The Qantas-Emirates alliance: four years on...

I think the alliance has been good for QF flyers. Yes, the swap from SIN to DXB for the LHR flights was annoying at first but now it's fine. I still fly QF all the way to LHR, because I think QF's service is a bit more polished than EK's, but it is handy to be able to jump onto an Emirates flight when connecting to second tier European cities.

I would still prefer SIN or HKG, DXB feels quite sterile to me, but the benefits have been good. Codeshare point benefits, one stop access to EU with mostly A380 connections - can't complain there. However I only book these two if I'm in and out of London and can go QF all the way or the mainland EK connection matches up well to QF9 or 10. I'm unfortunately just not a fan of EK J service food or seat but that's me. Trans Tasman though, they're unbeatable. 

I've never flown into DXB, I'm still going to Europe via SIN and shortly I will also be checking out HKG as the stop over.  

being in adelaide the alliance has meant one stop flights - albeit with EK - to our european destinations and its great - ok i prefer QF but as QF dont support ADL with direct flights out of Australia then it has to be EK for lack of connections and therefore a faster trip - i have to say i still prefer QF J over EK J for its seat - but i do prefer service and food on EK - although crew are generally friendlier on QF - and as for the bling of DXB well best not said - but you cant argue that their lounges are generally incredible (especially First)

I have flown the Syd-Dub-london on a Emirates flight 3 times in the last 12 months. I like the full flat bed in Emirates and the food. Furthermore, Before becoming Qantas Platinum, I liked the choices in the Emirates Business lounge as compared to the Qantas Business Lounge. Emirates have a bar at the back of the A380. 

As we fly to Edinburgh, or Newcastle, we use either EK or QR. But have found that EK is much dearer, than QR.

I travelled with Emirate economy class to Cape Town via Dubai last year, the Emirate lounge in Dubai refused my entry despite I have my Qantas Gold frequent flyer card with me.  So I will not fly with them again.  

Since 2013, a lot about Qantas' product and value proposition have changed. While the number of international trips that I take with Qantas has decreased significantly since 2013, it is not exclusively due to the QF/EK alliance, although it is a significant factor.

i) Do I long for the days of QF/BA kangaroo code share routes? YES

ii) Do I long for the days of QFF being a neutral programme, with a focus on price competition rather than deploying preferential status credit earning rates as a competitive advantage? YES

To what extent is (i) a factor in the development of (ii) and the wider QF strategy of linking up with EK? I don't know. Though I cannot help but feel these things do not occur is isolation.

Upshot: I value Qantas as an excellent domestic carrier. For international trips however, I've largely written it off due to unfavourable pricing, poor frequency and timing, and the desire to avoid flying EK metal.

Perhaps my stance on QF is unfair. Granted I've chosen not to delve too deeply in the myriad of status credit earning rates across QFF partners. The "simplicity" of choosing Qantas in all instances to maximise status credit is unsatisfactory - I'm not one to be spoon fed. That coupled with the EK alliance is a non-starter for me.

The main function of the alliance is for me to fly a lot less with QF.  I find that DXB is neither a great airport or stop over.   I still fly QF to Europe but not as a default option as I may have before.  So I now tend to check what my options are via SIN before deciding.  

I like and use the many options when flying to Europe, both in destinations and scheduling. The downside is the B777 is a terrible plane with the Emirates fitout and I try to avoid this.Being both QF platinum and Singapore PPS I do have a significant amount of options and good quality service to choose from

It would still be great to have Singapore as an option, I think the surveys clearly show this is the preferred stopover.

I abandoned Qantas on flights from Perth to Europe 4 years ago as I detest Emirates.  I now go either with QR to Manchester or Edinburgh or with SQ to Manchester (twice per year). I abandoned Qantas in January 2016 for flights to USA from Perth and now fly that direction with Air NZ (4X per year).

DBX airport is terrible and I have been denied loung use as a QC member flying to Europe on Emirates. I will not use Emirates and so the partnership has led to me seeking airlines other than Qantas. The Boeing 777 flights are particularly bad.

DXB is a bit of a zoo compared with SIN.  Even the J class Lounge is overcrowded during the peak periods.

The ability to use QF points for award flights on EK metal with the, in my opinion, largely nicer product in F is the main benefit of the alliance for me.

I use to transit via SIN/BKK/HKG, I do transit via SIN/BKK/HKG and I will transit via SIN/BKK/HKG. QF kicked me out from being their customer in en-route to Europe.

