Welcome to FT!
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?
Lufthansa is not a partner, but you can credit miles to Continental Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Airlines, South African Airlines or United Airlines. Unless you already have an account with one of these airlines I would stick with Skywards. If i recall correctly, you will get 5,000 bonus miles for your first flight and a 50% bonus over the base miles for flying business which is much more generous than most programs which usually only give a 25% bonus.
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?
As of right now, the DXB-PER-DXB flights are on 777-300ERs with the old cradle-type seats. If you want to sleep, I would recommend either Row 6 or Row 7 (although Row 7 B/J are near the washoom.) I find them much better for sleeping because you are in a private "mini-cabin" of only two rows; it tends to be much quieter whereas the main cabin (rows 8-11) gets noise from economy class.
If you are travelling on a through-fare from Birmingham many Emirates fares will allow you to upgrade the Dubai - Australia segment for not much extra money. If sleeping is important ask your travel agent how much extra it would be to upgrade to First (should be around 300 pounds one way.)
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
Techically there should be a priority line but this is a hit and miss - sometimes it is there and sometimes it is not. Usually they will call F/J passengers to board first and then Y passengers but you will enter for the same place. In Dubai there is a seperate jetbridge for business class and first class.
Cheers