A little sparkle missing from EK?

[kiwitripper64]

I have recently had 3 AKL-Aus flights on EK in Y. It used to be great but the latest flights have lost their sparkle.
EK now has 4 A380 departing early evenings. This has put another strain on travel to AKLairport and travel is already at breaking point at the domestic. In the airport there is a huge crowd at check-in and immigration/security. It isn't fair to blame EK entirely for this but they have scheduled 4 380 departing within 90min.

Then there is the lounge at AKL. Same lounge and furniture but there is a huge reduction in the selection and quality of food on offer. If you can get to the food with the large numbers of passengers. They used to have a nice range of amenities like the Emirates pens and bathroom amenities. Nowdays if you need a pen its a cheap plastic pen and you have to get cheaper quality bathroom amenities from teh front desk instead of the bathroom.

EK have the most comfortable Y seats in trans-tasman and the entertainment variety is good but the actual movies were jumpy and laggy this time. Food is good in Y but the service was really abrupt and impersonal. I havent been in EK J in the last 6 months or so so cant comment.

This is not a post to trash EK, rather its my view on recent EK trans-tasman experiences. Has anyone else noticed? Is it just the trans-tasman or has this crept in to other airports and flights?

 

[blackcat20]

TomVexille can probably comment after his flight to NZ yesterday...

 

[Pushka]

Agree. The changing of the EK departure makes leaving after work impossible now. I think the EK experience on some sectors is lacking - e.g. Syd - Bkk. J service was abominable. Was pleased it gave me double status credits but that was it.

I guess they expect most people to exit in Australia so they don't bother with building rapport.

I am a fan of EK but can also see the deficits.

 

[Altair]

The EK SYD lounge was still up to its standards a fortnight ago which of course is streaks ahead of the QF Business Lounge.
Do not forget that EK has recorded a 75% reduction in revenue at its last report so obviously something is giving.
I have not travelled EK in WHY on the A380, yes to the 777 and thought it was awful as that was my first experience of 10 across, but I feel the QF TT economy product is pretty good, although I have not travelled it on a reconfigured 737.
AKL has become a hole of an airport, a few years ago they were doing quite well but I avoid transiting there whenever possible.

Agree. The changing of the EK departure makes leaving after work impossible now. I think the EK experience on some sectors is lacking - e.g. Syd - Bkk. J service was abominable. Was pleased it gave me double status credits but that was it.

I guess they expect most people to exit in Australia so they don't bother with building rapport.

I am a fan of EK but can also see the deficits.

Was this booked on the global double status credits offer? If so I am surprised you got the DSC as it was explicit on QF metal or a limited number of codeshare services.

 

[Pushka]

.....

Was this booked on the global double status credits offer? If so I am surprised you got the DSC as it was explicit on QF metal or a limited number of codeshare services.

It was last year around Christmas time. We were actually booked to fly Emirates to Singapore this Christmas but I cancelled that due exactly for this reason and rebooked on Qantas.

 

[serfty]

Flew back from AKL to MEL last evening and found it ok.

Flights were indeed packed (not a single economy seat unallocated on EK407 to MEL).

... It isn't fair to blame EK entirely for this but they have scheduled 4 380 departing within 90min.
...

This is incorrect - the flights have more staggered schedules these days with 4:30 (SYD), 6:10 (BNE), 6:50(MEL) and 9:15 (DXB).

Check-in opened 1pm on the dot.

The lounge never became really crowded - I have seen that before, but not yesterday. It was busy around 5:30pm but spare seats were plentiful, both in the lounge and the dining areas. Yes the buffet had decreased in standard somewhat but still quite reasonable and certainly better (for example) the the BA First Lounge at LHR T5.

 

[clifford]

Yes the buffet had decreased in standard somewhat but still quite reasonable and certainly better (for example) the the BA First Lounge at LHR T5.

