Disappointed Passenger Review: Emirates Airline

As a traveler, I had high expectations flying with Emirates, given their reputation for service excellence. Unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired, spanning all legs of my journey from South Africa to Dubai, then Bali, and back home.

Leg 1: Cape Town to Dubai (EK773) This was the highlight of the trip. The flight attendants were friendly and accommodating, making the long 9-hour journey more bearable. I appreciated being allowed to access snacks at the back of the plane. However, the meals were underwhelming and could use improvement. The onboard WhatsApp service worked fine on this flight, but that was the only consistent positive throughout the journey.

Leg 2: Dubai to Bali (EK368) The stark drop in service was immediately noticeable. The flight attendants were unfriendly, unapproachable, and lacked any semblance of warmth. No smiles, no welcoming demeanor—just a cold and dismissive attitude. Adding to the frustration, the complimentary WhatsApp service I was entitled to as a Blue Skywards member didn’t work at all. It felt like the standards Emirates is known for were non-existent on this flight.

Leg 3: Bali to Dubai (EK369) This was the worst part of the journey. The flight attendants were outright rude, lacking professionalism or basic courtesy. One attendant nudged me to hand over the menu, saying nothing and not even attempting a smile. The Wi-Fi was non-functional, leaving me without the promised connectivity for the entire 9-hour flight. The food was dismal, a continuation of the poor culinary experience from earlier flights.

Leg 4: Dubai to Cape Town (EK772) The final leg was another disappointing experience. Again, the Wi-Fi didn’t work, and flight attendants displayed a poor attitude. Asking for a snack felt like an imposition, with staff visibly annoyed by the request. The meals were beyond average, lacking in quality or taste. I even mentioned to one attendant how unfriendly they seemed, but this was met with indifference.

Overall Impressions Emirates failed to deliver on its promise of a premium experience. The service was inconsistent, with a noticeable decline in professionalism and hospitality across the flights. Food quality was poor throughout, and the lack of functioning Wi-Fi, despite being advertised and included in my Skywards benefits, was a major letdown. The flight attendants’ dismissive behavior and lack of basic courtesy were shocking for an airline of this caliber.

I expected better from Emirates and am deeply disappointed by the experience. This journey has made me rethink my loyalty to the airline, as the service provided did not justify the reputation or the cost.