Originally Posted by flygirl25 (Post 26324583)

Hi,

I've flown Emirates a lot but only in Economy. This time however, I decided to buy a business class ticket and get to experience it. I will be taking flight EK381 from HKG to DXB, having a few days in Dubai and then flight EK17 from DXB to MAN but I have a few questions.

1 - I'm going to opt into the chauffeur service, what's the etiquette regarding tipping in both DXB and MAN (Chauffeur not available in HKG)?

I give 20aed usually in Dubai...the drivers get paid very little. No chauffeur in Hong Kong unless you are in first class, however the airport express is very good.

2 - Anybody know which concourse EK17 is likely to leave from? Last year when I took it it was A but recently it has been leaving from B.

Usually b but who knows

3 - Which concourse has the best business class lounge? Have the renovations been completed in the business class lounge in B?

I prefer a. The work is still ongoing in b.

4 - At HKG do I have access to both the Qantas lounge and the Emirates lounge? Also, can I go into both or do I just have to stay in one?

You will be directed to the EK lounge - I'm not sure you can use the qf one.

5 - I have enough skywards points to upgrade to first class on one sector, which sector would be best providing there is avaliability? As I'm going to be taking EK less frequently from now on, should I spend them on the upgrade?

Yes, better on ek17 - when are you travelling?

6 - Will I get an amenity kit on either of the flights?

You will on hkg to Dxb not Dxb to man

7 - Any suggestions for things to do in DXB?

How long are you in Dxb for?

Thank you for your help

Originally Posted by flygirl25 (Post 26335982)

Thanks for your reply!

1 - Yeah I had seen that that was the reason. Not too much of an issue anyway as it is fairly easy to navigate around HKG. The airport express is convenient but expensive so tend to avoid it. Do you have an idea for how much to tip for the chauffeur in MAN?

2 - I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for A. Confusing why the A380 service for MAN isn't leaving from the 'dedicated A380 concourse' when the 777 for Dublin regularly departs from A. I know it depends on gate spaces available at the time.

4 - Just checked and Emirates First and Business class customers can have access to the Qantas lounge in HKG. Would it just be a case of flashing the boarding pass? Is there any issue with getting access to both?

5 - Travelling very end of June to the very beginning of July. Flight to MAN at the beginning of July.

6 - Do you think they will have spares on board to enquire about?

7 - We arrive at 5am on Day 1 and depart at 7am on Day 5

Originally Posted by subject2load (Post 26340335)

And some (actually ....many, many) people would say no need to tip at all.

Especially out here in Australia, where they have the right idea .... ^

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 26341461)

But please tip the dubai drivers :(

Originally Posted by OMGImInPattaya (Post 26339484)

For the tipping, I would tip what I would normally tip a taxi for a similar run...and add in another 10-15 percent as it's a limo . . . .

Originally Posted by DYKWIA (Post 26341667)

The problem I have is that I rarely have Dirhams on arrival. Are the drivers happy to accept £5?

Originally Posted by m3red (Post 26341461)

But please tip the dubai drivers :(

Originally Posted by subject2load (Post 26343237)

Yes, I'm with you on that m3red, and do generally treat DXB as a special case.

Not least when one realises that the sort of hours the drivers there have to work to earn a crust would be totally outlawed in countries like UK or Oz (and indeed many many others).

Originally Posted by Regnum (Post 26346818)

1. Forgive my ignorance, but why so much fuss about tipping the driver? This is not Western Europe - you won't be burnt alive if you don't tip. Believe me, there are much poorer people in Dubai, than drivers. Some people sell homes, lands, kids, wives to come and work in Dubai. For the money you've paid for business class a few families in Bangladesh could live for a few years in reaches. So why care about tips? Can't sponsor everyone on Earth, unless you are Mark Zuckerberg, of course.
Just give a hundred AED (or equivalent) to on-board charity, it will count for all.

Originally Posted by ioto1902 (Post 26349294)

Some may say that tipping push employers to pay less salary, and that's not false. And it's also true that drivers sitting in a air-conditioned car do not have the worst job in Dubai.
This said, distributing a little bit of happiness around you is not a bad thing.