'Your London Booking'

[verduzzo]

I haven't been on EK before, although my boss called the 77W a "$h!^*** little plane", and I know of quite a few others who aren't keen on the EK Y services. So I suppose it's just average at best, as others have put it. Haven't really heard about their J or F, however.

Very happy with the J offering on EK, but sadly not an option this trip (regrets, I've had a few...)

 

[Brettmcg]

I haven't been on EK before, although my boss called the 77W a "$h!^*** little plane", and I know of quite a few others who aren't keen on the EK Y services. So I suppose it's just average at best, as others have put it. Haven't really heard about their J or F, however.

I should note that all my experiences on EK so far have either been in J (purchased) or F (op-up). I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, but the F product or service didn't set my world on fire and the onboard service was not even in the same league as QF. YMMV.

 

[TomVexille]

I haven't been on EK before, although my boss called the 77W a "$h!^*** little plane", and I know of quite a few others who aren't keen on the EK Y services. So I suppose it's just average at best, as others have put it. Haven't really heard about their J or F, however.

I've never heard of a 77W referred to as "little" :shock:

 

[JohnPhelan]

I've recently done several EK flights: F (A380), J (A380), J (777).

F on the EK A380 was great in terms of the hard product, but I thought the service was poor, because it was not proactive at all. It appears that the FAs have been told "not to bother" F pax, but to wait for them to ring the bell and ask for things. An attendant looked stunned when I appeared in the galley holding my glass and asking for more water. She told me to go to my seat and a new glass would be brought to me (on a silver platter).

The service in J on EK was more like I get on QF - staff proactively asking or making suggestions.

The F suites on EK are a bit over the top, but the J "mini-suites" on the A380 are great. Much better than the QF Skybeds if you're travelling solo.

 

[docjames]

price difference doc.
Also, based in Perth, which means EK to Europe these days, so that's just how it worked out. Booked through QF call centre though.

Which probably explains why QF cant fill it's flights!

I wonder what the price difference is now?

So, after speaking to Plat this is the fallout: no guarantee my DXB connection on EK (QF Flight Number) will be guaranteed if I make the swap to LHR departure on QF metal- I have to talk to EK to sort that out.
For all you PER residents on AFF: I was told that due to my final destination (PER) not being a QF international hub, there was nothing else QF could do to align the flights all the way through. As mentioned above, I booked entire original journey through the QF booking centre! Sooo... :shock:

So a pretty useless offer from QF then if they dont protect your entire booking!

 

[Mr_Orange]

I've never heard of a 77W referred to as "little" :shock:

More a reference to the tiny Y seats on the EK birds.

 

[TomVexille]

More a reference to the tiny Y seats on the EK birds.

Of course. Those seats are definitely squeezy. But the 77W is a BIG plane, longer than the A380 in fact.

 

[Mr_Orange]

But the 77W is a BIG plane, longer than the A380 in fact.

Agreed, although I didn't know it was longer than an A380. Presumably that is the -300 variant that is longer or is the -200 also longer?

 

[Paddy55]

The F Lounge in DXB is fantastic IMHO. I think it is far superior to anything offered at any other port QF flies to (including The Wing at HKG). I would rate this lounge as third after SYD/MEL F Lounges. I think this aspect of the alliance has been very positive. I've gotten used to the shorter night legs from LHR. I'm looking forward to a re-timing of QF 9/10 and hope it increases patronage as I would hate to see QF pull out of or reduce services to LHR.

In Dec had the opportunity to visit the DXB F Lounge there and back and I wasn't completely blown away... great restaurant, humungous but the showers I thought were pretty small and ratty, towels frayed and showing their age, and it was too warm in there

First world problems I know, however my two favourite F lounges remain the SYD QF Flounge for the food and spa, and the HKG F Lounge Wing with the revamped cabanas and food.

 

[TomVexille]

Agreed, although I didn't know it was longer than an A380. Presumably that is the -300 variant that is longer or is the -200 also longer?

Just the 777-300 by 1.17 meters. The 777-200 is about 9 meters shorter than the A380.

 

[Princess Fiona]

In Dec had the opportunity to visit the DXB F Lounge there and back and I wasn't completely blown away... great restaurant, humungous but the showers I thought were pretty small and ratty, towels frayed and showing their age, and it was too warm in there

First world problems I know, however my two favourite F lounges remain the SYD QF Flounge for the food and spa, and the HKG F Lounge Wing with the revamped cabanas and food.

The temperature was pretty cool in the showers yesterday so maybe they have sorted that. I agree that the cabanas in the wing are fab but I'm not fussed on the food there.

 

[Timba-Jet]

So, after speaking to Plat this is the fallout: no guarantee my DXB connection on EK (QF Flight Number) will be guaranteed if I make the swap to LHR departure on QF metal- I have to talk to EK to sort that out.
For all you PER residents on AFF: I was told that due to my final destination (PER) not being a QF international hub, there was nothing else QF could do to align the flights all the way through. As mentioned above, I booked entire original journey through the QF booking centre! Sooo... :shock:

Very poor form by QF. This is a single booking ticketed by QF yet they are not willing to take care of the entire booking.

What is calling EK going to do??? As it's ticketed by QF. Hmmm hoping it's just a case of 1 incompetent employee and not the norm.

 

[TheInsider]

The connection will be protected. Just another case of incompetence.
Just remember the reasoning why adding non partner/non one world flights was taken away.
9/10 times you'll always be rebooked in the event of a misconnection, unless it is already under the minimum connection time.

 

[madrooster]

So, after speaking to Plat this is the fallout: no guarantee my DXB connection on EK (QF Flight Number) will be guaranteed if I make the swap to LHR departure on QF metal- I have to talk to EK to sort that out.
For all you PER residents on AFF: I was told that due to my final destination (PER) not being a QF international hub, there was nothing else QF could do to align the flights all the way through. As mentioned above, I booked entire original journey through the QF booking centre! Sooo... :shock:

Beware that half the time the phone system routes you to the general res line so despite ringing the premium desk number, you don't always get the premium desk as such.

If they don't answer with "premium desk" at the start, there's a probable chance it is the general res area you're speaking to.

I would be surprised if this was a premium desk agent that told you this.

 

[N860CR]

And they get mighty upset when you ask "is this the premium section?"!

 

[marki]

While that's probably true (I don't know the workings of the agreement), QF will likely be losing money with a half full A380

This small little difference well picked up

 

[DaveB]

Just wow that an airline would resort to this level. Akin to door to door sales people on a Saturday afternoon.
Last person out please switch off the lights....

 

[TomVexille]

Just wow that an airline would resort to this level. Akin to door to door sales people on a Saturday afternoon.
Last person out please switch off the lights....

Why wouldn't they? QF is a business and it needs to make money.

 

[MH_fan]

I don't know how QF can be competitive when their prices are so much higher than the competition! I just bought J class tickets to London on MH for a little over $5900 but, for the same dates, QF are asking for something like $8200!! Premium Y fares on QF were around the $5000 mark. Er...I don't think so! MH it is and I get more SCs than if I had booked on QF!

 

[DaveB]

Why wouldn't they? QF is a business and it needs to make money.

I might be just an old fashioned business owner but see this purely as Qantas management resorting to desperate and in my mind unethical measures to try and limit their short term losses regardless of the consequences.
Attempting to poach passengers already booked with their airline partner and not highlighting the downsides for those accepting the offer to switch from EK is just plain wrong.