EY Apartments vs. LH First Class

[boomy]

I thought EK MEL-SIN-DXB was on 777 only? Also, I think MEL-AUH on EY is on only 777?

Both services are going to be upgraded soon, MEL is finally a big dot on the world map!

I've booked MEL-LHR on EY A380 in Jul and MEL-JFK on EK A380 in Aug.

 

[mmchow]

Both services are going to be upgraded soon, MEL is finally a big dot on the world map!

I've booked MEL-LHR on EY A380 in Jul and MEL-JFK on EK A380 in Aug.

Did you book the MEL-JFK under 1 award? If so, where from? I had to book mine under 2 awards with VA.

 

[boomy]

Did you book the MEL-JFK under 1 award? If so, where from? I had to book mine under 2 awards with VA.

One award, booked with QF points.

 

[mmchow]

One award, booked with QF points.

Was not aware you can book EY on QF points.

 

[incumbent]

Was not aware you can book EY on QF points.

Obviously you can't. boomy is on EK:

I've booked (...) MEL-JFK on EK A380 in Aug.

 

[mmchow]

Obviously you can't. boomy is on EK:

Doink!! of course. I meant EY MEL-LHR.

 

[boomy]

Doink!! of course. I meant EY MEL-LHR.

Two awards, booked with AA miles.

 

[mmchow]

The second option looks good to me.

The original routing will allow me to sample EY F, DXB F lounge, CX F, CX F Pier lounge and SQ Fs. Not to mention the 3 x A380 flights.
EY A380 F MEL-AUH
EK A380 F DXB-JFK
CX 77W F BOS-HKG-TPE
SQ A380 F HKG-SIN
SQ 77W F SIN-MEL

The other routing I had in mind will allow me to sample EY lounge in MEL and possibly F lounge in AUH, CX F, CX F Pier lounge and EK DXB F lounge. The only downside is the 2 x A380 flight and I have yet to fly SQ F.
EY A380 F MEL-AUH
EY A380 F AUH-JFK
CX 77W F BOS-HKG-TPE
EK A380 F HKG-DXB
EK A380 F DXB-MEL

The last option is pretty much similar to option 1, with the addition of QF F lounge and the possible F AUH lounge. However, I will miss out EK DXB lounge. Would one take QF over EK?
EK A380 F MEL-SIN
EK A380 F SIN-DXB
EY A380 F AUH-JFK
CX 77W F BOS-HKG-TPE
SQ A380 F HKG-SIN
SQ 77W F SIN-MEL

 

[incumbent]

I'm guessing you're a pretty big lounge fan?

The EK DXB lounge doesn't even really feel like a "lounge", impressive though it is. If you're that keen, I guess you could add in a quick DXB-DOH return?

I'd go for 1 or 3.

 

[Danger UXB]

First world problems. Arnt they great. Option 1 for me but the EK bling is not my scene. No chance with EY JFK?

 

[mmchow]

I'm guessing you're a pretty big lounge fan?

A bigger fan of the A380 planes. The lounge is just part of it. Thanks for the feedback and suggestions

No chance with EY JFK?

Option 2 with EY all the way from MEL-JFK. Apart from the bling, I find their hard and soft product to be good.

 

[hossein_au]

Both services are going to be upgraded soon, MEL is finally a big dot on the world map!

Not soon enough for me unfortunately; mine is end of March on 777 :-(

 

[boomy]

Not soon enough for me unfortunately; mine is end of March on 777 :-(

Is that EY?
I think the A380 service to MEL starts in May.
I have CDG-MEL flight in April also on B777.

 

[hossein_au]

Is that EY?
I think the A380 service to MEL starts in May.
I have CDG-MEL flight in April also on B777.

Yep, it is EY. I need to be in Melbourne, otherwise I'd fly out of SYD.

 

[boomy]

Yep, it is EY. I need to be in Melbourne, otherwise I'd fly out of SYD.

How did you book?
With AA you can add Dom connection QF J MEL-SYD for no additional miles (just taxes).
It's worth it if you can get seat on the A380.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

First world problem. What do our fellow AFF think - EY F A380 all the way from MEL - JFK or break this up between EY and EK. Have flown EK F a few times and enjoyed every moment of it.

The first option is to fly EY F A380 MEL - AUH, 2 nights layover, EK F A380 DXB - JFK. This will satisfy my hunger in experiencing the Apartment and DXB F Lounge.

