RE: BMI Filling the plane?? I think not!

Indeed, empty planes are not exclusive to BMI, they simply happen every now and than.
Some airlines cancell the flight or opt for a smaller plane.

back in 1996, in the first week of january I flew the sector Atlanta-Dallas in a Delta Tristar.
It appeared that there were only 12 passengers.
We were quickly put into first and most of the cabin crew disembarked, leaving us with 2 cabin attendants.
I think nobody complained about that flight coach service.

When I asked a cabin attendant why they did not opt for a smaller plane she replied that they needed the Tristar in DFW for tomorrows full schedule.

RE: Being customer oriented.

To my believe, the degree of customer orientation applied by an airline is very much connected to the amount of competition.
In the Middle- and Far East are competitive area’s.
F.i. Emirates must compete locally with a.o. GulfAir, Saudi Arabian and Qatar Airways, Air India and PIA to the Indian Subcontinent and with BA and Lufthansa on their key European flights.
As a relative newcomer, they had to do better, otherwise they would never have survived.

Next, to which passenger they orientate themselves?
Best on board cuisine, best wine cellar in the sky? it is the high-yield passenger flying C or F class.
Emirates successfully built up a very good image, absolutely true.
However, comparing the C-class seating in the A330, EK provides 7 abreast while less glamourous GF provides 6 abreast seating, at roughly the same seatpitch.
In this case, the room (especially at night flights) counts much more than the refinement of the meals and the choice of exclusive wines…..

Alas, as many customers, as many opinions, it is hard to satisfy all!

RE: How’s Jordanian

Hi, Indeed, Royal Jordanian is fine.
On board service is fine, etc.
Unfortunately they fiddle with their C and F classes.

On a A310 flight AMS-AMM they provide C and M classes only, however when proceeding from AMM to let say DXB, exactly the same plane provides only F and M class, with dito price increase…basically for nothing!

Unfortunately, RJ does not have a good record with on-time flying.

You mention that Saudiarabian flies on time, I guess you never tried one of their domestic flights!
Do not set your watch on them, you might loose your connection.

Regards, Aart

RE: Two or three class

I fully agree, that airlines with 3 classes often do not know how to handle the guys “in the middle”, and I prefer airlines only providing a 2-class lay-out (C/M, like fi. KLM.

I frequently use Middle-East based airlines, and am exposed to very different standards.
Kuwait Airways C-class is fairly equal to F, however with a narrower seat, but enough leg-space, identical meals, etc. and cabin crews take good care of the passenger.
In the contrary, Gulf-Air C-class, to my opinion, tends more towards an “economy-plus” concept, seats and legroom are OK, but cabin crews still ‘throw’ the meals in your direction, they try to avoid paying attention to the passanger.

In SaudiArabian and Emirates, the difference between C, F and M fully depends on the type of aircraft.
When they use the 777, an F-ticket is waisted money, as C service is very adequate.