This trip wasn't even three weeks ago, it seems a lot longer ago though bearing in mind the current situation.

I took the EK68 STN-DXB on 13 March, and the EK67 DXB-STN on 15 March, both in F, just before weirdness hit a new level. This was part of a back to back itinerary to HKG, with 3.5 hours in HKG.

o Stansted transfer from Canary Wharf was exactly 1 hour at Friday evening rush hour. I'd estimate you'd be lucky to do it in 1.5 hours to Heathrow at that time.
o Finding the STN check in zone (the 500+ desks) wasn't immediately obvious, but it's at the far right of departures as you enter the building from kerbside drop off.
o The STN check in agent's supervisor thought I was being flippant when I said the purpose of my visit was "dinner" during enhanced checks.
o Fastrack security was quick, but it's just a way of getting you to the front of the security line, it merges into the front of a shared security scanner.
o Escape lounge is quite meh, I had a diet coke and left. There's an area at the end which I was escorted to after lining up for a couple of minutes. Not worth coming early for.
o The lounge is downstairs, and while there is a lift, it's small and slow, so stairs may be a better bet.
o There are no washrooms (let alone shower facilities) in the Escape lounge, or even on the same level (except for a disabled one). The closest facilities stank like a third world inner city car park stairwell, it was pretty disgusting.
o Instead of the lounge, I sat at the counter at Not Always Caviar and indulged in caviar. Disappointed there was no vodka, it's just not the same, quite an omission if you sell caviar. Staff were pleasant, but they just seemed permanently confused.
o Picked up a chicken nuggets takeaway from Burger King for on board snack enhancement.
o Boarding was announced, irritatingly about twenty five minutes before there was any intention of boarding anyone.
o Gate was gate 1, which had plenty of nearby seating, which was just as well because they announced boarding so early.
o Priority boarding seemed to work, or at least somehow I managed to be first to board.
o Door 2L boarding.

o On board, in 1A, the first thing I realised was that the carpet in the cabins is nice and deep.
o Then there's the realisation that these minicabins are BIG, and the pictures and videos I've seen don't really portray that aspect.
o The on board service is the same as any other F flight far as I could tell.
o Additional seat-side snacks were welcome, caramel popcorn for example!
o As usual the drinks stored at the seats aren't refrigerated.
o Binoculars had bits falling off or missing - this is just a gimmick IMHO. They're quite useless in the middle seats.
o I didn't even realise there was another passenger in the F cabin in 2K until we deplaned, that was quite impressive!
o I was the only pax in F on the return.
o They made up the bed in 1E for me on the way out, I stayed in 1A on the return.
o I found you could hear galley FM in 1E, which interrupted my sleep, even with Bose in ear noise cancellers, so I don't recommend it. I'd imagine 1K to have similar issues.
o On the return, I slept in 1A and sleep wasn't interrupted.
o The gadgetry for me was just excessive, too much going on, I doubt I even touched the surface.
o I couldn't work out how to play movies on the tablet, maybe you can't.
o The wireless remote in the seat arm rest didn't seem to work consistently.
o The crew intercom works, as long as you have your headphones on and plugged in!!!
o There doesn't appear to be aisle ceiling cameras on row 1, only row 2: I assume this is primarily for crew to monitor pax during takeoff and landing, they can already see pax in row 1.
o Middle row seats larger than window seats, and 2A/2K larger than 1A/1K, but not by much. The ceiling in 1E/2F is also higher than the window seats.
o I found the seat in 1E in bed mode uncomfortable around the hip area as if there was a small hump, even when made up by the crew, perhaps I hadn't found the right buttons to adjust properly.
o The 1A seat I slept in was very comfortable.
o There is nothing at the sides in bed mode, so I found my various limbs would fall off the sides as I drifted off. For comfort, I'm afraid I prefer the "old" style suite seats for sleeping!
o The small control panel at the side in sleep mode is very useful.
o The service hatch is useful... when your door jams shut as I found out.
o It is possible for crew to see inside through small holes in the service hatch, so behave yourselves.
o The large slide out tables I encountered were a bit wonky, probably needs a bit more industrial design effort.
o Unlike any other suites, I would consider getting changed in these floor-to-ceiling cabins, and the crew positively encouraged it, although I used the bathroom on both occasions.
o The amount of storage space within the cabin itself is unsurpassed, with a rollaboard space to the front and hangers to your side, where you can also place bags.
o Take care on rollaboard width, if you have an expandable rollaboard that is very unlikely to fit.
o There is no overhead baggage storage.
o I met my fellow pax on the outbound in the throne bus at DXB, a student whose parents had told him to get home ASAP to the UAE, we had a good chat. I wish I got the chance to travel F when I was a student, I could barely afford the bus!

o On arrival back at STN, the door was 2L and the crew were insistent that they escort me to the door ASAP, which is kind but I don't like being rushed because I tend to forget things, like passports, wallets, glasses etc. Thankfully I didn't, and I got off first.
o Not being familiar with STN, of course you might get off first, but you still have to wait for the monorail to the main terminal.
o Again, being unfamiliar, and even with a diagramatic representation of where to go on the fastrack arrival voucher you're given on board, by the time you've oriented yourself, a dozen plus regulars have already made it to the line ahead of you.
o Tying up with the driver was very easy, and it was a short walk to his car.
o The journey back to home (Chelsea) was about an hour and a half on a Sunday night, so without doubt I'd have been better off coming into Heathrow.

In conclusion, this was quite the experience. Would I do it again? Yes, if travelling to/from Canary Wharf, no if travelling to/from Central London. Stansted is such a disappointment compared to Heathrow, or even Gatwick. The new cabin itself wouldn't be enough of a pull on its own (well, especially now that I've done it) to make me want to make a special journey compared to the other EK F cabins. The middle cabins with their TV screen "windows" seem to be a bit of a gimmick, I am not sure I would pick them. Comparing them directly with the older 777 Suite F, I marginally preferred the older suite because your limbs have better support in bed mode, i.e., they don't fall out. If you're travelling individually this seat makes more sense than if travelling as a couple or group.

I've been travelling EK in F since about 2004, this is the fourth longhaul Emirates F seat I've experienced. For me, on balance, I found this latest iteration all just a little bit unnecessary.


Burger King chicken nuggets - as good as Maccy D's?


Hat Trick ++


The view through the service hatch... so behave yourselves!


The view in 1A


The view in 2A


The view in 1E


Cheers! (This face mask drew smiles from the crew when I wore it using the video intercom).