EK layovers

[JammedStab]

Do you guys get nice 48 hours layovers typically with an occasional 72 hour one? Nice layovers can be an attraction to some new guys wanting to see the world. What percentage for each(24/48/72).

[Capn Rex Havoc]

Hahaha. Vast majority less than 24hrs, and that includes most of the ULRs.

[flyguy332]

18 hours in the hotel in DC

[BigGeordie]

Some ULR layovers are 48 hours, many are 24. Almost all the non-ULR layovers are 24 as most of the places we fly to have at least a daily service. Remember the 24 hours is from scheduled arrival to scheduled departure. A typical timeline for a 24 hour layover is something like this:

00:00 On chocks.
00:45 Off aircraft, into queue for immigration
01:15 Through immigration, waiting for bags (crew bags are not always the first ones off)
01:45 Through customs. Can take much, much longer if some genius has decided to smuggle a banana into Australia
02:00 Bus departs for hotel
03:15 Bus arrives at hotel
04:00 Finally have room key in your hand. Layover starts!

This process is repeated at the other end of the layover when the pickup from the hotel is typically about 3 or 4 hours before departure.

So, your 24 hour layover typically has 4 hours removed at each end, assuming you actually arrive on time, and is actually about 16 hours. Obviously you need to sleep for about 8 or 9 of those hours (you probably left Dubai at 2am) so realistically you probably have about 7 or 8 hours per layover to "see the world."

If your aim in life is to travel, see new places and meet new people this is not the job for you. You will only achieve the first (and maybe third) of those. You will see a lot of airports.

On the plus side, most of the hotels are pretty good and some are very good although locations can vary greatly from central downtown to airport.

[pfvspnf]

Sorry maybe this has been covered but what are the layover allowances at EK on average ?

[helen-damnation]

Poor.
EK works out what you would need to eat in the hotel, then negotiates discounts or typically, fixed rates for breakfast, and then reduces the allowance by the percentage of the discount.
The amount varies on your arrival time as dinner is more than breakfast. Approx values for LHR are £47 (early arrival - b'fast, lunch, dinner, overnight and b'fast) to £65 (late arrival with 2 dinner times).
Don't plan on saving anything from the allowances!

[BigGeordie]

It has been covered before but not for a while.

In a word, inadequate. When EK negotiate a contract with hotels they negotiate hard and include a big discount on food and beverages. Good, you might think. Wrong. The allowances are based on this discounted rate, which can be up to 50%. Hence, if you want to eat anything outside the hotel you will end up out of pocket. The allowances inside the hotel will cover whatever the cheapest kind of meal is- typically a buffet if there is one. Don't fancy a buffet? Out of pocket again. Finally, room service is often at a lesser discount and the "tray charge" isn't covered. Want to eat in your room (and at some of our arrival and departure times you will have to- the restaurants will be closed)? Out of... well, you get the picture.

As an example, the breakfast allowance for the UK is typically £5. For the USA $10.

[harry the cod]

'Layover allowances' are meal allowances. As has been mentioned, based on the discount that has been negotiated by the 'logistics and procurement' department. There are some places where the timings preclude availing of the often good value breakfast so while £5 for a slap up brekkie is great value, you might not want that at 8am after being up all of the previous night. Also, the majority of places alcohol is excluded from the discount so if you want to eat in the hotel to take advantage of the discounted meals, you'll be paying top dollar if you want to wash it down with a glass or two of vino.

Having said that, Flight crew will often get lounge access and this will include breakfast even though you still collect the allowance. Asian destinations often extend that to evening food and alcohol so despite the usual moaners on here, Flight crew often do ok financially....believe me. Further more, despite the negativity, NEVER in my 14+ years have I ever gone home without some cash in my pocket, as long as It isn't spent on anything other than food and drink (non alcoholic). If someone can't survive for 24 hours, even on £47, then they have friggin expensive tastes. Unlike other airlines, EK's meal allowance is just that, an allowance to COVER food while you're down route. It's not a salary enhancer.......

For what it's worth, my UK & European trips will often keep me fed and watered and enough groceries to keep the kids happy and the missus away from Spinneys for a few days!

Harry

[BigGeordie]

I'll bet Harry is a great laugh on layovers...

Yes, if you never leave the hotel you can save money from your allowance and as Harry says it is really only to cover the cost of keeping body and soul together on the layover. But if you want to go outside of the hotel to eat, forget it. Some people might want to do a bit more on the layover than go to the supermarket and eat in the hotel every time and it should be possible to feed yourself outside the hotel without going over the allowance or restricting yourself to McDonalds.

As an example, because London has already been mentioned, lets say you pop into the big smoke and fancy some lunch. Garfunkel's, which is pretty mid range, will cost you £24 for soup, steak and chips, Pepsi and a coffee. That is half your allowance gone on one meal and steak and chips with a Pepsi is hardly expensive tastes.

