Middle Eastern Airlines

[Chris100UK 520]

Is it just me, or are others thinking twice about using these carriers in light of recent events?

 

The smuggling of a bomb on to a Russin plane departing Egypt and the ongoing conflict with Islamic jihad vs the rest of the world makes me wonder if stopping off in the Middle East (on route from UK to LOS) is worth saving the extra money.

 

I think the support for radical Islam is played down by the authorities, and i think there is probably some support for fundamentalist causes among the general workers at Dubai, Doha or Muscat airports. It's not unthinkable that the same thing could happen again with some collaboration between a few ground staff.

 

You could say the same thing about Heathrow, but my gut feeling is that security is tighter and you would be less likely to find several ppl collaborating on such a plot. In the Middle East, backward teachings and beliefs go unchallenged. There is no shortage of ppl who can be manipulated in the name of Islam.

[Goldpanner 399]

I wont use any Arab airline now, but then again Thai non stop is as cheap as Etihad so its no contest

[Chris100UK 520]

I wont use any Arab airline now, but then again Thai non stop is as cheap as Etihad so its no contest

 

I always found the Qatar's/Emirates/Oman's would be about £100-£200 cheaper than the direct flights in high season. If that's changed i would certainly book direct with Thai (or even better, Eva)

[Fatboyfat 361]

There are no direct flights from UK to Bangkok, unless you live in or around Cockneyville. (Heathrow and Gatwick are probably amongst the worst airports in the world for transit passangers!) As for general workers in Dubai airport, they are in general all Filipino or Nepalese, with a few Indians. Security at Dubai (now these are Arab, and highly screened themselves), especially non-transit, is probably tighter than Heathrow, it is certainly more stringent, and I have to endure it regularly.

[jacko 8,815]

Most of the workers are Indians, Pakistanis and Filipinos.

 

More of a concern would be flying the National Carriers of countries involved in perceived anti-Islamic actions.

Air France, US Carriers, El-Al, BA etc etc.

 

More concerned that Emirates tickets are going to be more expensive due to a levy imposed to pay for new terminals and renovation in Dubai. These Middle East carriers may also become more expensive as oil revenues decline.

Edited April 19, 2016 by jacko

[nkped 1,208]

For those of us going the other way and transiting Seoul Incheon, as I am at the end of next month, North Korea has been jamming GPS signals. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-gps-idUSKCN0X81SN

Edited April 19, 2016 by nkped

[Fatboyfat 361]

For those of us going the other way and transiting Seoul Incheon, as I am at the end of next month, North Korea has been jamming GPS signals. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southkorea-gps-idUSKCN0X81SN

Must flog my old sextant to a trans-Pacific pilot !!!

[Goldpanner 399]

There are no direct flights from UK to Bangkok, unless you live in or around Cockneyville. (Heathrow and Gatwick are probably amongst the worst airports in the world for transit passangers!) As for general workers in Dubai airport, they are in general all Filipino or Nepalese, with a few Indians. Security at Dubai (now these are Arab, and highly screened themselves), especially non-transit, is probably tighter than Heathrow, it is certainly more stringent, and I have to endure it regularly.

 

Im sure there was a Non stopper from Manchester?, maybe the mancunians nicked too many wheels off the planes?

And PLEASE ! as a born and bred Cockney born in Whitechapel hospital I object to anywhere that isnt East of London being called Cockneyville, apart from which there are more Paki's Indians and jews there now than British born Cockneys, they all moved down to Kent and ruined the place.

[Butch 3,456]

I used to deliver to Sugar House Lane in East London, and spent ages at Stratford L.I.F.T waiting for stuff. Stratford is full of Indians and Bangladeshis, last time I saw a front wheel around there was back in 97.

Edited April 19, 2016 by Butch

[jacko 8,815]

 

Im sure there was a Non stopper from Manchester?, maybe the mancunians nicked too many wheels off the planes?

And PLEASE ! as a born and bred Cockney born in Whitechapel hospital I object to anywhere that isnt East of London being called Cockneyville, apart from which there are more Paki's Indians and jews there now than British born Cockneys, they all moved down to Kent and ruined the place.

