EK409 Mel - DXB
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: cbr
Programs: QF WP (OWE) / LTG (LT OWS) | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 4,972
#3
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,704
The food in the MEL lounge is very good - in variety, quality and quantity. Hot food, salads, appetizers, desert, snacky things. (This is a blog report of EK in SFO but the layout of the lounge and the food selection is similar to MEL and there's lot of pictures of food. )
You could certainly make a good meal of it in the lounge and maximum your sleeping time on the flight.
Disclaimers:
I flew EK 407 (departs 9:25 pm) out of MEL late last year; I would assume that they keep the buffet stocked until your flight goes in the early morning. And I was in Y () so can't comment on whether the J onboard food is a better choice or how quickly they serve it.
You could certainly make a good meal of it in the lounge and maximum your sleeping time on the flight.
Disclaimers:
I flew EK 407 (departs 9:25 pm) out of MEL late last year; I would assume that they keep the buffet stocked until your flight goes in the early morning. And I was in Y () so can't comment on whether the J onboard food is a better choice or how quickly they serve it.
#4
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: cbr
Programs: QF WP (OWE) / LTG (LT OWS) | Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 4,972
OP, here's one review of the EK lounge at MEL; http://milesdownunder.com/2015/01/re...nge-melbourne/ I assume much like their counterpart in Singapore, the lounge keeps the food going till the last departure and as such having your fill on the ground to try and get sleep once on board is quite possible (cabin lights/noise permitting).
#5
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,382
Had a (somewhat concerned .... ) double-take as I read the opening line of the OP's query, "departs 2.40am...." because I'm booked to fly the same sector next month, the flight number looked the same, yet I felt sure MY ticket quoted a departure time of 22.25. But in fact I'm on 409, which is a non-stop......
As for the lounge/food issue .....this will be my first time out of MEL (normally leave from SYD) and I was planning to check-in just before 8pm, have dinner in the lounge, and then try to get some sleep on-board.
Was a little concerned by a recent comment by eightblack on a status-run thread where, in reference to EK Australian lounges, he said that "the one in MEL is very very tired and cramped..."
There are not many things I prefer about QF over EK, but I might now consider using the QF lounge in MEL before my flight. The QF business lounge will be no better than the EK lounge, but all indications are that the QF First lounge will be.
Happily, being Gold with EK, plus booked in F on the 409, will allow me access to both lounges ; and perhaps that's the case for the OP too.
As for the lounge/food issue .....this will be my first time out of MEL (normally leave from SYD) and I was planning to check-in just before 8pm, have dinner in the lounge, and then try to get some sleep on-board.
Was a little concerned by a recent comment by eightblack on a status-run thread where, in reference to EK Australian lounges, he said that "the one in MEL is very very tired and cramped..."
There are not many things I prefer about QF over EK, but I might now consider using the QF lounge in MEL before my flight. The QF business lounge will be no better than the EK lounge, but all indications are that the QF First lounge will be.
Happily, being Gold with EK, plus booked in F on the 409, will allow me access to both lounges ; and perhaps that's the case for the OP too.
#6
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Melbourne
Programs: EK, QF, VA
Posts: 73
This is my preferred way of doing it lately when flying in J, but it's not remotely feasible in Y. Melbourne lounge food is not bad at all, and lounge size is not a problem for this flight as it's on a 77W so not huge numbers of F and J passengers, even if full in both those classes.
#7
Moderator, Trip Reports
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,697
Had a (somewhat concerned .... ) double-take as I read the opening line of the OP's query, "departs 2.40am...." because I'm booked to fly the same sector next month, the flight number looked the same, yet I felt sure MY ticket quoted a departure time of 22.25. But in fact I'm on 409, which is a non-stop......
As for the lounge/food issue .....this will be my first time out of MEL (normally leave from SYD) and I was planning to check-in just before 8pm, have dinner in the lounge, and then try to get some sleep on-board.
Was a little concerned by a recent comment by eightblack on a status-run thread where, in reference to EK Australian lounges, he said that "the one in MEL is very very tired and cramped..."
There are not many things I prefer about QF over EK, but I might now consider using the QF lounge in MEL before my flight. The QF business lounge will be no better than the EK lounge, but all indications are that the QF First lounge will be.
