Emirates or Etihad ?

[chrism007]

Hi Everybody,

Just after some advice

Am taking a trip (long overdue holiday) from Sydney -> Paris, Rome -> Sydney in April/May 2010.
I’m travelling Business Class and paying for it myself so want to make sure I get the best value.

Originally the Travel Agent was really selling up Emirates until I found a cheaper fare online which they (Flight Centre) claim they have to be able to beat.

Now all of a sudden they are offering me a fantastic deal on Etihad – I suspect this is to get out of having to price match my other quote

I actually originally wanted to fly Etihad, they have won all the business class awards etc and the product looked fantastic but they don’t fly out of Rome (only Milan).

The travel agents are also now saying that Emirates can be “hit or miss” on the quality of the seats (ie some are the lie flat, some are the older style sleeperettes) and that they often cancel the A380 out of Sydney and put people on older aircraft.

Its only a 3.5 hour train trip from Rome to Milan. So I guess my questions are

1) Are the travel agents B.S’ing me about the possibility of getting an older style seat / plane / being bumped off the A380

2) Have Emirates upgraded the cabins of their non A380s flying the Sydney->Paris, Rome->Sydney route

3) Etihad is probably about $1000 cheaper all up – is it worth it to jump the train up to Milan the day before?

4) If you had a choice between Emirates or Etihad – what would you choose?

Thanks

Chris

 

[UP4014]

Hi Everybody,

Just after some advice

4) If you had a choice between Emirates or Etihad – what would you choose?

Thanks

Chris

I wouldn't fly either, which is my personal choice.

 

[chrism007]

I wouldn't fly either, which is my personal choice.

Hi Bam1748 - can you be a little bit more specific?

 

[UP4014]

If I was paying for anything other than economy myself, Singapore would be top of the list to Europe.

 

[Dave Noble]

I would have no hesitation in recommending Emirates

Dave

 

[peachy3333]

A lot of the flyers on flyertalk have talked about emirates being hit or miss: link here: Emirates Airlines Skywards - FlyerTalk Forums My personal experience is mixed too.

If flying longhaul I would gladly jump on a SQ or CX flight. JAL is also having a companion sale, I would prefer JAL over either of the UAE airlines too, but I'm also Asian =)

 

[sr81]

I think that price is a driving consideration. The train from Rome to Milan is easy and uses a TGV type train so it is also a quick trip.

Personally I would be looking at what I could 'lock in' and is at the right price. Etihad seem to have a consistent product across all their wide bodies and I have heard some good things about it.

I wouldn't fly Emirates if there was an alternative.

Have you considered going via Hong Kong? CX run up to Rome and they have a good lie flat product if you don't have rugby player shoulders.

Try here also: http://www.bestflights.com.au/cheap-flights/phone-flights-results/UK-and-Europe/Business/2

DO NOT book through Best Flight but they provide an excellent place to start looking.

Sorry, can't answer your question. Only broadened your horizons! I have done QF, BA, CX, OZ and SQ long haul in J. No problems recommending any of them.

 

[Travel Guru]

I'd definitely go Etihad, they're J product, inflight service and IFE is excellent.

TG

 

[Dave Noble]

I'd definitely go Etihad, they're J product, inflight service and IFE is excellent.

TG

On the runs to DXB from Sydney, the Emirates J product , service and IFE is also excellent and their F product is amazingly good.

I would ( and do ) take EK J ahead of CX , BA, QF et al without hesitation.

In F I would also rate EK over CX with QF not even coming close

Dave

 

[UP4014]

On the runs to DXB from Sydney, the Emirates J product , service and IFE is also excellent and their F product is amazingly good.

I would ( and do ) take EK J ahead of CX , BA, QF et al without hesitation.

In F I would also rate EK over CX with QF not even coming close

Dave

All subjective of course, but I find QF quite ok and happy to use them, just like I hear about people complaining about US carriers but I don't have a problem saying I'm happy to fly United, their first class has good smiling service, good meals, good wine and gave me a complimentary bottle of French red when I was getting off on my last flight with them. (Economy is ok too)

While the Emirates and Etihad products are OK, perhaps I just prefer the Singapore cabin crew fawning all over me.

 

[Dee Thom]

I'd definitely go Etihad, they're J product, inflight service and IFE is excellent.

TG

Have used both in J over the past 12 months, and got an old relic on EK, with the older seats.
So I must agree with T.G. and vote for Etihad.................

Cheers Dee

 

[dajop]

Really, I don't think it makes a lot of difference, as long as they have lie flat or angled seats, you will get variation in service who ever you choose to fly with. In the last (just over) 12 months, I've flown on paid, redemption or upgraded business fares on CX, SQ, EK, QF, MH, NZ & AA - but can't comment on Etihad. They all have been OK, sure can niggle at this and that, but all been good (in fact NZ was probably my favourite). QF has had the best (and worst) cabin crew, SQ consistently excellent service from the crew, EK good meals and hardware, MH nice satays (!), CX (like QF good and bad crew), and even on AA whilst the food and crew weren't fantastic, I slept for 6 hours so was happy. It's not economy so should be OK:!:

 

[Travel Guru]

It's not economy so should be OK:!:

As I always say, the worst business class seat is always better than the best economy seat! (note i said seat not service)

TG

 

[dajop]

As I always say, the worst business class seat is always better than the best economy seat! (note i said seat not service)

TG

I also note you said seat, not seats. I've had three economy seats to myself on a couple of occassions on some long flights (most notably JFK-HKG), and collectively (with arm rests raised) they were better than quite a few business class seats I've been on! But almost impossible to arrange in advance though.

 

[SQ1]

4) If you had a choice between Emirates or Etihad – what would you choose

Hi Chris,
If I would spend J to Europe I would definitely choose SQ.
Always top service and most comfortable seats.
I've been LH,CX, and SQ in J...............SQ wins every time.
It's just my personal choice over the years flying.