The second option is to fly EK F A380 MEL-SIN-DXB, 2 nights layover followed by EY F A380 AUH - JFK. This will allow me to sample QF F lounge and AUH J/F lounge. Presumably SYD F is better than MEL F and would imagine the F AUH lounge would be open by then (Nov-16) [one can only hope given then push back it has].
The third option is to fly EY F A380 all the way from MEL - JFK.

Have made the booking to option 1 but the concern I have is that EY may not operate the A380 out of MEL (worst case scenario) and have more faith that they will continue to operate AUH - JFK given the traffic and newly opened EY lounge in JFK.

What do you fellow AFF think? Have heard a lot on the EY Apartment but not so much of DXB F lounge, AUH lounge and QF F MEL lounge. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

After reading Boomy's TR if I hadn't already done a booking I'd do EK first then EY second (option 2) you're saving the best for last, however as you've already booked option 1 which is the EY MEL/AUH on the 388 first off, I'd just go with the flow and not change your decision especially as you'd have to cancel or change the award ticket you've already booked.

Sometimes the more you mess with things the more things can go wrong. It's sort of like doing exams in school where they tell you to go with your first answer.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip regardless.

 

[mmchow]

already booked option 1 which is the EY MEL/AUH on the 388 first off, I'd just go with the flow and not change your decision especially as you'd have to cancel or change the award ticket you've already booked.

I'm sure you'll enjoy your trip regardless.

Thanks oz. Option 2 is very enticing but i have some EK miles expiring soon so though I make use this opportunity to make use of this. Change is inevitible as I have to postpone this trip a month later - change fees mostly from VA (AUD$60) and AA (USD$150) as I couldn't get a seat departing from the same origin (NYC Newark). Just trying to get 'the' perfect routing 2nd time around . Like you said, will definitely enjoy them either way.

The EK DXB lounge doesn't even really feel like a "lounge", impressive though it is. If you're that keen, I guess you could add in a quick DXB-DOH return?

Considered this but instead of DXB=DOH return, i came up with this:
[TABLE="width: 455"]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 65"]EY[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 65"]MEL[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 65"]AUH[/TD]
[TD="class: xl66, width: 65"]1125pm[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 65"]635am[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 65"]461[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63, width: 65"]A380[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]EY[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]AUH[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]JFK[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]320am[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]910am[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]461[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]A380[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl63"]CX[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, width: 65"]JFK
HKG[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, width: 65"]HKG
TPE[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, width: 65"]1245am
835am[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, width: 65"]540am
1015am[/TD]
[TD="class: xl64, width: 65"]845
474[/TD]
[TD="class: xl63"]777ER[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: xl65"]EK[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 65"]HKG
DXB[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 65"]DXB
MEL[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 65"]1235am
935am[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 65"]535am
850am[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 65"]381
404[/TD]
[TD="class: xl67, width: 65"]A380
A380[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Had so much fun researching - thanks AFF.

 

[hossein_au]

How did you book?
With AA you can add Dom connection QF J MEL-SYD for no additional miles (just taxes).
It's worth it if you can get seat on the A380.

It is an AA redemption. I fly CBR-MEL (QF), followed by EY to AUH and beyond (the beyond part is on A380). There is also a domestic flight in the country of destination (on a OneWorld carrier). I have to be in MEL on the day, so I have a stop of about 12 hours in the itinerary. If I want to fly out of SYD, I will have to fly to MEL on my own, and change the AA ticket to MEL-SYD-AUH... This might actually trigger a re-ticket as the origin would be different that the current itinerary.

I ended up booking the 777 out of MEL because I could not find anything on A380 around the dates I was interested in. I have set up EF alerts just in case space on A380 opens up. I might have to buy a CBR-MEL-CBR, which will make changing the current ticket much easier (from CBR-MEL-AUH... to CBR-SYD-AUH...)

 

[hossein_au]

How did you book?
With AA you can add Dom connection QF J MEL-SYD for no additional miles (just taxes).
It's worth it if you can get seat on the A380.

Also, I had forgotten that my US-based Citi AA Plat refunds 10% of the points; I got a very nice surprise when I logged in and saw 10% of the AA points used for this itinerary back in my account

 

[hossein_au]

How did you book?
With AA you can add Dom connection QF J MEL-SYD for no additional miles (just taxes).
It's worth it if you can get seat on the A380.

Boomy (and others), what is the best seat in The Apartment? What about F on 777?