Never has been to my recollection!

It isn't John Lennon Airport mate.

[Fatboyfat 361]

Never has been to my recollection!

It isn't John Lennon Airport mate.

Nah...Thai mooted it a few years back, but it never came to fruition. I think Singapore is the only direct Far East destination from outside Heathrow/Gatwick; and even that sits on the tarmac at Munich for an hour or so, on its way.

[jacko 8,815]

Nah...Thai mooted it a few years back, but it never came to fruition. I think Singapore is the only direct Far East destination from outside Heathrow/Gatwick; and even that sits on the tarmac at Munich for an hour or so, on its way.

Didn't it also go to Delhi? That kept me off it!!!

[Fatboyfat 361]

Didn't it also go to Delhi? That kept me off it!!!

I don't know of that, maybe in its early days. I used it once, when I had some work in Singapore... Nice plane & service, typical of Singapore Air, but the Munich stop for over an hour in my case, where they don't let you get off the plane is a bit of a drag. Not a cheap option either, Biz mor expensive than 1st with other airlines.

[Goldpanner 399]

I don't know of that, maybe in its early days. I used it once, when I had some work in Singapore... Nice plane & service, typical of Singapore Air, but the Munich stop for over an hour in my case, where they don't let you get off the plane is a bit of a drag. Not a cheap option either, Biz mor expensive than 1st with other airlines.

 

 

Sounds like a flight I had with Garuda in the 80's. Flight was supposed to be London-Paris-Bangkok.

It ended up London-Paris-Amsterdam-Bangkok and we were kept on the plane in Amsterdam for over 2 hours.

Thank heavens they dumped their London Bangkok flights.

Phillippine werent much better, 6 hour delay at Gatwick. I was in Club Class but the hostesses were all over 50 !! once the food was served everyone dissapeared and no amount of button pushing would get anyone to attend to you. Then with Club class the baggage was supposed to come out first with the 1st class luggage. It didnt and I was left standing at the carousel totally alone after everyone had gone untill my bag arrived. Thank heavens they dropped their London- Bangkok.flights

[Fatboyfat 361]

The bad point with Phillippine dropping their flights though, was it gave the remaining "direct" flight airlines the opportunity to hoik the prices, which of course, they did!

[Goldpanner 399]

The bad point with Phillippine dropping their flights though, was it gave the remaining "direct" flight airlines the opportunity to hoik the prices, which of course, they did!

 

Actually from the UK not so. Checking flights yesterday Thai International are now selling at the same price they were in 1989 ! in many case the prices from Londo to Bangok are cheaper now than they were in the 80's. Checking some of my records I was selling Thai in 1989 for £475 which is around the price they are selling for now in September/October

[Fatboyfat 361]

Actually from the UK not so. Checking flights yesterday Thai International are now selling at the same price they were in 1989 ! in many case the prices from Londo to Bangok are cheaper now than they were in the 80's. Checking some of my records I was selling Thai in 1989 for £475 which is around the price they are selling for now in September/October

You need to compare prices when Phillippines went out of business, not 1989. My cattle class fare with Quantas/BOAC in 1970 was approx. ￡550 ....No competition whatsoever, as Thai weren't flying that far.

[capdagde 1,954]

Just booked Qatar 685€ 14h there and 16h back from Barcelona - minimal stop-over in Doha. 30 kilos BTW. First trip with them - expecting good food, good entertainment and good plane....

Edited April 26, 2016 by capdagde

[darkmancomes 75]

After many years flying with Etihad and getting up to gold membership and now silver I have called it a day with them due to several reasons like their restructure of the air miles awarding it now follows right through into what ticket you buy i.e. economy premium economy business class etc etc in most cases the economy is effected in that you only gain 25% air miles and they have also reduced the amount of air miles awarded overall. They are cutting back something shocking and the service is falling as well. When travelling with them I would have booked with them in preference over Emirates Qatar etc despite Etihad being more expensive. I was just thinking on the comforts of the lounge but now the stop over times are so lean that its not worth it. Also on collection of the air miles it was nice to be able to up grade using them but the system now its hard to gather up the amount required before the qualifying time expires. So after all the waffle I decided to make the break and booked through Air France this time at $150 cheaper than Etihad for a similar flight and nice stop over times of 1.5 hrs outward bound and 2 hrs on the return in CDG So will see how it goes I don't think I will miss the lounge or Etihad!

