New Zealand Aviation Thread Part 171

NZ1 · Fri Jan 22, 2016 3:17 am

Last thread here:

New Zealand Aviation Thread Part 170 (by 777ER Jan 11 2016 in Civil Aviation)

NZ1

777ER · Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:37 am

Just seen on 3 News that NZ is cancelling its Port Villa services due to the condition of the runway. NZ will operate one more service before withdrawing all services.

777ER · Fri Jan 22, 2016 5:40 am

Paste from the previous thread by AerorobNZ.

A question for WLG-SIN people, would you take the 772 (with better evening departure) for the same price over a better product daily A380 from AKL (with a worse departure time)? I would certainly take the WLG service more. I really hate connecting at AKL due to the mess AKL is. Would do at least one A380 service just to try the A380 if going on SQ was easier.

zkncj · Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:48 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 1):
Just seen on 3 News that NZ is cancelling its Port Villa services due to the condition of the runway. NZ will operate one more service before withdrawing all services.

Video is now up [url] http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/air-nz...hts-2016012219#axzz3xxARyYsl[/url]

Could be an interesting end to the School Holidays? I wonder what NF will do?

777ER · Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:00 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 3):

Pity the video didn't show the quality of the runway but I trust NZ have made the right decision safety wise. Certainly do wonder how NF will handle the situation and how quickly the runway will be repaired

aerorobnz · Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:21 am

):
Quoting 777ER (Reply 4):
Pity the video didn't show the quality of the runway but I trust NZ have made the right decision safety wise. Certainly do wonder how NF will handle the situation and how quickly the runway will be repaired

It is definitely of concern, but I like the fact that NZ have drawn a line in the sand, I know however that Vanuatu still has plenty of rebuilding to do after the quake a few years ago. and I also know that NZ would be first in there again if they did get around to investing in a new runway. Nevertheless it will have a big hit on tourism. NF doesn't have the aircraft to increase capacity. I do also wonder about the codeshare on NF flights.

There are other islands in the pacific that should also take heed as well. Failure to maintain the runway can completely screw an entire economy.

Kiwirob · Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:46 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 2):
A question for WLG-SIN people, would you take the 772 (with better evening departure) for the same price over a better product daily A380 from AKL (with a worse departure time)?

At the same price I'm going A380, it's just a better prooduct to ply on, more space, quieter, a better experience in every way over any 777.

keen2fly · Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:08 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 1):

Wow, a very abrupt move indeed, it must be very bad for this to happen so quickly. I had absolutely no idea it had become that severe in Vanuatu for the runway to deteriorate to such a level. I went to Vanuatu in 2006 on NF, and if I remember correctly the airport was rather good for a small South Pacific country. This will have a huge impact and I expect that some action will need to be taken, perhaps they may look for a loan or some favours from China? As that's what Tonga has done in order to advance some infrastructure and military ties, not to mention the gift of an MA-60 and all the controversy that caused.

Motorhussy · Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:18 am

And Vanuatu is having a general election today so any decision on key infrastructure rebuild is some way off. They have several existing MP's in jail for corruption, the economy's in tatters post the massive cyclone last year, and the previous earthquake. It's likely to take another 2-weeks to sort a new Govt and PM.

On a separate note, that last NZ aviation thread went incredibly fast!!

And re WLG-SIN, I'd fly via CBR rather than AKL.

[Edited 2016-01-22 01:56:46]

mariner · Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:46 am

Qantas has suspended its codeshare with Air Vanuatu over the same runway concerns:

http://www.afr.com/business/tourism/...er-safety-concerns-20160122-gmc5if

"Qantas halts codeshare with Air Vanuatu over runway concerns

Qantas has suspended its codeshare with Air Vanuatu effective immediately over concerns about the conditions of the country's international runway at Port Vila that led Air New Zealand to suspend its services"

mariner

777ER · Fri Jan 22, 2016 9:57 am

Qatar has announced DOH - AKL services Qatar Airways Announces AKL And SCL (by behramjee Jan 22 2016 in Civil Aviation)

[Edited 2016-01-22 01:58:38]

aerorobnz · Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:00 am

So it looks like QR is starting direct DOH after all. (as per other thread.
http://m.arabianbusiness.com/qatar-a...ne-investments-in-2016-619487.html

Interesting. I guess that makes it a 772LR then. Worth booking just to log one.

