Ok it's only a short hop across the ditch from NZ to Aussie, but I'm pretty excited to be flying first on the A380.

What can I expect! I really enjoyed a business class flight I had earlier this year, and first is on the bucket list so to speak.... will I be spoilt for ever after Totally expecting I'll drink my money's worth of champagne haha

It's worth searching the trip report forum - quite a few excellent accounts of what to expect such as this:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...rates+auckland

You should end up feeling very spoilt although as always the crew are key. I recently went LHR-DXB with Mrs PK and while I had a very good flight her experience on the other side of the cabin was quite ordinary.

As well as champagne there are usually some excellent still wines to try

ah, yes trip reports, I havent really read any of those... will do. Thanks

Can be very informative - as well as a way of killing some time

Just a little note: they removed chauffuer-drive for itineraries exclusively between NZ and Australia, even for first class passengers.

Enjoy your flight!

only on special fares is chaffeur drive excluded

we're definitely being picked up by the chauffeur! I know they dont have it for business though on TT.

Hope you're right! But this is what it says...

"Itineraries which are exclusively between Australia and New Zealand are not eligible for Chauffeur-drive." http://www.emirates.com/au/english/f...eur-drive.aspx

Susie, when did you book? I believe they only amended the rule 1.5 weeks ago.

we booked at least a month ago! And the car is booked. but hmmmm, reading that link, yes it looks like it has gone.... I'm sure last time I looked it did say that it only applied to business class flights.... I think for the money paid, to drop the chauffeur drive off (even on a TT flight) is a bit stink.

I had my first flight (and in first class) on Emirates A380 from Sydney to Auckland and return in August of 2012 for a ski trip to Turoa. By far, this was the best flight that I have ever had and would rank well above my other first class experiences on SQ (777 and 747), CX (777), and QF (A380). The EK flight crew to AKL was Dubai based and incredibly friendly showing me around the plane, explaining the shower, and taking pictures of me �serving� from the rear bar. One of the reasons that the flight was so memorable was that there were only 3 of us in first going over and 4 coming back so that it was rather like a private plane. I was able to take a shower both ways at 40,000 feet. I am sure that you will enjoy the flight.

Regards, Bill

I remember being excited about flying EK. Oh happy days.

See my answer to one of your other treads. Enjoy the champagne.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/emira...s-class-2.html

Imagine what it's like to be the only passenger in First! This happened to me on two occasions crossing the Tasman Sea. Both were on 777-300ERs so no showers but I still had the choice of two toilets and had four crew (including the Purser) to look after me. I felt guilty about asking them to open a bottle of Dom Perignon just for me, but I did my best to minimise how much of that bottle got tipped down the sink!

Way to go!^

In fact from PER to DXB, my wife and me were the only passenger in first.
And it seemed, that the flight attendants, tried to empty the dom perignon bottles .. .We loved it.