Emirates Expensive and Not Worth the Money

The first part of the flight was not enjoyable as I could not eat anything when I asked for bread, they gave me 5 crackers and I had hot water with fresh mint cut into it. The entertainment was at a distance which was not easy for me to see, and they had no instructions about the gadgets surrounding you. I found out where the light for me to be able to read was switched on not long before we landed. So, no sleep, really annoyed I said to a couple of the stewards that for my first long flight in 30 years, this was a hell of a lot of money to pay for a few crackers! Luckily at Emirates lounge, before I left, I had had some food, which was good but a bit cold to tie me over.

The 50 minutes transfer time was not enough as I had problems with my legs, and finally, they got me a wheelchair. The young lass at the baggage checks even though I was in a wheelchair and battling was on a mission to find something that she could confiscate. She showed me an x-ray which was not of. Firstly, she removed my nail clipper set in which there is a nail file and a small knife. I told her she was not going to take that as it was older than her. She then found my watchmaker’s small *****driver set and her face lit up. She took both to her supervisor and I was given my nail clipper setback and she kept the R19.99 *****driver set.

We then tried to close the bag she had rifled as I was running out of time to get to the plane two other people helped me to close it (only later to find the zip had broken (new suitcases, one of the others was dented in transit).

We rushed to get to the plane I tripped the first rickshaw driver R100, and he handed me over to the second to get me to the plane. This guy really tried to make it as comfortable and as quick as possible and got me there in one piece, he dropped me off at the entrance to the plane I tipped him R200 (what was I going to do with the money in the UK). Luckily, I had bought my wife’s birthday present at the Cape Town duty-free as I did not get a chance to see the shops in Dubai or Dubai airport except for landing and taking off.

The second part of the flight was SO MUCH better when I boarded, they brought me some yoghurt and showed me where the nuts and M&Ms were in the bar. Plus, I was able to have a reasonable breakfast.

I have already mentioned the diversion to London. I was given a wheelchair when I arrived in Manchester, but the pushing disappeared and left me stranded in the corridor. After watching all the people go past and knowing about the strike, I decided to use it as a walker. I joined the other people in wheelchairs as we were shown through a quick area. I asked a Manchester employee at the airport if my passport was an e-passport so I could get through any quicker, he got aggro, and I finally decided to just ignore him which made him I think even angrier.

Finally got to the passport control, and the guy (a trainee) asked me where my biometric passport was, as he could not find it in the passport, I showed him it was right in the front as he was saying I did not have the right clearance. His supervisor then took the passport and asked me about my wife’s name and how many years we had been married. They then asked for a thumbprint, which did not come out, so they sprayed my thumb and got a partial and were satisfied. I was through!

The final hurdle getting my luggage. I realised there was no way to load it onto the wheelchair and I still did not have a pound for the trolley. Some little old Indian or Pakistani lady took pity on me and gave me a pound, she would not accept anything in return. Finally got my luggage after missing it the first time it went around. Damaged luggage and I finally got to the chauffeur area and there was Nigel. The rest was history as they would say.

The only reason I gave them 2 stars is because their staff are well trained, but they can only work with what they have.

The website is not user friendly, and I had to go through my Travel Agent to get some information inserted.