Ethihad, Emirates and Qatar
[QUOTE=Sprite13]Since the topic is on airlines, for my upcoming trip next month, and since I have vowed never to fly an american carrier again, booked my ticket with Etihad and I'll get in BKK at 7am on a friday morning. I'd like to get some feedback on those who have flown with Etihad before as far as their services, and all. It wasn't the cheapest ticket but had the most convenient schedule. Delta was about 900 bucks while Etihad cost me almost $1500, but didn't mind at all to pay the extra to avoid 2 connections, having to go through the US and flying a US carrier. Flight leaves at 10:45 pm and after an almost 14 hour flight arrives in Abu Dabi and after a short lay over of under 2 hours, off for another 6 hours before landing in BKK at 7am in the morning, which is perfect for sleeping the whole day recovering before attacking the friday night in style. Very convenient schedule indeed. Anyone has flown with Etihad before? How comfortable are their seats? Do these seats have enough leg room or are you cramped like hell like in KLM? (Again, another airline to never fly again with!).[/QUOTE]
Ethihad, Emirates and Qatar are pretty much the same when it comes to equipment and service. They are essentially competing to be the largest fish in a small pond! So as far as you are concerned it really depends on frequency, schedules and cost! Emirates has a considerable head start and in my view beats the others on the frequency and variety of routes and the turnaround in DBX! Much better facilities and a more pleasant environment! Doha airport (Qatar) is a real pain for transiting pax, as flights are remotely parked and pax bussed the 10 to 15 minutes to the terminal, both when arriving and departing! Abu Dhabi (Ethihad) is better than Doha in that respect but neither beat DBX in my view! The current terminal in Doha is also far too small for the number of flights operating through it, and has always been packed when I transit there!
Emirates also have a useful 30kg baggage allowance and, unlike Qatar who check the weight of your carry-on bag, Emirates have never bothered to do so!
One useful point with Dubai, if you have an Amex card you have access to the Marhaba lounge (regardless of airline) with free internet and hot food! Great if you have a few hours to kill!
Doha has Amex access to the Oryx lounge, but no hot food, just snacks and free internet, and Abu Dhabi also, but I forget the name of the lounge there!
One further point worth considering is joining the airlines frequent flyer scheme. Just last week on returning to Bangkok from Manila with PAL I was upgraded to business class as the aircraft was changed from an Airbus A330 to the much smaller A320. Mabuhay members, their scheme which I joined on my first flight, were selected for the upgrade, even though I have only flown with them twice!
A couple of days ago I was flying BKK to DBX with Emirates and the same thing happened, the flight was transiting through BKK from Christchurch NZ and Sydney on it’s way to DBX. Myself and 4 others were upgraded to business as we were members of their frequent flyer programme, and on that sector, economy was full!
Bonker.
Is it acceptable to proposition to a non bar girl?
I was walking in the Central Festival mall on the beach road, just doing some shopping and stuff. Then I see "her". One of those OMG she is so cute type of girl! She was working at one of the stands selling souvenirs.
Well, I tried to strike a convo. But she spoke very limited english. Then I said something to the effect " you, me, go my hotel tonight". Her reaction was strange. Like she didn't quite understand what I was saying.
So is this acceptable behavior on my part? Keep in mind I was somewhat classy and nice about it.