Alfa Mike
Suggest you read some of the threads regarding EK on the Middle East forum. The Emirates contract and various regulations here have changed that many times in recent years, it is pretty difficult for anyone to follow them confidently. About the only constant is each change being worse than the previous version. Oh, and by the way, some of the individuals I have flown with who come from the regions you are defending, are complaining just as much as the 1st worlders!