Happily, being Gold with EK, plus booked in F on the 409, will allow me access to both lounges ; and perhaps that's the case for the OP too.
As for the lounge/food issue .....this will be my first time out of MEL (normally leave from SYD) and I was planning to check-in just before 8pm, have dinner in the lounge, and then try to get some sleep on-board.
Was a little concerned by a recent comment by eightblack on a status-run thread where, in reference to EK Australian lounges, he said that "the one in MEL is very very tired and cramped..."
There are not many things I prefer about QF over EK, but I might now consider using the QF lounge in MEL before my flight. The QF business lounge will be no better than the EK lounge, but all indications are that the QF First lounge will be.
Happily, being Gold with EK, plus booked in F on the 409, will allow me access to both lounges ; and perhaps that's the case for the OP too.
I was in F to AKL and was faffing about in the EK lounge looking for a place to plug my laptop in when I had that Eureka moment and realised I could be in total tranquility next door. So I took off next door. A la carte dining, Spa, a range of decent champagnes, great workspaces and plenty of places to sit, work and plug your laptop in. Lounges are the one thing that QF run rings around EK on.
And just wait until you see the crowd in there prior to the 409 pushing. You wont be able to swing a cat in the place...
#8
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,704
In my opinion, based on my single experience in the (Sydney) QF F lounge, a single experience in the MEL EK J/F lounge, and countless visits to the (Sydney) QF int'l J lounge,
QF F lounge >> EK J/F lounge >> QF J lounge for food and
QF F lounge >> EK J/F lounge = QF J lounge for spaciousness, staff service, ambiance, spa (or lack of).
That's similar to my conclusion, although I did think the EK lounge had a lot more choice for food. than the QF J lounge.
Last edited by RadioGirl; Feb 16, 2015 at 11:09 pm Reason: clarity
#9
Moderator, Trip Reports
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,697
#11
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,704
Last edited by RadioGirl; Feb 16, 2015 at 11:07 pm Reason: Yeah, I figured it out now. :)
#12
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,382
Many thanks for the additional thoughts eightblack. All carefully noted ! ^
I was going to ask why it is that the EK lounge is not only of (relatively) poor quality and cramped, and yet the QF lounge is by comparison a luxurious oasis of calm. But then I deduced that your key point is that the EK lounge is a combined J/F, whereas the QF lounge you've described is a F-only facility (and of course in one of their twin flagship locations, the other being SYD)
All that said, it's disappointing that EK have not addressed these shortcomings in what is a fairly high profile, business-orientated station such as MEL. I'm not actually based out in Oz, but was here not that long ago and used the EK lounge a couple of times in SYD and must say I didn't think it was too bad at all - even if significantly below the standard of say, LHR (a more commercially more important station of course). But perhaps I was just lucky to be there at a quiet spell.
Ps RadioGirl - thanks for your input too ^
I was going to ask why it is that the EK lounge is not only of (relatively) poor quality and cramped, and yet the QF lounge is by comparison a luxurious oasis of calm. But then I deduced that your key point is that the EK lounge is a combined J/F, whereas the QF lounge you've described is a F-only facility (and of course in one of their twin flagship locations, the other being SYD)
All that said, it's disappointing that EK have not addressed these shortcomings in what is a fairly high profile, business-orientated station such as MEL. I'm not actually based out in Oz, but was here not that long ago and used the EK lounge a couple of times in SYD and must say I didn't think it was too bad at all - even if significantly below the standard of say, LHR (a more commercially more important station of course). But perhaps I was just lucky to be there at a quiet spell.
Ps RadioGirl - thanks for your input too ^
#14
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,382
Had a (somewhat concerned .... ) double-take as I read the opening line of the OP's query, "departs 2.40am...." because I'm booked to fly the same sector next month, the flight number looked the same, yet I felt sure MY ticket quoted a departure time of 22.25. But in fact I'm on 409, which is a non-stop......
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My flight number is in fact 407, departing as stated at 22.25.
The OP correctly quoted his own flight (departure 2.40am) as 409
#15
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Melbourne
Programs: EK, QF, VA
Posts: 73
And the lounge is WAY more crowded for this flight that it is for 409.