Emirates has a number of fifth freedom routes around the world, such as Milan to New Yorkand Athens to Newark.
Continue reading: Emirates Cancels Bangkok To Sydney Fifth Freedom Route
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
EK now created a mini-hub in GIG with 5fth freedom regional routes GIG-EZE and GIG-SCL.
Been on this flight, but on the continuation BKK to DXB. Felt rather terrible as a first class experience as all the good stuff was already done on the SYD to BKK leg. I couldn't have dinner (just the breakfast before landing) and service was almost nonexistent due to the nightly departure. The only good thing was the shower.
The next time I flew out of Bangkok with Emirates I made sure it wasn't on EK419. I really won't miss this flight.
@Lucky -- I'm confused. You seem to be almost downplaying the Christchurch angle in this: "Emirates is canceling the Dubai to Bangkok to Sydney service (EK418/419) as of June 1, 2019." Shouldn't that read "...Dubai to Bangkok to Sydney to Christchurch..."? I've flown into Christchurch on this route and I'm pretty sure Mainlanders (as people from the South Island of New Zealand are known) will be sad to see this option go.
@ Malc - Lucky didn't write this article ; )
No changes to EK412/413, which is the SYD-CHC fifth freedom route.
SYD-CHC survives to live another day (to my surprise). Long live the trans-Tasman F option!
Aren't they supposed to be doing works on runways at Dubai later this year? Could be temporary reduction because of this!
Oh NO! There goes my opportunity to trial Emirates 1st class and that infamous shower. I knew we should have cashed in our points for 1st Class in 2018, instead, we opted for Business. Here are my thoughts on the experience: https://www.2paxfly.com/2018/09/05/emirates-a380-business-class-sydney-to-bangkok/
World Airline News just posted Emirates cutting schedules due to runway works at Dubai during April and May
@Aniljak, yes there are runway works with some route cutbacks, but this is unrelated. BKK-SYD has got the permanent chop.
EK fifth-freedoms involving Australia are down to:
SIN-BNE
SIN-MEL
SYD-CHC
@James -- Sorry! I should have known cos you write so many of the posts that affect me.
Thanks for that. I couldn't quite understand from the article if the ChCh leg was cancelled or not. Kiwis will be relieved.
Have done the SYD/BKK flights on Emirates 4 times on points through Qantas and found the flights on the A380 in business to be fantastic with limo service at both ends and the bar on the A380. The Sydney to Bangkok flights on Emirates was a great way to leave Australia on a FF redemption ticket as it is so hard to get a seat on a Qantas plane with plenty of award space from Bangkok to Dubai and onto Europe. Much harder to get an award seat on the non-stop SYD/DXB flights.
Years ago, rather than fly non stop SYD-MEL, I flew EK/SYD-AKL-MEL economy. Bought the paper tkt at the EK New York city office. Upon landing at AKL, my flight made the 5th EK aircraft on the ground. Upon leaving the EK/SYD-AKL aircraft, and even though I had the EK/AKL-MEL boarding pass, I couldn't transit to my connection. The authorities were so confused, they made me leave security/customs, pay a departure tax! and check in (again) for AKL-MEL. When on board, even though in an economy seat, I was treated royally... champagne and a First Class amenity kit. Weeks later, got a call... the AKL gate agent forgot to collect tkt/boarding pass and asked me to mail it to CHC so they could close out the flight properly. Fifth freedom flights! I'd do it again.
I regularly fly between Sydney and Bangkok business class and usually booked via Qantas flying out of Sydney on QF23 and back on the Emirates code share. Loved the Emirates A380 Business Class and was surprised to hear they reverted to 777’s earlier this year. I’ve never flown on this route when the flights went pretty full so I am very surprised to hear Emirates is abandoning the route. Obviously current Thai International and Qantas scheduling will be short of capacity, but I do hear that an un named airline is looking at taking up the route?
If not the two remaining operators will have open slather to charge higher fares which is not acceptable!
I just don’t understand Emirates thinking in dropping this service with its extension to NZ. The Emirates Business Lounge in Bangkok was always full of Aussies and Kiwis, along with the odd Arab, heading back home!