Blue Cat

I flew with them in the early days, nice flights

typical

Just back in Vietnam after flying Turkish (???) Vietnam to Bangkok and Emirates Bangkok to Glasgow. Cost 1100 quid for the EK leg, booked two days before travelling. I was upgraded to business for both legs on the A380 (from/to BKK) too. So that was nice.

I really, really hate economy in the Emirates 777 though.

typical

Oh, and Oman Air's Muscat to London flights are very nice, and often cheap.

scrubbedexpat141

How'd you manage the upgrade?

What's wrong with 777's? I keep looking at A380's to LDN but cost a mint compared to the rest of them...are economy and business that much better?

typical

I have had Gold status on Emirates for a couple of years. I get upgraded a lot (probably more than 15 times since getting status), though usually business->first. I find I get upgraded when flying the A380 far more than when flying other plane types, probably due to the number of seats in business and first.

(However, this only happens long haul - I have received an upgrade regionally only once, from Kuwait City to Dubai.)

They are cramped. 3-4-3 configuration is one more seat than most airlines cram in. It's not as if they make up for it with increased space in front of you, either.

Business - depends entirely what the alternative is. Emirates is annoyingly inconsistent. All the A380s have fully flat beds, whereas a lot of the 777s have the cradle seats which are nowhere near as comfortable.

Economy - more space, quieter cabin, better air pressure, better IFE... but all in all, it's still economy and not great on the A380, it's just the EK 777s are bloody terrible.

scrubbedexpat141

Noted, thanks for that.

al dente

Just flew Etihad economy and have to say i was shocked how standards have slipped since the last time i flew down the back.

The food is, in a word, revolting. I chose a pot noodle and ate in comparative ecstasy compared to my neighbours who had chosen 'pastry'.

Absolute shambles compared to first and business.

Prices are a complete shocker too at chrimbo.

kittycat1

Flying back here on Saturday and the airbus was flying right next to us- are they meant to get this close?

Spugsy

Aye she did me proud, had a week off work as the anasthetic knocked me for a six, was all depressed and done in, couldn't figure out why.

Anyway a week off was (literally) just what the doctor ordered.

And yeah, it's healing, got a weird looking shaved knee and can't start running for a few weeks but it feels great, strong as an ox.

kittycat1

yeah glad it went well spugs

Spugsy

I find it ridiculous that even Economy costs £600-800 nowadays and the food is still shite, SURELY they can get something half decent?

Spugsy

Thanks petal, are we gonna see your cheeky face out soon?

kittycat1

im back off to blighty on Friday spugs back in a week just in time for ramadamadingdong so am sure I will see you then before you guys go

al dente

I've written an email to ask them to justify food that i not only wouldn't, but actually couldn't, feed to a dog. The budget from a £700 requires £2 more. whoopy doo.

soukie

Wonder if you will get a reply?