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EK EPC/APC change to T's & C''s

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EK EPC/APC change to T's & C''s

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Old 11th Feb 2015, 09:37
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EK EPC/APC change to T's & C''s

Is it just me or are the recent emails from APC/EPC, or whatever they call themselves in order to generate more cash, just a bit cheeky.

... "If you don't cough up the cash by 23rd Feb, we'll slap your wrist and rip another 250 dhs out your pocket for being a naughty pilot"...

Plus the bank charges every month.

It seems they've taken a leaf out of the EK management manual and have decided to piss off their customers...?
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 09:56
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EPC had been slowly downhill since I joined. Yeah once in a while its nice to go to the beach clubs, but if you don't go early theres a chance you won't get in.

I used an EPC bike at an outstation twice, and it was really nice. Its also nice to see the waiters at restaurants i frequent scoff at me when I pull the card out.

If I had more days off I'd definitely use the EPC/APC card more often. However, since I legally can't fly anymore than I am, I don't have the energy on my days off to enjoy all the wonderful deals the folks have set up for us.

This seems to be just another scheme to get more money out of us indirectly. I for one, will pass.

CC
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 11:35
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I am confused, is EPC and APC the same thing?
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 12:12
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Yes Goretex, rebranded from EPC to APC, as the company does not like them using the E word
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 12:14
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Chipotle, I agree! I am also passing!
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 12:25
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It's only AED100/(200family) and it opens up some the greatest beach clubs in DXB to us? Why complain??
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 13:16
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APC

Beach access is good but they lost focus when they tried to pad their personal pockets with kickbacks from IPEP, Atena, Swissquote and Beehive. Focus on your core product and look after the members. FACE card still has salary deduction, perhaps they remained true to their cause not personal gain. Im out
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 13:28
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Best value for money in town for access to beach clubs in town, plus considerable discounts all over. Tired of hearing complaints when there are people volunteering their time and effort for little reward to give us these benefits. Only a handful of pilots bothered to turn up to the AGM to vote for and understand why changes had to be made but it was all quite reasonable. Also recall that the LIPS payments were stopped due to company as presumably are the APC deductions. Finding it hard to believe anyone could find it possible to complain about paying 5dhs extra given the circumstance. I will continue to pay happily given the hard work the club does to secure benefits for us all.
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 14:49
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Leaning heavily towards binning it. When your children are over 16 you have to pay additional membership fees as well. Not that I want extra special treatment but, while they are in the UAE and in education until 19, I think that a family membership should be exactly that.

2 places I visited recently said that the (E)APC deal was not renegotiated, again I have little on hand knowledge of the best places to go to anymore for the worthwhile discount. The cost of the beach club visits is bloody expensive if you dont go at least twice a month to make it worth the cost!

J
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 15:52
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Jack I'm with you starting to be fewer and fewer uses for it.
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 17:16
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I don't see how it's extra revenue raising for the APC? They have not changed the fees, the only extra charge is bank fees, due to our friendly management at EK refusing to salary deduct anymore (seems like a growing trend, as mentioned above).

Having said that, the e-mails have been quite blunt, threatening fines if we don't get in there within a couple of weeks. I'd like to stay with APC, but resent the threats if I don't fill out forms, come into the office this week etc.... Did Fleet sweep the latest AGM elections??

Also while I'm having a whinge, have to agree with above comments on over 16 membership. They pay full adult fees but don't get many of the perks over 21s get (like admission to any of the functions).

Thanks for your good efforts APC, but don't diss the members too much!
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 17:40
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Buying the Dubai Explorer and then the Emirates Platinum Card for a year makes it around the same cost or less than 3 months APC.

The APC attraction for non golfers is the beach club or the view from the queue waiting to get in when someone leaves. I am not trying to be anything other than honest and objective here.

J
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 18:11
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I have access to the best gyms in town .. Best beach clubs .. Substantial discount at many of my favorite places

I am sorry many of you don't appreciate the distinction apc allows

Apc is a great club . Period

Last edited by Am NOT Sure; 11th Feb 2015 at 18:12. Reason: Typo
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 18:59
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I'm not saying that there aren't good deals with APC, it's just the EK management style with how they're communicating these changes, plus the 250 dhs if you're a bit late with your paperwork.
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Old 11th Feb 2015, 19:02
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I've always liked the gyms and the bicycles and I think what they charge is a fair price for them. I've been a paying member for almost 8 years.


I received a message early this week and have eighteen days to run down and pay up or get whacked with a 250 dirham fine? What kind of bollocks is that? Not even credit card companies are that shi**y! But with the roster, I actually have 4 days available. In and amongst other things on my four days off now I have to take care of their poor planning and brilliant customer service or pay 250 dirham.


Maybe its time to just pay for the gym I use for about the same price, enjoy practically the same benefits Platinum gives and rent a bicycle on the layovers. On the plus side, less emails and SMS's inviting me to their sale-a-thons with TopCover and AIG and Swissquote and everyone else.


EPC, if there was a way to give you the finger with an emoticon you'd see it here.

Last edited by hopingforemirates; 11th Feb 2015 at 19:33.
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Old 12th Feb 2015, 01:16
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I'm out.

It's not so much the offerings, although I do find more and more establishments I visit no longer allowing the card, but rather the fleet-like treatment. I for one seldom used the beach clubs although went a few times... Once being turned away at 9 am!!

So, I will go on with the EK platinum card for almost the same benefits at less price per month. But I will say thank you to those who have worked hard at APC/EPC to get the bicycles, the discounts etc for its membership. I'll let mine expire...

K
 
Old 12th Feb 2015, 01:38
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I'm out. I hardly use it and I only kept it cause the deduction from salary was trouble free.
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Old 12th Feb 2015, 06:53
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I too have given it away. While the people behind the scenes have done a great job and I appreciate their efforts, it was becoming very tedious that every time I pulled it out the deal had either expired or was not valid for what ever reason. Mamy places i would go were purely because they supported the EPC scheme as opposed to a first choice venue. I also expect that with the change of name there will be issues for a few months at least with confused looks from hospitality staff when you produce it.
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Old 12th Feb 2015, 08:05
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We've just saved almost 2000aed using the epc card for my son's nursery fees over one term. Coupled with the fact we're regular users of some of the quieter beach clubs and gyms means we'll be hanging onto our cards for now.
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Old 12th Feb 2015, 08:18
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After witnessing what EPC do with my email address I too am not willing to give them my bank details and pay for the privilege. I'm out!
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