Took the opportunity to fly EK from Amsterdam to Dubai on the A380 service, Check in was swift and very little queues in the business class line. At present time Emirates don't have there own lounge at Amsterdam, the check in agent offered me two options :- access to a 3rd party lounge or a €35 voucher to use in the airport ...... she was quite persuasive on informing me the lounge had no hot food and was at least a 20 minute walk from the EK gate. I therefore took the food voucher, the only downside it all has to be used at once so it was a case of finding a venue that I wouldn't mind spending a couple of hours at.

The gate today was G9 and on arriving at the gate it was obvious the flight was going to be full, EK had reserved an area for business and first passengers in the gate area. On boarding a separate tunnel up to the upper deck was available.

I was seated in 23A which is the first seat in the second business class cabin, my jacket was taken and the stewardess came and introduced herself. Pre departure drinks were offered, the menu for the flight was already at the seat.

Departed on time, first service was drinks followed by a substantial lunch, I choose smoked duck for started, chicken with mushroom risotto and finished by the cheese board, the food w2as restaurant standard and very tasty.

The ICE system worked fine for the whole flight, a couple of hours before landing Ice Cream was handed out which was very refreshing.

Arrived about 15 minutes early but then taxied to a remote stand for about 30 minuts, this followed by a 15 minute coach ride to the terminal, Fast Track passes were given on board but it was still close to 120 minutes from landing before the luggage appeared.

I headed over to the chauffer drive desk and was very efficiently placed in a cool Volvo estate heading to Abu Dhabi.

Overall an excellent flight with the exception of the arrival at a remote stand and delay in the luggage arriving