I don't like DXB as a stopover. It's fake and boring. But I continue to use QF through to Europe as a platinum FF. I do like using EK in F to NZ too. 

Ek first class even on the 777 are superior comparing to QF product,business class are similar in quality

Don't want to go via the middle east especially DBX, so Cathay gets my business especially as they haven't abandoned Adelaide. A small (very) bouquet to QFF that they somewhat increased the partner earn rate ex ADL as a slight concession to their guilty consciences.

You cannot compare Emirates to Qantas for inflight service for premium passengers, there are quantum differences.  The seats on Emirates are better as well

From a FF point of view (in Perth) the alliance has not really given us much. QF/EK awards are not generous, and the add on fees are much more than other one world carriers. EK have dropped from three flights a day, to two a380's, and now back to one a380 and one 777, and of course a pathetic 737 to Singapore.

Great Article.

Is that Christopher Skase sitting in the back corner of Captain Cook picture 2?

As a frequent Business Class traveller from Perth to various ports in Europe the EK Alliance is a huge bonus. 

Qantas ticketed, Emirates metal in Business Class. Thats been my routine. Until Qantas respect their business Class pax with proper flat beds which don't sag, direct isle access and a more decent lounge/bar area Emirates metal all the way for me - while maintaining my points and and status with Qantas. Once the A380's are upgraded I'll re-evaluate.

We flew Qantas business class to HK then on Emirates business class to Thailand and return. I find the service on Qantas far superior than Emirates. White wine served from the right aisle and red from the left. I was on the right side and wanted white. I was told my colleague will do his round and get you white. By the time the cabin staff did the whole left side of A380 and got to me in the front I had finished my dinner. On the return journey the young crew dropped the tray of pre dinner drinks on the seat behind me and the passenger was asked to go and sit at the back. Not impressed with their service.  We had an upgrade and weren't allowed into the Emirates lounge.  We will never fly via Dubai due to the governments attitude towards same-sex people.

I love Emirates to Europe - anything to avoid LHR! However, flights to Europe via SIN would still be very popular.

Have used the QF/EK alliance to Europe about 8 times in last four years. Was QF Platinum and now Gold and have never had any problem accessing Emirates lounges, including with spouse as my guest and when flying in economy. Really like the option of avoiding Heathrow and of open jawing, ie entering Europe in one port and leaving from another. Have enjoyed one stopover in Dubai, but usually stopover in Singapore. This is easily arranged by connecting in Dubai to EK operated, QF code shared flight. As with others I much prefer A380 to 777. 

I have zero interest in stopping in the ME, while loving SG, HK and Tokyo. Thinking long and hard about the carrier I use when next travelling to Europe.

I guess it's personal preference but does it really matter if the stop over is at changi or Dubai.  I have become used to DXB and the showers in the lounge are a godsend. Plus the option of EK to all points if not continuing to London.  The Singapore stop only makes sense if you are laying over for a night or so and who in business world has that luxury 

Frankly, I now fly CX or BA and go through Asia. Better prices and better product. Also lots of other options. EK is a better option on a 380 than QF, but their 777 are not and attractive product, and I just don't like Dubai!

No way will I fly via Dubai with their governments attitude towards same-sex couples. Finnair via HKG offers best alternative with choice of QF or CX to/fro HKG. I also fly MEL-AKL regularly but stopped choosing the EK flight with inconsistent on board service, poor seat selection availability and crowded Emirates lounges. Honestly beige and woodgrain interior maybe popular in the ME but inot modern. Qantas First Lounge interior space and food service is the only way to fly.

Stopped using QF for int flights out of PER when they stopped transiting through SIN. Now there are many more operators with far better J products and prices that fly out of PER. Don't care about status any more - just look for a good J deal.

Being married to an EK IO cardholder, I have had the pleasure of enjoying many of the perks that EK roll out for their VIP frequent flyers. That said I still always choose QF over EK on my trips to between SYD and MEL and London (4-5 times a year) and often use BA from LHR to back track into Europe rather than connecting to EK services in DXB. I do fly EK from USA to India (2-3 times a year) simply because my husband's IO status often means an upgrade from Business to First. Call me nostalgic or old fashioned but I just much prefer the service from the QF cabin crew and I absolutely still miss the SIN and HKG stopovers that were possible under the old QF-BA arrangements. DXB is an impressive facility, the EK First Class lounge is lovely, but the whole place (much like Dubai itself) feels soulless and contrived. EK's First hard product (especially on the A380 - I just love being able to have a shower and change before I land) is a notch above QF's, but QF still wins on service and F&B in Business and First.

