He Said, She Said

For Kevin and Rachel, both veterans of the ad game, traveling is a regular part of their job. In a year, he takes about a dozen work trips, and she flies maybe 18 times or so. But for all the time that they are away from home, the one saving grace is: miles! See, when they are off the clock and want to go on vacation, they never have to pay for their own flights. Even upgrades or perks, like access to executive lounges, are comped via the points/miles they’ve accumulated from their business travels. “I don’t remember the last time I paid for a flight. One of the benefits of all the travel I do for work is that it takes care of my personal trips.”

Even free trips come with certain problems though — the same ones we all face when flying. “Its so frustrating. There’s are the lines, the security. The worst part is that you know exactly what it’s going to be like and you have to deal with it.” And that’s before they even get on the plane. “It seems like the seats have gotten smaller, they’re definitely less comfortable. And even if you manage to get an exit row, they’re cold! And they don’t give you blankets anymore. Just like food, you have to pay now.”

What Kevin and Rachel happen to share next is particularly insightful. “There’s so much stress at the airport -- and the plane is just uncomfortable. My vacation actually starts the moment I’m off of [the plane].” If someone could deal with all of that, I’d already be on vacation.”

Help their vacations start the minute they hand over the boarding ticket.

Despite all the problems they have with flying, their wanderlust for travel hasn’t stopped. “We still enjoy it, but things have just gotten in the way. Of course there’s timing and then the economy. It’s not even that we don’t have the money; it’s just that with the exchange rate, it feels like we’re getting ripped off when we travel. And no one likes that. But we want to go. It’s what we’ll do when we retire.”

So there’s still hope for the flight industry in their eyes. Maybe this is a chance for Emirates to step in. And even though neither one of them has flown with Emirates before, they do have some thoughts about it.

For starters, they believe the service to be incredible. “It’s a truly luxurious experience and there’s such a dedication to service.” Every detail is accounted for. Even the flight attendants are, shall we say, “more exotic. They’re attractive, gracious and elegant.”

Kevin likened Emirates to a boutique hotel—where all the little things are considered. Rachel agreed, even saying that smaller airlines, “have a legacy of service. There’s a better overall experience.” Also, this interesting tidbit: “There’s some mystery to the airline. It’s silly, but there’s that whole notion of Arabian Nights and the tradition of their culture.”

Bring the romance of the exotic on board.

Perhaps it’s a way for Emirates to further distinguish themselves from other carriers. Perhaps it’s a way to attract more customers. Or maybe it’s a way to get Kevin and Rachel to try visiting the Middle East on their next vacation.