A thumbs up for Emirates Airlines in Harare

 

A couple of months ago my friend in the news biz sent me a press release about  the Emirates Airlines Office in Harare. There was a contact name on the press release  which I pounced on with  the pent-up  energy  of someone with a gripe and I took the opportunity to send off a rant to Emirates. My rant went like this:

Dear Person Representing Large Corporation (name removed to protect the innocent!)

“Having read of the recently opened Emirates office in Harare I felt compelled to send you this short note on Emirates Airlines. By the way I live in Dubai.

The observations and impressions of  several people  I know who travel frequently on Emirates Airlines and who have used the Zimbabwe and South African route is that customers on these routes receive poor quality service - mainly in the form of old planes and old in-flight services.  It is a shame that Africa is once again treated like the poor relation and given inferior treatment.

Of course customers, me included, will all continue to use Emirates because at least we can get direct flights but what a sour taste it leaves in one’s  mouth.”

I received a reply back very promptly. I totally meant to get back to Emirates Airlines but, and here I have to hang my head in Shame, I went off on a giddy round of travel and having fun and time passed…. Then I tidied up my email ,as I do- believe it or not, and found the unanswered email. Embarrassment, as much as anything, had me jumping around to fix things up.

 

I am sure, by now, you are all dying to know what Emirates had to say so here it is:

”Hi Penny,

Many thanks for your email.

Sorry to hear that your experience has not been up to expectation.

I have passed your email on to the Emirates Country Manager for Zimbabwe.

Emirates introduced a Boeing 777-300 on the Dubai-Harare route from February 1 this year that increases its capacity on the route by 50 percent. The aircraft has 354 seats in a three-class configuration, offering eight luxurious First Class suites, 42 seats in Business Class and generous space for 304 passengers in Economy Class.

Throughout the aircraft, passengers will be able to experience the airline’s award-winning ice in-flight entertainment system with a choice of over 1,400 channels on-demand as well as meals prepared by gourmet chefs.

I wonder if there is some way we can enlist the support of your blog in helping to address the perceptions you mention.”

I am sure those of you who have travelled more recently can confirm these statements and take me to task for my outdated rant. I was impressed with Emirates for responding at all. I was rather disturbed to find out that they knew that I have a blog. And promptly went off and “googled” myself to see what would come up. Once you blog you are no longer anonymous. Which, of course, should be obvious. But ho hum what can I say I did not think of the obvious.

Which brings me to the point that having complained at Emirates airlines and the Airline responding so promptly and so well, I absolutely have to give them a plug:

 

By the way the airline has been busy  winning awards all over the place: ‘World’s Best Airline, ‘Best Middle East Airline’ and for a record ninth year in a row, ‘World’s Best Inflight Entertainment’. 

For those of you that absolutely have to visit Dubai  (or as I like to say Do Buy) for a stop-over on your way to and from the Southern Hemisphere ( and I am not forgiving any of you that are off to the Reps Reunion in the United Kingdom and not stopping over even though you could probably say the same thing to me about not being at the reunion) remember it is the Dubai Summer Suprises Time of the Year and there are all sorts of deals with Emirates Special Offers:

 

Here is a super deal for Business Class travellers:

Explore the World in Style for less with Emirates’ Three-Day Business Class Sale

Fares starting from US$2,550 for travel from Harare to Dubai.

HARARE, ZIMBABWE, June 4, 2013 – Travellers from Zimbabwe are being offered a taste of the highlife with the latest discounts from Emirates in a three-day sale of Business Class tickets this week.

Attractive discounts are being offered on the airline’s Business Class fares to selected destinations starting from June 4 until June 6, with ticket prices starting from US$2,550 for return travel from Harare to Dubai.

Travel is for the period July 12 and August 4 and passengers from Zimbabwe will be able to travel Business Class to London from US$3,140 return or Geneva from US$3,485. A return trip to Paris will cost US$3,985 and Tunis is US$4,070. The fare to New York is US$5,860.

When it comes to Business Class, Emirates goes to great lengths to ensure comfort, efficiency and attention to detail for our passengers. 

On the ground, Business Class customers and Gold card members of Skywards, Emirates’ award-winning frequent flyer programme, can relax before their flights in one of Emirates’ 35 global Business Class lounges, including the world’s largest Business Class lounge located in Concourse A in Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport. Opened in January this year and spanning over 16,000 square metres, the lounge features: showcase kitchens, business centres, fully stocked bars and restaurants, a Timeless Spa with 29 treatment rooms and an entertainment zone.

Onboard, Emirates’ award-winning Business Class offers passengers state-of-the art seats with fully connected inflight communications and entertainment. A highlight is its renowned ice inflight entertainment system which offers passengers up to 1,400 channels of the latest multi-lingual entertainment and has been voted the world’s best at the World Airline Awards for eight consecutive years.

Emirates’ in-flight dining options frequently exceed passengers’ expectations, offering a choice of regionally inspired menus created by award-winning chefs accompanied by some of the world’s finest beverages.

In addition, Emirates’ Business Class passengers can enjoy:

·         Complimentary chauffeur-drive service to and from selected airports;

·         Dedicated Business Class check-in desks;

·         Priority baggage handling;

·         Fast track immigration on arrival and departure from Dubai.

To book your next trip and experience Emirates’ Business Class for yourself, please visit the Emirates sales office at Wakefield Road, Avondale, Harare, book online at www.emirates.com or speak to your travel agent.