Never been a fan of EK. Much prefer QF service in F and J. Dislike the Emirates J seat on 380 and 777. The F seat is fine and the showers are great, no doubt, but put the package together with service etc and in my view QF is way ahead. EK lounge in DXB is soulless, its big and flashy but nothing else. EK is all bling and no substance. I still do not like flying through DXB, much prefer SIN.

I prefer the HKG stopover, but DXB is fine. And flight timings is the big issue for me - I like the overnight sector to be the longer one. There is no point trying to sleep between LHR and DXB or SIN and Australia - the sectors are too short. (As an aside, how anyone likes SIN as an airport is beyond me - the world's ugliest carpet and the ridiculous 'at the gate' security which makes it impossible to have a relaxed stroll from the lounge straight to the aircraft.

If Qantas offered me a choice between Dubai and Singapore, assuming both flights on an A380 (or Boeing 787) I'd still choose Singapore, especially if it had a proper first class lounge. Apart from that the Emirates alliance works fine for me, the Dubai lounge is great. But I haven't done QF1 to Dubai and then changed to an Emirates flight, the layover time is way too long, so when I have to fly somewhere in Europe apart from London I just book Emirates all the way.

It sucks that i cannot use my points on EK metal even with QF flight numbers! 

I'd much prefer a transit in Singapore than Dubai. Travelling via the Middle East is something I'll do (as I like to fly Qantas), but Dubai holds no interest to me what so ever. The Emirates alliance is good as it provides a one stop service to so many cities, but their 10 abreast in their Boeing 777 economy is bone-crushingly cruel - a bit like the Qantas 9-abreast 787 will be.

Is it really 4 years since I dumped Qantas and OneWorld mainly because of this ? How time flies when the grass is greener. Seems like every month there's another Qantas "enhancement" (that isn't) that vindicates my decision. Still flying to Europe via Asia, as it should be.

QF/EK has been great since I can do overnight flights both ways maximising my day times in South East Asia /SIN from BNE....

The alliance has resulted in me only flying qantas enough to keep my platinum status, i fly Singapore, BA, Virgin and Cathay in preference.

Prefer to stop over in Singapore or Hong Kong after long flight from/to UK so have avoided EK/QF. They also don't have PE so that is a factor but they are reconsidering this apparently. I think proposed direct link between LHR and PER on QF will be popular and a game changer and even though I don't like LHR and it's poor Flight Connections set up I would use it to be able to take the new service. My guess is the QF strategy team will have more of these links as a smart long term alternative to the EK partnership and DXB as a hub.

At first I was Ok, this gives QF breathing space and in theory some efficiencies for passengers by aligning with EK. However I have overall been disappointed once you get into the detail. I think QF is great and for sure my preference to Asia and Latam. However for London flights I found:the SYD-DXB leg too long, made worse by the limited amount of food (and junk food snacks) on offer in economy; no status credit earn with EK flight nos.; the very long (5 hours+) connection times for onward continental  flights so no time save over LHR connections; the limited codeshare e.g. SYD-BKK-HKT-DXB-LHR can only be done with EK flight nos. even the SYD-BKK legs on QF metal (so no status credits); inexperienced EK crew, really just far too young and lacking the people and service skills of QF crew. Then above all this is the ethical question of supporting the UAE, environmental, fiscal responsibility and human rights esp. for gay people. So no I was loyal to the SYD - Sin / Bkk / Hkg - LHR with QF but I stopped two years ago and go via Asia again

Qantas - Emirates partnership is a dud.

Personally, I'm surprised to see so many people favoring Qantas over Emirates. I typically fly Qantas economy to/from SFO and MEL, so I've become accustomed to the product. However, I recently flew to LHR on a combo of Qantas and Emirates and found the quality of the product on Emirates to be far superior. More leg room, more and better food, real cutlery and dishes (read: not plastic), Wi-Fi, starlight on the ceiling. Qantas seats also seem designed to penalize anyone who dares attempt to take advantage of adjacent empty seats. At least in economy, Emirates is the clear winner in my eye.

Being a frequent flyer I have had terrible experience caught up among Emirates Qantas and Jetstar.