EK: disappearing platinum card discount

[Desdihold]

EK: platinum card discount is becoming less and less

Over the last few weeks I have noted that many of the discounts offered by the platinum card have either being reduced, become more restrictive or have disappeared.

Disappearing discount:
My local chillis manager told me that the EK platinum card can no longer be used at any of their branches effective this week.

Restrictive :
I can't use the card on weekends or after 5pm at a local hotel bar, a recent change.

Reduced:
My favorite restaurant no longer gives us a 15% discount, it has been reduced to 7%.

Oh well, at least we still have the profit share!

[CaptainChipotle]

And EPC keeps getting dwindled down as well.

It's also nice to sit and wait at the entrance to the Westin, or JBH.

I'm sure soon we will see all discounts dropped to 3.5%… that seems to be the magic number around these parts.

[airbusgirl66]

With regards to JBH you will no longer have wait around as the memberships are no longer revolving, and unless your there before 9am or earlier don't plan on getting in. :*

[TheDarkHorse]

Burger Fuel - reduced from 50% to Free Fries!

[Desdihold]

Please list the disappearing discounts as you come across them.

[Townie]

WAGAMAMA.

Was 50% off for both Platinum and EPC.

Platinum now cancelled, and EPC down to 25%.

[myekppa]

What a bunch of ungrateful whingers, at least in some of these posts.

This started as a thread about Platinum, which should not be the card of choice for any self respecting UAE based pilot anyway.

Within one post, EPC is being attacked. Don't pretend your animosity is directed at the providers of the discount either because, by association, you've attacked the hand that has negotiated the deals we have had in the past, present and no doubt future. I'm grateful for what these guys and girls have volunteered, I don't care if they get any degree of compensation because I have no doubt they have bent over backwards trying to accommodate the grateful and ungrateful, the frivolous or the important.

I paid for beach club membership before it became unjustifiable and I know what a great deal we have at JBH. Ok, it requires some work arounds at times for access but given the thousands of dirhams that I save, who am I to complain. We're fortunate to have retained some of the discounts and access that we do, thanks to our own that have caused any degradation. I just say thank you to the EPC team for keeping together what we have.

If you have any dirty laundry, direct it to the people that can really fix it. Hanging it out here is about the lowest form you could display. Instead of complaining, what about volunteering because only then will you have licence to put up.

[CaptainChipotle]

The last 3 times I've tried to get into JBH or to westin I've had to wait or been turned away. Habtoor has been consistently good, however.

It's gone downhill, just like everything else here. Im sorry if that upsets you, but its a fact. The reason I don't send emails to EPC, is the same reason I go to the public beaches and the gym in my building… …It's not worth my time.

[dustyprops]

Myekppa, sorry if what everyone says upsets you but they've all got a point. EPC ain't what it used to be and the fact that it seems to be a club open to any airline here plus various other organizations means that the likely hood of getting into beach clubs etc becomes less and less.

They say 'more power to the arm' and all that, with more members, but that's rubbish. Less and less discount, more hassles getting in places, and twice the cost for a temporary dependent card, yet there seems to be plenty of money to move into bigger premises at the Fairmont. I'm sure there's cheaper offices than that.

Anyway, I say let's go back to it being an EMIRATES pilots club and let the others sort themselves out, or once platinum does beach clubs, it'll be curtains for EPC. It was much better before.

[harry the cod]

I'm going to sit on the fence for this one.

Firstly, I agree that the Emirates Pilots club has morphed into a club for those associated with flying in Dubai. To compound the lack of exclusivity, I know of several individuals in Companies such as MMI, Airbus and other personal acquaintances of our EPC Chairman who hold cards for themselves and family. People may argue that MMI for example provide plenty of freebies on our monthly SiD's & STAR's so certain leeway should be given. Maybe so, and maybe a few cards here and there in the grand scheme of things shouldn't matter. Well, true providing it's not your family being turned away at the beach club because the last two slots were taken by an ATC guy and an MMI matey of Al's.

Having said that, I also accept that Al et all do a bloody good job and spend a lot of their own time in the field finding deals. This is becoming harder as the Dubai economy rebounds. 10-15 years ago, pilots were always welcomed throughout Dubai until the new money really started rolling in. Whilst the the property and city guys unfolded 500dhs bills in large wads, the poor emirates pilot could always be spotted asking timidly for discount as he embarrassingly fumbled in the wallet for his card. How pitiful we must have looked in 5 star hotels as we scraped the tip from our wives purse! Come the bust, the flash boys had all but gone and guess what? Good old reliable pilots with steady salaries were once again favoured as establishments enticed us back with discounted incentives. It's now Deja Vu as Dubai grows again and discounts dwindle.

