Hi everyone, this is my first post on this forum. I hope I am posting in the right place. I have a couple of questions that I hope someone can help with.

1) I am flying business class with Emirates from Birmingham-Dubai-Perth in November for a holiday. It was suggested that I join Skywards for the miles. It was also suggested by someone else that it might be more beneficial to join someone else's frequent flyer scheme, e.g. Lufthansa - how would that work if I am flying with Emirates? Is it best to join Skywards?

2) Also, I have checked which planes are being used on the Emirates site and all planes are to be 777-300ER. We have been assigned seats 3A&B Bham-Dubai EK040 and seats 4A&B on the return journey EK039 - obviously a 2 class configuration. On the Dubai-Perth leg we have seats 10A&B both ways EK420 & EK421 - these planes having a 3 class configuration. It is the Dubai-Perth leg (both ways) when it will be night time and I am wondering if anyone knows if we are lucky enough to be getting lie flat seats on those planes?

One last question please

3) I know there is business class check-in and lounges but as a first timer I wondered if you have priority when you go to show your boarding pass, is there a separate queue for business class passengers or do you just join the same queue as everyone else. I don't want to queue jump if it's going to annoy other passengers but I also don't want to have to queue if we have the privilege of a speedy passage. Do you go straight on to the plane or is there one of those holding areas once through the desk where you show your boarding pass?

Sorry for all the questions, I want to get it right without looking as though I don't know what I'm doing