Not my experience regards the BA first lounge in LHR T3 (I know, not T5). And the EY lounge in T4 is something else again (on the plus side), but that's digressing. QR also beats the pants off EK in J and ME lounges (just my experience)

I used to be EK Gold for many years, but they have gone downhill to such an extent that I no longer bother with them.

 

[justinbrett]

I flew EK for the first time today (I'm a loyal QF pax) and I'm a little disappointed. I was flying AKL - BNE in J (A380).

i spent 6 months in the UAE recently and I would describe the experience as typical Emirati - extremely flashy on the outside but lacking in substance.

Lots of pros - the cabin looks amazing, Moët served on arrival, a proper bar that will make you coughtails. Seat is very good (although I quite like BAs setup).

But some unexpected cons - was never referred to by my name (a simple thing that makes you feel welcome). I didn't like how the meal was served all at once (entree and main together), and the service of wine was ridiculous. They wouldn't serve wine until people had their meal, but then you had to wait a long time to be served. I'd almost finished the entire meal before I was given a glass of red (although they offered me white earlier - twice! I tried to look very annoyed the second time I declined and asked for red.).

The 'minibar' sounds like a good idea but in reality is pointless - who wants to drink room temperature Pepsi or juice? How about you just provide good service and give it to me cold.

My first coughtail was made by an Australian and it was very good. However my second was made by an Arab (not sure which country) and he didn't have a clue. I know they don't drink alcohol but if they don't know their way around a bar don't make them work there!

Its a mixed bag but I much preferred the service on BA and QF J. I know some of the product is better on EK, I just feel the service lets it down.

In contrast my outbound flight was on JetConnect and despite being on a B737-800 it was unexpectedly very comfortable. The food was amazing and the service could not be faulted. I'm not saying I'd choose the Jetconnect over EK given the product differences but it just illustrates how important good service is.

 

[N860CR]

I flew EK for the first time today (I'm a loyal QF pax) and I'm a little disappointed. I was flying AKL - BNE in J (A380).

i spent 6 months in the UAE recently and I would describe the experience as typical Emirati - extremely flashy on the outside but lacking in substance.

Lots of pros - the cabin looks amazing, Moët served on arrival, a proper bar that will make you coughtails. Seat is very good (although I quite like BAs setup).

But some unexpected cons - was never referred to by my name (a simple thing that makes you feel welcome). I didn't like how the meal was served all at once (entree and main together), and the service of wine was ridiculous. They wouldn't serve wine until people had their meal, but then you had to wait a long time to be served. I'd almost finished the entire meal before I was given a glass of red (although they offered me white earlier - twice! I tried to look very annoyed the second time I declined and asked for red.).

The 'minibar' sounds like a good idea but in reality is pointless - who wants to drink room temperature Pepsi or juice? How about you just provide good service and give it to me cold.

My first coughtail was made by an Australian and it was very good. However my second was made by an Arab (not sure which country) and he didn't have a clue. I know they don't drink alcohol but if they don't know their way around a bar don't make them work there!

Its a mixed bag but I much preferred the service on BA and QF J. I know some of the product is better on EK, I just feel the service lets it down.

In contrast my outbound flight was on JetConnect and despite being on a B737-800 it was unexpectedly very comfortable. The food was amazing and the service could not be faulted. I'm not saying I'd choose the Jetconnect over EK given the product differences but it just illustrates how important good service is.

Very much my EK experience over the years. Painfully inconsistent and really lacking in substance. Some crews are good (had a great SYD-AKL in J with a mainly Australian crew who did a good job) but some are just terrible. A JNB-DXB in J was one of the worst business class flights I've ever been on as the crew were hopeless and clearly couldn't have cared less about the passengers if they tried.

