Hello Emirates!
 

So after many years of loyalty to BA, I have become disloyal because of insane and disrespectful changes to their loyalty program, and booked 3xF and 1xJ flights on Emirates in my next trip.
The 3xF trips are short haul (3h, 777), medium haul (7h, A380) and long haul (15h, A380) and the J is on their A350.
Any advice for me on how to make the most of my experience. I really want to like Emirates!
all bookings are cash.

Welcome, and I suspect that you will like EK, especially in F. If you tell us from where to where you are flying, people may be able to give you advice based on the airports. Also, if you provide some info as to what you care about most, input could be provided.

Thank you!
yes absolutely

i am flying
LHR > DXB in first on an A380
DXB > BOM in business on an A350
DEL > DXB in first on a 777
DXB > LAX in first on a A380

You'll have an amazing time, and I'm excited for you!

For F:
1. The FA will help store your luggage for you, as it goes towards the floor and they'll keep it secured with two straps in case you're wondering where your carry on luggage goes. They'll give you a "beach bag" where you can put your clothes into when changing into pajamas, and I use the same bag to keep my pajamas to take home.
2. The treat basket is taken away at takeoff and returned when reaching altitude.
3. The air vent is a twisting motion to open and close, don't try to push the cap as it won't move.
4. If you like caviar, you're in for a treat; you can order more if you would like. Dine on demand concept, with whatever you want. Towards the end of the flight, sometimes they may run out of options, but I never had an FA say no. Excellent wine and liquor selection, and you if you like Cognac, you can blind taste the Hennessy Paradis vs Tesseron.
5. On the A380, the FA will ask you when you would like to reserve the shower suite for a time that you would like (usually I like to reserve 2.5 hours before landing). For the shower, it's 5 minutes of water time, but with light passenger loads, they will be happy to reset it for 10-15 minutes of water time if needed. They'll have a dedicated shower attendant to help if you need anything. Bathrooms are cleaned after each use, so everything is kept tidy throughout the entire flight.
6. You can go to the J bar in the back, and socialize or just relax. Usually the F bar is quiet. The F FA will let them know to serve you F alcohols when you are back at the J social bar.
7. I'm a big fan of row 2 for window seats, as I feel there is too much bathroom traffic for row 1.
8. DXB F lounge is huge! Some fliers lounge hop for different wine selection. I usually skip eating at the lounge, and prefer to dine on the airplane, as I feel the food on the plane is better than the lounge; which is opposite for some other airlines.
9. Can book chauffeur service.
10. If the cabin is not full, they can make your bed in the suite across from you.
11. Some F lounges allow direct gate access to your flights or some flights, such as in DXB and also at SFO (if you fly from there in the future).
12. Meet and greet service upon arrival at DXB; and they'll take you to the connecting flight terminal F lounge.

Actually, the OP should be able to board from the lounge on the LHR-DXB flight unless they get unlucky and the flight doesn’t get one of the two adjacent gates.

Maybe I spend too much time on specific EK routes, but I find the food in the DXB F lounge better and more varied than onboard F. Being able to order off an extensive(ish) a la carte menu in the lounge trumps the “J menu + one main and caviar” F menu onboard for me.

Agree with all the other points made.

Agreed, I find the food in EK F lounges at DXB much better than onboard in F also. Onboard food quality is EK’s main F class weakness.

This is very much the reverse of the other airlines I fly in F (QR, BA, JL, etc.)

Agree with this too. Lounge food better than on board (although of course and as mentioned there is caviar on board and not in the lounge).

Only other point worth noting is that when you arrive in F but leave in J, you will not have access to the F lounge unless the ticket as a whole is in F and the only reason is that the connecting flight has no F cabin (which may well be the case for the OP who leaves on a 359).

Am assuming downloaded the Emirates app.

The meet & greet staff for F in DXB will be able to advise if any special events or if a lounge is better than another.
Also if enjoy your vino there are numerous bottles to choose from in lounges so worth a look.

The amount of amenities given in flight are also bonkers if used to BA. The Emirates shopping bag is as much so can take anything want with you.
If like whisky definitely try the Dalmore. The movie popcorn is also a nice touch.
The Emirates dates are ridiculously moorish as are the chocolates they give you to take away.

The in flight shower on A380 can be a bit of a gimmick but worth a try for the experience.

All-in-all it is a great experience have done many times.

J is probably almost an F on many other airlines.

In DXB there is a free 15 min massage if in F flounge. It is a basic thing but passes time and can be relaxing.

My one big recommendation is remember to put some praise feedback in for the staff as they genuinely do work socks off, as do many CC so good to get them some plaudits.

Enjoy your flights and checkout that Skywards has artner airlines can spend on too.

Lastly I know others mentioned food but never had a bad meal with EK tbh.

The front desk will say if can board directly via the lounge

Forgot to mention, the EK F FAs will usually offer a quick tour of the seat, and I am glad I did take them up on that offer on my first EK F flight.

Some buttons aren't as intuitive, such as the the mini bar button; I'm guilty of man handling that cover closed, versus pushing a simple button. :D

Ah the chocolate almond holder...
Yes have to be really careful with that as if it is forced shut the next time it is activated it tries to pull the whole sideboard top off! A cabin crew member warned me it had jammed and demonstrated the issue.

Good shout on the demo if first flight with them - have had a divider go up and down as guy next to me tried to figure out the buttons half way through a flight before too.

Also the welcome basket has to be removed before takeoff and is restocked before they bring it back so if there is anything you particularly like you can remove it before then. The hydration tabs are always a good one and depending where you fly there can be spicy thai mix, Himalayan salt popcorn or roasted fruit mix.
There's always Lindt chocolate too

The amenity bag on the A380 is nice with plenty of practical things and good for a week long journey if forget anything too normally.

Besides that there's a nice pen and notebook you can use to get staff names for kind feedback + a small sleep aid ( eye hydration & pillow mist spray) set in the desk in front of the IFE.

The cocktails are very nice onboard and you can go to the bar should you so wish or have them delivered to seat by asking staff

thank you so much for this, some great advice in here! :)

to be fair, the concord room has better food than F on-board too - it’s close though!

awesome :) - thank you!
in LHR -> DXB, will I get / should I request an amenity kit? I’ve heard they have some very expensive things inside. My flight leaves in the evening and reaches Dubai at 3am ish

one of my biggest gripes with BA is that the cocktails on board, suck.
glad to hear the ones on EK are great!

thanks for the advice!