Like I said, unless you fancy a lot of Delsey Dining, inadequate.

[Panther 88]

Do you guys get nice 48 hours layovers typically with an occasional 72 hour one? Nice layovers can be an attraction to some new guys wanting to see the world. What percentage for each(24/48/72).
We have a very enjoyable layover in Chicago. 48 hours under the flight path of the second busiest (aircraft movements) airport in the world. The ambiance of the hotel is top shelf, in that you can enjoy the conversations and door slamming of any neighbors. And all the amenities in the hotel and the area, are the best. If you don't mind walking along a freeway. But take a lovely train ride to downtown with 20 stops and some of the oldest cars in existence. Yes, we certainly have some quality down time for rest and relaxation at some of the loveliest airport locations in the world. Come and enjoy.

Dallas...you'll love the interstate location for 48 hours.
SFO......office parks are wonderful this time of year.

Not a complete list, but cities with 24 hrs or more at the airport.
Rome, Paris, London, Manchester, Milan, Chicago, Atlanta, Dusseldorf, Birmingham, and I'm sure there are others.

But not to be totally negative, there are, without question some truly quality hotels and layovers in beautiful cities. You roll the dice and take your chances.

[harry the cod]

Big Fella

At my advancing years I'm well past the 'let's meet downstairs at 7 and head out for dinner' routine. Hope it works for you and you get to enjoy the Company of those gorgeous 22year olds fawning all over........er........their phones all night.

For the record, I certainly wasn't defending the ridiculous policy, instigated by the despicable ex Boeing Manager, K***n 'Bloody' G******s, who slyly wormed his way into the SVP position Service Delivery during the famous 'cull' in 2005 and was equally discreetly removed last year. I was merely highlighting that my ever expanding girth can manage on less then 3 full meals a day. A good old M&S sarnie, crisps, pork pie, chocolate eclair and 4 pack of John Smiths in front of 'Dave TV Channel' does me fine in the UK. Horses for courses.

Oh, don't forget a cheeky £1.49 'steak bake' from Greggs the baker! ;)

Harry

P.s. Don't bother with the Chicken & Leek pasty. Last one I bought , took it back and complained. Said to the assistant that it was actually lettuce and not leek in my pasty. She said not to worry, it was just the tip of the iceberg!

[ExDubai]

...A good old M&S sarnie, crisps, pork pie, chocolate eclair and 4 pack of John Smiths in front of 'Dave TV Channel' does me fine in the UK. Horses for courses.

OMG... you would also eat a fried Mars bar... :eek: :}

[BigGeordie]

It is Greggs that put the 'Big' in Big Geordie so I try and stay away these days!

[lospilotos]

I would not say we have many hotels with lounge access, just a handful. And isn't it funny how in some of them, the lounge closes at 8 PM and we arrive 8:05...

[crewmeal]

As an example, the breakfast allowance for the UK is typically £5. For the USA $10.

My God we got more back in BOAC days !!

[Craggenmore]

Crewmeal. Were you on the Comet? Probably included danger money.........

[crewmeal]

Nearly! But The Grand in Manchester used to be a favourite because we got brekky on the house and I'm sure we still got the allowance as well. Infact it was like checking into a hotel from the 'Downton' era. Restaurant Mangers in tails.....you get the picture.

[777boyo]

Ee Lads, when I were nowt but whipper snapper on t' first jet, we used to get Afternoon Tea and Laundry Allowance an' all. Even in Emirates in them days we could do 48 hours in Singapore, eat like kings at Fatty's each night and then go to t' Elvis Bar, buy bunch of orchids for t'missus' (guilt present!) and still have enough left over from t'Allowances to buy two weeks groceries in Spinneys. Ah, them were t'days.
And then along came TCK..........

[RemoveB4Flght]

If you want to save money on the layover, make nice with the slightly pudgy asian cabin crew. 5 to 1 odds all she's packed is a rice cooker, a 3kg sack of basmati, and charging cables for all her devices. For the price of your wifi code you'll be well fed for your 24 hour stay.

[harry the cod]

777Boyo

Bloody hell taffy, allowances must have been good. Meal in Fattys followed by Elvis bar? Fattys is in Singapore, the Elvis bar is in Bangkok....that's an expensive Tuk Tuk!. Tom Jones also sang there some nights......but that's 'not unusual'.

crewmeal

Loved The Grand Hotel in Manchester, one of my favourite places to go for the yearly birthday treat when I was a kid. The Carvery was epic and as you say, very traditional. Dessert came round on a trolley with trifle, black forest gateau, creme caramel.....having a pre dinner drink in the bar was such a treat before the meal. Think BA moved to the Britannia in the late 80's if I'm not mistaken so you really are showing your age....as am I!

lospilotos

LHR, MAN, GLA, CDG, LIS, ROME, FRA, BUD, VIE, WAW, HKG, PER, SYD, ADD, ABJ, EZE, JFK, CPH, BRU are just some I can think of and I'm sure there're more. Certainly not the majority of places we go to for sure but still nice even if you miss the booze and get a free bacon butty next day. You should be more appreciative of the small things you get in life......my wife is! ;)

RemoveBEFlght

Mate, not a good idea. They clean their pants in those rice cookers/kettles. I ain't eating no brown rice!

