked well and arrived on time. Return flight to Sydney was delayed by 2 hours due to late arival of the aircraft from Dubai but what can you do, that's the joys of international travel.
Seats on 777 not as good as the EK A380 or SQ but in terms of value for money and quality of product, I would happlit fly EK in J again.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Have returned DXB-KBL, no upgrade this time. Window seat in Y adjacent to a man-mountain didn't look promising, but FA found me a better seat a little further back; in a bulkhead aisle, with a vacant seat adjacent. I didn't request it, she volunteered to reseat me. Pretty happy with that result also, even if I was seated in the 'wait for the toilet party zone'.

No particular qualms about the service, FAs were reasonably quick, they took maybe 3 minutes to answer a buzzer - I was reporting an unserviceable toilet. Someone appeared to have stuffed about an acre of plastic in the bowl, but that is hardly EK's fault.

Cheers skip

 

[gaz0303]

Recent MAN-DXB-SYD flight. Booked as QF8020-QF2 but a delay into MAN of incoming flight caused QF8020 to be delayed by 1.5hrs, and missed connection to QF2. Rebooked onto EK414 with hotel offered in DXB. After suggesting that EK412 was more suitable and would enable connecting flight to be made in SYD, I was re-booked onto EK412. After 1.5 hrs at check-in, EK agents could still not supply the DXB-SYD boarding pass. Apparently people in DXB had to issue the tickets. In DXB, went to transfers desk and after 30 minutes of the staff member trying different key strokes and help desks, still no boarding pass. EK were unable to issue the ticket and blamed QF. With 5 minutes to go to boarding, a 2nd supervisor finally issued me a ticket by creating a new booking. All up, about 2hrs to get a boarding pass. What made it worse was that I had been awarded an Y-J upgrade on QF2, but then found myself on the 2nd last row of economy.

This experience was complete opposite of the J upgrade at the gate on the DXB-MAN leg , albeit in a old config 777, and front row in economy on the MAN-DXB leg.

 

[downgraded]

Unfortunately for EK, the staff maketh the airline and chc to syd was really bad.
Dodgy head phone socket, uninspiring movie selection, had to go and get own water then had to interrupt hostie who had a doing nothing fixation in the gallery to even get a glass. Earlier request for a wine whilst meal trays being collected were responded to with 'wait until we finish the trolley service then press your call button and ask again', no express card offered. And staff had head in paper work whilst pax disembarking. Booked as qf. Complete contrast on the 738 qf metal over which was everything a full service carrier should be.

 

[Nizar]

Unfortunately for EK, the staff maketh the airline and chc to syd was really bad.
Dodgy head phone socket, uninspiring movie selection, had to go and get own water then had to interrupt hostie who had a doing nothing fixation in the gallery to even get a glass. Earlier request for a wine whilst meal trays being collected were responded to with 'wait until we finish the trolley service then press your call button and ask again', no express card offered. And staff had head in paper work whilst pax disembarking. Booked as qf. Complete contrast on the 738 qf metal over which was everything a full service carrier should be.

Were you in J both ways ?
I am still mulling over whether I should fly J for MEL-AKL given QF fly only a 738. But your comments seem to encourage me.
On the way back I have my mind set on EK 388 J only because I've never tried it and it seems, notwithstanding comments in this thread, to be a good product.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Were you in J both ways ?
I am still mulling over whether I should fly J for MEL-AKL given QF fly only a 738. But your comments seem to encourage me.
On the way back I have my mind set on EK 388 J only because I've never tried it and it seems, notwithstanding comments in this thread, to be a good product.

Seems a no brainer to me. Why fly on a 737 in J when you can take an a380?

 

[downgraded]

Per the moniker, y all the way.

Have done j across the ditch in both. The journey is so short i don't get the fixation with the need for a fully flat bed etc. Qf j is fit for purpose on the route if you've got access to it but personally i save the $$$ and points for long haul. Acknowledgement of and consistent delivery of WP shadow and qf could almost justify 9 across in a 787 and the existence of 738 (though the low capacity of qf 738 vs 388 also is attractive from a ground services perspective on arrival) on ditch hops.

 

[PineappleSkip]

What made it worse was that I had been awarded an Y-J upgrade on QF2, but then found myself on the 2nd last row of economy.

Oh that is tragic. I fully sympathise gaz0303..

Cheers skip

 

[dodgeyhack]

Seems a no brainer to me. Why fly on a 737 in J when you can take an a380?

Depends what's important to you.
I'm not that big a fan of the EK hard product. It's not a very spacious feeling seat and not overly comfortable imo. Service is also hit and miss.
QF seat is comfortable for watching movies, eating and drinking and the small cabin is a positive in my eyes and results in much more more attentive service.
Piper Heidsieck is also my favourite Champage.

We've now tried Lan, QF and EK a few times each and I prefer QF. Though EK F on sale wins overall.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Recent MAN-DXB-SYD flight. Booked as QF8020-QF2 but a delay into MAN of incoming flight caused QF8020 to be delayed by 1.5hrs, and missed connection to QF2. Rebooked onto EK414 with hotel offered in DXB. After suggesting that EK412 was more suitable and would enable connecting flight to be made in SYD, I was re-booked onto EK412. After 1.5 hrs at check-in, EK agents could still not supply the DXB-SYD boarding pass. Apparently people in DXB had to issue the tickets. In DXB, went to transfers desk and after 30 minutes of the staff member trying different key strokes and help desks, still no boarding pass. EK were unable to issue the ticket and blamed QF. With 5 minutes to go to boarding, a 2nd supervisor finally issued me a ticket by creating a new booking. All up, about 2hrs to get a boarding pass. What made it worse was that I had been awarded an Y-J upgrade on QF2, but then found myself on the 2nd last row of economy.

This experience was complete opposite of the J upgrade at the gate on the DXB-MAN leg , albeit in a old config 777, and front row in economy on the MAN-DXB leg.

How late did you end up arriving at your final destination? You may be entitled to EU261 compensation (600 euros if four or more hours late).

The courts have ruled that even if your departure from the EU is delayed below the specified limits... if that delay causes you to miss a connecting flight, the time that matters is your arrival at your final destination.

 

[gaz0303]

How late did you end up arriving at your final destination? You may be entitled to EU261 compensation (600 euros if four or more hours late).

The courts have ruled that even if your departure from the EU is delayed below the specified limits... if that delay causes you to miss a connecting flight, the time that matters is your arrival at your final destination.

I managed to make my connection in SYD. If I had known that I could make EU600 for a 24hr delay, I just may have gone with the proposed delay. At the time, making it home for the weekend to be with family was priority #1 but even my wife would give me up for a day at EUR600.