[jacko 8,815]

After many years flying with Etihad and getting up to gold membership and now silver I have called it a day with them due to several reasons like their restructure of the air miles awarding it now follows right through into what ticket you buy i.e. economy premium economy business class etc etc in most cases the economy is effected in that you only gain 25% air miles and they have also reduced the amount of air miles awarded overall. They are cutting back something shocking and the service is falling as well. When travelling with them I would have booked with them in preference over Emirates Qatar etc despite Etihad being more expensive. I was just thinking on the comforts of the lounge but now the stop over times are so lean that its not worth it. Also on collection of the air miles it was nice to be able to up grade using them but the system now its hard to gather up the amount required before the qualifying time expires. So after all the waffle I decided to make the break and booked through Air France this time at $150 cheaper than Etihad for a similar flight and nice stop over times of 1.5 hrs outward bound and 2 hrs on the return in CDG So will see how it goes I don't think I will miss the lounge or Etihad!

Well sorry to say I am no fan of CDG airport....but like you have lost my affiliation to Etihad, mainly because I couldn't find a reasonable priced fare in Biz Class. In the past their FF deals were generous, Never was a fan of their lounges in Abu Dhabi, too small, Manchester one was great. I have quite a few gadgets I ordered from them to utilize expiring FF miles. Airlines evolve....

Edited April 30, 2016 by jacko

[firth1974 2,659]

Well sorry to say I am no fan of CDG airport....but like you have lost my affiliation to Etihad, mainly because I couldn't find a reasonable priced fare in Biz Class. In the past their FF deals were generous, Never was a fan of their lounges in Abu Dhabi, too small, Manchester one was great. I have quite a few gadgets I ordered from them to utilize expiring FF miles. Airlines evolve....

 

There is a new way of using up your expiring FF points with Etihad now, and its treated just like cash!! Buy whatever it is your heart desires.

[jacko 8,815]

 

There is a new way of using up your expiring FF points with Etihad now, and its treated just like cash!! Buy whatever it is your heart desires.

If they were like cash, they would NEVER expire... I believe my remaining ones expire this month.

[firth1974 2,659]

If they were like cash, they would NEVER expire... I believe my remaining ones expire this month.

 

Well of course they will all expire, but before they do, rather than only using them on whatever Etihad are selling on their website, there is an option to change them into cash by converting them into money and being placed on one of these rechargable Visa cards and spending them on whatever you like. Petrol food, shopping anything. But there must be spent before they expire!!

[jacko 8,815]

 

Well of course they will all expire, but before they do, rather than only using them on whatever Etihad are selling on their website, there is an option to change them into cash by converting them into money and being placed on one of these rechargable Visa cards and spending them on whatever you like. Petrol food, shopping anything. But there must be spent before they expire!!

Many year ago I seem to recall some airlines offering miles that never expired. It appears they all ultimately changed their minds on that one.

This rechargeable card business seems complex...... they could send me a cheque or direct deposit! I have many many 'miles' expire as I rarely build up enough of them to be of any use. Price is my reason for booking with a particular airline these days, my time of swanning around on the company ticket has passed.

[LostInAmsterdam 0]

Just booked Qatar 685€ 14h there and 16h back from Barcelona - minimal stop-over in Doha. 30 kilos BTW. First trip with them - expecting good food, good entertainment and good plane....

 

Flown Qatar many time BKK - LHR - BKK they are my go to airline great planes and pleasant staff. If you are going Biz the IFE is excellent as is the food. Even in the back of the plane the food is ok. Watch out for their sales as you can get some cracking deals.