EK - Someone stole my seats - why I'd rather avoid EK

[TheJoshy]

Now, unfortunately, I was booked with Emirates (I had no choice) and already experienced a pain in the cough getting to ZRH from SYD via BKK and DXB, last year. The cabin was too hot from SYD through BKK to DXB (same plane) even flight attendants noticed and complained themselves. Made a complaint the flight from hell and the response was (in summary) "the coughpit crew didn't report anything regarding abnormal cabin temperatures, we're sorry" – you can't regulate nor feel the cabin temp. so much from the coughpit... I managed to change my flight (after paying an extra $500) to a QF codeshare flight from DXB to SYD for my home-trip tomorrow.

Anyway, today, I checked my booking for my ZRH to DXB leg. Last week, it showed the seat I had booked up front. I booked it months in advance. Suddenly, it's gone. "None" reads the seat selection page. Funny that, because once booked a seat, you can only change it, not cancel the seat request entirely. Grrrrr!!! The only seats left are in the centre blocks of 4. No aisle seats. I went from having a nice aisle seat up front, to nothing.

I called Emirates to be informed that Emirates Reservations in Zurich booted me from the seat and they couldn't say why. Grrr. After exchanging a few words to the lovely Algerian man on the phone, he said the best he could do was make remarks on my booking...at least his phone service was better than the b*tch who spent 5 minutes lecturing me on why Emirates is leading the world in aviation after I asked to change to a QF flight and why Qantas doesn't deserve my patronage because I'm "too good for Qantas" and "Qantas is a budget airline"...strange considering they're meant to be "partners". I guess that's a very loose term.

I'll check-in in person tomorrow and explain as well, despite the remarks and politely tell them I'm pissed and see what can happen. I don't like being booted from my good seat, and the next customer: is he aware that I was booted for him, or does he have no idea? If I get my way, then he won't have a seat...despite it being mine first, it's hardly his fault.

I can understand being bumped off a flight because of overbooking, but having such a mess with seats is ridiculous – especially considering Google shows up a few more people (years ago though) who've experienced exactly the same...48 hours before the flight.

Anyone had similar experiences?

 

[JohnK]

Try this thread in the Introductions forum.

I would not be happy if that happened to me and they would need to fix the situation quick smart.

 

[mannej]

Which aircraft and which row have you been moved from?

Perhaps sticking to facts and leaving the emotion/attitude out of your correspondence with the ground agent may lead to a better result.

I am sorry but there is a lot of fluff in the post.

Out of interest, what did you expect in terms of a response about the cabin temperature?

 

[TheJoshy]

Which aircraft and which row have you been moved from?

Perhaps sticking to facts and leaving the emotion/attitude out of your correspondence with the ground agent may lead to a better result.

I am sorry but there is a lot of fluff in the post.

Out of interest, what did you expect in terms of a response about the cabin temperature?

An apology, explanation as to why it happened and how they fixed it. As with every other complaint.

Was removed from row 18. Nothing too special but much much nicer than the row 50 and seats down the middle. Esp. when travelling on Emirates' 777.

I don't have status with EK so I'm not that important to them but I think seat selection is something which should be honoured when there are no op changes etc.

 

[Alanslegal]

I can see you are angry TheJoshy but with your kind of attitude, you won't get much sympathy here. You do not need to call anyone the B word, especially someone who is just doing their job - and your not happy with the situation.

Anyway, seat allocation is just an allocation and that's it. It is NOT a guarantee that you will be sitting in that seat - on ANY airline, unless it's your own private jet.

So Google spits out some out-of-date bumping experiences? Statistically though, they carry millions of passengers annually and all you could illustrate was a few unhappy passengers. If millions fly them, surely they must be doing a lot of things satisfactorily.

I do appreciate why Emirates staff tried tell you that "Qantas is a budget airline". It's easy to understand why - Emirates is just way over the top, and it makes Qantas look pretty ordinary. *Note to myself, I will have to upload my video of me taking a shower at 40,000 feet*. I would never be able to experience that on a Qantas flight.

