Emirates

CMB-DXB: EK655: A330-200 Oct 12: Business Class. Plane immaculate for its age (1999-2000). However horribly let down by the most uncomfortable Business Class seats I've ever experienced over the past 17 years. Seven across in Business Class instead of six in an A330 is a rip-off. These seats are nothing like the nice new modular units in their B777-300ER aircraft. The video remote control intrudes into the 18" wide seats making them clamp-like seats. Not suitable for the 4.5 hour flight. Service was very good and the food and beverages were good too. There were only five passengers that day in Business Class on this flight and I had the single row area behind First Class to myself. The tray table is too low when the seat is even slightly reclined. These are old cradle seats not flatbeds. The whole experience was let down by these awful seats the main reason one buys Business Class in the first place to get more personal space not something worse-than Economy Plus. Check-in and the dedicated Emirates Lounge at the BIA in CMB were excellent. On time performance and good baggage transfer to my connecting BA flight. EK is generally good but not their A330-200 seats.

6 Aug Gatwick-Dubai EK0010. 11 Aug Dubai - Singapore EK 0352. Sep 8 Singapore-Heathrow EK0005. London-Dubai service was appalling. Dinner was served after midnight although the flight took off at 8.15pm by then I was desperate for water which the crew kept saying they would serve with dinner. They ran out of choices on their menu and could only serve chicken. We were not served any breakfast nor a beverage before landing. However the flight from Dubai-Singapore was better than the one from Heathrow to Singapore. I won't take this flight unless it is the only airline that'll take me to the destination.

After not having flown on Emirates in almost 7 years I recently flew EK round trip NYC/JFK to Milan/MXP. Departed on Thu 2nd Oct and returned Wed 8th Oct. Friendly service on both flights. Smiling and smartly turned out flight attendants on both flights always seen in the cabins. On the outbound flight - flying time of 7 hours 5 minutes 2 hot meals served. In between the meals 2 beverage services were provided. I like many other passengers skipped the hot breakfast in favor of more sleep time. On my return flight with flying time of 8 hours and 40 minutes a copious hot lunch was followed by an offering of fresh fruits and snack bars from wicker baskets. This was followed by a hot pizza snack and then about an hour prior to landing the same wicker baskets with fruits snack bars and pre-wrapped vegetarian sandwiches were offered. All of this in economy class! What more do passengers want?

DMM-DXB-LAX return trip on Sept 18 and Oct 6 2014. I am a frequent traveller on this route at least 3 times a year and always with Emirates. After so many years of loyalty I am now tempted to try other airlines for the following reasons: Menu does not change on this route and it gets so unexciting and predictable after so many flights. While quantity of food is generous the taste is so below average. I have never seen sea-food being offered on this menu it is always the predictable steak Indian dish and Arabic dish. On board service consistency is very patchy sometimes I am lucky to be served by kind and helpful flight attendant in 50% of the flights I had not. Simple things such as smile when attending the customer never miss any customer when laying down mattress on long haul flight will be appreciated. While other aspects such as on-time arrival IFE lounge access complimentary limousine pick up at LAX are fine the on-board menu needs to be improved to retain customer loyalty. Considering that Emirates are charging premium and much more expensive that competitors I see no reason why it cannot improve on the menu and consistency of on-board service. Loyal customers such as myself are now shopping around for better experience and value than what Emirates is offering at the moment on the route. With less generous miles and redeeming a ticket now will cost close to 1000 dollars in additional fees and charges there has been something Emirates truly learned from its partner Qantas in how to upset its loyal customers by slapping them with 4 digit charges. Come on Emirates you used to wow me but not anymore.

EK147 Y 22 Sep Dubai to Amsterdam. First time with Emirates on their A380 crew friendly on boarding. Seating was comfortable with excellent inflight entertainment system. Was served a light breakfast after departure which was tasty. We were situated reasonably close to the galley on this flight and I can't but help feel this particular crew may have been in training under the eyes of a supervisor with exacting standards. The inflight service food and beverage service was great not too much but not too little. Inflight announcements were clear. Lunch menu had a good choice and again was very tasty as was the free flowing wine service which I personally enjoyed.

I flew NCL-DEL-NCL. The flight was good. I ordered a special meal and this was provided. The flight attendants were very receptive and helpful. The entertainment system was one of the best I've used. It had a very wide variety to offer. The seats were neat clean and comfortable. Will definitely fly again.

ICN-DXB and DXB-LIS between October 5/6 on economy. Check-in was smooth and simple at ICN. Departed about 10 minutes late but arrived about 20 minutes early. Staff ranged from nice to snippy. Food was good with multiple drinks services in between meals. Noodles were available between meals but didn't see anyone having them. Entertainment system on A380 was state-of-the-art and worked perfectly with countless movies TV shows and albums to pick from. Wi-fi was free on that flight thanks to Eid and worked flawlessly on phone and tablet. Seats comfortable and roomy. Arrival and transfer in DXB was normal. DXB-LIS had an older B777 which is not as good but my window seat was on the back which has a 2-4-2 configuration. Recommend getting a seat on that section as you have more aisle space. Food was better than on the other flight with multiple drinks services in between meals again. Entertainment system is the same but the touch screen wasn't as responsive and software was slightly slower due to age of plane. Staff was nicer and didn't mind engaging in chit-chat with passengers. Departed 15 minutes late but arrived 30 minutes early. Overall very nice flights and airline.

Jakarta (JKT) to Dubai DBX - the seats are very narrow and uncomfortable for a Business class. The food was outstanding but the airplane was dirty. When you fly for business you require a good rest on the aircraft and you expect a comfortable seat.

Just flew return BNE to DXB on A380 and then onto VCE on a B777. I agree with what many on here have said. If your flight is on an A380 then it will be excellent plenty of space plenty of food and drinks toilets clean and spacious. If you are on on B777 not so good - cramped seat configuration staff overworked felt not much different to a budget carrier. If it were a long haul flight I would consider another airline.

Flew on the EK 38 on September from Birmingham to Dubai. First time flight on Emirates very disappointed! Expected great things long wait for bar service told not long after two hours food arrived no drinks. Asked cabin crew "it's a short flight" we are not serving drinks until later. Really not what we were expecting. Biggest problem was the very poor attitude of crew. Complaints department said drink fountains are provided.