777ER · Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:05 am

I do remember seeing an ad on stuff.co.nz a few months back from QR wanting New Zealand based crew.

NZ1 · Fri Jan 22, 2016 11:20 am

More construction coming up at Auckland Airport. Nothing about adding extra airbridges though.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/indu...ternational-terminal-redevelopment

NZ1

IndianicWorld · Fri Jan 22, 2016 12:57 pm

Re:QR. yep that was the one

It will be interesting to see whether they can get decent yields on such a long sector but it certainly is a bold move which gives them a competitive advantage against EK at AKL.

NZ107 · Fri Jan 22, 2016 1:28 pm

Quoting IndianicWorld (Reply 14):

I bet it won't be long before EK announces it too. They surely don't want to give all the one-stop traffic to QR. But with 2-3-2 in J and 3-4-3 in Y (assuming QR's 77Ls aren't up for 10-abreast refit as they'd want to keep it light for the range), they'll have to find some other differentiating factor to take some customers.

But wow, quite a surprising route nonetheless. One to get while it's still the "longest flight in the world".

sunrisevalley · Fri Jan 22, 2016 3:08 pm

Quoting NZ107 (Reply 15):
assuming QR's 77Ls aren't up for 10-abreast refit as they'd want to keep it light for the range),

If QR stick with their 33" /18.9" Y seat they will be offering one of the best Y seat configs. in the business.

zkncj · Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:06 pm

Quoting NZ1 (Reply 13):
More construction coming up at Auckland Airport. Nothing about adding extra airbridges though.

In other worlds they are extending the walk to the gate area, via an new expanded shopping mall area? Amusing they building out towards the domestic terminal? last time I was in the new NZ lounge, noticed that they had started some ground work behind the southern check-in area.

In the last 20 years, that Centre part of departures must have had the most make overs in an airports history.

mariner · Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:21 pm

Quoting 777ER (Reply 10):
Qatar has announced DOH - AKL services Qatar Airways Announces AKL And SCL (by behramjee Jan 22 2016 in Civil Aviation)

They haven't actually "announced" it. Or if they have, no newspaper or media source that I have seen is running with it.

In an interview, the Qatar CEO has said they "will add" AKL and SCL, but that's an intention, not a fact.

mariner

Gasman · Fri Jan 22, 2016 6:51 pm

From the previous thread, reply 140:

My money would be on Qatar using a 77L to DOH nonstop.

Score!!! This doesn't happen often to me, so I'm going to bask in it.

Quoting NZ107 (Reply 15):
I bet it won't be long before EK announces it too. They surely don't want to give all the one-stop traffic to QR.

I agree. Travelling to DXB or Europe via Australia on EK isn't great. You leave AKL at the end of your day, have a three hour flight to Australia and then you're departing Australia roughly midnight NZ time. So, it's midnight and around eight hours after you left your home at the end of the day (if you live in Auckland) before you feel like your journey really even starts. I'd take a non-stop option every time even if the hard product wasn't as good.

kiwiandrew · Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:01 pm

Re QR: Mariner is right. One poorly written news story does not constitute an "announcement". If/when I see a press release from the airline itself, with a start date and timetable then I will rein in my scepticism, but until then, this is a single source, vague 'intention', not an announcement.

Gasman · Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:58 pm

Hmmmm. Certainly a decidedly uninspiring J Class product, for ULH.

https://www.airliners.net/photo/Qatar...d=2d0e156d452d4ff7e41e1c40a682532f

sunrisevalley · Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:03 pm

Quoting gasman (Reply 21):
Hmmmm. Certainly a decidedly uninspiring J Class product, for ULH.

I wonder what their catering standard is? Nearer QF or nearer NZ ?

zkncj · Fri Jan 22, 2016 8:58 pm

Quoting gasman (Reply 19):
I agree. Travelling to DXB or Europe via Australia on EK isn't great. You leave AKL at the end of your day, have a three hour flight to Australia and then you're departing Australia roughly midnight NZ time. So, it's midnight and around eight hours after you left your home at the end of the day (if you live in Auckland) before you feel like your journey really even starts. I'd take a non-stop option every time even if the hard product wasn't as good.

