Emirates to raise fares by 7%

[dajop]

Ok so that's my headline.

The sub-ed's headline is Fares up as Emirates quits price war

EMIRATES has become the first major carrier into Australia to raise fares since the downturn in travel began, in a sign the price-war on the kangaroo route has reached a bottom.
Emirates, the fourth-biggest carrier to Australia, will increase fares by 7 per cent for all cabin classes from Thursday. Industry officials believe the Middle Eastern carrier is attempting to stem some of the losses incurred from heavy discounting over the past six months.

Whilst this is interesting that doesn't mean that EK has actually quit the price war, as suggested by The Age spin. Their sale fares move around all the time - when one expires the fares go up by as much as 70%!

 

[JohnK]

Interesting move. I would have thought most Australians travelling to SE Asia or Europe with Emirates in WHY would choose them based on the airfare rather than Emirates being a preferred carrier. Why travel with Emirates, unless one wants to transit in the Middle East, if they are not going to be the cheapest?

 

[Evan]

EK fares are atleast $300 cheaper when i look generally,.... still wont fly them after one experience... atleast not the 10 across 777's.
So 7% of $416 SIN-MEL-SIN is not much... still not going to do it.

 

[Dave Noble]

There's nothing wrong with connecting in Dubai; it is a pretty decent airport

They are far more conveniant for much of Europe than QF/BA is due to having to fly over most of Europe 1st to London and then having to backtrack.

Fly non-stop to DXB and then have easy connections to a lot of places in Europe without backtracking

The non-stops to DXB do not use the 777s but the 345/380 so do not have ( what I agree is poor ) 10 across seating in economy

I used them myself this year in 1st from UK-Oz and definitely plan to use them in the future for my trips to Europe

Dave

 

[browski]

I recently flew one of the 777s from SIN-DXB and was pleasantly surprised to see that whY had been refurbished with the updated IFE and in-seat power. Still 3-4-3 though.

 

[dajop]

So 7% of $416 SIN-MEL-SIN is not much... still not going to do it.

I've done one of these, and my partner two (spur of the moment, driven by the low fare), and my experience has been neutral to good, 3-4-3 is tight but bearable over 7 hrs. The other upside is a fuller day in MEL (withput needing to do overnight flight to SIN), can leave for the airport at 5pm instead of 2pm. I'm about to book some more on a current special for DBS cc holders.

Out of my own pocket, hard to justify paying extra $300-$400 to fly QF (although I am on a fare booked before these $400 specials existed), and impossible to justify paying the extra $300-$400 or so to fly SQ - who although IMHO have the best Y product on the route - don't recognise loyalty on their discounted fares. In fact I simply wouldn't have done the trips if I'd been paying the QF/SQ prices (or maybe done 1 not multiple trips).

 

[raphsta]

Fly non-stop to DXB and then have easy connections to a lot of places in Europe without backtracking

I too think that is the best way to get over to Europe. I flew non-stop to DXB, then on to LHR about a month back - and think it was a much better option than stopping somewhere in Asia.. It was a good feeling when arriving in DXB, knowing I was well over half way there.. The flight onto LHR felt like a short hop..

My experience on Emirates in general was great.. I was in business class on the A380 on the way over.. Seating, IFE, staff, food were all fantastic!!!
I have heard that Y is far from comfortable on Emirates.. Although, not sure whether the A380 is any improvement..

 

[NM]

It was a good feeling when arriving in DXB, knowing I was well over half way there.. The flight onto LHR felt like a short hop..

But wouldn't the return be the opposite with DXB-Australia being a daunting leg following the shop hop back from LHR, knowing you are only one third of the way home?

If travelling to LHR, then EK is not a huge advantage over other airline's routings (ignoring people's preferences based on specific airline's experiences). The big benefit with EK is that once you get to DXB, you can get to most major European destinations with a single sector. While the likes of SQ, CX, MH may have some coverage of Europe to offer one-stop services to many places, EK's one-stop coverage seems more comprehensive. They have a big benefit over QF/BA if the destination is not LHR. Even if wanting to use LGW instead of LHR for London (as many travellers prefer doing), EK can be attractive.

 

[raphsta]

But wouldn't the return be the opposite with DXB-Australia being a daunting leg following the shop hop back from LHR, knowing you are only one third of the way home?

Not really.. Because the 7 hours to DXB would have been a breeze, and you'd be ready for a good sleep on the 14 hour leg..
I guess it comes down to personal preference.. But the 14/7 split, and the 7/14 split works well for me..

 

[Dave Noble]

Even if wanting to use LGW instead of LHR for London (as many travellers prefer doing), EK can be attractive.

Absolutely.... Avoids the yucky heathrow wonderfully, plus unlike QF I have a nice car waiting to drive to destination

I will agree that for LHR , EK has no timing benefits but is great for other spots; even if going to other parts of the UK, EK provides access to locations such as Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow with a single stop in DXB

Dave

 

[thegurio]

I recently flew one of the 777s from SIN-DXB and was pleasantly surprised to see that whY had been refurbished with the updated IFE and in-seat power. Still 3-4-3 though.

Is that right? In-seat power in whY? USB or proper?

 

[Nigelinoz]

Is that right? In-seat power in whY? USB or proper?

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