As a long time pprune lurker, why is it that all threads (like this one!) go so quickly off track ?
ie - it goes like this:
a) reasonable question
b) possibly reasonable reply
c) moan about pay and conditions (unrelated)
d) moan moan moan about the person above who moaned about the pay and conditions
e) moan about the moaner of the moaner
f) moaner moaner told to shut up by new moaner
g) new poster tries to bring it back on track
h) new moaner introduces new moan about, yep, pay and conditions
i) etc etc etc ad infinitum
So, in an effort to be example g) and bring this back on track -
to check 'approximate' loads on other airlines try
www.iddeals.com then you can try one of the other gulf carriers if EK is full.
Apologies for not moaning...I'll think of something to whine about next time!