Aren't you better off to fly to Europe via Asia, rather than DXB?

ex AKL you can get to most major european cities one stop via Aisa, wouldn't two 12hour flight be better

77west · Fri Jan 22, 2016 10:58 pm

I certainly would prefer 2 shorter flights vs a 17hr behemoth.

On another note, I wonder if all this increase in flights may prompt AIAL to accelerate the new gates?

zkncj · Sat Jan 23, 2016 3:52 am

Quoting 77west (Reply 24):
On another note, I wonder if all this increase in flights may prompt AIAL to accelerate the new gates?

Or maybe take an trip to Japan to buy some second hand buses? Seems to be that AIAL will book airlines in, but wont spend an dollar makeing the needed capacity.

IndianicWorld · Sat Jan 23, 2016 4:41 am

Quoting mariner (Reply 18):
They haven't actually "announced" it. Or if they have, no newspaper or media source that I have seen is running with it.

In an interview, the Qatar CEO has said they "will add" AKL and SCL, but that's an intention, not a fact.

That is true.. but in this case it is certainly a very strong intention

mariner · Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:17 am

Quoting IndianicWorld (Reply 26):
That is true.. but in this case it is certainly a very strong intention

Or a dream.

CEO al-Baker of Qatar Airways has been known to dream out loud, to puff his chest. In any event, Qatar did not, as the original thread title said, "announce" the route.

I cannot imagine that a non-stop AKL-DOH could fill the aircraft more than a couple of times a week - if that - absent the additional traffic from Australia that Emirates enjoys. That's assuming Qatar can make a dent in the competition, but it would need to be a pretty big dent. The only plus to it is that it may slightly shorten the journey for NZ connecting pax at DOH. But that's already possible for Kiwis who connect on through SIN.

Now, he's certainly rich enough. or has enough capital, to eventually announce it as a vanity route which is a whole other ball game.

I just think it's weird for such a small population as NZ - or it's some obscure way to try and kick Emirates in the nuts, with a small blow at Etihad on the side, or - t's vanity. If it ever happens.

mariner

[Edited 2016-01-22 21:19:42]

IndianicWorld · Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:33 am

^^ But who would have thought they would have gone daily on ADL-DOH from day 1. Since when does common sense come into anything.

Lets just say, this route is strongly on their agenda and leave it at that

Gasman · Sat Jan 23, 2016 9:56 am

Quoting zkncj (Reply 23):
Aren't you better off to fly to Europe via Asia, rather than DXB?

Yes. But plenty of people do travel via DXB - for reasons of price, loyalty, product, and let's not forget - EK hype. And a non stop to DOH would certainly change the equation. I'd actually prefer it to travelling via Asia; in that it gets the "long" flight out of the way first, which I prefer to do because it's usually the leg in which I'm likely to sleep.

But (acknowledging the fact that this hasn't been announced yet) I think this route will need something else if it is to be viable. QR is relatively unknown in New Zealand. EK has quite a brand loyalty. If QR want to attract a following, they're going to need something special - like offering a luxury ULH experience, for example. But I don't see any evidence of this in their current 77L fleet.

777ER · Sat Jan 23, 2016 10:12 am

Quoting NZ1 (Reply 13):

Oh yay more construction that does nothing to assist with the real problems of gate space!

Good to see the work for connecting the two terminals is finally getting started but I thought a new domestic terminal was the plan?

ZaphodHarkonnen · Sat Jan 23, 2016 10:30 am

Quoting 777ER (Reply 2):
A question for WLG-SIN people, would you take the 772 (with better evening departure) for the same price over a better product daily A380 from AKL (with a worse departure time)?

I'd rather go for the nicer time and go via CBR. It allows for a full day of work, then a relaxing dinner before heading to the airport to clear customs and get on the plane.

mariner · Sat Jan 23, 2016 11:24 am

Quoting IndianicWorld (Reply 28):
^^ But who would have thought they would have gone daily on ADL-DOH from day 1. Since when does common sense come into anything.

Eventually, common sense usually wins out, but not always, especially where vanity is concerned.

Maybe they'll start AKL as a one-stop - thru' ADL. The article doesn't specify non-stops, only long haul, and Qatar has unlimited rights into ADL, DRW and PER.

