Business class upgrade offers on EK

[defizr]

I'm flying BHX-DXB-BKK on Thusday in cattle class. Just had a 'special price' biz class upgrade offer email on the BHX-DXB sector for £436. I only paid £540 for the whole ticket! Seems a bit expensive for one leg. Do EK get many takers on these offers?

[loveflyingalways]

If the flying time is 5+ hours then yes, I have seen a lot of folks taking the upgrade.

[defizr]

The upgrade is for only one segment not the whole flight. Each segment is about 6-7 hours. I might pay 400 quid for a complete upgrade out and back but not for a quarter of the journey.

[Doors to Automatic]

That equates to £1412 for a round trip in C Class, if the upgrade were available both ways - A very good price in my opinion.

Edit: Just saw that the £540 is for a return to BKK; in which case even better!

[defizr]

The upgrade is BHX to DXB not BHX to BKK

[spiney]

Seems a bit steep. Last year Emirates were offering upgrades LGW-DXB for a little over £300... my mate opted for it. I didn't - and I got upgraded at the gate for free (I was Emirates Silver at the time). £436 is too much for a cocktail, a glass of wine and some table napkins on a 7 hr flight to Dubai. Emirates Business Class is nothing special and you can buy a lot in Bangkok for £436.. If the Company are paying, I'll have it - but if it's my money, I prefer to spend it on something tangible.

[PAXboy]

Uumm, it;'s not the cocktail spiney, it's the space that you are paying for. Since you can spread your body into the space, that may be thought of as 'trangible'.

[Mr Mac]

Spiney
Have to agree with PAXBOY as the space is the thing you need, but I would agree with you that EK Business offering is becoming not that special. I am currently in the Far East having come out with them last week, and the service on the lunch time flight to DXB was the poorest I have had since I started using them in approx 2000. Nothing fundemental but just little things eg wines and meals out of sinc and food std not as good - this has been dropping for a number of years on EK in my opinion for what its worth. I know I should be pleased to be getting anything at 38000 ft as I started to fly in early 1960,s and you got a sick bag and British Rail sandwich on some of the smaller operators if you were lucky, however times have changed and std raised along with tech. Also DXB transfer through security was complete chaos with fast track lane swamped with economy passengers with no effort from EK or DXB Authority to sort out - worst I have see at DXB and I am there evry 3 - 4 weeks. May start to review options for future trips with other Mid East carriers if no improvments - suggestions welcome.

[spiney]

First, Business or Economy I don't sleep very well on planes - never have done. I'm a 'compact' chap and don't need any of that space to 'spread your body into'... Might get an hour or two of restless sleep, I'm not going to get 4 hours of quality kip - ever, so for me the difference in the journey experience just isn't worth the price. I get upgraded frequently on Emirates but it's not worth 4 to 500 quid a leg of my money. For that I can buy a smart jacket or a Leica D Lux 5 or some restaurant meals which are much nicer than the 'food' that airlines serve up. I agree, Mr Mac, that in the 90's EK was a cracking airline with first rate service - but not any more. I use 'em 'cos they're cheap, (and they keep the competition cheap), and I don't like being on planes for more than 7 hours without a break. Emirates service is indifferent at best and DXB might be very pretty but beneath the gloss it's an extremely poor transit airport - and the Business Lounge has about as much atmosphere as a warehouse.