Cabin was too hot? That's subjective - the next guy probably thought it was too cold. Any more complaints?

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Yes its happened to me, seat allocation disappeared. Gotbto airport and found id been upgraded to business

 

[opusman]

I do find EK run their cabins warmer than I would like.

 

[Deleted member]

Which aircraft and which row have you been moved from?

Perhaps sticking to facts and leaving the emotion/attitude out of your correspondence with the ground agent may lead to a better result.

I am sorry but there is a lot of fluff in the post.

Out of interest, what did you expect in terms of a response about the cabin temperature?

The mere fact that you commented highlights the level of dissatisfaction by the OP. Frankly I get it. Mind you venting here is ok. Venting to the airline will probably make them more intractable.

 

[RooFlyer]

Well, TheJoshy has my sympathy! Nothing wrong with venting and having a rant here ; Emirates is known for its off-hand attitude to Y pax . Getting bounced from a selected seat, and so facing a middle seat on an EK 777 is definitely vent-worthy. Keep it polite, but go for a resolution on check-in but I don't fancy your chances. EK, EY and QR front-line employees are notoriously known for having little 'empowerment' to help pax when 'computer says no'.

And cabin temperatures can and do get too warm on many occasions in my experience - often when I mention it as a possible issue to a FA they come back and say yes, you're right, we've turned it down [1 or 2 or 3] degrees. Sure, some-one else may find it too cold - but so what? If its above the 'normal' temperature upon checking, then it should be turned down.

 

[Mattg]

The part that I find particularly strange is the bit where the EK agent on the phone tried so strongly to discourage the OP from flying QF, calling it a budget airline and basically insulting their partner airline.

 

[mannej]

The part that I find particularly strange is the bit where the EK agent on the phone tried so strongly to discourage the OP from flying QF, calling it a budget airline and basically insulting their partner airline.

No different to EK Flight attendants handing out pre-completed registration forms to QF status members for Skywards.

 

[TheJoshy]

I can see you are angry TheJoshy but with your kind of attitude, you won't get much sympathy here. You do not need to call anyone the B word, especially someone who is just doing their job - and your not happy with the situation.

Not happy with the situation? I'm pissed that the so-called partnership between QF and EK is being slammed by some "b-word" on the phone. If that's her job, to inform people directly how bad another airline is, then it's bad business practice and I feel bad for the lady. I don't mind a sales chat and attempted upselling, but I am not up for someone to tell me how bad QF is. I don't see the attitude, I'm just pissed off. Habib whom I spoke with on the phone did his best and I let him know I wasn't happy and we worked to a solution, or so I hope anyway. I wasn't rude to him at all because he is just doing his job.

So Google spits out some out-of-date bumping experiences? Statistically though, they carry millions of passengers annually and all you could illustrate was a few unhappy passengers. If millions fly them, surely they must be doing a lot of things satisfactorily.

And "statiscally", how many passengers complain about QF? Millions fly with Emirates because they are cheap and they have an exhaustive network. If you're lucky to experience it without hiccups, then good for you. They have more advantages than our home airline does, such as an abundance of fuel, no landing restrictions, no need to pay taxes in DXB and $$$. They don't need to profit right now, their focus is mainly on expansion and soon they'll have the monopoly. "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em", my mother always told me. It seems that's just what Qantas did because EK and other Arabic airlines were killing smaller airlines, like Qantas...along with other airlines with great reputations in both safety and quality, such as SWISS.

*Note to myself, I will have to upload my video of me taking a shower at 40,000 feet*. I would never be able to experience that on a Qantas flight.

Neither would I in economy on EK. I'm flying Y on an EK B777. They have more rows and more complaints relating to this aircraft than any other airline, they're running a 3-4-3 config on a B777 which is rare to come by, especially on an airline that prides itself on being so elite.

Cabin was too hot? That's subjective - the next guy probably thought it was too cold. Any more complaints?

There was definitely a problem as the cabin crew were complaining as well. It seemed somewhat "out of their control".