Who knows? If it happens, it happens. It isn't a route I have any interest in, except as a bemused observer.

mariner

Motorhussy · Sat Jan 23, 2016 11:40 am

If EK were to start a new route to New Zealand, I think they'd be better off using a 77 L on DXB-GRU-AKL, timed to meet with the A380's to/from BNE, SYD and MEL.

Forget trying a direct DXB-AKL, there just is t the traffic, and they'd have a better show than QR on DOH-AKL.

zkncj · Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:44 pm

Quoting gasman (Reply 29):
Yes. But plenty of people do travel via DXB - for reasons of price, loyalty, product, and let's not forget - EK hype.

Yes the EK hype is an inserting one, there not as great as they look and its funny to see how many people findout the hard way. Even with pricing they aren't the cheapest to Europe outside of them having an decent sale.

mariner · Sat Jan 23, 2016 5:52 pm

Quoting zkncj (Reply 34):
Yes the EK hype is an inserting one, there not as great as they look and its funny to see how many people findout the hard way. Even with pricing they aren't the cheapest to Europe outside of them having an decent sale.

Each to their own.

Depending on price, Emirates is my airline of first choice across the Tasman, in part because of the A380.

mariner

SelandiaBaru · Sat Jan 23, 2016 6:29 pm

Quoting zkncj (Reply 34):
Yes the EK hype is an inserting one, there not as great as they look and its funny to see how many people findout the hard way. Even with pricing they aren't the cheapest to Europe outside of them having an decent sale.

Agreed, I have only ever done a one-way trans-tasman hop with them and found them ok but certainly nothing impressive, one thing I did notice and friends who fly with them regularly have also noted the service is very up and down.

Now that I'm living in Europe I have noticed that they are not sharp on price at all. Price isn't my determining factor (probably should be though), but it really surprised me. Last time I went to New Zealand I flew TG as they were offering the best combination of price and timing. This next time I'm back to my old favourite, SQ. Partly to try out PE but also it was the hands down best option for me, Emirates is inconvenient and the price was higher.

Gasman · Sat Jan 23, 2016 7:35 pm

Quoting SelandiaBaru (Reply 36):
Agreed, I have only ever done a one-way trans-tasman hop with them and found them ok but certainly nothing impressive, one thing I did notice and friends who fly with them regularly have also noted the service is very up and down.

I wouldn't disagree (although I wouldn't necessarily judge them on their TT product; Australia-DXB tends to be a higher level altogether). But their pricing is usually fairly competitive and their hard product is almost second to none as is their IFE. They're the things that travelers remember, not jokesy safety videos and announcements about bogus Skytrax awards.

787 gone tech in SIN. Anyone know any details??

mariner · Sat Jan 23, 2016 8:13 pm

Quoting gasman (Reply 37):
I wouldn't disagree (although I wouldn't necessarily judge them on their TT product; Australia-DXB tends to be a higher level altogether)

I've flown Emirates both TT and long haul and I haven't noticed any appreciable difference in the level of service. I always seem to cop a friendly Emirates f/a with some personality (or an interesting background) and I prefer that to, say, the bland Singapore Girl - which I find very mildly offensive.

In that sense, I prefer the more egalitarian Qantas, although, as in most cases, it depends on the particular cabin crew. I've encountered the occasional senior Qantas f/a who thinks she's a cut about any of the passengers - LOL.

I haven't flown Etihad and if folk tell me it's "better" I won't argue - but it is hard to think how. Then again, I'm an independent traveller and as long as I get perceived value for money, mostly I just want to be left alone.

mariner

afterburner33 · Sat Jan 23, 2016 8:19 pm

It seems that individual experiences vary quite a bit with EK.

I went home last year from the UK and was lucky enough to get tickets on EK via a sale which meant they were nearly £1k cheaper than the next cheapest option. As for the actual flights, I was quite impressed - I was travelling with twin toddlers, and the staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful for us. They even took the few times when the kids escaped their seats and ran down the aisles (and my apologies!) in their stride. The entire return journey was on A380s and they were fantastic - roomy and quiet, much more so than any 777 I've been on. And the complimentary pushchairs at Dubai made the stopover so much easier for sleep deprived parents.

