In the early days, when EK used to require the cabin crew to fill out passenger survey forms for various industry awards when between services, the airline won an award in the UK for Best Cabin Crew. At the awards ceremony, Maurice Flanagan got up to accept the award saying it was an acknowledgement of the Emirates business model and Emirates management...blah blah blah. After he stepped down, Richard Branson got up to accept second place for VA. During his speech, he politely admonished MF for not acknowledging those who had actually won the award; Emirates Cabin Crew and went on to congratulate them himself.
Pretty much says it all. That's the culture that has existed since the beginning and which has been allowed to be taken to the absurd extremes described here. (And MF was a gentleman compared with the crew there now)
Last edited by Gillegan; 14th Feb 2015 at 17:18.