QF can have some very bad days as well... but the chance of hitting a terrible crew is slimmer

 

[fairbasa]

Flew EK404 a couple days ago in whY. First time I've taken the EK 380. Have to say, I really enjoyed it. Was in the second row of economy so it was super quiet up front. The crew were great (some Aussies) and enjoyed the seats more than the QF 380. The flight being about half full certainly helped too. IFE selection was pretty poor I thought though - I enjoy my docos and QF certainly had them beat on this front.

One thing which was lacking in sparkle (literally) was the wine in Y! I asked for just a sparkling wine to which I was informed they only had champagne and the charge was 19eur for the piccolo. Really? It sort of goes against the whole lux feeling to be nickle and dimed for wine. Is it that hard to just carry some sparkling for Y?!

 

[TomVexille]

Only just saw this.

Flew SYD-CHC in December and it was terrible. Everything was an imposition to the crew. They were constantly racing around but didn't seem to actually be getting anything done. My IFE screen wouldn't stay up (was sitting at a bulkhead) so was completely unusable. Crew ignored the call bell for 40 minutes before I was able to flag someone down who flat out refused to help as everyone was "too busy". I was in the forward half of the cabin and by the time they got to me they were telling people that there was no choice of meal. Trying to get a refill was met with attitude.

Someone slap me next time I consider flying EK in Y. The bad UA crews are better than this.

 

[scwappy]

Flew AKL to SYD in Y last week. Boarding is a nightmare from gate 10. Once on board gate to gate entertainment is fantastic. Food OK. Crew are very busy given a short flight and lots to do.
Overall I would still pay a small premium (say $30 each way) to fly EK across the Tasman, but not too much anymore.

 

[kiwitripper64]

Are REDROO or Emirates equivalent watching this? Some interesting customer feedback. On top of this are the announcements that EK are offering on day paid entry to business and first lounges and a rumour that they will offer on board showers to J for a fee.
Is EK still super sparkly?

 

[TomVexille]

Is EK still super sparkly?

I think they CAN be IF you get a good CSM, but not in Y

 

[serfty]

Only just saw this.

Flew SYD-CHC in December and it was terrible. Everything was an imposition to the crew. ....

I would have been contacting EK customer service with all that. It reminds me of the crew I had a few years ago in J on QF3 (I did contact QF about that one).

As for EK, I have had a few economy flights recently (DXB-LHR, SIN-MEL and between MEL & AKL) and found the crew fine.

Like a lot of things, I guess you can get a 'bad' crew any time.

 

[TomVexille]

I would have been contacting EK customer service with all that. It reminds me of the crew I had a few years ago in J on QF3 (I did contact QF about that one).

I might just do that

 

[mushez]

I have recently had 3 AKL-Aus flights on EK in Y. It used to be great but the latest flights have lost their sparkle.
EK now has 4 A380 departing early evenings. This has put another strain on travel to AKLairport and travel is already at breaking point at the domestic. In the airport there is a huge crowd at check-in and immigration/security. It isn't fair to blame EK entirely for this but they have scheduled 4 380 departing within 90min.

EK have never had 4 depart within 90 minutes of each other at any time from AKL, they have had the 3 depart within 90 minutes of each other, with the direct flight (EK449) departing 2 hours later, 3 1/2 hours after the first.

HOWEVER that is not the situation now 418/419 has moved to being via AKL vrs CHC, and vise versa EK412/413 from AKL to CHC.

This move from 30th October last year, saw the flights spread out to being:
EK419 = 4:30pm
EK435 = 6:10pm
EK407 = 6:50pm
EK449 = 9:15pm

This move has re-leaved a lot of pressures on everything in Auckland Emirates related from what I have found in my movements, as prior to October last year, it was tight.

As for Auckland Lounge, needing to get kits etc from reception, plastic pens, lower standards etc, yes it has diminished over the past 12 months - not massively, but has diminished.

But seriously, what Frequent Flyer doesn't fly with their own pen? I always have 4 in my carry on bag - I personally don't see it as something any airline should give - borrow one, sure. Where do you draw the line with what is inc in a J or F fare?