It was my first experience with Emirates, and I would definitely use them again. The 14 hours from DXB to SYD were tough with the kids, but overall it was great.

Gasman · Sat Jan 23, 2016 8:44 pm

Quoting mariner (Reply 38):
I prefer that to, say, the bland Singapore Girl - which I find very mildly offensive.

I find the act of negatively stereotyping more than very mildly offensive. My many experiences with SQ crew in all classes have been without exception, positive. I've yet to encounter the personality-free robotic style of interaction that SQ is criticised for.

Quoting mariner (Reply 38):
I've flown Emirates both TT and long haul and I haven't noticed any appreciable difference in the level of service.

The difference definitely exists (not necessarily inappropriately so) in the premium classes.

Quoting afterburner33 (Reply 39):
It seems that individual experiences vary quite a bit with EK

As really, they will on any carrier. Perhaps where EK "suffers" more that most is in the huge cultural melting pot that makes up a typical EK crew ("there are 19 different languages spoken on this flight" for example). This can make communication and teamwork difficult, predisposes to cliques forming and also means the inflight product lacks a consistent brand.

mariner · Sat Jan 23, 2016 9:16 pm

Quoting gasman (Reply 40):
My many experiences with SQ crew in all classes have been without exception, positive. I've yet to encounter the personality-free robotic style of interaction that SQ is criticised for.

I;ve never been able to achieve any levels of "chat" with any of the Singapore f/a's in the way that I have with some of the Emirates f/a's.

I accept that it may be a finely tuned gaydar - LOL - but we all work with what we've got.

Quoting gasman (Reply 40):
The difference definitely exists (not necessarily inappropriately so) in the premium classes.

I was talking about the premium classes.

mariner

[Edited 2016-01-23 13:20:20]

zkeoj · Sat Jan 23, 2016 10:03 pm

Hi Guys

can anybody help me with the rego of this aircraft?

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001165668.html

It was in ZQN on Friday and Saturday, but I only could take that bad quality pic through a dirty aircraft window. It does start with N37 and maybe N377, but I can't figure it out, even if I enlarge it. I searched quite extensively on various websites, but can't find this one....

Any help would be great - thanks heaps
micha

[Edited 2016-01-23 14:32:48]

NZ107 · Sat Jan 23, 2016 10:21 pm

Quoting zkeoj (Reply 42):

N37TY

http://mrcaviation.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/in-regions-updated.html

zkeoj · Sat Jan 23, 2016 10:24 pm

Thanks heaps. Nick! I even looked at MRC's blog, but overlooked the remark there (probably because it mentioned CHC, hehe).

Cheers
micha

[Edited 2016-01-23 14:31:02]

SelandiaBaru · Sun Jan 24, 2016 9:50 am

Quoting mariner (Reply 38):
I've flown Emirates both TT and long haul and I haven't noticed any appreciable difference in the level of service. I always seem to cop a friendly Emirates f/a with some personality (or an interesting background) and I prefer that to, say, the bland Singapore Girl - which I find very mildly offensive.

Quoting gasman (Reply 40):
I find the act of negatively stereotyping more than very mildly offensive. My many experiences with SQ crew in all classes have been without exception, positive. I've yet to encounter the personality-free robotic style of interaction that SQ is criticised for.

I've had friends who have worked for Emirates and have friends that are now Singapore Girls. Those at SQ could certainly not be accused as being bland, they've got great personalities. In both Business and Economy on many, many sectors I can only recall one occasion where I encountered a FA on SQ who was rude, not robotic, but rude. The rest of the time I've found all the Singapore FAs, men included, to have good senses of humour and be highly professional.

On another note with SIN-CBR-WLG flight, especially if it goes to an A350 I may actually tolerate an additional stop if it means avoiding AKL. While I still think a runway extension is a little unrealistic, this flight seems like inspired thinking and I hope it works out.

mariner · Sun Jan 24, 2016 10:14 am

Quoting SelandiaBaru (Reply 45):
I've had friends who have worked for Emirates and have friends that are now Singapore Girls. Those at SQ could certainly not be accused as being bland, they've got great personalities. In both Business and Economy on many, many sectors

Each to their own, always, and each to their own experiences. I don't expect anyone else to have the same experiences I do.

