Making the most of First Class
 

I'm about to take my first ever Emirates flights in First Class, flying DUB-DXB-MEL-AKL and return (via BNE) courtesy of some cheap-ish ex-DUB fares and the strength of the GBP against the Euro.

I'm travelling with my brother as a treat for him since he's had some bad news of a medical nature, so I really want the flights to feel special. Other than the showers on the A380 segments, does the panel have any other suggestions as to maximising the experience? We have a 9 hour stopover in DXB to sample the F lounge properly, by the way. All suggestions appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

BC

For the A380 :-

1. Have a big breakfast in the F lounge
2. Board and have some DP
3. Watch a film with more DP
4. Order another DP
5. After a couple of hours, have your meal, washed down with DP
6. Wander down to the bar (preferably with a bottle of DP from F)
7. After a couple of hours, stagger back to your seat
8. Have a glass of DP for a nightcap.
9. Sleep for a few hours
10. Breakfast (Maybe with another glass of DP?)
11. Land

14 hours passes very quickly :)

Note, when I did this trip, I forgot about point 9, so point 6 lasted about 9 hours!

If you get bored of Dom, don't forget the Hennessy Paradis...!

DYKWIA presumably at this point is in a Dom-induced haze and has forgotten to mention the delights of the DXB F lounges, which I can give you some highlights to:

0 - pick up an A380-only cloth bag to keep all your on-board amenities in (and additional things in the lounge)
1 - book a spa treatment. You get 15 minutes free, but can add on an additional 25 minutes at a reasonable price.
2 - Shoe shine
3 - 3/4/5 course meal in the lounge. The quality from the a la carte menu is excellent. If you land at breakfast, you can have the main evening menu (and vice versa). Balik salmon on the buffet should be acquired in good quantities. If you are in Concourse B, there is a sushi chef.
4 - The champagne in the lounge is relatively average, but right now there is a Chateau Pontet-Canet 1998 floating about so switch to the red.

Alternatively, do all of this but first, with a 9 hour layover - have you considered leaving the airport and wandering around Dubai? (assuming you are from a visa-free country/have a visa). Have a brunch/lunch/dinner somewhere in Dubai, see some sights, go to a bar, pop back to the airport. Taxis are cheap - and on an F fare, you will have complimentary chauffeur drive most likely - and most locations are about 30 minutes max from the airport. Immigration and security are painless at DXB - you will have plenty of time to be back in time for the lounge.

Thanks both. I'm expecting a DP-fueled haze! Good point about leaving the airport, although we might need some zzzs since we'll be driving for 4 hours and then flying ZQN-AKL-BNE-DXB straight through.

We'll make use of the bar, get showers on all the A380 sectors and have a decent meal (or two) in the lounge as well as a spa treatment.

I've booked 1E/F all the way but might change them on the return sectors. It looks like the flights are not too busy in any case.

Just to clarify, the A380s will be Concourse A, right? Are the DUB flights likely then to be Concourse B? And is it worth it/possible to use the A lounge when departing from B? And is there much difference between lounges?

Thanks again,

BC

I fly down the back of the plane and only have access to the J lounge, but:
Not necessarily; while A has been touted as "the 380 concourse", A380s can arrive at/ depart from A, B or (less frequently?) C and aircraft other than 380s use concourse A. But it's not hard to move between concourses.
Not necessarily; see above.
As long as there's enough time to get from the lounge to your gate, you can use the lounge in either concourse.

One big difference between the lounges in A and B is that you can board directly from the lounge in A - if your flight leaves from A, of course. I like the shower suites in the A concourse J lounge better than those in B. But if my onward flight is leaving from B, I use the B lounge. Can't comment on F lounge differences.

Out of interest BlackCat when you say cheapish ex-DUB? How much did you pay? Im looking at doing a similiar routing but it certainly isnt cheap

Each ticket was just over 5K euros (fare basis AX1YPIE1). First Saver fare with a minimum 5 day advance purchase. Ex-LON was 5K gbp so a big difference.

BC

Thanks. We have a 9 hour layover on the way back so we'll do a bit of lounge hopping.

BC

You'd miss out on some great wines if you just drink dp!

On my flight to Zrh Last week I came back from the bar to find my bed made! Clearly thought I'd had too much Dom. :D

As a fairly regular on the DUB/DXB there is no rhyme nor reason (from my point of view) to which concourse you arrive into - last 4 times, 3 different concourses and 1 remote gate. However, with your stopover time it won't really matter, at least you get a good view of the airport.

With such a long layover I'd recommend lounge hopping - the experience in the F lounge in A is very different to the F lounge in B - my preference is A but could see how others would prefer B or C.

After an F flight I always regret not properly spacing out the food to properly sample the food and drinks menu - I eat too much then am full! I'd say just to think it through and have a look at the menus online before.

The lounge in Dublin is awful, but the rest are amazing.

Enjoy the benefit of the euro rate! Coming from NI I often take advantage of the cheaper ex-DUB fares plus the euro conversion.

Have fun!

Yeah. I don't particularly like champagne after the first couple of glasses. I do normally stick to red wine.

Had a beautiful red on my AKL to DXB last week.

Highlights though were the unopened bottled of Dom sitting there and I didn't want to open it and the cabin crew were like 'its for you so just go for it' kind of mentality.

Don't feel bad, the average F crew member on EK pours about 24 bottles of Dom down the toilet every month :D

I have made a note to myself that the particular vintage of DP that they serve nowadays has to be the 'absolute' worst. I find that the Veuve from J taste better.

I did notice it says 'specially selected for Emirates' on the back actually!!