Short trip to NYC flying EK & SQ F

[boomy]

This is going to be one of those trips where flights are almost as long as time spent on the ground

New York is one of my favourite cities in the world and I've been fortunate to visit many times but my +1 never been so for her birthday this year I've decided to book a short 5 days trip to the Big Apple during their Labor Day long weekend followed by two days stopover in Singapore on the way back.

When searching for flights the most logical option for us was QF via LAX/DFW. Being P1 I could probably score two F seats with no great difficulty but we already flew QF F to LHR earlier this year so I've decided to look for some more interesting alternatives, preferably airlines that we didn't get to experience together yet.

First choice was the best F out there - EY Apartments. While we flew together in F on the B777, all my A380 flights on EY so far were done solo and I really wanted to show my +1 this amazing product but unfortunately couldn't score two award seats all the way to NYC. Second choice was SQ suites, again no availability (on the outbound). What else... TG are usually easy to book and I love their A380 F but they don't fly to USA. JL had no F availability all the way for two pax. CX, OZ and NH don't fly F from AUS and QR only start their SYD service on 15th Sep.

Finally got back to QF website and searched EK or even a mix of QF and EK via DXB. At first no luck but when searching separately MEL-DXB/DXB-JFK I managed to find an interesting route: MEL-SIN-DXB-MXP-JFK available which means over 32 hours in F, Bingo!

Called QF and booked BNE-MEL-SIN-DXB-MXP-JFK for 192,000 points per pax. First leg QF J, the rest EK F. I redeemed millions of QF points over the years and this is by far the most valuable one way redemption I've ever did.

Ok, outbound sorted now to research the return, starting from the top going down the list of priorities.
First choice EY Apartments, no availability, second choice SQ Suites... available! Wow that was much easier than expected. Used 93,500 KF miles to book JFK-FRA-SIN in Suites, stopover two days in SIN, then +1 needs to take a detour via Korea before heading back home but no availability to ICN in F (yes! saved miles ) so she slums in J (36,000 LM) while I'm flying back to MEL in F (extra 23,375 KF).

After flights were booked I wasn't sure what's more exciting about this trip, the journey or destination

 

[PLANT]

Would u like to adopt?
I'm available

 

[TomVexille]

Been waiting for this one

 

[mmchow]

Always looking forward to your report. Doing something similar in coming weeks (days are not going quick enough) and hoping to add it to my big to do list in NYC and SIN.

 

[Major]

I've just checked my boarding pass and I am way down the back

 

[Buzzard]

Sitting back waiting for the full TR.
Oh the agony.

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

subscribed !

 

[bismarck]

Very much subscribed.

 

[BriarFlyer]

Waiting to board.

 

[Danger]

Sounds like a very good use of QF points but dare I ask - the taxes?

 

[boomy]

Sounds like a very good use of QF points but dare I ask - the taxes?

Common man, we are all in good mood here why did you have to bring up the taxes

As we all know QF and SQ are huge ripoffs when it comes to taxes. Both were around $700 per person.

 

[boomy]

Strange feeling waking up in the morning getting ready to fly Australia-Asia-Europe-USA with no stopovers
My parents and most of my friends think I have a problem. Most of them don't even like flying so no chance they will ever understand how can a normal person choose a much longer route than necessary to fly from A to B. Oh well, who cares... I was excited!

Qantas chauffeur came to pick us 90 minutes before our 12pm scheduled BNE-MEL flight. No traffic on the way to airport, arrived nice and early with plenty of time for coffee in the J lounge to start the day.

The plane was one of the B737-800 BSI, seats 1A/C.
Knowing that it's going to be a long day of eating and drinking I chose the light lunch. Potato salad with goat cheese. Was very nice dish, think I was hungry



Can't say no to Heathcote Shiraz but it wasn't the best so I managed to limit myself to two glasses



Landed on time in MEL with 3.5 hours to spare before the EK flight. Connection between Dom and Int terminals was even faster than predicted. There was almost no one in Int at that time of the day so we breezed through security. Short stop at DF so +1 can get some cosmetics and we are on our way to the EK lounge.



Plan is to check it out for maybe 30 min before heading to the QF F lounge.

 

[LadyC]

Very jealous! Looking forward to full report.

 

[Pushka]

Wonderful trip. Look forward to the comparison between EK and Q F lounge. Shall be doing this myself (and L_t_L) in April.

 

[boomy]

EK lounge was completely empty when we entered, only two staff members standing next to the buffet.
The lounge is bright and spacious with many seating areas, looks great IMO.









Large windows provide open views of the terminal.

 

[boomy]

The water feature is a common centrepiece in EK lounges.





Now I've learned a new word:



Meaning - an act of washing oneself.
(I have an excuse, English is not my first language ).

And this is the room where one can wash himself.



Washing the feet before going to pray I assume.

The prayer room.

 

[boomy]

The dining area.





The wines and spirits on offer.



Soft drinks available as well.



And plenty champagne in the fridge for both of us

 

[boomy]

Didn't plan to eat anything in the EK lounge but I must admit the food looked really good, especially those king prawns and lamb cutlets.



On the way to QF lounge saw our monster plane being prepared.

 

[boomy]

The QF F lounge - needs no introduction.



Same as the EK lounge, QF was also completely empty. We literally had all the lounge to ourselves, again!

Unfortunately no QF flights also meant no spa.
Oh well, at least the bar is open



Last day of the winter menu.



Where should we sit...



Eventually chose table with view of our plane

 

[boomy]

After a good meal and few glasses of wine we checked out one of the private rooms.





Good place to do some work but this was not a work trip so we just relaxed in one of the stylish and comfortable seating areas until it was time to board.