One of my best flights, in terms of service, was on the old East German airline, Interflug, whose f/a's, I had heard, were efficient but very cold and unfriendly. They weren't like that for me, they were cheerful and jolly.

Quoting SelandiaBaru (Reply 45):
While I still think a runway extension is a little unrealistic, this flight seems like inspired thinking and I hope it works out.

mariner

[Edited 2016-01-24 02:15:40]

ZaphodHarkonnen · Sun Jan 24, 2016 11:01 am

I think a large problem with classifying airlines by their cabin crew is that the beliefs are made up entirely of anecdotes. For every bad someone has a great and for every good someone has a terrible. So you've got to be careful about stereotyping. And you will always remember the bad more often than you remember the good.

That being said you can see the cultures the crew come from shine through. US crews are going to often be very different to Australasian crews for example. Of course a good crew lead and company leadership makes the biggest difference.

Quoting SelandiaBaru (Reply 45):
On another note with SIN-CBR-WLG flight, especially if it goes to an A350 I may actually tolerate an additional stop if it means avoiding AKL. While I still think a runway extension is a little unrealistic, this flight seems like inspired thinking and I hope it works out.

The avgeek part of me doesn't care how realistic it is. I want that damn extension. :p

I think a large amount of it now hinges on the experience SQ has. If they find they're selling out the WLG-CBR leg reasonably often then Wellington Airport might be able to get them to sign an agreement that they would at least trial a WLG-SIN non stop. Basically that's what I'm holding my breath for.

aerorobnz · Sun Jan 24, 2016 11:11 am

Quoting mariner (Reply 46):
One of my best flights, in terms of service, was on the old East German airline

Point well made. Likewise for me, Air Zimbabwe and Peruvian Airlines were some of the best shorthaul flights I have had, and KLM and Aerolineas Argentinas on longhaul, but I have equally had abysmal flights on AR and average too, and I could say that equally about any airline I have had more than 5 sectors on - I have had a bunch of bland uninspired flights on SQ and EK, A good flight or two on both EK and SQ, a number of disorganised flights on EK. All airlines struggle with consistency from one flight to the next.. Reputations mean nothing in the airline industry except when it comes to safety.

So many things can affect perception, such as
- Was the flight ontime or did you spend your time inflight worried about your onward connection?
- Were you well rested or did you rush to the gate in a blind panic?
- Were you hungry when you boarded or well fed and well hydrated?
- Did you get the type of seat/meal option you wanted?
- Were the cabin crew visible and obvious throughout the flight?
- Was there an empty seat or was there a fatty or screaming infant next to you?

Guaranteed, if you have the good scenarios listed your flight will be perceived more positively, conversely if you had all the bad scenarios it can be the perfect storm and be exceedingly unpleasant and no skytrax or airlinerating grade is going to count for anything.

Gasman · Sun Jan 24, 2016 7:55 pm

Quoting ZaphodHarkonnen (Reply 47):
The avgeek part of me doesn't care how realistic it is. I want that damn extension. :p

Quoting ZaphodHarkonnen (Reply 47):
If they find they're selling out the WLG-CBR leg reasonably often then Wellington Airport might be able to get them to sign an agreement that they would at least trial a WLG-SIN non stop. Basically that's what I'm holding my breath for.

I think for the moment, the route needs to be as is. Each destination (WLG/CBR/SIN) offsets the risk associated with a direct service between any pair yet still manages to provide added convenience over the existing situation to the travelling passenger. I still shake my head at the brilliance of this; in some ways it's so obvious yet I wouldn't have come up with it if I'd stared at a globe for a week.

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 48):
a number of disorganised flights on EK

This seems to be a bit of theme with EK. The most haphazard experience I've ever had on any flight in terms of service was in F on EK. I remember being offered and declining the same thing three times by three different crew (Arabic, UK, Fillipino) but the gin & tonic I actually had asked for never arrived.

Quoting ZaphodHarkonnen (Reply 47):
Of course a good crew lead and company leadership makes the biggest difference.

You have to have some sympathy for the crew leads on an EK A380. With crew from all those different cultures, trying to achieve a slick, choreographed inflight service product must be harder than herding cats.

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