Can’t comment on the showers at Dubai, haven’t had the courage to use them given some of the comments which I have read and have always had overnight accommodation provided by EK on my outward flight from Scotland and so was able to shower in the hotel. Toilets have varied from sparkling to disgusting. At the times I have been passing through the airport queues seem to be the norm. Others with more experience of DXB may be able to comment on whether that varies significantly with the time of day.

Are you sure about the 3 hour layover in Sydney? If you are on the 412 it is normally scheduled to land in Sydney at 07:05 and leave for Auckland at 08:50.

The lounge at Sydney is very nice with facilities which should please anyone wishing to be a clean smelling bunny although with the use of the A380 I believe the lounge may now be quite busy. When transiting through Sydney or Melbourne to Auckland no announcement was ever made on board the aircraft regarding access to the EK lounge however I have used the lounge on each occasion and it appeared that pax names were on the receptionists lists as I was “ticked off” and warmly welcomed. Unless there has been a major change recently Sydney has a single lounge for all premium passengers.