Qantas / Emirates tie up (Partnership inc. Codeshare, Status)

[MrJetset]

This threat has turned absurd. Anyone can eat and drink in the UAE during Ramadan. It's not culturally appropriate, but it certainly isn't forbidden, even for Muslims like myself.

All hotels continue to serve food, drink and alcohol regardless of the time of day.

 

[mannej]

This threat has turned absurd. Anyone can eat and drink in the UAE during Ramadan. It's not culturally appropriate, but it certainly isn't forbidden, even for Muslims like myself.

All hotels continue to serve food, drink and alcohol regardless of the time of day.

The comments were about eating or drinking in public...

 

[dajop]

I'm glad they didn't. SQ treat Y class pax with status like dirt.

Is this about the showers ? (ie. the ones that aren't there in the KF Gold lounge in SIN). Other than that, star golds seem to be treated not terribly different to the way QF treats its golds/OW Sapphires, or EK treats its Golds... etc. Not going to argue one way or another around SQ PPS vs QF WP, pro's and cons to both.

 

[anat0l]

This threat has turned absurd. Anyone can eat and drink in the UAE during Ramadan. It's not culturally appropriate, but it certainly isn't forbidden, even for Muslims like myself.

All hotels continue to serve food, drink and alcohol regardless of the time of day.

There seems to be conflicting information around. Wikitravel (yes, I know not solely reliable) for Dubai states that it is illegal to eat in public during Ramadan; to be very specific, it's not that you can't eat at all, but rather you cannot eat in public between sunrise and sunset. After the fast breaks, I'm assuming you can eat all you want in public.

Of course, you can't drink alcohol in public at all. And similarly during the fast, you shouldn't drink in public.

It'd be good to get the proper run down on the rules, but I think it is fair to say that at a minimum, during the fasting time (sunrise to sunset) during Ramadan, it is culturally inappropriate to consume food and drink in public. I think that is a good enough reason to observe the fast, and/or go back to your hotel room if you want to eat or drink during the fast.


I don't see why some people seek to be so malevolent as to flout even the most sensitive cultural or social norms of places they go to. For example, in Japan one should never blow their noses in public. Generally, drawing attention to yourself any more than is unavoidable is not a good idea.

 

[Pushka]

It seems that Trip Advisor agrees pretty much with what I've been posting:
Dubai: Ramadan - TripAdvisor

And The UK Foreign Office:
Britons warned to respect Ramadan while holidaying in Dubai | UK news | The Guardian

and the Police in Dubai:
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/-war...-eating-in-public-during-ramadan--409549.html

indicate that Tourists must conform to the principles of Ramadan. And that there is no excuse for Muslims.

Some posters here like to call hysteria and ignorance when the facts are pointed out to them as a means of repudiation. Others like to be prepared and educated about what to expect.

Yes - Thanks Mannej, I have always referred to public consumption of drink and food.

We are staying at Jumeirah Beach Hotel and they will not serve any alcohol to guests until sunset.

 

[simongr]

Couple of observations. Do QF notify people about the SIN laws regarding chewing gum?

Why is it QF's responsibility to advise the public about laws of foreign countries if the Governement can not do the same?

 

[kezsco]

Pushka - you have to let it go. Yes - be careful wherever you go and try and abide by local customs and laws. Though, from what I understand from other family that have transited Dubai, this wasn't an issue in the terminal. In Dubai - yes, outside of the airport - be aware.

Same can be said about gum in Singapore, King comments in Thailand, jaywalking in Australia:
A step too far: Adelaide’s crackdown on jaywalkers

We get it.
You have choices to use another airline or airport.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

You sure about that? I mean, they may not treat them like royalty, but apart from being served by perhaps the most advanced robots in the world which aren't really robots, SQ Y is alright. And for that matter, they're in an alliance with VA, who (along with the VA customer base) seem to be very happy with said partnership.

Which of course makes the whole quoted article a bit of a farce, since after SQ and VA got together what real chance did QF ever have of making an alliance if their chances pre-VA-hookup were equal to none in Hell? Let's not even think about the whole big oneworld airline with the big Star Alliance airline.

speaking as a former Krisflyer Elite Gold, yes I am certain. Forget having a shower in SIN now... pathetic.

And upgrades are almost non-existent. QF is quite generous in this regard in comparison. SQ would rather offload people than upgrade

 

[kamchatsky]

speaking as a former Krisflyer Elite Gold, yes I am certain. Forget having a shower in SIN now... pathetic.