Finally, there is also an element of apathy amongst a great majority of us. Many outstations require bikes and equipment to be repaired but finding those willing to spend an hour out of their precious rest to do so is like finding rocking horse ****. You can even claim the taxi expenses so there really is little excuse to muck in, yet we're the first to complain when our golf clubs or bikes are not available.

It's our club so take some ownership. Write to the committee and discuss your concerns. Wasting time on here complaining achieves little. I do think that an Annual General Meeting is well overdue which would provide an outlet to not only highlight our concerns but to vote for who should be Chairman. If you can't even be bothered to do this, please don't expect people to empathize with you here.

If you're not happy, do something about it!

Harry

[motojet]

Platinum Card discount cancelled at Ruth Chris Steakhouse as well, used to be 30% including
alcohol. :(

[myekppa]

Harry,

For a guy that sits on the fence, your post made a lot of sense and wasn't (thank goodness) that neutral on two points that you and I made/reaffirmed.

There is an avenue for redress, this isn't it.

OUR association is precisely that, and it is totally about ownership. How many negative comments here originate from anyone that has repaired a bike, attended or voted at a meeting, perhaps even stood for election?

Enough said on this, as for the original subject - The platinum card is the companies attempt to level the playing field for 'other' employees. They saw the success of EPC/FACE and realised other groups were disadvantaged by not having the prowess to create the leverage that we could and the company hates that fact. You only have to look at the jumpseat policy to understand how much they detest any particular group having control, perceived or not.

Having said that I commend the company for doing so, but Platinum is expensive, it has limitations, it is overpopulated by far more members than EPC, we cannot stand for office or negotiate discounts. If anyone wants to make a statement on the value of their platinum card, I'd suggest that you could return it.

[dustyprops]

Yes Harry I think what you say in essence is correct. It is supposed to be our club, but it isn't. When did our elected members put the vote out to say 'who's in favour of Fly Dubai, ATC, MMI etc....becoming members?' Never, as far as I can remember, we were just told they were joining, It's a joke.

I have expressed my dismay at certain aspects of things over he last few years, in particularly since certain other Dubai based airlines have been included, that seemed to have coincided with an increase in 'inappropriate behavior' emails and a decrease in the ability to get into certain venues, but my emails have resulted in polite POF's.

As I said before, let's go back to an EMIRATES pilots club.

[FLEX/MCT]

I'm afraid the argument RE if you don't like it then stand for election/take part/change it etcetera falls a bit flat when money gets involved. As far as I see it we all pay subs to EPC in order to enjoy the discounts/offers and we are currently getting less and less for our money. I used to have the same argument with the union in my old airline - I pay for a service, if that fails to deliver then I'm going to be dissatisfied and complain. I don't have any interest in doing it myself, I am merely taking advantage of a service that was offered to me in return for which I will pay money. If my steak is undercooked in a restaurant I don't go into the kitchen and redo it myself....(EPC discounted steak or not! ;))

[myekppa]

There's always two camps when it comes to associations and perceptions of what you're paying for.

Camp one 'thinks' they are writing a cheque for someone to run around and give them everything they demand. Fact, the cheque would need a lot more zeros on it to acquire that level of service. Individuals in camp one, are just that, individuals looking for self centred gain.

Camp two accepts that it's not a bad deal for what we pay. They recognise the voluntary service given by many and they may or may not chose to be actively involved. Regardless, they respect those that have given their time for little if any compensation. They acknowledge that you cannot create a perfect entity that meets everyones needs but collectively it's a fair balance. They acknowledge that 'someone else' doesn't really exist.

Which camp are you in FLEX and how many AGM's have you attended?

Dusty, pretty arrogant to make a completely unsubstantiated claim that the rise in complaints can be attributed to 'other' airlines. At least that's what it sounds like you're saying. Maybe I'm wrong and our pilots are truly angels, never been rude to frontline staff or busted our contractual agreements. Reality check required methinks.

Membership is not compulsory.

[Saltaire]

20% off at Home Centre. Why didn't anyone tell me? I just found out. Nice.

[givemewings]

You'd be surprised how many you don't get told about.

I agree though, everything is reducing. Platinum used to get you 20% off books at Borders, not any more....

[birdieonfirst]

Chili's discount is gone.

Just found out yesterday...:sad:

:ok: BOF