blendLondon - 13/02/2012 09:39 GMT
I have flown Emirates First Class more than 30 times, the most recent was 2 weeks ago.
The aircraft should have been an A380, but was changed at the last moment to a 777-300. I was told that the 777 had suites in first, however, when I boarded I found they had used an aircraft with their old (non suite) type first class - and very uncomfortable it was too!
Service was almost indifferent, has it has been in their first class on several occasions recently. Same old tired wines and style of food that they have had for the last 2 years at least.
The ICE system was the old type that had a tendency to drive you nuts having to move a cursor around the screen, rather than the newer touch screen ICE system which is better. The TV was smaller that recent types, and a lower resolution. I have to say that the popular new ICE systems are not all they are made out to be either. OK, you get the cameras, but after that it sort of falls apart.
The most irritating English radio DJ type voice is constantly in your ears every time you change between areas of the ICE system, and adverts, adverts, adverts. Why should I be forced to watch adverts in any class, least of all first!
The suites on the 777 and the 380 are brassy looking, although comfortable. Emirates don't provide amenity bags in first on the 380, as everything is in the very spacious shower room. I suppose it is novel having a shower at 38,000 feet, but when you have done it a few times, it does lose its appeal a little.
One thing that never fails to irritate me is the size of the loos in first class, especially on the Emirates 777 and on many other airlines I have flown, especially when you have been provided with a sleep suit and are expected to change in a space about the size of the average rat hole..
However the A380 could not be criticised for the size, the loo/shower room is absolutely huge. The price supplement which Emirates have been charging in First on their 380 flights is presumably due to the amount of water that needs to be carried for the showers. Do we want to pay several hundred £ extra on your ticket price just to have a shower on board - I don't.
Emirates always seem to score highly in passenger surveys. I don't know why this should be so particularly, they are OK, but frankly not that spectacular in terms of service and what is offered on board. In the last couple of years they have been expanding rapidly, and it seems to me that they are "stretching at the seams", and this is becoming all too apparent in their service delivery.
I am moving back to British Airways, and trying Etihad for the first time in March. Lets see how they fare.