Anyway, I just wanted somewhere to rant and unfortunately, the receiving end is the AFF forum .

We'll see what happens at the airport tomorrow. Probably nothing; but one can only hope. I just want my seat.

 

[RooFlyer]

No different to EK Flight attendants handing out pre-completed registration forms to QF status members for Skywards.

Quite different! Your example is an airline targeting new members to its FF program - did the forms go on about how awful the QFF program was? The OP's experience was EK employee sharply slagging off Qantas directly. Bad form in any situation, but when the airlines are 'partners' then very bad form (mind you, BA employees seem to have the same tendency these days).

 

[docjames]

Anxiously awaiting tomorrow's outcome..... :shock:

 

[Anna]

I do find EK run their cabins warmer than I would like.

The entire Middle East is warmer than I would like - in more ways than one.

 

[JohnPhelan]

It may well be that the person now sitting in the seat originally allocated to the OP is a high status customer (on either EK or QF). EK pays a lot of credence to status.

 

[JohnK]

I do appreciate why Emirates staff tried tell you that "Qantas is a budget airline". It's easy to understand why - Emirates is just way over the top, and it makes Qantas look pretty ordinary. *Note to myself, I will have to upload my video of me taking a shower at 40,000 feet*. I would never be able to experience that on a Qantas flight.

LOL! You rates Emirates higher than Qantas because you can have a shower in the air? Wow! Must be really exciting.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

LOL! You rates Emirates higher than Qantas because you can have a shower in the air? Wow! Must be really exciting.

Have to agree with JohnK here.

The sheer size of the personal space on a Qantas A380 suite compared to Emirates A380 makes Emirates look budget. There are a million different ways to compare an airline, saying one is budget because it doesn't have a shower doesn't cut it with me.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
I do appreciate why Emirates staff tried tell you that "Qantas is a budget airline". It's easy to understand why - Emirates is just way over the top, and it makes Qantas look pretty ordinary. *Note to myself, I will have to upload my video of me taking a shower at 40,000 feet*. I would never be able to experience that on a Qantas flight.
<snip>

LOL! You rates Emirates higher than Qantas because you can have a shower in the air? Wow! Must be really exciting.

I don't believe that was the only reason.

Have to agree with JohnK here.

The sheer size of the personal space on a Qantas A380 suite compared to Emirates A380 makes Emirates look budget. There are a million different ways to compare an airline, saying one is budget because it doesn't have a shower doesn't cut it with me.

I don't believe Alanslegal said that.

My own TR flying EK F SYD-DXB and QF F DXB-SYD here. My conclusion comparing them side-by-side:

Lastly, can I compare EK and QF Firsts on the 2 legs? Both morning departures and roughly the same length of flight.

Seat and IFE: QF better for me. I found the EK IFE coughbersome to use and the film and TV selection wasn't to my taste.
Bed and sleep experience: EK suite with its privacy wins hands down. More space to put things easily to hand when bed deployed.
In flight service: Qantas the better; friendlier, less formal and more responsive.
Menu presentation and selections available: EK the better
Food presentation and tastiness: EK the better
Other services: EK shower puts it a long way in front!
Amenity Kit: EK the better, by quite a way. nice leather bag (for guys at least) and useful selection. QF version said to me "as cheap as we can do it".
First lounges: SYD (known from previous visits) Vs Dubai. A tie. Service better in SYD; menu broader in Dubai. More space in Dubai. Clumsier boarding in Dubai.


Overall, I'd give it to EK by a modest margin. The showers and suites are most of this win. You couldn't really complain about the food, service or seat on either.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I don't believe that was the only reason.



I don't believe Alanslegal said that.

My own TR flying EK F SYD-DXB and QF F DXB-SYD here. My conclusion comparing them side-by-side:

Well he said it's easy to see Qantas being budget compared to EK, then talked about the shower. I simply said that there are dozens of factors to consider, as you have mentioned in your post, each has it's positives and everyone has their personal taste. But to even consider QF budget, well that's poppycock!