And upgrades are almost non-existent. QF is quite generous in this regard in comparison. SQ would rather offload people than upgrade

Having said that though, every time I am on SQ J, their J cabin is almost always full! Pretty hard to upgrade Y when there is no room in J!

 

[dajop]

And upgrades are almost non-existent. QF is quite generous in this regard in comparison. SQ would rather offload people than upgrade

YMMV, but in my experience, QF are no shining light of upgrade heaven. I've had just as many upgrades in 5 years as a PPS on SQ, as in 9 years as a WP. (a small number on both). Relevant to thread, had much higher rate during my brief time as an EK silver (ie 2 out 8) than either QF or SQ.

 

[tm.smile]

For those who really are unsure about Dubai laws and customs, here's a useful link for you...

Let me google that for you

And it didn't need Qantas' PR involvment ;-)

 

[Kangol]

I've just realised (forgive me for not reading the 100+ pages if it has been mentioned already), if the deal all goes through and you are planning on a RTW trip to Europe and the USA with the intention of stopping in those 2 continents only, normally you'd have to stop in Asia making it a xONE4.
But if the Aus-Europe and vice versa transit/connection point is now in the Middle East instead of Asia, that would make it a xONE3 making it somewhat cheaper.

In saying that, I can't find any pricing on LONE3 or DONE3 ex-Aus or NZ
RTW Fares Comparison for LONE3
Would there be a way to get around this or am I just having wishful thinking?

 

[MrJetset]

We are staying at Jumeirah Beach Hotel and they will not serve any alcohol to guests until sunset.

Clearly a Dubai chain of hotels like Jumeirah is likely to impose certain rules regarding Ramadan. It simply does not occur at the Park Hyatt, the other Hyatt properties, nor I would expect, any other global chain.

 

[drron]

I've just realised (forgive me for not reading the 100+ pages if it has been mentioned already), if the deal all goes through and you are planning on a RTW trip to Europe and the USA with the intention of stopping in those 2 continents only, normally you'd have to stop in Asia making it a xONE4.
But if the Aus-Europe and vice versa transit/connection point is now in the Middle East instead of Asia, that would make it a xONE3 making it somewhat cheaper.

In saying that, I can't find any pricing on LONE3 or DONE3 ex-Aus or NZ
RTW Fares Comparison for LONE3
Would there be a way to get around this or am I just having wishful thinking?

It was pointed out earlier but this rule gets you-
(k) Travel between South West Pacific and Europe/Middle East on a single flight number/or by surface is considered travelling SWP-Asia-Europe through three continents.

 

[drron]

Clearly a Dubai chain of hotels like Jumeirah is likely to impose certain rules regarding Ramadan. It simply does not occur at the Park Hyatt, the other Hyatt properties, nor I would expect, any other global chain.

I have had alcohol during ramadan in the jumeirah beach hotel exec lounge.It was after 6pm but before sunset.

 

[Kangol]

It was pointed out earlier but this rule gets you-
(k) Travel between South West Pacific and Europe/Middle East on a single flight number/or by surface is considered travelling SWP-Asia-Europe through three continents.

Oh, thanks. Never hurts to ask! That probably explains why you can't get pricing for xONE3s ex-South West Pacific...

 

[coolumbla]

Flashware, I will travel on the excellent Virgin Trains first class service to London Euston so don't fret the London drinks will still be on :mrgreen:

and these drinks are when?
looking at teh fact that i'm in brussels soon and then realising you're in seoul at teh same time!

c

 

[k3nnis]

Try CX for upgrades!

 

[Flashback]

and these drinks are when?
looking at teh fact that i'm in brussels soon and then realising you're in seoul at teh same time!

c

C, always up for a catch-up when people are in London. Just PM and we'll work something out! Another AFFer is moving back here in a few weeks, too.

 

[Danger]

Victorian Liberal Senator Helen Kroger raised concerns with the QF/EK relationship in a matter of public interest speech in the senate yesteday.

"It is because of these random events [outlined in the speech] that I stand here today and express concern about possible dangers for Qantas passengers transiting through Dubai . . ."​

For those interested in the full speech, it is about a five minute read and can be found at the Australian Parliament House website here. The speech begins on page 38 of hansard (page 48 of the actual PDF document).