Eva or Emirates ?

[TURBO 1]

I am trying to decide between these 2 airlines for my trip in Jan 2003 .

The Eva route is Belfast - London - Bangkok but on the return leg I have to stay overnight in London as I cannot get a connecting flight to Belfast until the next day .

The Emirates route is Belfast - Manchester - Dubai - Bangkok but there is a lengthy stopover of 3 hours in each airport , thus making total journey time 7 hours longer ( not counting the overnight stay )

The cost of each works out about the same so can anyone help me decide ?

If I go with Eva is it worth the extra for the evergreen seats ? Are the normal economy seats better/worse than other airlines ?

 

Thanks in advance ,

                                 Derek

[gerald 0]

If you book with Emirate on the Emirate web site, you get double air miles at the moment, that would be  from Belfast 28,000 = PLUS FIRST YOU HAVE TO BECOME A MEMBER WHICH GIVES YOU 2500 .. SO WITH ONE TRIP YOUR HAVE OVER 30,000 air miles. Which would make you a silver member, letting you into the v.i.p areas at the airports

[Guest]

Turbo,

 

Emirates economy class is far superior to that offered on EVA - that's why it comes top of the various polls year after year.  Evergreen Deluxe is a whole different ball game and is well worth the additional outlay as many Boardies will testify.

 

The alternative option you may wish to look at is travelling via Amsterdam with EVA - the flight times allow you to connect to and from Belfast with time to spare.  The price should be the same as via London ... I will do a quick check and let you know.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[TURBO 1]

Tom ,

 

Do you work in the travel business ? I had thought of the Eva Amsterdam route but when I enquired about it from both Dial-a flight and Flightcall they said that they couldn't offer the same discounts on this route & it would cost a lot more . Can you recommend a place to book this routing ? I am getting quoted £500 approx including taxes for the BFS/LHR/BKK route , leaving 11th Jan , returning 26th Jan , that's with Dial-a-flight .

 

Gerald ,

 

I might give the Emirates consideration , if only to find out what goes on in those airline lounges  ;D . Seriously though , if you have a lengthy stopover that idea sounds good . I wonder can I make use of the lounges on this trip or do I not collect the airmiles until after this trip ? I'll check out the Emirates website for info .

 

Cheers guys ,

                       Derek

[Guest]

Turbo,

 

I had assumed, wrongly as it turned out, that you could fly directly from Belfast to Amsterdam.  I now realise you have to go via London (or Birmingham) which negates any advantages if you could fly direct.  That will teach me to open my mouth without checking the facts!  :-/

 

Probably the best EVA specific agent is a Taiwanese agent called Ours Travel based in London.  Give them a call (0207 388 8955) and put your thoughts to a guy called Eddie and he will come up with all your options.  Their website is

 

http://home.btclick.com/ourstravel/indexe.htm

 

If nothing else, the website will give you the timetables and different season dates and prices for EVA (both economy and Evergreen Deluxe).

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[gerald 0]

Tom, that's the best site i've seen yet; get prices. i'll give them a call myself this weekend, as i'm still looking for a flight for the 29th August.  If i can get the Evergreen for £580.00 ........... If we ever meet up in Pattaya, i'll buy you a good few drinks ;D

 

Gerald

[Guest]

Gerald,

 

£580 plus tax.

 

You should be able to get that price from any of the major agents.  The good thing about the ours Travel site is that it gives you a great overview to work out your options.

 

That said, I'll take you up on the drinks offer!!  

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[gerald 0]

Tom ..

         Just make sure you let me know when your in Pattaya ......... I looked on the Eva site some time ago and the Evergreen price was around £1000 ???. Like i sald, let me know and were have a night on the town ;D

[Guest]

Gerald,

 

I will be in Pattaya 17 Nov-2 Dec staying at the RG.  I will be travelling China Airlines(£770 incl tax business class from Manchester) and will post my opinions of this option after I get home.  I normally travel with EVA, it is very easy to quickly attain Silver membership of their Frequent Flyer Club (3 return journeys in Evergreen Deluxe) which gives you the separate check-in and access to the lounges as well as preferred seat allocation.

 

I normally visit in early May and then again in November for Loy Krathong.  Going to look again at the May dates after this year's experience .......... far too many sailors and/or marines in town.  Got nothing against them as individuals but when they decide to  hit your favourite bar en-masse it's like having booked two weeks in Aldershot!  :-/ In general I try to avoid the UK school holidays simply because of the increased airfares during these periods.

 

Regards,

 

Tom

[Eneukman 1]

Tom,

 

My dates are almost the same as your's ...........arriving bangkok on the 17th November but returning on 1st December. I'm flying BA and their price from Edinburgh was £950 or thereby but taking the Edinburgh - Heathrow and Heathrow - Bangkok legs separately, it came down to a much more reasoanble £640. Bloody rip off if you don't live in or near London!!!!

 

Only bugger is I have to fly to Bangkok with QANTAS, who last time I flew with them didn't have seat back tv's. I find these essential on long haul flights even though most of the viewing is a load of crap!!!

 

The return flight is with BA so I have a pre-reserved seat, which should mean that i can leave Pattaya a bit later should I want to.

 

See you at the RG

 

Alan

[TURBO 1]

I am up in Belfast this weekend for my mates stag party . I knew he was going to LOS for his honeymoon . He is flying with Eva and they were putting him up FOC in LHR on his return leg so he could catch the flight to Belfast the next morning . I went to the travel agent he booked through ( trailfinders ) and they can offer me the same deal ( overnight accommodation in LHR FOC ) for either the 4-19th or 11-26th Jan 2003 for £505 inc taxes !

I think I'll be booking it on Monday so I may be able to meet up with you Gerald if I go on the 4th Jan . That is unless Joy has you trapped in her village somewhere upcountry trying to get you married  ;D. Maybe we can do those trips to the Islands as a 4-some we were talking about in June .

 I'll see if I can upgrade to evergreen on those dates .

 

Derek

[THE_DRUID 21]

Does anyone out there have information on how to join the 'Air miles club' for Emirates airlines.I am flying to LOS on Emirates in September.

                                  THE DRUID

[gerald 0]

THE-DRUID

           

               Just go to  http://www.emirates.com/

and fill out the form in Skywards section.

[gerald 0]

I've got my ticket, 8) i'm flying from Birmingham, via Amsterdam on China-Airlines on 29th August return 9th September ..£465.00.

Tickets sold out for Eva on these days.