Harry

[lospilotos]

lospilotos

LHR, MAN, GLA, CDG, LIS, ROME, FRA, BUD, VIE, WAW, HKG, PER, SYD, ADD, ABJ, EZE, JFK, CPH, BRU are just some I can think of and I'm sure there're more. Certainly not the majority of places we go to for sure but still nice even if you miss the booze and get a free bacon nutty next day. You should be more appreciative of the small things you get in life......my wife is

Fair enough Harry, been to many of those places but wasn't aware of them offering lounge access. Perhaps I need to investigate more thoroughly, seems a lot of the times the hotel doesn't really advertise the lounge access.

Personally, I rather pay 10 Euro for a nice breakfast and have the beers for free at night.

[donpizmeov]

But the saying says they are powered by rice right?

[777boyo]

Harry TC - re Elvis Bar
Ah, you're clearly a new joiner (!) - there WAS an Elvis Bar in SIN, 10 min walk from the Carlton along Beach Rd, which was THE place to go for EK,BA,KLM,QF crews after refuelling at Fatty's. It rocked, literally, every night for about four years before closing inexplicably, in around 2000.

[White Knight]

Off the top of my head to add to Harry's list:

AMS, PEK, PVG, ICN, MEL and SYD (414 rotation)

[RemoveB4Flght]

RemoveBEFlght

Mate, not a good idea. They clean their pants in those rice cookers/kettles. I ain't eating no brown rice!

Harry

Back in my regional days the crews were sure to get the same rooms each time and there were 3 things you could always count on

1. No extra roll of toilet paper
2. Batteries in the tv remote missing
3. Coffee pot always had the hint of 3 consecutive day worn panty hose

[Twiglet1]

Big Geordie
Wot about the Newcastle stop over 24 hours on a Friday or Saturday night. Sod the allowances get down to the toon and mix with the family !

[DCS99]

If you want to save money on the layover, make nice with the slightly pudgy asian cabin crew. 5 to 1 odds all she's packed is a rice cooker, a 3kg sack of basmati, and charging cables for all her devices. For the price of your wifi code you'll be well fed for your 24 hour stay.

Best advice ever.

[Cantbebothered]

Filipino crew also boil eggs in the hotel room kettle+corn on the cob so next time you boil water for your tea or coffee and it has a 'savoury' taste then you know why.

[Fromagio]

Apart from the pubes, it was the best cup of tea that I've ever had!!!

[flyac]

Just want to know where you guys have layovers in Africa? Are the majority turn arounds or do you have some decent layovers aswell?
Thanks.

[fatbus]

SS , you do realize that may be an attraction for some seeking a job with EK.

[High 6]

For old times sake... some of the best layovers I have had with EK before it got all too serious... 4 days in Nice, sit on the beach on the Promenade D'Anglais one day and go skiing in Isola 2000 the next and the 5 day Jo'burgs... did 2 separate safari trips to Kruger National Park with the crew.

Ah yes... now that what was seeing the world!.... damn, the alarm just went off, been out of the flight deck for 14 hrs time to go flying again.

[fatbus]

Just look online at EK 01/02

[felixthecat]

LGW and LHR are only on the A380 now so if your 777 you won't get them. You have around 20 hours at the hotel.

[lospilotos]

As a former London resident you can expect to get LHR/LGW pre-assigned 2-3 times monthly. All London layovers are at least 48 hours.

No, of course not...

In the 3 years my home country has been served by EK I have managed to get the flight about 3-4 times, in spite of always having it as my top request in the bid system. Of course, with 10-11 daily flights the chance would be a bit higher but then there are also many more UK passport holders to compete with...

Also, from what I hear the London flights are pretty packed so even if you manage to get more than 2 days off in a row, you probably will have a hard time going home as passenger as well.

If getting London flights (on/off duty) is important to you, don´t....

[dhc8d]

What about the north african layovers? Casablanca algiers tunis?

[momo95]

What about the north african layovers? Casablanca algiers tunis?

Yes I dont work for EK so dont shoot me, but Algiers is somewhere I would avoid, Hilton whatever is still quite horrible!

[dhc8d]

Yes I dont work for EK so dont shoot me, but Algiers is somewhere I would avoid, Hilton whatever is still quite horrible!
Why is that?

