Could Emirates be the next 5 star airline?
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at 10:41 by LeTigre.
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LeTigreParticipantCheck this out:
Sorry about the huge link but it is totally worth it.
Emirates’ little Mr Clark is fed-up with his rivals having a 5 star rating. “I’m sick of it.” He says that Emirates would have a 5 star rating except for the A330s and A340s that are too old and creaky. I didn’t see QR having that problem! So, his apparent solution to getting a 5 star rating is replacing those aircraft for a standardised offering (makes sense). That was due to happen when the A350s were introduced but with him hinting at a cancellation, it could be sooner.
Skytrax sceptics listen up! If Emirates cannot get 5 stars due to aircraft condition and lack of standardised offerings yet is LOADED, consistently makes a profit and spends huge amounts of marketing, including on TV, doesn’t that show you that Skytrax doesn’t give fees based on ratings?
Any customer service focused airline is a good one so…Bring on the 5 star Emirates!
15 Nov 2011
at 21:43
first_class_pleaseParticipantAlso some of the two class 777 and all the flights that still have first class seats, rather than suites have poor business.
Really have to use http://www.seatguru.com when booking emirates to see what you will get.
I think they have four different long haul business class seats ranging from excellent to really very poor.
With all the new aircraft they order, you would think they could hold off on a new route for a little while and send an older plane for retro fitting, while using the new aircraft to replace it.
That for me is emirates main problem. Consistancy of product.
16 Nov 2011
at 03:46
LuganoPirateParticipantAnother example of product inconsistency is QR with the A330 and the 777’s. I think the term “5 star airline” must apply to the service standards of QR not the 330’s seat/bed which is definitely sub par.
By the way Hengli, to shorten very long links I use http://www.tinyurl.com There are other services but tinyurl is the one I always remember. It’s very easy to use, just copy and paste and it shortens the link for you to paste in your posts or wherever.
16 Nov 2011
at 04:43
DisgustedofSwieqiParticipantEK can be five star or three star, both in cabin fit and crew.
I have some of my best flights ever on Emirates and some very poor ones.
Even if I bought into the concept of five star airlines (and I don’t believe that the airline industry is generally sophisticated enough to deliver consistently at this level), EK would not count amongst them in my experience.
Having said that, EK would never expect you to endure 6 hours in a short haul business class seat, unlike one European operator – according to reports on a nother thread.
16 Nov 2011
at 06:02
continentalclubParticipantOne of the few 5-star classification criteria actually published by Skytrax is one that:
rule out the prospect of a 5-Star Airline ranking being awarded to any airline that opted for a 10 across seating configuration on their Boeing 777 aircraft” says Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax. “This is just one of many key components where we have had to set clear guidelines as to what does or does not make the 5-Star grade.”
16 Nov 2011
at 07:29
LPPSKrisflyerParticipantIME EK do consistently deliver a five star experience in F, the suite is second only to SQ even if it is a bit plastic. It’s equal to EY but exceeds all other F products by a significant margin. The food and service are generally top notch and the lounges and limos are excellent too. C can be good or not both in terms of hard and soft product and the crew can be variable. I have no idea about Y.
I think the challenge of such rapid expansion is keeping consistency and they don’t manage that anything like as well as QR, my sense is EY are beginning to slip a little on consistency too. I’ve just had an excellent trip on WY too and I think they are one to watch.
16 Nov 2011
at 09:24
StephenLondonParticipantAnd just who are Skytrax? And why are they the arbiter of ratings for airlines? Try and find out about them…very murky, offices pictured on their website don’t correspond to their postal address. There are loads more ‘unusal’ things about this business, especially with the number of people who have complained their critical reviews are not posted for ‘favoured’ carriers. I don’t believe any of their dribble, and haven’t for years now.
If you like EK and feel they are five-star, then show them by giving them your business. It is the only way to honestly vote.16 Nov 2011
at 09:33
LeTigreParticipantAll good points, I think that one about 10 abreast 777s is a knock-out. Also, come to think of it, Emirates used to be five star but was downgraded.
By the looks of the reviews submitted on Skytrax, BA will never be 5 star again either.
Oh well, I just wish airlines would treat their customers like guests not money bags.
16 Nov 2011
at 11:32
DisgustedofSwieqiParticipantHengli
“Oh well, I just wish airlines would treat their customers like guests not money bags.”
A very good point, well made.
16 Nov 2011
at 12:12
sparkyflierParticipantBack top StephenLondon about voting with your business, I flew EK 10 abreast, service was shocking and the 10 seats across in Y was awful, and that was just on 7 hours LHR-DXB. Not “voted” EK or indeed any 10 abreast airline on a 777 since.
16 Nov 2011
at 14:28
LeTigreParticipantI really like their IFE and catering but nothing else. Unfortunately, they are one of if not the most profitable and consistently profitable airlines in the industry so are upheld as a model. Their customer service is telling, however, and I fear any product standardisation would be at the level of 10 abreast or worse due to the large order of 77Ws this week (50+) which is the largest offender in this respect.
16 Nov 2011
at 14:45
Henkel.TrockenParticipantMy weekly commute is LHR-DXB and almost always on EK unless I need to go to FRA or ZRH on the way in which case I use LH or LX. My EK travel is almost exclusively in F but very occasionally C if there is no availability and the wait list doesn’t clear.
F really is a five star product from a point of view of limo, check in, lounge and on board product. Food is some of the very best, I think only LH is better, crew are consistently excellent in F and of course ICE is up there with the best IFE.
C is variable, the lounges are generally OK but overcrowded in DXB, on board product is less consistent and the crews are less polished. Food is still very good but service can be slow. Another crew member on the 773 or two on the A380 would be a good thing and would improve service, they seem to use a higher number in Y than some companies so it may be a matter of redistribution.
I’ve never travelled in Y and don’t intend to but I hear mostly positive things about service and food but complaints about the seats on the 777.
All in all, they lag behind SQ, QR and so on. Their offering is good but not five star – no particular reference to Skytrax rating but in more common parlance five star is the top grade.
16 Nov 2011
at 15:20
Henkel.TrockenParticipantSenator – thanks.
I think the new offerings on LH & LX are excellent, the best of any European airline by far. It’s different to EK, the suite is nice and the IFE excellent and the food good. I still rate LH above all others for food and LX for crew so I would say LH, LX and EK are equal but different. If I could have the EK suite styled by LH with EK IFE, LH food and LX crew then I would be very happy!
16 Nov 2011
at 16:39 -
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