DISAPPOINTMENT DOWN UNDER

Two of my recent Emirates flights were excellent, and one less so. I treated myself to an Emirates business class return ticket from Christchurch to Bangkok via Sydney each way. I was phoned by Emirates’ limousine company in Australia on April 13 to reconfirm my airport transfer for Friday April 14, as I was staying overnight in Sydney on April 13.

While I was on the phone, I asked the agent about my limousine transfer from Sydney airport to my hotel on April 13, and she stated that as it was only a trans-Tasman flight, this would not be provided, even though the point of return was Bangkok, so I decided to take a cab.

Afterwards, I received a text and voice message on my phone from the limousine company asking if I was still at the airport (which I was not), as they were waiting to pick me up. This was most frustrating, and followed a very disappointing flight from Christchurch to Sydney on April 13. I was aware that only 18 seats had been sold in business class so I was amazed when the cabin was completely full. A member of the crew confirmed that 60 people had been upgraded, including four passengers who were upgraded to first class! Was it not possible for those of us who had paid for business class seats to be upgraded?

The scheduled flight time was three hours 20 minutes, but the pilot confirmed the actual flight time to Sydney was two hours 50 minutes. Cabin crew were rushed off their feet providing a meal service in business class, and no newspapers were offered to passengers or amenity kits handed out before departure.

This also happened the next day on my flight from Sydney to Bangkok, as a number of economy passengers were upgraded to business class, but as this was a nine-hour flight the consequences were less dramatic. Emirates’ service improved for my return journey, which was very pleasant indeed. Brett Smith, Christchurch, New Zealand