[bigdaviet]

Dhc, not sure if you're joking? But to answer seriously,

Casa is about 20hrs when you factor in travel etc, the hotel is not good. Algiers is a nice hotel (by African standards,) and very unusual in that there are some 48hr layovers because it is not a daily operation. Tunis now not a layover I believe.

[Big Enos Burdette]

Some places are just kips

Exactly.

Casa, Algiers, Tunis...groups of angry looking men, dressed in 1980's tracksuits from Oxfam, hanging around on every street corner. Everyone of them looking like they'd kill you for your shoes.

Awful places.

[TurbanPIC]

Sounds like the RER B train between the CDG airport hotel and city center. Considering how much the girls in red hats love Paris, it's a bit surprising the hotel isn't closer to the city center on this one, just for safety.

[Atlas Shrugged]

What are they like on the freighter side?

[lospilotos]

What are they like on the freighter side?

Occasionally you get 48/72 hours, but usually in a place like FRA, crappy hotel, outside the centre. If you are very very lucky you can get 72 hours in LAX or CUR at the price of being on the road for 9-10 days. Hardly worth switching company for...

[Sheikh Your Bootie]

There aren't many different hotels used on the freighter fleet. FRA is one, but as far as I am concerned its much better! Brewery is 2 mins walk, station into town 3 mins walk, and beautiful countryside nearby, with vineyards galore.. Hotel is fine.

Still, don't base any decision to join on this fleet alone habibi :=:= The downsides are unstable rosters, freighter flights are changed frequently, and I never bid for them. Swap onto sure, but never bid for them.

SyB :zzz::zzz:

[lospilotos]

There aren't many different hotels used on the freighter fleet. FRA is one, but as far as I am concerned its much better! Brewery is 2 mins walk, station into town 3 mins walk, and beautiful countryside nearby, with vineyards galore.. Hotel is fine.


Sure I'm glad you like it SyB. What I meant was that the longer layovers are usually not in a very exciting place, like FRA. Unless you are from there or somewhere else in the Krautosphere, it's hard to enjoy. BTW, the pax hotel in FRA is horrible too. 90 cm beds, CRT TV and bottle opener fixed to the bathroom wall. The latter is never a good sign...

[harry the cod]

Well, last Frankfurt went like this. 3 free beers in the exec lounge with tasty bowl of beef goulash, 10 minute stroll into town to visit a 'girlfriend' for 30 euros, call in to supermarket on way back to pick up cheap as chips groceries then free breakfast in morning. Got home, wife happy, Harry happy, 2 euros left over. What more do you want?

Just no pleasing some people nowadays!

Harry

[lospilotos]

Well, last Frankfurt went like this. 3 free beers in the exec lounge with tasty bowl of beef goulash, 10 minute stroll into town to visit a 'girlfriend' for 30 euros, call in to supermarket on way back to pick up cheap as chips groceries then free breakfast in morning. Got home, wife happy, Harry happy, 2 euros left over. What more do you want?

Just no pleasing some people nowadays!

Harry

C'mon Harry, you don't have to defend the company in every bit. The free beer and soup is great, day 1... I have pretty much the same routine as you, but hand on heart, can you really say it's a great hotel?

My point is, since the poster wanted to know about freighter layovers, that yes we get some longer ones, but perhaps not where you would want them to be. Guangzhou springs to mind as well...

Just to prove to you I'm not always negative. I'm happy to spend 2-3 days in the nice, modern Hilton in AMS. Comfy beds, nice lounge, you can do shopping in the airport mall and easy access to the city by train. And last time I didn't even have to spend the 30 EUR for a girlfriend as I got picked up by some business woman in the hotel gin bar...(She had obviously had one too many of those 80+ different gins they are offering.)

[troff]

Sounds like the RER B train between the CDG airport hotel and city center. Considering how much the girls in red hats love Paris, it's a bit surprising the hotel isn't closer to the city center on this one, just for safety.

If I recall, a young Asian cc was punched in the face on the train on her very first layover when she refused to give up the purse she had spent the better part of a month's salary on. Welcome to Emirates. Keep Discovering- Keep Recovering.

[troff]

Sounds like the RER B train between the CDG airport hotel and city center. Considering how much the girls in red hats love Paris, it's a bit surprising the hotel isn't closer to the city center on this one, just for safety.

If I recall, a young Asian cc was punched in the face on the train on her very first layover when she refused to give up the purse she had spent the better part of a month's salary on. Welcome to Emirates. Keep Discovering- Keep Recovering.

[Jack D]

A bowl of free goulash .. 30€ and still 2 left over .. My God Harry and I thought class was dead ! An inspiration to us all . Not to mention the mystery pies and canned beer in front of the TV .. Style never goes out of fashion !

[Emma Royds]

BAires gets my vote for the most inadequate allowance if one decides to dine outside of the hotel. You will be lucky to cover a starter on its own with the evening dinner allowance and easy to spend nearly the entire allowance on a main course!