Never been much of an aficionado of any champers myself (most overrated drink in the world IMHO ) so I wouldn't be the best to judge - but I do know that many others share your view re the current DP offering

My own key drivers for travelling F are the additional space, comfort & privacy (plus, I guess, there's the benefit of having someone at your beck & call for several hours at a stretch - a facility not normally available to most of us in daily life .......). I don't even eat much during the flight itself, preferring to eat in the lounge beforehand.

I often feel that if one's objective is to quaff as much Dom as possible and spend the flight in some sort of hazy detached existence, it might be far more cost-effective to get a Y or J ticket and buy a good few bottles of the stuff for home consumption ; and still have oodles of cash to spare .....

Yea I don't get the craze about the DOM. The EK F attendants love pouring some johnny blue in "liberal portions". Or how about some of that paradis.

The wine selection is also top notch. Most carriers have the DOM then some mediocre wine. Really, when flying EK F, DOM is the last thing you should sample. So much selection of quality alcohol.

Soft service in EK F is top notch on long haul flights.

Perfect timing - I was going to create a post to seek advices to maximize my first (hopefully not last if AS/EK dont do anything about award booking issues) trip few day later. Anyways - anyone know if I have to pay for cigars in F lounge? I'll take LAX-DXB-BKK (3.5 hour in DXB and thought i would get cigar after free 15 min massage).

Prayyyy that I'll drink some henessey paradis!

also, load so far - 2 out of 12 or 14 seats.. would EK grant me permission to shower twice? If no, then shower before or after prearrival meal? Sorry about noob questions, i'm so excited!

I had prive on my flight yesterday the hp is being discontinued.

Serious question - was there a noticeable difference between the prive and the paradis?

Would agree that worth exploring wines other than DP. I find the DP loses a lot in flight compared to the taste on the ground. Some of the red wines in paricular are very special. Yesterday I enjoyed a 2012 Russian River Pinot Noir and a 1995 Ch Palmer - both excellent

I haven't been in the cigar lounge for a long time (only in Concourse A) but iirc they are complimentary. My information may be out of date though. Will report back if I am in there in the next few days.

Showers - as the F meal service is dine on demand, then this all depends on when you want to eat your pre-arrival meal. Shower times are pre-booked in 30 minute slots, first come first served, so you can choose when you want it. If there's 2/14, they may reduce the water load though, so you should check if it's possible, but I don't forsee many problems, except that the cabin may end up going full in case there are last minute bookings and op-ups.

However, I have yet to see a 14/14 cabin where everyone used the shower

Had the palmer on last months F flights to MAN. Very nice.

Agree totally on the DP - much better on the ground.

HP vs HP - not really then I am much more a wine/champagne kind of guy than the hard stuff.

Probably best not to have too much DP and fall to sleep in the toilets with your pants around your ankles like my colleague did last time I flew first :-P

LOL, hope that it's a long-haul flight so he can go back to his seat and sleep like a baby

..... by which you mean he will wake every two or three hours, wet himself, and then cry uncontrollably for food ......

So how best does one arrange this?

take your bigger flute from F suite, tell purser/SFS you are going to the bar and to bring some DP.

You may have to remind the bar that you are F or walk down in your PJ's and slippers with wet hair (never done or never will do this BTW)

Walk down in your PJs? What is this, BA?

I prefer the PJ walk. Where else can you sip some fine alcohol, chit chat with random strangers, in your PJs. The slick hair though would be a new one.

No evil eyes either from anyone. If your on ultra long haul changing just to go to the bar doesn't seem very efficient.