cmd320

It looks truly spectacular. I had to laugh at the cheap ground champagne still being better than most US airlines' business class champagnes.

I'm hoping to get the time to book this product while it's still operating on JFK-DXB. I really wish they would upgrade the A380s with the same F seats because that would really be a really tough combination to beat.

S.R

The new suites and shower+bar on the A380 really would be a game changer!!

atsak

Thanks for writing this and allowing us a little vicarious travelling. I had an Emirates First booking YYZ - DXB - SYD for January that isn't going to happen now. And it was booked with Alaska Miles. And EK isn't offering first to partners any more for the time being. So I may never make it happen (limited mileage partners in Canada). Major COVID bummer. Great photos as well.

sl00001

SFO777 nice report again - is there a divider between F and J? The mood lightings are amazing and funky, would anyone actually use it through out the flight?

SFO777

Thanks very much krazykanuck. Too bad that EK F awards will no longer bookable with AS, but in reality they priced themselves out of the market a few years ago. Our JFK-DXB was 150,000 AS miles while our DXB-JFK return was only 136,000 EK Skywards miles. And EK has eliminated the YQ.

LOL. I'm sure you'll be fine getting out of SF. Enjoy Colorado.

Thanks cmd320. New First on the A380 would be amazing. The cheap JFK ground champagne must be a local NYS tax thing as we were served Dom on the ground at DXB on our return.

Oh yeah, although I'm perfectly happy with the new First on the 77W. Just wish they would retrofit the entire 77W fleet.

Thank you atsak. That would have been a memorable trip. If you're still trying for Oz, I would look at still reasonable AS-priced Cathay First and especially JAL First which now flies F from HND-SYD so you could do JL First all the way. It was that return SYD-HND JL F flight that we had booked for our original routing.

Thanks sl00001. Indeed, not only is there a divider between F and J there is essentially a divider between each F suite as each suite has a ceiling to floor door. The different light colors are fun. They are only vivid like my pics when there is very little light. I set mine at blue most of the time.

SFO777

Grosvenor House
Dubai Marina

Alaska award tickets mean NO complimentary EK chauffeur service. No big deal as Uber is alive, well and inexpensive in Dubai. And our Uber Black Tesla arrived 3 minutes after I confirmed. $40 and thirty minutes later we were at Grosvenor House in the Dubai Marinia.





I found a terrific $140 a night IBM partner rate and my Marriott Platinum status got us both room upgrades, complimentary breakfast and club lounge access. Pretty sweet deal.











My one bedroom suite.















We tossed our bags in our rooms and headed downstairs for dinner at one of the hotel's dozen restaurants.



Sweet ride.



Across the street the other GH tower is ToroToro, a Richard Sandoval restaurant.













It was a gorgeous evening, so we opted for outdoor dining.



Amazing menu.



We ordered three starters each of which were incredible.



Beef steak anticucho. Wow.



Crispy prawns. Sensational.



Soft shell crab tacos. OMG.



Chilean Sea Bass.



and Seafood Tacu Tacu.



By now it was after midnight, but just across the street, Buddha-Bar was still open.











After 4 hours of sleep, I headed to the gym.



And then to breakfast around 8am, at Sloanes.









With a massive buffet spread.























Back in the suite, morning views of the Dubai Marina.

SFO777

Dubai Marina Day

After a completely decadent 24 hours, we decided to try to work some of it off with a walk around the beautiful Marina. Grosvenor House in the daytime.

















Fascinated by the army of workers at this construction site.



Who knew that installing flooring took two workers and three supervisors? LOL.











We logged nearly 5 miles according to my FitBit and then headed for the hotel pool.



And some shade in the available quasi-cabanas.



Great poolside service.





And a lighter lunch, excellent chicken caesar salad.





At 6pm, we headed downstairs...



... and across to Tower 2 and the Siddharta Lounge by Buddha-Bar.









And a panoramic pic from marriott.com...



For dinner tonight, we decided to go off property to the Ritz-Carlton and Amaseena, the hotel's Arabic-themed restaurant. A pleasant 3/4 mile walk.





Pic from ritz-carlton.com...













Our delicious starter.





And a variety of spreads and dips.



Live musical entertainment but sadly, no belly dancing as truth in advertising is an apparent casualty.



The main course from the grill. Simply wonderful aromas.



OMG, the best lamb chops ever.



And as if we hadn't had enough to eat, a wonderful dessert spread.



Back in the Ritz-Carlton...





... and then the walk back to Grosvenor House.





Where we headed up to the 44th floor bar for a nightcap.



\

wakesetter93

From EK F to AA J, that must have been quite the shock.

enviroian

Could be worse. Imagine going from Emirates F to Delta (n)One.

wakesetter93

I honestly don't think I've ever flown DL One being Dallas based. I do have an AA J flight on the 789 next week. Interested to see what the service is like because of Covid

batmandds

Even worse, I went from EK F with SFO777 last week to DL Y on JFK-MSP. The proverbial slap in the face. Dom 2008 to an 8 oz bottled water. Caviar to Cheez Its.

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Insta: @thedarkknightdds

nachosdelux

Nice trip report.

That said, IMO it is selfish and foolish to travel like this (for no reason other than your ego)

SFO777

Thanks, I guess.

But... just because others don't share the same COVID risk opinion as you, is not a reason to attack those people.
Got a problem? Take it to OMNI.

olafman

Great report SFO777. I am still not in travel mode but love seeing you present it!!

batmandds

Exactly. There’s no reason for the hate nachosdelux. Take your travel shaming opinions to OMNI and let others enjoy the trip report.

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Insta: @thedarkknightdds