I have just returned from a sales & marketing visit to the UK.
With so many new and emerging changes to our worldwide financial & social structures, I deemed it a good idea to take quality time and submerge myself within one of my prime markets where I could also learn more of what is happening on the ground in the US of A as well as Canada. My first need is to secure passage. SAA our national carrier required me to rob a bank or two to meet their financial consideration so I expanded my search to find a carrier taking the world by storm through their hub of Dubai. Emirates is indeed an interesting airline in many ways.
Eighteen hours flying time between Cape Town & my chosen landing at Gatwick ( they do fly into Heathrow as well )against 12 hours with a direct option. Sjoe, that's a load of extra hours at 35000 feet eh ? BUT at a cost of R 6K against R 8K to 10K on the direct route, it has to be evaluated. Pretty challenging arrival & departure times into & out of Dubai on my outbound flights but what an experience overall.
The very best entertainment I have experienced even by business class standards. The crew on all four legs spoke at least eight, yes EIGHT languages, were completely brilliant at looking after me and for you who respond to the UK Chart Toppers from 1952 to this week end..... all there for you to listen to ! Can you appreciate the benefit of flicking back to Hey Jude at ceiling height with a supply of great Australian white wine on tap ? I did ! Their food offering exceeded SAA business class in presentation, quality and quantity. Succulent fish, tender steaks and very sensible breakfasts just flowed from the ever attentive crew.
Dubai airport is a little bigger than Cape Town. They currently have 300 departure points, we have 16. Over the next few years they are going to add a further 150 to 200 departure points to bring their capacity to 170000 passenger departures per DAY. Emirates is leading a number of Arab country based airlines using the very logical Middle East as a logical hub/spoke between an ever growing African/rest of the world market.
As a senior professional travel soul with my sights very firmly fixed on my clients overall experience, I have to share with you that my close on two days within the hands of Emirates was a good experience mixed with many moments of ethereal bliss and the odd frown as to their occasional mannerisms. What places them highly in my mind is they know what they are doing and provide a service at a higher overall level that other carriers.
For you coming to southern Africa through Johannesburg or here in Cape Town, consider Emirates as your carrier.
Ciao
Colin J. FRYER.
Centre Stage Travel, Cape Town.
